How to Choose the Right Chair Mat
Choosing the right chair mat can seem like a bit of a mind field, especially when you start seeing terms like plush pile, gripper back and sub flooring.
At Hometex Solutions, we like to keep things simple. Let’s break it down.
What is a chair mat?
A chair mat is a protective plastic layer placed under your office chair to prevent damage to your flooring. It protects against dirt, scratches, and wear caused by rolling castor wheels whilst also making it easier to move your chair smoothly.
Where do I even start when choosing a chair mat?
With a chair mat, it is important to select the right type of mat for the floor or carpet you intend to protect.
- Carpet floors: Choose a gripper back chair mat
- Hard floors: Choose a smooth back chair mat
This ensures your mat stays in place and performs properly.
For carpeted floors, you are going to need to find out how thick your carpet actually is to determine the carpet pile type. There are three main types of carpet pile:
- Low pile
- Standard pile
- Deep pile
I hear you asking, well how do I determine my carpet pile type?
The answer is simple, by using a paper clip.
- Fold open a paperclip as seen in the image attached below and insert the pin section through the carpet, padding and subflooring
- Place your nail on the pin by the top of the carpet
- Measure the small depth distance on the paperclip
This measurement will determine which chair mat you will need:
- Up to 6mm = Low pile
- Up to 9mm = Standard pile
- Over 9mm = Deep pile
Here is step-by-step video also to help: How to Measure Your Carpet Using a Paperclip
What size should I choose?
Think about how much your chair moves every day.
Assess and measure this workspace to make sure your mat fully covers your movement area.
What material should I choose?
Choosing the correct material all depends on your usage, carpet pile type and budget:
- PVC: The affordable option, ideal for low level use as well as low pile type carpets and hard floors
- Polycarbonate: The premium option and perfect for long-term use as well as thicker carpets
Please note: PVC is NOT suitable for use on vinyl flooring. For these surfaces, polycarbonate is the better choice, it’s fully compatible with vinyl and safe to use with underfloor heating.
Choosing the right chair mat doesn’t have to be complicated. Once you know your floor type, usage level and carpet depth, the decision becomes much easier.
Still unsure?
Try our Hometex Chair Mat Quiz below to quickly find the perfect match for your workspace.