Whether choosing furniture for a new home or office or upgrading your existing pieces, you want the best your money can buy. With this in mind, you should choose office furniture that looks good and moves freely while protecting your existing floors. 

Caster wheels, an advancement on the standard wheel, provide more effortless movement and reduce the likelihood that your furniture will scuff, scrape, or mark your existing floor. If your space has hardwood floors, you know how vital reducing these factors can be for maintaining your floor’s natural beauty. 

If you’ve already looked at caster wheels available here or from other sources, you’ve seen that manufacturers produce a wide variety of makes and models. While sorting through the available models to find the right one for your needs can seem challenging, our team here at Caster Central can help. 

At Caster Central, we offer a comprehensive lineup of wheels, accessories, and knowledge to help people get the most out of their floors and furniture. In this blog, we cover what caster wheels are, why choosing the right one matters, and lists of caster wheels for hardwood floors you should either choose or avoid. 

To learn more about furniture casters from Caster Central, continue browsing our website, visit our store, or give our friendly team a call with your questions today. 

What Is A Caster Wheel? 

Caster wheels differ from standard wheels in that this design includes specialized housing and fittings designed to attach the wheel to a piece of furniture. Manufacturers often use caster wheels on office chairs, filing cabinets, rolling carts, and other moveable furniture for home or business use. 

Caster wheels may come with brackets or pin systems with which they attach to furniture. Wheels come in many sizes and can contain metal, urethane, rubber, or other materials. While seemingly insignificant, these differences can greatly impact a wheel’s performance potential in a given environment. 

Why Choosing the Right Caster Wheel Matters 

Engineers and manufacturers design caster wheels to suit a variety of uses. From office environments to home crafting rooms, furniture of all shapes and sizes utilize the caster wheel to increase ease of mobility and improve functionality. However, not all casters work well in every environment. 

While many casters for hardwood floors may work decently on carpeted floors, for example, some may cause unnecessary tracking or snagging. On the other hand, carpet floor casters may leave marks or indentations in supple hardwood flooring. 

For these reasons, choosing the right caster wheels for hardwood floors plays a critical role in maintaining the health and appearance of your floor. 

Floor Upkeep 

As mentioned above, some caster wheels can damage the flooring if not used correctly and in the right environment. Choosing the appropriate size, material, and build of caster wheels provides ample floor protection without restricting movement. 

Efficiency 

A caster with the appropriate strength, build, and materials will roll smoothly and quickly without getting caught by weight, flooring, or other issues. 

Longevity 

Finally, the best caster wheels will last the longest, withstanding furniture weight, heavy use, and general wear and tear. Choosing wheels designed for the wrong weight or purpose can result in damage to the wheel itself, including broken housing, locked bearings, or bent ball rollers.

For personalized recommendations for the ideal caster wheels for your home or business, call our team or browse our online store for the specs you need. Otherwise, keep reading to learn our picks for the best and worst caster wheels for hardwood floors. 

The Best Caster Wheels for Hardwood Floors

When choosing caster wheels for your office equipment or furniture, we know you have a lot of options. Here, we line up the best types of caster wheels for hardwood floors of any kind. 

Ice

Ice caster wheels consist of non-marking wheels with polyurethane tread in a durable metal housing. With a pin-style attachment feature, these wheels work ideally for office chairs, small utility cards, furniture, and displays. 

Ice caster wheels also come in various wheel colors to suit any indoor aesthetic. 

Neoprene

Are you looking for something quieter?  Neoprene rubber caster wheels keep floors damage-free and reduce noise during furniture movement. Ideal for frequently moved carts and office chairs, neoprene caster wheels provide an affordable and durable option. 

Wide Tread

If you need to mobilize heavier furniture, wide-tread wheels could be the ideal caster wheel. These wheels feature increased wheel width to help distribute furniture weight evenly and over a higher surface area, reducing strain during movement. 

Mold-On Polyurethane

Mold-on polyurethane wheels utilize a rigid steel or cast iron framework onto which polyurethane becomes permanently molded. This design reduces the chances of wheel separation and cuts down on wear and tear over extended use. Wheels in mold-on polyurethane setups provide mark-free, easy rolling for furniture of many sizes. 

Nylon 

Last but not least, nylon caster wheels make up most of the wheels used in budget-friendly furniture options. These wheels provide durability and multi-function use, working well for both carpeted and hardwood floors. 

Caster Wheels to Avoid for Hardwood Floors

Want to quickly narrow down your search parameters when choosing caster wheels for hardwood floors? Avoid the materials below to eliminate wheels that might scratch or damage your hardwood floor. 

Cast Iron 

Cast-iron framework and fittings do not threaten a hardwood floor, but cast-iron wheels might. Cast iron wheels will dig into hardwood, leaving stubborn indentations and scratches that require sanding and restaining to correct. 

Forged Steel 

Like cast iron, forged steel wheels can create a digging effect when stationary and moving on hardwood floors. 

The basic rule of thumb is to avoid metal wheels — not a metal framework — when choosing caster wheels for hardwood floors. 

Factors to Consider When Buying Caster Wheels for Hardwood Floors

Now that you know what to look for and what to avoid, here are some other factors you may want to consider before and during your search for caster wheels for hardwood floors. 

Application 

Do you need wheels for light objects, such as office chairs or small utility carts? Or do you need wheels that can handle heavy weights such as books, office equipment, or display monitors? Knowing the approximate load weight, the caster wheels need to bear cuts down on a lot of searching. 

Design and Material 

Once you have your purpose in mind, choose materials and designs best suited for your furniture and flooring. Remember our tips above about which materials work best for hardwood floors. 

Size

Larger or wider wheels can handle more weight without marking or tracking on floors. Additionally, larger wheels work best for larger objects, regardless of weight. Choose caster wheel sizes well-suited to the furniture you intend to use them for. 

Fitting Quality 

Finally, some applications can use budget-friendly fittings such as aluminum or wood. However, heavy-duty or industrial applications for caster wheels require a sturdy framework of iron or some other durable metal. 

Find the Perfect Caster Wheels for Hardwood Floors

If you’re looking for the ideal caster wheel for your office or home furniture, Caster Central has what you need. With a wide selection of caster wheels and accessories and a knowledge base to back it up, we’ll get you rolling in no time. 

Now that you know the best caster wheels for hardwood floors learn more about buying caster wheels for your furniture and more by browsing our blog. For personalized recommendations, give our Caster Central team a call at 1-800-445-4082 today.