How To Choose The Correct Chair Mat

All Matshop's heavy duty chair mats are covered by an exclusive 12-year warranty. That is the longest warranty in the industry. But, how do you choose which one is best for you?

Selecting the correct chair mat is important for protecting your floors, getting the maximum life from the chair mat and making rolling up to your desk safe and easy. Using less effort when rolling over a mat will eliminate strain on your lower back.

A chair mat that is too thin or lightweight will cause premature cracking and create deep impressions from the chair castors. This makes it difficult to move around your desk and the surrounding area.

Below is a step-by-step guide to assist in making this task easy:

First, is the mat being used on carpet or hard floors (timber, vinyl, tiles, polished concrete etc.)?

If it is placed on hard floors there is one option, the chair mat for hard floor range.

If you are using the chair mat on carpet then follow the simple steps below.

Does your carpet have underlay? If yes, choose from the chair mats for carpet with underlay range.

If you do not have underlay (i.e. if you have carpet tiles or a budget carpet stuck directly to the floor) select from our chair mats for carpets without underlay.

If you are not sure whether your carpet has underlay, you can do the simple test below:

Measure the thickness of the carpet and underlay

To do this, use a long drawing pin or straighten the end of a paper clip. Insert the straight end into the carpet and through the underlay until it hits the solid surface below the underlay. (Some carpets have a tightly woven backing so you may have to wiggle the paper clip or pin gently to force it through this backing).

When the pin or paperclip hits the hard subfloor below grip it with your index finger and thumb right at the highest point of the carpet being careful not to press down which will give a false reading.

Remove the paperclip or pin from the carpet and measure from the tip of the pin to where you are marking with your fingers. This will be the total height of your carpet and this measurement can be used when buying your Matshop Chair Mats. If your total measurements (thickness) is less than 12mm you will require a chair mat for carpet without underlay, if it is 12mm or more you will require a chair mat for carpet with underlay.

Note: Be sure to include the underlay in your measurement, most (99.9%) domestic homes have a 10mm underlay and will fall into the chair mat for carpet with underlay category.

Types of chair mat: what to look for to protect your floor

The many mats that protect your floors from office chairs.

If you have recently installed a new home office, or are responsible for protecting your office floor, you are probably looking for a chair mat. With the huge range available online, it can be confusing knowing which mat to go for.

Does your carpet have underlay? Do you need something absorbent? What shape is best for your space?

We love helping our customers choose the perfect mat for them. So, here is the ultimate guide to the many types of chair mat.

Type 1: Carpet Chair Mat

There are many types of carpet chair mat, but they can be roughly split into 2 categories according to carpet thickness. The first – chair mats for carpet with underlay – are most common in home offices. These are for thicker carpets including plush carpets.

Please note that plush carpets with very long pile may see some movement.

The other type – chair mats for carpet without underlay – are most common in offices. If your office has very thin carpet tiles laid directly on concrete, this is the type you want. Nowadays, even most corporate offices have underlay, so make sure you pick the right one.

Choosing the wrong types of office chair mat for carpet may cause it to break and void your warranty. A mat that is too thin for the floor underneath is likely to crack when a weight is placed upon it. Very thin mats, for example, can only be used without underlay.

For help making the right choice, check out this guide to choosing the best chair mat for you.

Type 2: Hard Floor Chair Mat

You also have options when choosing a chair mat for hard floors. Unlike carpet chair mats, these can be used on any hard floors, but the features of the mat vary between styles.

Carpet-surfaced chair mats are a great option for anyone that wants to protect their floor from spills as well as scratches. The absorbent carpet surface keeps cleaning to a minimum, making it the perfect option for anyone that likes to eat and drink at their desk.

Carpet chair mats for hard floors also have a rubber backing. This keeps them in place while chairs roll over their surface.

The other option for hard floors is plastic chair mats. These are almost identical to the ones made for carpet, but they do not have the small grippers on their underside. Hard floor chair mats are slightly rough on their underside, which is enough to keep them in place on a hard floor.

Type 3: Custom-size chair mats

While choosing the right style of mat is critical, size does matter too. If you want to protect your floor from multiple chairs, multiple mats are not the way to go. One large mat can cover the floor under multiple desks, but it needs to be custom-sized.

We are proud to supply Australia’s only custom-size chair mats. All the chair mats in our collection can be ordered in your custom sizing, including the carpet-surfaced and plastic styles.

Just send us your measurements along with the mat you want for a customised solution to protect your floors from chair casters.

Choosing your chair mat

For more details about our product offering, check out the chair mat buying guide. There, you can find information on sizing, materials, and the ordering process.

If you still aren’t sure what type of mat you want to place under your office furniture, our friendly team of matxperts is on hand to help. Get in touch for a personalised recommendation or advice.

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