Difference Between Office Chair Glides and Casters

The right choice regarding ergonomics, style, and durability can only be made by understanding the variations and characteristics of office chairs. If you want casters or glides on your computer chair, this is one way to choose between them. There are advantages and disadvantages to office chair glides and casters: both affect the chair's base design and motion.

Knowing which features suit your office needs is essential when choosing office furniture. You'll also gain more flexibility in seating options for your office by understanding the differences between glides vs. casters, the details regarding care and maintenance, such as whether you should use castors or glides for your new seating. You can read this article to learn how glides and casters compare and how to choose the best one for your office chair.

What is a Glide?

Sometimes, the legs of office chairs have small discs known as glides. The office chair glides are discs that help your chair glide over surfaces as they come in various shapes, sizes, and materials. If you're worried about damaging the floor with your chair, these are the perfect solution. Rather than wheels, an office chair on glides requires more force to move. This is the reason why casters are a better fit on furniture that is unlikely to be moved around frequently. Unlike wheels or fixed bases, they are more effective at protecting surfaces. A set of easy-to-install office chair glides can easily replace worn-out ones.

Types of Glides

The office chair carpet glides fitting comes in three types, each with different materials. We will cover the options you have available and help you determine which glide is right for you. A glide fitting comes in three types, each with different materials. In addition, we will cover the office chair casters options you have available and help you determine which glide is right for you.

When it comes to types, how they are fitted makes the biggest difference. There are three types of office chair glides you can choose from: self-adhesive, screw-on, and nail-on. When you only want to use the glides to move the furniture, self-adhesive glides are easily removable. In order to ensure a solid connection to the chair leg, nail-on glides need to be permanently attached. There is no difference in how the screw-on and screw-off variants work; their functions are equal.

Metal

Whether you slide the chairs over carpets or hardwood floors, metal office chair glides fitted on your ergonomic office chair provide the best gliding qualities. Metals such as stainless steel are the best option because they won't rust on the surface as easily as other alternatives.

Felt

Thanks to their flexibility, felt glides are easier to move over uneven floors, adjusting office chair height, and dampening sound. As a downside, however, they require regular maintenance and tend to wear out more quickly.

Plastic

Choose from anti-slip or resistance-free glides if you want different gliding properties. Plastic casters can cause streaks when rolled around on floors with a PVC or polypropylene top coat.

What is a Caster?

The wheeled devices attached to a chair's legs that allow it to move and roll easily are casters. The mount, stem, and wheel are the basic components of any caster. A caster's intended use and type may dictate the number of additional parts required.

Thanks to its casters, getting a chair from one place to another doesn't have to be difficult. In most cases, it is most suitable for the best ergonomic chair that is small, lightweight, such as a conference or task chair.

Types of Casters

Office chair casters come in a variety of types, each with its advantages and disadvantages. Office chairs typically come in the following types:

Charge-braked casters

Unless the user's weight is applied, free-wheeling casters keep rolling, allowing the user to move around while seated. Their swivel mechanism allows them to move in almost any direction without exerting any force. For office chairs, this is perfect for tasks such as communicating with colleagues or reaching items across tables from the user.

Free-wheeling casters

When weight is applied to a charge-braked caster, the chair locks into place instead of free-wheeling. When used, this option can be great for people who want mobility while their chair remains fixed.

Interval-braked casters

Interval-braked casters prevent chairs from rolling away by providing a slight brake, requiring a little more force to move, but preventing them from rolling away.

Hooded casters

A fender on some casters helps to conceal dirt and debris that collects as the casters roll. The caster's function is not improved by this addition, even though it is handy. It does help if you don’t know how to get hair out of office chair wheels.  

When to Choose Glides & When to Choose Casters?

Office chair glides make a good choice when you need to purchase heavier office equipment that doesn't need to be very mobile. They move around smoothly without damaging the floor surface due to their sleek design.

Additionally, they are more subdued than casters, making them ideal for chairs without casters. Gliders are a smart choice if you don't intend to move your modern office furniture frequently and are concerned about the damages caused to the floor.

Caster wheels are better suited for furniture that’s moved frequently. Caster wheels make it easier to move furniture between meeting rooms or allow the user to maneuver freely around their desk, as they require less force to move and offer a greater range of motion than office chair glides.