Are Chair Mats Worth It?
Why Use A Chair Mat For My Home Office?
Should you use a chair mat for your home office setup? Compared to carpets, they are more accessible and are easier to clean the occasional a spill of your morning coffee.
To keep your warranty valid, some furniture companies require the use of a chair mat. The chair mats provide protection from scuffs, scratches, and marks left by the wheels of office chairs. Carpets are hard to clean when you have an accidental spill, but these are much easier to access and clean.
Chair mats make it easier to move around your workspace — Remember how difficult it was to roll an office chair over a carpet? It’s a type of physical activity, although it often leads to backache or leg ache. Chair mats offer a less popular perk: they’re anti-static. These mats should protect your computer or other electronics from experiencing a static electric shock.
An anti-static chair mat prevents static electricity from reaching your computer or electronic devices;
What are the most popular chair mat colors and materials?
Vinyl in its clearest form is the most sought-after option, with the flooring underneath visible. You can make it your own with a variety of colorful and patterned vinyl mats. Below are a few of the materials used to make chair mats:
Glass
Plexiglas
Wood finish, jute
Sisal
What Should I Consider Before Purchasing a Home Office Chair Mat by Type?
Picking the incorrect chair mat can cause harm to your floors.
The material, size, and the amount of rolling will determine the outcome. The wheels on your chair (casters) may cause damage to a soft-floor chair mat, leading to extra expenses. First and foremost, identify which floor surfaces the mat is suited for.
Hard surfaces
Laminate, vinyl tile, and hardwood require a smooth backing. This support will ensure the floor is shielded and the mat stays put. These are thinner types of mats that have more straight than beveled edges.
Soft surfaces
A rug, carpet, or rubber tile flooring may need a spiked bottom mat in order for traditional office chair wheels to function properly. The thicker the chair mat, the heavier the carpet. For carpeted floors, select a mat with small spiked protrusions. These keep the mat secure without damaging the carpet.
Chair Mats: Protect Your Floors and Reduce Noise
Not only do chair mats protect your floors from scratches and damage, but they can also help reduce noise. By placing an extra anchor mat underneath your chair mat, you can muffle sound and prevent footfalls from disturbing those around you. Chair mats are commonly used in music studios and apartments for this reason. Plus, they keep carpets and thin mats in place, making it easier to move around.
Anti-Static Mats: Protect Your Devices
If you have expensive electronic equipment on your workstation, you’ll want to protect it from static electricity. Anti-static mats are designed to reduce the risk of static shocking your devices into a blue screen. These specialized mats are a must-have for anyone who values their devices and wants to keep them safe. Consider investing in an anti-static mat for added peace of mind.
How To Size Chair Mat With The Rest Of My Home Office Setup?
Make certain the chair mat is of sufficient size to cover all the components of your work station.
Too much space is not a big deal
Too little of space will bend the sides of the mat.
Gauge the workstation area by taking into consideration the overall floor space, the size of the chair bases, and the desk width. Make sure the chair mat dimensions below match your workstation for optimum performance!
The Following data was gathered from Amazon, Walmart, & eBay Market Places.*
| Chair Mats Industry Standards | Economy | Small | Medium | Large |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Length and Width of Mat | 36" x 48 | 45" x 53" | 54" x 60" | 72" x 96" |
| Thickness of Cushion | 100 mil ~ 1/10" | 125 mil ~ 1/8" | 145 mil ~ 1/7" | 200 mil 1/5" |
Types Of Office Chair Mats| Info
| Chair Mats | Vinyl | Glass | Plastic | Laminate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beteween | 20$ - 60$ | 70$ - 300$ | 15$ - 280$ | 15$ - 350$ |
| Best For | Hard Flood | Carpet Floor | Hyrbird | Hybird |
2 Step Guide | DIY Chair Mat
We found a cheaper alternative to those overpriced chair mats!
THIS PROJECT IS BEST FOR:
DIY people who do NOT want an ugly plastic chair mat to ruin the aesthetic they work so hard to create.
Did you not remember to budget for it after you used your hard-earned money to buy the ideal workstation and an ergonomic chair?
You are searching for a chair mat that will cost $200 and be medium to large in size.
If you don’t want to spend a lot of money on a fancy rug for your office chair?
STEP 1 | Gather Materials
First, measure out the dimensions of your workspace and decide on how large a mat you want to create. I’m creating a 4×4 ft square.
- Go to your local home improvement store and purchase a piece of plywood. Depending on the wood, the 4×4 cut will range in price between $25 – $50 from Home Depot.
