Hard-floor and carpet mats use different underside textures
A mat built for hard flooring uses a smooth, grip-textured underside to stay in place on wood or tile, where a carpet mat needs small grip teeth that bite into the carpet pile — using either mat on the wrong surface leaves it sliding underfoot. We compare surface-specific underside design, PVC against sturdier polycarbonate material (which resists yellowing and cracking longer), and coverage size against how far a chair actually rolls while working.
BPA-free plastic · hard-floor specific · underfloor-heating safe
A transparent hard-floor protection mat made from BPA-free, recyclable plastic, with a textured non-slip underside and underfloor-heating compatibility.
Best for: A straightforward, environmentally conscious mat for laminate, parquet or tile flooring.
polycarbonate · odourless · sound-dampening
A polycarbonate protection mat marketed as odourless and sound-dampening, usable on both hard floors and carpet, manufactured in Germany.
Best for: Someone specifically wanting polycarbonate's durability over standard PVC, at a similar price to competing hard-floor mats.
90×60cm · 1.5mm PVC · 1.05kg
A mid-tier universal-size PVC floor protection mat measuring 90 by 60cm, 1.5mm thick, with an anti-slip coating.
Best for: A reliably sized, general-purpose mat for a standard office chair on hard flooring.
3mm fleece surface · waterproof CalmGrip base · multi-room use
A top-tier fleece-surfaced floor mat designed for quieter chair rolling and a warmer feel underfoot than hard plastic, with a waterproof non-slip base.
Best for: A home office where noise, comfort underfoot and how the mat looks in the room all matter as much as floor protection.
Spikes for carpet, a smooth back for a hard floor. A spiked mat on a wooden floor marks it lastingly.
Big enough to cover the whole radius the chair moves in, not just the area under the desk. The most frequent mistake.
Insufficient thickness for the use, or a fold in transit that started it. Mats delivered rolled age better than those delivered folded.
Not always: some materials hold the heat or distort. An explicit claim to look for.
A mat delivered rolled takes several days to flatten. Leaving it in place at room temperature is generally enough.
A vacuum and a damp cloth. Aggressive products dull the plastic and make it brittle.
The part extending under the desk protects the most used area. In exchange it fixes the orientation.
Spikes for carpet, a smooth back for a hard floor — the other way round marks a wooden floor lastingly. Take one big enough for the chair's whole travel radius, not just the area under the desk, and check underfloor-heating compatibility.
Only the specifications at least four models out of five state. A column that is more empty than full compares nothing.
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Specifications: manufacturer sheets and Amazon product pages. Prices and availability: Keepa. No product on this site has been physically tested.
Most recent revision in this category: August 29, 2026.
