8 Ways to Stop Your Chair From Rolling

How do you keep your wheeled chair from rolling when you are pedalling a Desk Cycle, Gaming, or maybe just have a slanted floor?

Keep Your Wheeled Chair From Rolling While Seated: for Office Workers, Gamers, & Fitness Buffs

The first question is “Why is your chair rolling?”
➤ Are you on a slanted floor?
➤ Are you using under desk exercise equipment?
➤ Are you a gamer?

There are several methods listed on this page but this first one is the simplest and very effective for most needs.

1. Set of Hands-Free Brake Casters

These awesome little inventions are being used by people who are pedalling on a Desk Cycle, have an uneven floor, or rockin’ gamers. If your chair is rolling away while you are trying to work or play, these hands-free brake casters are well worth taking a close look at.

The brake casters are hands-free and will set the brake ONLY when you sit on them. When you stand up out of the chair you can roll the chair as easily as before.

There will be no more issue with your chair rolling away while you are sitting in your chair when using these. Very simple to use: all you need to do is sit in the chair and the wheels will automatically be locked into place. The casters have a nice rubber coating on them so they shouldn’t scratch most floors.

For operating instructions and more information:

To stop your wheels from rolling on hardwood floors is especially difficult. You need to ensure the wheels you have are non-marking and will be soft on the floor so it won’t scratch or mark it.

Another issue is uneven floors. How can you stop your chair from sliding on an uneven floor? If you have a rolling chair it will always try and roll down the slope.

2. Locking Casters

Locking casters have a similar result to the sit-brake caster but you have the added inconvienence of having to bend down and lock each of them or unlock them each time you want to move the chair. Some people will just engage two of the locking casters at a time so they don’t have to be on their hands and knees for as long.

3. Area Rug

If you are on a plain floor try adding a carpet. This will keep the wheels from rolling as easily. The thicker the carpet, the harder it will be to roll the chair.

4. Caster Stoppers

These are grooved bits of wood, rubber, glass, or plastic that you set the casters in. Although reasonably effective they are not very practical for a chair since you have to manually set them into place each time you move the chair.

These are best for stationary type furniture that is rarely moved; like a bed or file cabinet on rollers.

5. Wad of Foam

You can cut a square of heavy, dense foam and place under the center of the chair. It should be so dense not to compress too much when you sit so it will cause “drag” when you try to roll the chair.

6. Strap Your Chair

The DeskCycle comes with a strap that you can wrap around your chair and the pedaller. If you want to try other means of strapping the chair so it won’t move try strapping it directly to the desk. Wrap the strap around the center post of the chair and then to the legs of the desk. This will help to secure it but will have to be undone every time you want to move away from the desk.

7. Plywood with Grooves

The gamers seem to be the most innovative on this subject. Here is one person (pic below) who designed a bespoke plywood setup for their gaming needs.

8. Convert Wheeled Chair to Stationary Setup

The final option is to completely remove the wheels. If you like the comfort of the chair but want to turn it into a stationary chair you have the option of replacing the casters with “gliders”. These are made to slide somewhat easily without wheels.

Full explanation and more photos here.