The answer depends on the type of floor you have. When it comes to chair mats, there are two types of floor: carpet and hard floor. You really should not use a hard floor chair mat on the carpet — or vice versa. It defeats the purpose of protecting your floor.
For hardwood, tile floors, and other hard surfaces: There are many floor mat material choices for a hard floor. Carpet-type mats, polycarbonate, vinyl, and tempered glass mats are all suitable. Polycarbonate and glass are the most durable. Vinyl and carpet-type mats do not last as long.
For carpet: Some of the best chair mats for carpets are made of translucent polycarbonate, a tough and durable material. These mats usually have grippers on the back to keep the mat from sliding on the carpet.
For stylish looks, choose bamboo, wood, or carpet-like rugs with a pattern.
Depending on whether you have a medium pile or low pile carpet, you may have to make further choices for floor mats. Purchase a chair mat for the right thickness to avoid problems. A chair mat for a low pile carpet is fairly easy to find, but you may need a specialty chair mat for plush or high pile carpet. If you are unsure of your pile carpet height, most retailers suggest using an unfolded paperclip inserted in a pile to measure whether it is a medium pile, low pile, or plush.
Pro Tip: If you are shopping online, access the product detail pages and read them carefully to determine which type of floor an office chair mat is designed for size options, and other important information to get the best chair mat for your business.