Plastic, Metal, Rubber or Felt Floor Protectors: When to Use Each (Expert Guide)
As the inventor behind Flexi-Felt and someone who has spent years studying different types of flooring and floor finishes, I’m often asked a simple question: “Should I use plastic, metal, rubber or felt floor protectors?”
The short answer is: it depends on your floor and how the furniture is used. Each material has its strengths and weaknesses. Choosing the wrong one can lead to scratches, black marks, dents, annoying noise and even permanent damage.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the four most common types of floor protectors, explain when to use each, and share a few insider tips I’ve learned from testing in schools, offices, restaurants and homes.
Quick summary:
- Use felt on most hard floors (hardwood, vinyl, laminate, tile).
- Use rubber when you want furniture to stay put.
- Use plastic mainly on carpet.
- Avoid bare metal on finished floors.
1. Plastic glides – good for carpets, risky on hard floors
Plastic floor protectors are very common because they’re inexpensive and easy to find. They slide reasonably well on carpeting and can make chairs easier to move in classrooms or conference rooms with carpeted floors.
However, on hard surfaces like hardwood, vinyl or laminate, plastic behaves very differently. Under pressure, especially with heavier furniture, plastic can leave shiny wear spots or streaks on certain finishes. Over time, this can dull the appearance of the floor and create visible tracks where chairs constantly move.
Best use for plastic glides:
Carpeted floors, short moves, light-to-medium weight furniture.
2. Metal glides – durable, but often too aggressive
Metal glides are extremely strong and long-lasting, often chosen for heavy-duty or high-traffic environments because they don’t break easily.
The problem is that metal and finished flooring rarely get along. On hardwood, vinyl, VCT or laminate, metal glides can:
- Scratch or gouge the surface
- Remove finish over time
- Create loud scraping noises
For this reason, I almost never recommend bare metal glides on finished floors. If metal is used, it should always be paired with a protective interface such as a felt pad or specialized cap.
Best use for metal glides:
Industrial applications or temporary use where floor appearance is not important.
3. Rubber floor protectors – when sliding is not an option
Rubber protectors are ideal when you need furniture to stay firmly in place. They grip the floor well and are commonly used under:
- Bookshelves or shelving units
- Equipment that must not move
- Chairs in areas where slipping is a safety concern
On some vinyl floors, rubber can leave black marks or shadows, especially with low-quality blends or when left in place for long periods.
Best use for rubber protectors:
Situations where stability and grip matter more than easy sliding.
4. Felt floor protectors – ideal for smooth, quiet movement
Felt is usually the best solution when you want furniture to glide smoothly and quietly across hard flooring. High-quality felt protectors:
- Reduce noise dramatically
- Prevent scratches and scuff marks
- Make chairs and tables easier to move for cleaning
Many cheap felt pads wear out quickly, compress, or peel off — exposing the hard base underneath, which can damage floors. That’s why I created Flexi-Felt® floor protectors, using dense wool felt and a mechanical attachment system designed for long-lasting protection.
Best use for felt protectors:
Hardwood, laminate, vinyl, tile and other hard surfaces where smooth movement and
noise reduction are priorities.
Side-by-side comparison
- Plastic: Best on carpet; risky on hard floors.
- Metal: Durable but can damage most finished floors.
- Rubber: Great grip; may leave marks on some vinyl floors.
- Felt: Best for quiet, smooth movement on all hard floors.
How to choose the right protector for your floor
Ask yourself these questions:
- What type of floor do I have?
- How heavy is the furniture?
- Do I want it to slide easily, or stay in place?
- Use felt on hard floors for quiet, easy movement.
- Use rubber when you need stability.
- Use plastic mainly on carpet.
- Avoid bare metal on finished surfaces.
Which Flexi-Felt® protector is right for you?
If you're not sure which protector is right for your home, school, daycare or office, we’re here to help you make the right choice.
