A Complete Guide to Finding the Perfect Chair Mat for Your Office or Home

Rolling office chairs can easily scratch, scuff, and dent hardwood, laminate, tile, and even carpeted floors over time. Investing in a high-quality chair mat from OfficeMax is a simple and affordable way to protect your floors while creating a smooth surface for your chair to roll around. With a variety of shapes, sizes, and materials to choose from, OfficeMax has chair mats suitable for any workspace.

In this ultimate guide, we will give you a detailed overview of the many chair mat options sold at OfficeMax stores and online. Whether you want a basic rectangular mat for low pile carpet or an eco-friendly frosted mat for hard floors, you’ll learn everything you need to select the perfect OfficeMax chair mat for your needs and budget.

Hard Floor vs. Carpeted Chair Mats

The first decision to make is whether you need a chair mat for a hard floor surface like hardwood or laminate, or a carpeted floor. OfficeMax sells chair mats suitable for both flooring types.

Hard floor chair mats are designed to protect delicate hardwood, laminate, tile, and stone from dents, chips, and scratches. They provide a smooth surface for an office chair to roll freely. OfficeMax offers clear, frosted, and lip-edged styles to contain chair movement on hard floors.

For low to medium pile office carpeting, OfficeMax has standard carpet chair mats in a range of sizes. They prevent wear from office chair wheels sinking into and crushing carpet fibers over time.

Key Features of OfficeMax Hard Floor Chair Mats

• Made of clear polycarbonate or PVC for strength
• Frosted finish helps hide scratches and scuffs
• Beveled edges provide a safe transition
• Lip or bumper edge contains chair wheels on the mat
• Anti-slip backing prevents mat from shifting

Benefits of OfficeMax Carpeted Floor Chair Mats

• Protects carpet from crushing and damage
• Allows wheels to move freely over carpet
• Made from vinyl, polycarbonate, or PVC
• Rectangular and L-shaped sizes available
• Lip or bumper edge keeps chair on the mat

So whether you need to protect wood or carpet, OfficeMax has a chair mat tailored for your specific flooring type.

OfficeMax Chair Mat Styles and Materials

In addition to choosing a chair mat for your floor type, consider the size, shape, material, and features you need. From basic to heavy-duty styles, OfficeMax offers the following chair mat options:

• Clear Chair Mats: Basic transparent PVC mats for hard floors
• Frosted Chair Mats: PVC mats with frosted finish to hide scuffs
• Polycarbonate Chair Mats: Very strong and scratch-resistant
• Vinyl Chair Mats: Economical basic option for carpets
• PVC Lip-Edged Chair Mats: Contain wheels with raised edging
• Rectangular Chair Mats: Standard shape for regular desks
• L-Shaped Chair Mats: Cover L-shaped workstation areas
• Heavy-Duty Chair Mats: Withstand heavy use and furniture
• Anti-Fatigue Chair Mats: Improve comfort for stand-up desks

With this variety, OfficeMax makes it easy to dial in the exact chair mat to suit your workspace requirements. Measure the floor area you want to cover and consider the style of office chair you’ll be using to determine the best size, shape, and material for your needs.

Finding the Right Size OfficeMax Chair Mat

One of the most important choices is selecting the proper size chair mat for your workspace. You’ll want it to provide ample coverage for your chair’s range of movement. OfficeMax stocks standard and extra large chair mats in these dimensions:

• 36″ x 48″ Rectangular Chair Mats – Ideal for small, compact office spaces
• 40″ x 53″ Rectangular Chair Mats – Fits moderate desk and workstation sizes
• 46″ x 60″ Rectangular Chair Mats – The most popular standard mat size
• 48″ x 72″ Rectangular Chair Mats – Extra large size great for open floor plans
• 51″ x 71″ L-Shaped Chair Mats – Cover L or U-shaped desk configurations

Measure how much floor space you’d like to protect, the dimensions of your desk, and how your chair normally moves around. This will help you select the properly sized OfficeMax chair mat for your needs. Allow an extra 12-18 inches of matting beyond the footprint of your desk to accommodate rolling chairs.

