8 Best Office Chair for Carpet and Hardwood Floors

Your carpet and hardwood floor helps to enhance the look of your office space. Although it’s subtle, they contribute to the look and feel of your interior design. However, most office chairs use casters that only work for one type of flooring. For example, some casters may not smoothly roll over carpets, and other casters might scratch your hardwood floors. 

Installing hardwood floors and carpeting is expensive, and you certainly wouldn’t want to ruin them with your new office chair. An office chair should have wheel casters that smoothly and quietly glide through your floors. In this article, we’ll cover the 8 best office chairs for carpet and hardwood floors. 

Let’s get started!

Best Office Chairs for Carpet and Hardwood Floor

• Herman Miller Aeron – Best Overall
• Staples Hyken – Budget Pick
• Duramont Office Chair – Best Under $300
• NOUHAUS Ergo3D – Best Mesh
• Secretlab Titan – Best for Gaming
• Steelcase Leap – Best Fabric 
• Herman Miller Embody – Best for Back Pain
• La-Z-Boy Delano – Best Leather Office Chair

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Herman Miller Aeron – Best Overall

Check out our guide on the Best Herman Miller Chairs

The Herman Miller Aeron is the standard when it comes to office chairs. Everything is designed to meticulous detail to fit the most optimal user experience, and the casters are no different. The Aeron uses 2.5-inch casters that have a soft-polyurethane treat on the outer layer. This is designed to work on carpet casters, hard floors, and other floor types. The PU coating is soft and prevents scratching the floors. In addition, it has a dual-wheel design to provide more stability and smoothness when rolling. 

There’s a reason the Aeron is priced at a premium. Its 8Z pellicle material offers unmatched elastomeric suspension that is forgiving around areas where the body makes the most contact. This forgiving nature and flexibility eliminate circulation-restricting pressure points. Simply put, the chair doesn’t feel rigid and has a nice bounce to it when sitting. 

Also, the Aeron features their PostureFit SL, which are individually adjustable pads that support the lumbar area and stabilize the sacrum. These pads can be adjusted separately and fit seamlessly into the curvature of your spine. 

Pros:

• 8Z pellicle design and mesh material prevents heat buildup and allows air to pass through 
• The chair offers forgiving suspension in the areas that make the most contact to relieve tension throughout the body 
• The tilt mechanism ensures smooth recline and adjustability 
• Lumbar pads can be adjusted separately to fit curve in your lower back 
• Aeron has wheel casters with a thin rubberized coating to prevent floor marring 

Cons

• Fairly expensive office chair compared to other ones 

Staples Hyken – Budget Pick

It’s really difficult to find office chairs at an affordable price that are made with good quality and excellent ergonomic features. However, we found the Staples Hyken to be the best affordable option. 

The Hyken uses a breathable mesh material for its seat and backrest to allow airflow to pass through. In places with humidity, seating can be a big issue. A mesh upholstery prevents heat and sweat from building up so that users remain cool throughout the day. 

In addition, the Hyken has a seat ergonomically designed like a waterfall, where it slopes downward. This supports under your thighs and increases blood flow in your lower body. Also, this chair has plenty of adjustments such as adjustable armrests, headrests, tilt tension, recline and seat height. 

As for their wheel casters, it uses a dual-wheel design made of a soft PU exterior. This is quite standard among high-quality office chairs. The PU exterior allows the wheels to glide through any surface without scratching smoothly or intense friction. And the dual-design adds stability, so the chair feels stable as you roll around your office space. 

Pros

• Mesh-back keeps you cool all-day 
• Waterfall seat edge design increases blood circulation and reduces pressure in the lower extremities 
• The headrest provides neck support and prevents neck pain 
• Inexpensive office chair 
• It offers lumbar support to minimize lower back pain 

Cons

• Armrests are only height adjustable 

Check out our guide on the Best Office Chairs Under $200

Duramont Office Chair – Best Under $300

Duramont offers some of the most impressive ergonomic features, given its price point. This office chair features a flexible mesh back upholstery to allow ventilation and keep you cool throughout the day. In contrast, the chair uses a soft thick, cushioned fabric upholstery for its seat, which enhances the comfort and relieves tension in your buttocks and hips. Most mesh chairs don’t have a thick cushioning, so it feels rigid while sitting on it. However, most leather or fabric seats are comfortable but don’t have any mesh to allow airflow. The Duramont uses both a thick cushioned seat for comfort and a mesh back for ventilation. 

