The squeaky wheel might get the grease, but the right furniture caster can do its job without making a sound. Wheel casters for furniture are an integral part of the workflow of many modern businesses. Everyone from your corner grocery store to giants like Amazon depends on casters to get products where they need to go.

• Do you have scratches and scuff marks on your floors from furniture?
• Do the employees at your business struggle to move furniture or inventory from place to place?
• Do you frequently replace broken carts or furniture because of stuck or broken wheels?

If so, your workflow and your bottom line could benefit from professional-grade furniture casters.

What Are Casters?

Wheel casters for furniture are devices that attach wheels to heavy objects. They have helped businesses run smoothly for over a century.

Are you delaying retrofitting your equipment because you are not sure which casters are right for you? Are you making do with old equipment because it seems like caster construction will not make a difference?

Recent developments in manufacturing mean that modern casters work more efficiently. They accomplish significantly more than they could just a few decades ago.

You can choose from hundreds of models of durable, well-crafted casters. Our casters work for many business applications, developed by the nation’s top brands.

Finding the Right Caster

The optimal caster depends on several factors. If the equipment in your facility is unwieldy, you might not have found the most suitable casters yet.

Consider all the equipment, shelving, appliances, and furniture you move on a daily, monthly, or annual basis. Then, ask yourself how much you can save in money and person-hours by purchasing high-performing casters.

Tip #1: Consider the Weight of Your Furniture

If your furniture is heavy, plate casters might be a better fit than stem casters. Their design distributes the weight over a larger area. Use a sturdy material like steel rather than wood or plastic for your casters.

Know the weight limit of any caster and do not exceed the rated load capacity. Otherwise, you risk a sudden failure of the caster. This failure could cause the caster to become unstable or fall over.

Lastly, always secure casters for heavy items that are stationary most of the time. Affix the items to a nearby wall until you need to move them.

Tip #2: Aim for Maneuverability

For lighter furniture, such as small desks, carts, and office chairs, stem casters make it easier to rotate or pivot in tight surroundings. For the best maneuverability, use casters that can rotate in any direction with the piece of furniture.

Self-guiding casters lag behind the direction of motion and keep the wheels in alignment. They reduce the risk of the casters slipping sideways when you push the item forward.

Tip #3: Choose Casters that Last

Are you investing in solid furniture that you want to keep for years or longer? If so, make sure that any caster has a load limit that exceeds the load they will bear when in use. Post weight limits for employees and do not overload the casters.

Aluminum is a lightweight and sturdy choice for a caster material. However, steel confers high durability. Brass is a good caster material for antique furniture because of its traditional aesthetic. 

Tip #4: Avoid Rust and Wear

In high-traffic areas or locations where spills can happen, choose casters that will not rust or stain. If you choose painted casters or casters with metallic finishes, choose scratch-resistant casters and paint.

Casters made from modern heavy-duty plastics can withstand heavy loads and are often available in many colors. Darker colors conceal minor scratches and stains. Plastics have the additional benefit of being easy to clean because they do not absorb moisture or corrode.

Tip #5: Use Stem Casters for Adjustability

Wheel casters for furniture anchor to the furniture item through a central axis that screws or bolts into the furniture item. Because the caster swivels on that axis, you can increase the rolling resistance when you need more stability. You can also decrease the resistance when maneuverability is more important.

Tip #6: Use Plate Casters to Reduce the Risk of Breakage

While stem casters are fine for light furniture, the narrow stem at the center is a point of vulnerability for a stem caster. If the stem snaps under a heavy weight, it could cause the furniture to tip over and become a hazard.

Typical plate casters bolt or screw onto the furniture at four or more points at the corners of the plate, instead of a single shaft. They can handle higher load limits themselves. They also are less likely to damage the furniture because each attachment point bears less weight.

Tip #7: Protect Your Floors

In addition to protecting your casters and furniture against wear, choose casters appropriate for the flooring underneath them. If you have smooth hardwood or laminate floors, use casters that provide traction but do not scratch the surface.

If your floors are prone to scratches, order floor-protecting casters with a rubber exterior or a cloth covering. Softer wheels and wheel materials will wear out faster than hard wheels. Therefore, inspect your casters periodically in case any of them need replacement.

Tip #8: Try Glides as an Alternative to Casters

For lightweight furniture, use glides instead. Glides are smooth surfaces that stick onto the underside of furniture. As a result, they allow the furniture to slide across rugs or wooden floors without causing damage.

Glides typically attach using adhesives rather than bolts or screws. So, you do not have to worry about them causing any damage to your furniture.

Tip #9: Keep Your Budget in Mind

Casters are a sound investment because they:

• Reduce moving expenses
• Prevent costly repairs to flooring
• Improve the safety and stability of your furniture

If you need casters for many furniture items in an institutional setting, the cost of replacement casters can be appreciable. Strike the right balance between durability and price. An expert in caster design and industry applications of caster technology can help you select the right casters for your unique situation.

Tip #10: Consider Custom and Industry-Specific Casters

Casters come in many shapes, sizes, and configurations. Specially designed wheels, casters, breaks, bearings, and other components meet industry standards for many environments, such as:

• Hospitals and clinics
• Food service establishments
• Factories and warehouses
• Antique and handmade furniture
• Office and corporate settings
• Garages and automotive facilities

Having standard wheel casters for furniture in your business makes it easier to replace damaged casters. It also creates consistency among different branches or locations.

Furthermore, manufacturers design some casters to work smoothly with other equipment such as guide tracks on the floor.

If the off-the-shelf casters do not meet your needs for any reason, consider other options. Advances in 3D printing technology allow manufacturers to create on-demand casters with bearings. Create casters for furniture with unusual dimensions or casters with holes, handles, anchor points, or other features.

Get the Casters You Need at the Right Price from Caster Central

You’ve come to the right place for state-of-the-art wheel casters for furniture. Take the time to explore our website. Learn about the types of caster mount, caster materials, and caster design so you can make an informed decision about your office furnishing needs.

Call Caster Central at 1 (800) 445-4082 and tell us more about your business. We’ll get you the quality casters you need at a great price.