Castors & wheels
24 products from 3 manufacturers in the catalogue.Browse all castors & wheels →
Castors and wheels are the mobile foundation of furniture—they enable tables, cabinets, and equipment to roll smoothly across floors while supporting substantial loads. From lightweight furniture on hardwood floors to heavy-duty industrial carts on concrete, castors must balance load capacity, maneuverability, noise control, and floor protection. The right castor system transforms stationary furniture into flexible, reconfigurable workspace. Poor castor selection creates squeaking noise, floor scratches, or furniture that resists movement—frustrations that accumulate daily.
A castor consists of a wheel (tread), bearing assembly, and a mounting bracket fixed to the furniture base. Castor design directly impacts noise, resistance to rolling (friction), steering precision, and floor damage. Hard wheels roll quickly but generate noise and can scratch delicate floors; soft wheels absorb sound and protect floors but create higher rolling resistance and require replacement more often due to wear. Bearing type—ball bearing, roller bearing, or sealed hybrid—affects smooth operation and maintenance requirements. An office with dozens of desks on squeaky ball bearings creates constant low-level noise stress that degrades focus and morale.
Modern office and laboratory environments demand quiet, smooth-rolling castors that protect polished floors while supporting rapid repositioning of desks, equipment racks, and cabinets. Co-working and flexible office spaces depend on furniture mobility; the ability to reconfigure a lab or classroom in minutes enables agile work patterns. Specialized castors exist for every scenario: swivel castors for precise steering and maneuverability, fixed castors for straight-line travel without rotation, braking castors to lock position during use or on inclines, and height-adjustable castors for uneven floors.
Proper castor selection ensures furniture mobility matches workspace needs without noise, vibration, or floor damage. A medical examination table without brakes is dangerous; an office desk with stiff castors frustrates users and goes unshared in hot-desking systems. Selecting castors is overlooked during furniture specification but becomes obvious during daily use.
What to check before choosing
- Calculate total load: furniture base weight + contents + typical user interaction force. Divide by the number of castors (commonly 4) and compare to the per-castor load rating; add 25% safety margin.
- Choose wheel diameter based on floor type and obstacle height: larger wheels (100+ mm) for carpet and thresholds, smaller wheels (50–75 mm) for smooth hard floors and compact spaces.
- Select tread material: soft rubber/polyurethane for quiet operation and floor protection (offices, homes), hard nylon for industrial settings where speed and durability outweigh noise.
- Determine swivel vs. fixed: swivel castors on all wheels provide maximum maneuverability; fixed castors on the rear improve directional stability for long pushes and prevent unwanted rotation.
- Specify braking if furniture must be locked in place during use or if it will be stationary on inclined surfaces (medical, laboratory, or mobile carts).
- Verify mounting compatibility: threaded socket for wooden bases, bolt-through for metal frames, plate mount for steel applications. Ensure adequate space for swivel rotation without interference.
- Check overall castor height to confirm clearance under desks, through doorways, and around obstacles; measure the final furniture height after castor installation.
Key parameters
- Wheel diameter (mm)
- Diameter of the wheel in millimeters (commonly 50–200 mm). Larger wheels roll more easily over obstacles and carpet, require less force to move, and distribute load better. Smaller wheels suit compact furniture and tight spaces but require more pushing force.
- Load capacity (kg)
- Maximum weight per castor that the wheel and bearing can safely support. Multiply by the number of castors to determine total furniture load capacity. Exceeding this rating causes wheel deformation, accelerated wear, and potential failure.
- Overall height (mm)
- Total mounted height from floor to furniture base attachment point. Affects furniture clearance under other objects and impacts stability. Must be verified to ensure adequate ground clearance and smooth rolling.
- Type
- Swivel (360° rotation for steering), fixed (straight-line only), brake-equipped (locking wheel), or dual-wheel tandem designs. Type determines mobility and handling characteristics.
- Function
- General-purpose rolling, precision steering, shock-absorption, floor protection, or specialized applications (electrostatic discharge, cleanroom, corrosive environments).
- Tread material
- Rubber, polyurethane, nylon, or plastic. Material affects rolling noise, floor protection, floor grip (on carpeted vs. hard surfaces), and resistance to oil/chemicals.
- Bearing type
- Ball bearing (smooth and precise), roller bearing (load distribution), sealed hybrid (maintenance-free), or plain bushing (low-cost, noisy). Bearing type impacts smoothness, longevity, and noise.
- Fitting type & Load rating
- How the castor mounts to furniture: threaded socket, bolt-through, plate mount, or clip-on. Load rating confirms the castor is suitable for the intended furniture and contents.
Common types
- Swivel castors
- Mounted on a vertical pin that allows 360° rotation; ideal for maneuverability and steering; used on most office furniture and mobile carts.
- Fixed castors
- Straight-line rolling only (no rotation); used in pairs on the back of furniture to prevent unwanted rotation; improves directional control on long pushes.
- Braking castors
- Equipped with a foot-operated or lever-operated brake that locks the wheel; essential for mobile carts, examination tables, and any furniture that must remain stationary during use.
- Soft-tread castors
- Rubber or polyurethane wheels; quiet operation and excellent floor protection; ideal for carpet and polished hard floors; standard in office and healthcare environments.
- Hard-tread castors
- Nylon or hard plastic wheels; lower rolling resistance and faster movement; loud operation; suited for industrial, warehouse, and high-traffic facility environments.
- Height-adjustable castors
- Foot screws or eccentric cams allow minor vertical adjustment; useful for compensating for uneven floors or transitioning between different floor types without tipping.
Typical uses
Manufacturers in castors & wheels
- Tente 18
- Räder-Vogel 5
- Ganter 1
Example products
FAQ
What is the difference between ball bearing and roller bearing castors?
Ball bearings offer smooth, precise rolling and are suitable for lighter to moderate loads (up to 75–100 kg per castor). Roller bearings distribute load over a larger area, supporting heavier loads (100+ kg per castor) with less rolling resistance. For general office furniture, ball bearing castors are sufficient; industrial and medical carts typically require roller or sealed hybrid bearings for durability under heavy use.
Why do some castors have brakes and others don't?
Brakes prevent accidental rolling during use or on inclined surfaces. Mobile office desks and workstations typically omit brakes to facilitate easy repositioning. Medical examination tables, laboratory carts, and mobile storage systems require brakes for safety—without them, the furniture could roll uncontrollably if nudged or if the floor is uneven.
Can I install castors on furniture that was originally designed with fixed legs?
Yes, in most cases. You will need to remove the existing legs and install a castor mounting plate or threaded socket to the base of the furniture. Ensure the mounting points can support the applied forces; mounting to thin plywood or MDF may require backing plates to distribute load. Verify that the castor height matches your desired furniture clearance after installation.
What castor material is best for protecting hardwood and tile floors?
Soft polyurethane or rubber treads offer the best protection. These materials do not scratch or scuff hard floors and distribute weight evenly. Avoid hard plastic (nylon) castors on delicate floors; they can scratch and leave marks. Many offices use soft-tread castors combined with protective floor mats in high-traffic areas for added durability.
How do I minimize noise when rolling furniture across hard floors?
Use soft-tread castors (polyurethane or rubber) and ensure bearings are well-lubricated. Larger-diameter wheels generate less noise than small wheels. Consider sealed hybrid bearings, which reduce friction and noise. On very hard floors (polished concrete, tile), acoustic underlay or floor mats can help absorb rolling noise. Regular maintenance—cleaning treads and lubricating bearings—keeps castors operating quietly.