As for the wheels, it features rollerblade casters designed for all types of flooring, including hardwood, concrete, carpet, and parquet. These casters are made to glide freely throughout the office without any squeaky noises. They also prevent your floors from any markets or scratches so that you won’t need chair mats. 

Lumbar support is another critical factor when deciding between chairs. The Duramont offers adjustable back support, where users can adjust the height and depth of their lumbar support. Adjusting the height allows the support to fit into the curve of your spine. Users can adjust the depth of the support to match their preferences. 

Pros

• Thick foam cushion seat to relieve tension in your hips and buttocks 
• Backrest uses a breathable mesh material to prevent sweating
• Uses rollerblade casters to move through floors without damaging the hardwood
• Lumbar support is height and depth adjustable 
• Supports up to 330 lbs 

Cons

• Armrests can only be adjusted by height 

Check out our guide on the Best Office Chairs Under $300

NOUHAUS Ergo3D – Best Mesh

For those who prefer mesh office chairs, the Neuhaus Ergo3D is an excellent option to choose from. It offers a full mesh-back and seat to eliminate any buildup in heat and prevents sweating. Their ElastoMesh material is also very flexible, which feels much more comfortable than other office chairs that use a rigid mesh material. 

In addition, we like that the Ergo3D has plenty of adjustable features to ensure you get into an optimal and supportive seating position. The Ergo3D has a super-lounge tilt, where you can recline up to 135 degrees and relax after a long work session Users can also adjust the seat height, headrest by height and angle, and armrests. Although their lumbar support isn’t adjustable, it does respond to the amount of pressure you place on it and pivots with your movements. 

The Nouhaus Ergo3D features blade wheels that silent and smoothly glides through any flooring. You won’t have to worry about disrupting people around you from any squeaky noises. Nouhaus also provides an extra set of blade casters in case they get damage or break. 

Pros

• Nouhaus uses rollerblade wheels to glide smoothly and silently across hardwood floors
• An extra pair of wheels are included 
• Armrests are 4D adjustable to ensure proper arm positioning 
• Elastomesh provides optimal airflow to avoid stickiness and sweating 
• The chair can recline up to 135 degrees to relax or reduce pressure in your spine 

Cons

• Lumbar support isn’t adjustable 

Check out our guide on the Best Mesh Gaming Chairs

Secretlab Titan – Best for Gaming

For gamers who want a chair that can be used for both work and play, the Secretlab Titan is a great choice. The Titan has plenty of ergonomic features that rival some of the best office chairs in the market. You can choose between three types of upholstery: Prime 2.0 PU leather, Softweave Fabric, and NAPA leather. Since most people have a specific preference about the type of leather they like best, now you get to choose the one that best suits your needs. 

One of our favorite features about the Titan is its adjustable internal lumbar support. Most gaming chairs use clunky pillows that don’t fully support your lower back. Their lumbar system can be adjusted by height and depth. Adjust the height to seamlessly fit into the arch of your spine and adjust the depth, which determines how much the support protrudes outward. Some people prefer more pronounced support, while others want something more subtle. You can easily adjust it using a knob located in the back of the seat. 

In addition, the Titan features XL PU casters to ensure greater stability and durability. Having bigger casters helps to support the weight of the chair and also prevents the casters from breaking. The soft exterior PU helps to glide and prevent floor scratching. 

