Office chair mats

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mentalinc

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#322991 13-Oct-2025 19:41

Hey

Looking to see what people are using to protect their carpet from office chairs?

I've used polycaronate mats like the below, but they tend to crack after 18-24 months of use, so not overly great value given the price.

https://www.officemax.co.nz/Furniture/Furniture-Accessories/Chairmats/Coverzone-Polycarbonate-Chair-Mat-Carpet-Rectangular-900x1200mm-Clear-2467402

Would be going on loop wool carpet, with decent underlay.

Keen to hear ideas (not using something not an option).

Don't need sit to stand support.

thanks

mentalinc

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#3424702 13-Oct-2025 19:46

A mat made from the same carpet as the rest of the room works well.

shanes

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#3424704 13-Oct-2025 19:58

I used a sheet of MDF and some Mitre10 stick on flooring, works great.

JuiceNZ

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#3424705 13-Oct-2025 20:21

I’ve been using a 1m x 1m carpet tile from Bunnings for about five years. The rubber backing has developed some cracks over time, but remains intact thanks to the carpet layer on top. Our existing carpet is a dark grey synthetic, there’s no visible damage underneath the tile. Not sure if the rubber base would affect lighter-coloured or wool carpets.

https://www.bunnings.co.nz/products/flooring-tiles/carpet/carpet-tiles-squares

Stu1

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#3424708 13-Oct-2025 20:45

What about vinyl planks in your office?

Gurezaemon

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#3424717 13-Oct-2025 23:01

I've found that any mats that fold in the middle tend to give up the ghost fairly quickly, cracking in the process. They're great up until that point though.

I've grabbed a couple of Kogan ones like those shown here. They arrive rolled up, and yet are still of a decent enough thickness. They take a little while to get fully flat at first, but it stays flat just fine now.

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timmmay

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#3424729 14-Oct-2025 07:27

I used chair mats for ten years. Plastic, polycarbonate, rubber, none worked that well or lasted that long. I eventually removed the carpet from my home office and put down carpet tiles like commercial offices use and they've been great - no issues and they've been down 2-3 years. I got spare tiles so I can replace the ones under my chair if needed. If you can't remove the carpet you might want to put solid rigid flooring over the top.

The installer told me the problem with normal carpet is that the underlay and carpet rub against each other, and one reason the tiles work is they're glued together.

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E3xtc

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#3424742 14-Oct-2025 09:29

I have one of these - https://officefurnitureonline.co.nz/products/accessories/chair-mats/rubber-chair-mat-keyhole-shape-ideal-hard-timber-or-vinyl-floors - been using it now for a few years. I landed on that one as a result of a conversation I had with the person from the carpet company we used. These are what they use in store and what he recommended. Only downside is that it moves around slightly - I think this is largely the carpet pile moving underneath...so at the end of the day I notice it may have shifted from where it originally started. Carpet is still is perfect condition, mat is still in perfect condition.

If I needed to, this is what I would be doing again - as previously our carpet just got ruined.

Oh and our carpet is pretty dark too so the impact visually is pretty minor - ymmv depending on what your colour choice is.

mentalinc

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#3424744 14-Oct-2025 09:36

Thanks, so looks like carpet tiles are the main path forward, thanks for the ideas so far.

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caffynz

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#3424751 14-Oct-2025 09:54

I bought a 1m x 1m carpet tile from Bunnings (~$40), has worked reasonably well on top of thick piled carpet.

richms

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#3424766 14-Oct-2025 10:22

I have found them too small and I either run off the front when pulling under the desk, or off the back when getting up depending on where its placed. Left and right is also one wheel coming off the carpet protector.

Additionally stuff keeps getting pushed under the edge of it and it needs to be lifted to clean it.

All up I gave up and just accept that I will be replacing the carpet in that room sooner.

If you are someone that insists the whole house has the same carpet and wall colour etc then this may not be an option for you.

Richard rich.ms

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#3424770 14-Oct-2025 10:39

mentalinc: ...

I've used polycaronate mats like the below, but they tend to crack after 18-24 months of use, so not overly great value given the price.

https://www.officemax.co.nz/Furniture/Furniture-Accessories/Chairmats/Coverzone-Polycarbonate-Chair-Mat-Carpet-Rectangular-900x1200mm-Clear-2467402

...

We previously purchased from here: https://supplyme.co.nz/products/office-furniture/chair-entrance-mats/chair-mats. 5+ years & still going strong. No cracks.

I agree with Gurezaemon.