Upgrade Your Workspace With the Best Office Chair Wheels

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Choosing the Perfect Office Chair Wheel: A Buyer’s Guide

Many office chairs come with terrible casters out of the box, even some otherwise quality products. They do get the job of rolling fine on hard, clean floors done though. The issues start when you put that same chair on the carpet, which many office spaces do. Low-quality casters get stuck on carpet threads and also get hair and dirt inside their bearings. You might be able to put up with them for a few months, but they’ll get useless after that. Luckily, you can solve this issue before it even starts by swapping out your casters with some of the top office chair wheels for 2023. These wheels can breathe new life into old, worn-down chairs with decrepit casters.

These office chair wheels from Lifelong are the perfect example of what third-party wheels can bring to the table. For starters, the five wheels in this pack are compatible with 98% of office chairs on the market, so you can be confident about the fit. These 3-inch wide rubber wheels can glide smoothly over hardwood, ceramic, and even carpet. Their slender shape and large radius helps make sure they don’t get stuck on things like dropped pens. Combine this performance with a toolless 15-minute assembly, and it’s no wonder why we picked this option as the best overall on this list.

Pros

• Stainless-steel core for long-lasting strength
• Slightly soft edges help with smaller bumps
• Can roll perfectly on thicker carpet
• Doesn’t gather hair around its bearings

Cons

• Makes chairs a bit taller

As the name suggests, the design of this option from The Office Oasis is inspired by rollerblades, and it is easy to see the benefits. Once installed properly, there is almost nothing on an office floor that can slow down, let alone stop these wheels. You can glide across your office from one side to the other with a single push, and you’ll still have full control over the chair’s movement. One fantastic aspect of these wheels is their super-smooth swivel that makes changing directions as easy as it gets.

Pros

• Strong, durable, and long-lasting steel axle 
• Rubber rims won't scratch floors
• Gives great control over movement
• Nearly universal fit

Cons

• Might take a few days to smooth out

Stability is the biggest benefit of using a caster under your chair instead of wheels, and Atomdoc takes this concept to 11. Their revolutionary office chair casters are ultra high-quality and eliminate most caster issues. For example, casters are known for getting stuck and making a lot of noise. This manufacturer solves this problem by making their rubber casters super thick and fixing them on stainless-steel ball bearings, so there’s very little friction. Adding these to your chair and moving around feels stable and secure. Plus, you’re always in full control of the chair’s movement.

Pros

• Very quiet rolling on harder floors
• Works fine on carpeting
• Sleek, black and gray design 
• Doesn’t increase chair height

Cons

• A bit sticky on ceramic floors

The Clever Productions Office Chair Wheels are the epitome of “buy once, use forever”. This rubber and steel option is built like a tank and can handle years of use and abuse without showing much wear. You can put a maximum of 500 pounds on them, and they’ll still roll smoothly. The most impressive part about this product is the bearings that keep going smoothly through almost anything. They are also super precise and can move small distances without issues. These wheels are also compatible with 95% of office chairs out today — making them a great and convenient choice.

Pros

• Supports up to 500 pounds 
• Super-durable, long-lasting bearings roll smoothly 
• Doesn’t cause chair wobbling 
• Very precise control

Cons

• Noisy on hardwood floors

These office chair wheels from BF Brightfield are accessible to almost everyone, thanks to their crazy good value. The main factor behind this is their price, which is nearly half of similar wheels on the market. The other key reason behind this option’s value is the overall quality, smoothness, and stability. You can install this product on almost any office chair too, and no one should be able to tell that they cost half as much. Their steel frame is also absurdly strong, with a total weight limit of 650 pounds.

Pros

• Great value for the money
• Glides smoothly across all floor types
• Takes minutes to install without tools
• Won’t scratch almost any type of flooring

Cons

• The swivel bearings make a slight grinding noise

How do I fix my screeching office chair wheel?

You can try greasing up the bearings in every wheel and see if that helps. If the grease didn’t eliminate the noise completely, it’s most likely time to upgrade your office chair wheels.

Are wooden office chair wheels any good?

No, wooden office chair wheels are not a good product to invest in. They will scratch floors, make horrible noises when rolling, and fall apart sooner than rubber versions.

Should my office chair wheels have brakes?

No, they should not. Brakes are usually needed for wheels and casters under things like tables, trollies, kids’ chairs, and shopping carts. Also, quality wheels won’t just start rolling out of nowhere on a flat surface, so you don’t need brakes for your chair’s wheels. The only situation where brakes would be useful is if your sitting area is on a slight incline and you’re tired of making constant manual adjustments.