Pros

• The Titan uses XL casters which are larger, enabling better durability, sturdiness, and smoother gliding 
• PU rubber coating on the casters prevents casters from damaging hardwood floors 
• Available in Prime 2.0 PU leather, Softweave fabric, or Napa leather upholstery
• Lumbar support can be adjusted by height and depth 
• The backrest reclines up to 165 degrees 

Cons

• The Titan can’t adapt the support to mimic your movements within your chair 

Check out our full Secretlab Gaming Chairs Review & Buying Guide

Steelcase Leap – Best Fabric 

Unlike most office chairs that use mesh or leather material, the Steelcase Leap features a full-fabric upholstery. Fabric chairs tend to provide a more cozy and softer seating experience. Also, they also match your interior design better, especially if you have other fabric chairs or couches. 

In terms of ergonomics, the Steelcase Leap offers an impressive suite of ergonomic features. Most chairs are able to recline, however, the seat won’t adjust with it. That causes bad posture while the user is sitting in a reclined position. The Steelcase Leap has a Natural Glide feature where the seat glides forward as you recline backwards, which keeps you in a healthy upright posture. 

Also, the Leap features their signature 3D LiveBack technology, which adapts to any micromovement in your body. This encourages active sitting, so that you can move around in your seat and increase circulation, while also receiving full-body support. 

Pros

• Available in 28 colors 
• The Leap uses soft dual-wheel casters designed to roll through hardwood floors and carpet smoothly
• Features their Natural Glide adjustment where seat glides forward during recline, so users remain in a healthy sitting posture 
• It offers a 3D LiveBack technology to mimic and adapt to movements in your body 
• Lumbar is height adjustable, and users can adjust the firmness of the support

Cons

• Fairly expensive 

Check out our guide on the Best Fabric Upholstered Office Chairs

Herman Miller Embody – Best for Back Pain

The Herman Miller Embody is another premium office chair that is known for its ergonomics and high standards. It features a unique narrow backrest and curved shape to adapt to your spine. This narrow backrest mimics the shape of your spine for natural alignment while also giving you the freedom to move around. Rather than simply adjusting the lumbar region like most chairs, the entire backrest will adjust to fit the shape of your spine for full back support. 

In addition, it has pixelated support throughout, which conforms to any micromovements you make and eliminates pressure buildup. Pressure buildup causes excess tension in your body, which leads to pain and stiffness. The Embody uses four breathable layers of fabric upholstery to provide some cushioning into the seat while still allowing airflow to pass through. 

There are also plenty of adjustments that users can tinkle with, such as adjusting the chair’s armrests, seat height, seat depth, tilt tension, and backrest. This ensures you get the total body support you need to sit comfortably without pain for hours. 

Pros

• 3-inch wheel casters contain polyurethane tread for safe use on hardwood floors 
• Wheels also work on rugs and carpets 
• BackFit adjustment can be adjusted to align with your spine 
• Pixelated supports conforms to your unique shape and movements to eliminate any pressure buildup 
• Narrow back helps to correct posture while also providing freedom to move around in your seat 

Cons

• Not a lot of cushioning 

La-Z-Boy Delano – Best Leather Office Chair

When it comes to comfort, it’s hard to compete with the La-Z-Boy Delano. This executive office chair uses layers of padding throughout to enhance your seating experience. It features their signature ComfortCore, which are layers of memory foam cushioning, which contour to your body and relieve any tension built up. Memory foam provides just the right blend between soft and firm. Most cushions can feel sag and sink in too deeply, which will disrupt your posture and lead to more pain. 

In addition, we also like the aesthetic appeal that the Delano provides. It uses luxurious bonded leather with rich mahogany wood arms and a base to enhance the interior design of any office space. Leather upholstery is very easy to clean and maintain. In addition, it’s resistant to water and spills. Also, the Delano has a very wide and tall frame to support big and tall users. Not to mention, the chair can support up to 350 pounds of weight. 

The Delano uses the standard PU dual-wheel casters, which are designed to work on all types of flooring. The PU exterior is soft to prevent scratching on your hardwood and glides through the floor seamlessly. 