Pricing for OfficeMax Chair Mats

Chair mat costs can range quite a bit based on the material, size, and features. In general, OfficeMax chair mats are very competitively priced from economy to premium styles. Here are the typical price ranges:

• Basic Vinyl Carpet Chair Mats – $20 to $60
• Standard Polycarbonate Hard Floor Mats – $60 to $120
• Heavy-Duty Polycarbonate Lip-Edged Mats – $100 to $250
• Extra Large Hard Floor Chair Mats – $150 to $300

Factors like the thickness, beveled edges, bumper lips, and anti-slip backing add cost but also make a chair mat more ergonomic and durable over the long term. Consider going a step above a basic mat for the extra protection and longevity.

Are OfficeMax Chair Mats Durable?

Durability is a major concern when protecting your floors. You want a chair mat that can stand up to constant office chair movement without cracking, peeling, or becoming brittle over time.

The good news is that OfficeMax only sells quality chair mats made to last. Their polycarbonate hard floor mats are virtually indestructible and come with 5-10 year warranties. And vinyl carpet mats are also extremely durable and resistant to cracking.

Key indicators of durability include:

• Thickness – 1/8” mats are standard. Go thicker for maximum resilience.
• Material – Polycarbonate and vinyl are very strong and long-lasting.
• Warranty – Look for at least 5 years of coverage.
• Bumper Edges – These contain chair movement to prevent mat damage.

Pro tip: Avoid cheap thin plastic mats that can easily crack. Spend a little more for a durable OfficeMax chair mat that will last for years.

Do OfficeMax Chair Mats Have Lip Edges?

A lip or bumper edge is a raised perimeter that runs around the mat. This edge serves some very practical purposes:

• Contains Chair Movement – Prevents wheels from rolling off the mat
• Protects Edges – Reinforces vulnerable edges from damage
• Elevates Mat – Allows ventilation and drainage under mat

Many of the hard floor and carpet chair mats sold at OfficeMax feature a lip edge for these benefits. Look for models with an 1/8″ to 1/4″ high lip that complements the thickness of the mat. This bumper edge provides excellent protection for the mat while seamlessly containing chair wheels.

Eco-Friendly OfficeMax Chair Mats

For environmentally conscious buyers, OfficeMax offers chair mats made from recycled materials and sustainably-sourced polycarbonate.

Some examples of green chair mat options at OfficeMax include:

• 100% Recycled Frosted Finish Mats – Made from recycled vinyl
• PURE Mat with 35% Recycled Content – Uses recycled polyurethane
• Bamboo Hard Floor Mats – Sustainably-grown bamboo surface

Going green doesn’t mean sacrificing quality either. These eco-friendly mats are just as durable and long-lasting as conventional styles. They just use more sustainable manufacturing processes and materials.

Customizing Your OfficeMax Chair Mat

Beyond the standard sizes and shapes, you can also customize a chair mat at OfficeMax to match your exact dimensions and needs:

• Request Custom Sizes – They can cut mats to your specifications
• Personalized Logos – Add your business logo or design
• Unique Shapes – Get an octagon, circle, or curved mat
• Desk Extensions – Lip edges can cover desk undersides

With custom options, OfficeMax makes it easy to get a one-of-a-kind chair mat tailored to your office space. Simply provide them with dimensions, artwork, or drawings to create the perfect chair mat solution.

Which Is the Best OfficeMax Chair Mat for You?

With this overview of the chair mat selection at OfficeMax, let’s recap some of the best options for common needs:

• Overall Best Seller – 46″ x 60″ Polycarbonate Lip-Edged Mat
• Best for Hardwood – 48″ x 60″ Frosted Finish Polycarbonate Mat
• Best for Heavy Use – 1/2” Thick Rectangular Lip-Edged Mat
• Best for Carpet – 40” x 47” Standard Vinyl Lip-Edged Mat
• Best Extra Large Mat – 48″ x 72″ Polycarbonate Lip-Edged Mat
• Best for Standing Desks – 60″ x 30″ Polyurethane Anti-Fatigue Mat

Check these top-rated chair mats out in OfficeMax stores or online to find the perfect fit.

Shop In-Store or Order Online

The best way to evaluate chair mats is to see them in person. Visit any OfficeMax store to check out their quality chair mat selection on display. Test different materials with your office chair to get a feel for durability and performance.

If you prefer online shopping, you can conveniently order chair mats on the OfficeMax website for delivery right to your door. Measure your space, read product details and reviews, and take advantage of free shipping offers.

However you shop, OfficeMax makes it easy to get the floor protection you need. Invest in a durable, ergonomic chair mat and save your floors from damage while creating a smooth rolling surface for productive days in the office. Your floors and body will thank you!