- Luxury vinyl flooring will go on top of this 4×4 piece of plywood. A 4×4 vinyl take home sample is only $3 from Home Depot. There are over 200+ distinct patterns. Some noteworthy designs I liked are Scratch Stone, Twilight Oak, and Islander Bamboo.
STEP 2 | Create Your Chair Mat
You back from getting your materials and your read to slap the vinyl onto the plywood, not so fast!
- Lay out the vinyl squares, make sure they’re squared up, and that you can live with the pattern.
- Sand the plywood, so it will better stick with the vinyl and clean of the sides to customize the lip with the wheels of your chair.
- Attaching the vinyl to your plywood should take around 10 minutes, it’s a straightforward process.
STEP 3 | Pat Yourself On the Back, You Created Something Cool, & Saved Money.
Compared to premium wood chair mats like the Aniji Mountain (47 x 72, 8mm thick) chair mat, which cost over $200.
STARCOUNTERS | Chair Mat
INFO
Shape: Teewee (Tetris Shape)
Dimensions: (48″ – 36″ INCHES)
Material: Plastic, Polycarbonate
Link to Star Counters Chair Mat*
It’s sturdier than the typical chair mat and won’t wear easily from being rolled often. Regardless of your size, those aware of the impacts of plastic on our planet should understand that it is recyclable.
PROS
Will Not Bend Like Vinyl Mats
Little to no chemical smell
Environmentally Friendly Plastic
Contains Fewer Toxins
(Phthalate Free)
CONS
It Cracks When It’s Cleaned With Anything Other Than Water.
Great for chairs with wheels on carpet, but less so on harder surfaces like wood flooring.
SALLOUS | Chair Mat
INFO
Shape: Rectangle
Dimensions: (63″ – 51″ INCHES)
Material: Plastic, Polycarbonate
Link to Star SALLOUS Chair Mat*
If you’re tired of scuffing up your hardwood floors with your office chair, we’ve got the solution for you. Our carpet protector measures 5ft x 4ft, larger than the average chair mat, and provides complete coverage for both your floor and chair wheels. It’s like having a rug that lets your casters glide smoothly, almost as if you’re skating on ice!
PROS
Will Not Bend Like Vinyl Mats
Material Is Easy To Vacuum
CONS
Not as smooth to roll over as vinyl or plastic chair mats.
Related Questions
When dealing with carpets, a soft & thin mat may become difficult to slide the chair around on.
- Because of its thickness, it will also develop cracks, and will need replacing earlier than it’s time. Harder chair mats are properly shipped out (Not Rolled) and last longer on average, but are more expensive.
Chair mats protect your carpet, reduce injury, and fatigue by making it easier to roll around. It can also help curtail electric static damage to your computer.
CHAIR FACT #922 | Wheels are a requirement for a variety of reasons, but the most important one is being ease of mobility around your work space without having to stand up & sit back down constantly.
FUN FACT ~ This design dates back to Charles Darwin, who implemented it in his laboratory to more easily move around.
SOURCES
PROGRESSIVE COMPANY INC. “Types Of Office Chair Mats.” Floormatcom Types Of Office Chair Mats Comments, www.floormat.com/types-of-office-chair-mats/.
Forum Boards, thriftyfun. “Inexpensive Chair Mat Ideas.” ThriftyFun, www.thriftyfun.com/tf36748807.tip.html.
Bea, Heather. “Http://Www.city-Data.com/Forum/House/1274611-Any-Good-Alternative-Ugly-Chair-Mat.html.” DIY “Wooden” Office Chair Mat , 11 Nov. 2012, wwhttps://fakeitfrugal.blogspot.com/2012/11/diy-wooden-office-chair-mat.htmlw.city-data.com/forum/house/1274611-any-good-alternative-ugly-chair-mat.html.
“The Home Depot.” The Home Depot, www.homedepot.com/.
Tips, Linus Tech. “A Quick Warning About the Dangers of Static Electricity & Computer Hardware Linus Tech Tips.” YouTube, YouTube, 22 Dec. 2009, www.youtube.com/watch?v=LgTM6VrEhKQ.
JayzTwoCents. “Will ESD Kill a Computer?” YouTube, YouTube, 2 Mar. 2018, www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdzo-uAvz5Y.
Experts, RamCity – The Upgrade. “Anti-Static Work Mats (ESD Safe) Overview.” YouTube, YouTube, 21 May 2014, www.youtube.com/watch?v=MIYDwbr3C7g.
Claude
ChairPickr | "Writer"
Hello, My name is Claude and I enjoy sitting comfortable. Research into what separates the good from the bad in the matter of chairs started when I made a new year’s resolution to have better posture.
You clicked here to find that first-rate chair. Why not stay and learn some self care?