Pros

• Supports up to 350 lbs
• Uses heavy-duty PU casters for stability and durability 
• It features layers of memory foam cushioning, which contour to your body 
• The chair uses luxurious bonded leather for a distinguished look 
• Easy-to-use levers to tilt, recline, and make adjustments 

Cons

• Heat may buildup with leather upholstered chairs 

Check out our guide on the Best La-Z-Boy Office Chairs

How to Choose the Best Office Chair Carpet and Hardwood Floor

There are plenty of factors to consider before purchasing your office chair. You need to ensure the ergonomics are right. But what about the casters, durability, comfort, and price? Here is an essential buyer’s guide for finding the perfect office chair. 

Casters

If you’re concerned about your flooring, casters are an important feature to look at. If you have hardwood floors, the best option is to go for softer casters with materials such as rubber or polyurethane. Most of the wheels mentioned on our list feature a single rollerblade wheel or a dual-wheel design with a polyurethane cover to prevent scratching. 

When dealing with hardwood floors, avoid using any type of hard materials such as hard nylon, plastics, or metal casters. Dragging those wheels can leave scuff marks or scratches over time. For carpets, it’s acceptable to use harder casters because they can easily roll through without getting stuck. 

Other factors to consider are the durability and size of the whee. Larger-sized wheels tend to handle more weight. Some wheels even have an anti-slip design allowing you to lock the wheel and prevent it from moving. 

Personally, we believe rubber rollerblade wheels offer the least amount of noise and roll more smoothly than other wheel casters. If you want stability, polyurethane dual-design wheels can handle more weight and are the more heavy-duty ones. Also, polyurethane casters will last longer since they are more resistant to wear and abrasion. However, both are excellent options, and you can’t go wrong with either. 

Build Quality

Although most people look for the lowest prices, you should reframe your thinking to question how long the office chair might last. If the office chair only lasts one to three years, it likely has poor build quality. Chairs manufacturers such as Herman Miller and Steelcase offer a 12-year warranty to back up their claims. 

There are several factors to determine its build quality. First, always check that the chair is made from a steel or aluminum frame. These frames tend to last a decade or longer. Avoid any nylon or hard plastic bases. 

If your chair utilizes leather or fabric, look at the type used. For example, bonded leather or genuine leather is much stronger and durable than standard PU leather. For fabric upholstery, the strongest ones are woven materials, vinyl, or mesh.

Lastly, the chair cushion is one of the most vulnerable aspects of an office chair. A standard foam cushion may show signs of deterioration in about two to three years. A thicker foam with high resiliency or high density may last between three to five years before signs of wearing down. Memory foams are the most elastic of them and are the most durable. 

Ergonomics

The term ergonomics is thrown around loosely, especially by chair manufacturers looking to persuade you to buy their chairs. However, very few companies actually invest their time, resources, and money to ensure quality ergonomic features. For example, the Herman Miller Embody was designed by over 30 physicians and Ph.D. experts in ergonomics, physical therapy, and vision. 

Look for features that help to correct your posture and increase blood flow while sitting. For example, the Embody has a BackFit adjustment that can be adjusted to align with your spine. Or the Steelcase Leap uses their 3D LiveBack technology that mimics and adapts to your micromovements. Even when you’re shifting your weight or moving in your seat, the backrest will support you. 

Lumbar support is another key ingredient to correct posture. Many ergonomic chairs like the Secretlab Titan, Herman Miller Aeron, and Duramont office chair let you adjust their lumbar support. It’s best to have height and depth adjustability. As mentioned earlier, the height adjustability ensures that the support fits in the arch of your spine. And the depth adjustability ensures the firmness or the amount that the support protrudes outward. 

Adjustability

Adjustability helps ensure that you sit in a healthy posture conducive to working. You don’t want to tilt your head, slouch your back or raise your arms while on your computer. Some of the most common adjustable features to look for are seat height, seat depth, backrest recline, tilt tension, armrests, headrests, and lumbar support adjustability. 

Adjusting seat height ensures your arms are parallel to your desk and that you’re at eye level with the computer monitor. With seat depth adjustability, your back will always be leaned fully to the backrest without your knees going up against the chair and cutting off circulation. Armrest adjustability ensures your arms are in the most comfortable position (angle and height) to type on your keyboard or perform other tasks without straining your muscles. 

