Office Chair Parts Buying Checklist: 5 Checks Before You Order

A replacement part can give a useful chair a new lease of life, but a similar-looking wheel or base plate is not always a compatible one. Before you order, work through these five checks. Keep your chair model, measurements and a few clear photos together so you can compare them with the product page.

1. Identify the part you actually need

Start with the symptom and inspect the chair without sitting on it. Hair around a wheel is different from a split wheel, and a loose seat fixing is different from a damaged mechanism. Do not assume that replacing the castors will solve a sinking seat, a cracked base or a leaning chair.

If the frame, base or mounting points are cracked, or you cannot identify the cause of instability, stop using the chair and seek advice from its manufacturer or a competent repairer.

2. Measure the fitting, not just the wheel

For a replacement castor or glide, record the stem diameter, stem length, attachment type and wheel or foot dimensions. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions when removing an original part, and use callipers where possible. A small difference in stem diameter matters.

Our listed Aeten® castor and glide sets use an 11mm push-fit stem. They are not sold as compatible with IKEA chairs. Read our guide to checking IKEA chair fittings if you are unsure.

3. Match the part to your floor and routine

Do you need to roll between a desk and shelves, or would you prefer stationary feet? Check both the chair and flooring manufacturer’s guidance.

• For suitable hard floors: compare soft PU castors with grey trim. Keep the wheels and floor free of grit; no wheel guarantees a scratch-free floor.
• For a chair that should not roll: consider compatible chrome steel glides. They replace wheels but can still slide, so they are not a locking brake.
• For carpet: check the pile, the wheel specification and the clearance under the base. See our carpet castor guide.

4. Check every dimension on larger parts

For a mechanism plate, compare bolt-hole spacing measured from centre to centre, the mounting pattern, plate dimensions, lever clearance and gas-lift connection. For example, our tilt and lock mechanism plate lists 150 × 255mm bolt spacing; that measurement alone does not establish compatibility with every chair.

For a base or refurbishment kit, check all connections and the resulting seat height. Never open, drill or heat a pressurised gas lift. Follow the manufacturer’s repair procedure or use a competent repairer.

5. Confirm what is included before checkout

• Check whether the listing is for one component or a complete set.
• Read the current price, availability and product specifications.
• Check delivery details and the returns policy.
• Keep the original part until you have checked the replacement and confirmed that the chair is stable.

Not sure? Ask before ordering

Email info@chairoutlet.co.uk with the chair make and model, your measurements, and clear photos of the old part and its mounting point. Include a link to the replacement you are considering. That gives us much more useful information than a photo of the whole chair alone.

Browse chair parts and accessories or explore more Guides & Advice.