Office & WFH · Head-to-head
Lorell Tempered Glass Chairmat vs ES Robbins Polycarbonate Chair Mat for Low Pile Carpet
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full Office Chair Mats: Which to Buy and Which to Skip comparison.
The Lorell tempered glass mat is the only one here that removes the whole failure mode, because glass cannot dent, curl or crack from caster pressure and it works over carpet and hard floors alike. If you want to spend less and your carpet is low pile, the ES Robbins polycarbonate mat is the value answer and the studded back keeps it planted.
Lorell Tempered Glass Chairmat
Buy itThe one mat that stops the material argument: quarter-inch tempered glass that will not dent, curl or crack no matter what is under it.
- Quarter-inch tempered glass stays perfectly flat, so casters never sink into a dimple or ride over a curled edge
- Lorell states it supports up to 1,000 lb, which covers heavy executive and big-and-tall chairs that flatten plastic mats
- Works over carpet of any pile and over hardwood, tile or marble, so it survives a move or a floor change
- No studs on the underside, so there is no risk of stud damage on a hard floor, and Lorell backs it with a limited 5 year warranty
- Heavy and awkward to move on your own, so repositioning under a desk is a two-person job
- Limited size and shape choices compared with plastic mats, and the lipped version is a separate, pricier model
- Glass is cold and hard underfoot, and a dropped tool or a hard impact on an edge can crack it
ES Robbins Polycarbonate Chair Mat for Low Pile Carpet
Buy itThe sensible carpet default for low pile: real polycarbonate with a studded gripper back, made in the USA.
- Solid polycarbonate rather than vinyl, which ES Robbins says resists dimpling for a smooth roll
- Studded gripper underside that ES Robbins says holds the mat firmly in place on carpet
- Made in the USA and GREENGUARD Gold certified for low chemical emissions
- Rated for low pile only: carpet up to 3/8 inch thick including padding
- Three rectangle sizes, 36 x 48, 45 x 53 and 46 x 60 inches, with no lipped carpet version
- The page shows a No Crack warranty mark but leaves the terms to a separate policy document, while Lorell states a limited 5 year term
Side by side
The 7 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Lorell Tempered Glass Chairmat Our pick | ES Robbins Polycarbonate Chair Mat for Low Pile Carpet | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Anyone who has already replaced a plastic mat once and wants to stop buying chair mats, especially heavier users and people who may switch between carpet and hard floor. | Home offices on low pile carpet where a chair rolls all day and vinyl has already failed. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range |
| Material | Tempered glass | Polycarbonate, made in USA |
| Floor it is designed for | Carpet of any pile plus hardwood, tile and marble | Carpet only |
| Underside | Smooth with non-skid pads | Studded gripper back |
| Carpet pile rating | Any pile | Low pile, up to 3/8 inch with padding |
| Thickness | 1/4 inch | Not published |
| Shape options | Rectangle, or lip as a separate model | Rectangle, three sizes |
| Stated load or warranty | 1,000 lb support, limited 5 year warranty | No Crack warranty mark; terms in separate policy |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Lorell Tempered Glass Chairmat if
anyone who has already replaced a plastic mat once and wants to stop buying chair mats, especially heavier users and people who may switch between carpet and hard floor.
Know before buying: heavy and awkward to move on your own, so repositioning under a desk is a two-person job.
Pick the ES Robbins Polycarbonate Chair Mat for Low Pile Carpet if
home offices on low pile carpet where a chair rolls all day and vinyl has already failed.
Know before buying: rated for low pile only: carpet up to 3/8 inch thick including padding.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Lorell Tempered Glass Chairmat - The one mat that stops the material argument: quarter-inch tempered glass that will not dent, curl or crack no matter what is under it. Choose the ES Robbins Polycarbonate Chair Mat for Low Pile Carpet instead if home offices on low pile carpet where a chair rolls all day and vinyl has already failed.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete Office Chair Mats: Which to Buy and Which to Skip.