The backrest recline allows users to recline their chairs, which is useful when taking a break or watching a video. Having a tilt tension lets you adjust the right amount of resistance needed for recline. 

Weight Capacity

The office chair you’re considering should be able to support your weight. So, for example, if you weigh 300 pounds, you wouldn’t want a standard office chair that only supports 200 pounds. Some chairs have a stronger and wider frame designed for big and tall people. For example, the La-Z-Boy Delano supports 350 pounds, and the Steelcase Leap supports 400 pounds. 

Comfort

When it comes to comfort, you have to be sitting in a healthy position and fully supported. But some chairs go the extra mile by having layers of padding and cushioning. Sitting for long hours can be quite painful, especially if you’re sitting on a rigid chair. Some mesh chairs are wirey, and customers complain that they can feel the frame of the seat. 

Look for chairs that offer a thick cushion, ideally two or three inches of padding for their seat. The La-Z-Boy Delano takes it one step further by using multiple layers of memory foam cushioning. Memory foam molds to the shape of your body so that you’re getting customized support based on your unique body type. It’s also nice to have a headrest to support your neck to prevent potential straining. 

Price

Your budget always plays a pivotal role in which office chair you ultimately decide to buy. Our list consists of chairs in different price ranges so that no matter what your budget is, there are great ergonomic options to choose from. If you’re on a tight budget, we recommend the Staples Hyken or Duramont office chair. They still have plenty of adjustable features and include a mesh back to keep you cool. 

For a mid-tier level chair, we recommend the Secretlab Titan or La-Z-Boy Delano. Both are upholstered leather seats with plenty of padding to alleviate the pressure throughout your body. If price isn’t a big concern, we recommend the Herman Miller Aeron, Steelcase Leap, or Herman Miller Embody because they offer the best ergonomics and will keep you pain-free while sitting. Their chairs are great at adapting to your movements and individual needs to ensure you have optimal support at all times. 

How to Protect Hardwood Floors and Carpets From Your Office Chair

It’s always wise to consider having some extra protection for your carpets and hardwood floors. Flooring can be difficult to replace, especially wood floor installations. There are two easy ways to protect your floors from your office chair. 

Replace the Casters

Sometimes, you may like an office chair, but not like their wheel casters. Luckily, most office chairs allow you to replace the casters. Before getting any replacement casters, you want to consider what type is best used for your floors. Hardwood floors should use soft casters such as rubber or polyurethane. Rubber tends to roll faster and more smoothly, so consider using rubber rollerblade wheels as a replacement. 

On the other hand, softer casters don’t perform as well on carpets. Although they work fine and still can roll around, they can potentially dig into the carpet or stick. The best option for carpets is hard nylon or metal casters. We recommend having spare casters in place in case your casters wear down, or you notice damage to your flooring. 

Use a Chair Mat

Chair mats are designed to cover the entire area where your chair moves. This allows the wheels to glide safely within the mat. Avoid getting plastic mats since they can collect grit underneath them and potentially ruin your floor’s finish. Instead, look for mats that are made of polycarbonate or polyvinyl chloride (PVC). Also, make sure to clean underneath the mat once a week so that you can check the floors for any fading or discoloration. 

In addition, chair mats serve as an excellent backup in case your wheels wear down. The polyurethane material will break down over time, causing rough edges to stick out and scratch the floor. 

Depending on your floor type, you’ll want to look for a mat that best suits your flooring. For example, if you have carpeted floors, you’ll want a mat with small cleats on the bottom because it can hold the mat in place without causing any damage to the carpet. If you have hardwood floors, choose a chair mat with a smooth backing, so it won’t scratch the floors. 

Recap of the Best Office Chairs for Carpet and Hardwood Floor

Best Office Chair for Carpet and Hardwood Floor	Award
Herman Miller Aeron	Best Overall
Staples Hyken	Budget Pick
Duramont Office Chair	Best Under $300
NOUHAUS Ergo3D	Best Mesh
Secretlab Titan	Best for Gaming
Steelcase Leap	Best Fabric
Herman Miller Embody	Best for Back Pain
La-Z-Boy Delano	Best Leather Office Chair

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