Browse all Flexi-Felt® products and solutions here
Pierre – The Floor Expert™
Plastic, Metal, Rubber or Felt Floor Protectors: When to Use Each (Expert Guide)
As the inventor behind Flexi-Felt and someone who has spent years studying different types of flooring and floor finishes, I’m often asked a simple question: “Should I use plastic, metal, rubber or felt floor protectors?”
The short answer is: it depends on your floor and how the furniture is used. Each material has its strengths and weaknesses. Choosing the wrong one can lead to scratches, black marks, dents, annoying noise and even permanent damage.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the four most common types of floor protectors, explain when to use each, and share a few insider tips I’ve learned from testing in schools, offices, restaurants and homes.
Quick summary:
- Use felt on most hard floors (hardwood, vinyl, laminate, tile).
- Use rubber when you want furniture to stay put.
- Use plastic mainly on carpet.
- Avoid bare metal on finished floors.
1. Plastic glides – good for carpets, risky on hard floors
Plastic floor protectors are very common because they’re inexpensive and easy to find. They slide reasonably well on carpeting and can make chairs easier to move in classrooms or conference rooms with carpeted floors.
However, on hard surfaces like hardwood, vinyl or laminate, plastic behaves very differently. Under pressure, especially with heavier furniture, plastic can leave shiny wear spots or streaks on certain finishes. Over time, this can dull the appearance of the floor and create visible tracks where chairs constantly move.
Best use for plastic glides:
Carpeted floors, short moves, light-to-medium weight furniture.
2. Metal glides – durable, but often too aggressive
Metal glides are extremely strong and long-lasting, often chosen for heavy-duty or high-traffic environments because they don’t break easily.
The problem is that metal and finished flooring rarely get along. On hardwood, vinyl, VCT or laminate, metal glides can:
- Scratch or gouge the surface
- Remove finish over time
- Create loud scraping noises
For this reason, I almost never recommend bare metal glides on finished floors. If metal is used, it should always be paired with a protective interface such as a felt pad or specialized cap.
Best use for metal glides:
Industrial applications or temporary use where floor appearance is not important.
3. Rubber floor protectors – when sliding is not an option
Rubber protectors are ideal when you need furniture to stay firmly in place. They grip the floor well and are commonly used under:
- Bookshelves or shelving units
- Equipment that must not move
- Chairs in areas where slipping is a safety concern
On some vinyl floors, rubber can leave black marks or shadows, especially with low-quality blends or when left in place for long periods.
Best use for rubber protectors:
Situations where stability and grip matter more than easy sliding.
4. Felt floor protectors – ideal for smooth, quiet movement
Felt is usually the best solution when you want furniture to glide smoothly and quietly across hard flooring. High-quality felt protectors:
- Reduce noise dramatically
- Prevent scratches and scuff marks
- Make chairs and tables easier to move for cleaning
Many cheap felt pads wear out quickly, compress, or peel off — exposing the hard base underneath, which can damage floors. That’s why I created Flexi-Felt® floor protectors, using dense wool felt and a mechanical attachment system designed for long-lasting protection.
Best use for felt protectors:
Hardwood, laminate, vinyl, tile and other hard surfaces where smooth movement and
noise reduction are priorities.
Side-by-side comparison
- Plastic: Best on carpet; risky on hard floors.
- Metal: Durable but can damage most finished floors.
- Rubber: Great grip; may leave marks on some vinyl floors.
- Felt: Best for quiet, smooth movement on all hard floors.
How to choose the right protector for your floor
Ask yourself these questions:
- What type of floor do I have?
- How heavy is the furniture?
- Do I want it to slide easily, or stay in place?
- Use felt on hard floors for quiet, easy movement.
- Use rubber when you need stability.
- Use plastic mainly on carpet.
- Avoid bare metal on finished surfaces.
Which Flexi-Felt® protector is right for you?
If you're not sure which protector is right for your home, school, daycare or office, we’re here to help you make the right choice.
Browse all Flexi-Felt® products and solutions here
Pierre – The Floor Expert™