Shepherd Hardware 9220 1-1/8-Inch Chair Tip Slide Glide Furniture Sliders, 4-Pack,Black

What these chair tip glides do

I tested the Shepherd chair tip glides in the 1-1/8-inch size on a mix of round and square chair legs around my home office and dining area. They’re simple rubber caps with a smooth polyethylene base: the rubber grips the leg, the plastic bottom slides across flooring with less friction and less noise than bare leg ends. Each cap is a small, tidy cup; you push it over the leg and you’re done—no screws, no adhesive required in most cases. My pack contained four caps, enough for one chair.

Installation and fit

Fit is everything with this style of glide. The inner diameter is sized for a 1-1/8-inch leg, and that measurement matters. On a round 1-1/8-inch hardwood leg, installation was straightforward: a firm push and twist seated the cap flush. On a slightly tapered leg that measured 1-3/16 inches higher up and 1-1/8 at the very end, the cap still seated securely at the bottom and didn’t creep.

Where things got interesting was with non-round profiles. I tried them on square wooden legs that measured roughly 1-1/16 inches across. The rubber is compliant enough to stretch and conform, and the caps held, though the sides were under more stress at the corners. On thin metal tube legs at just under an inch, the caps were noticeably loose. A thin wrap of cloth athletic tape under the cap solved it; a dab of clear silicone sealant would also work if you want a semi-permanent fix. If your legs are smaller than 1-1/16 inches, plan on shimming or choose a smaller size.

A couple of practical fitting tips from my installs:
- Measure the actual end of the leg, not higher up where it may be thicker.
- If the cap feels too tight, warming it in hot tap water for a minute makes it more pliable.
- Clean the leg ends and knock down any sharp edges; the rubber will last longer.

The bases have a slight bevel, which helps if your leg ends aren’t perfectly perpendicular to the floor. That small detail kept the entire plastic face in contact with the floor on a set of chairs with slightly splayed legs.

Performance on different floors

On low-pile carpet and rugs, these glides shine. Chairs that used to dig in and drag now slide with a controlled ease. I could reposition a heavy dining chair without the awkward tugging that can bunch up a rug. There’s still some resistance—which I prefer for control—but it’s predictable and quiet. On thicker, plush pile carpet, the caps will compress the fibers and can occasionally “catch” on the weave when moving diagonally; lifting slightly before sliding avoids that.

On hard floors (sealed wood, stone, and vinyl), the polyethylene base delivers a low-friction glide that’s quieter than bare legs and more durable than most felt pads I’ve used. I saw no scuffing or gray marks on a light oak finish after weeks of use. As with any hard-plastic glide, grit is the enemy; a quick wipe of the bases during floor cleaning keeps them sliding smoothly and protects the finish underneath.

Compared to adhesive felt pads, the behavior is different. Felt offers ultra-quiet movement but tends to compress, shift, and peel—especially on angled leg bottoms. These caps don’t shear or peel because they wrap the leg, and they resist moisture better around kitchen tables. They’re a touch louder than fresh felt on hardwood but substantially more consistent over time.

Durability and wear

The rubber walls are thick enough to feel substantial in hand, and the plastic bases didn’t gouge or chip under normal household use. After a few months, the set on my most frequently used chairs shows light polishing on the plastic bottoms and no through-wear. On the square legs I mentioned earlier, one cap developed a small split at a corner after extended use—no surprise, given the concentrated stress. Rotating the cap periodically spreads the load, and replacing a single cap from a spare pack is painless.

If you’re putting these onto legs with sharp metal edges or burrs, expect accelerated wear. A quick pass with a file or sandpaper extends the life of the rubber dramatically. Likewise, if you’re using them primarily on hard floors and you drag heavy chairs for long distances daily, the bases will wear faster than they would on carpet. They’re consumables; the good news is that they’re inexpensive and take seconds to replace.

Ergonomics and safety

There’s a sweet spot here: movement is easier, but not so slippery that the chair skates away unexpectedly. On hard floors, a gentle push is enough to reposition a heavy chair; on carpet, you’ll still feel some resistance. If a chair is frequently used as a handhold for standing up, the increased mobility is something to keep in mind. The glides don’t make chairs unsafe in my experience, but they do reduce the “stick” that some people rely on when bracing themselves.

Noise reduction is significant. The scraping and chirping that comes from bare wood or metal ends simply disappears. If you’ve lived with that sound, the quiet is a pleasant upgrade.

Aesthetics and finish protection

In black, these caps are discreet on dark legs and visible on light woods or chrome. They’re a utilitarian look—clean, but not invisible. The cup design adds a few millimeters of height and a neat edge at the bottom of each leg, which I found tidy rather than distracting.

In terms of floor protection, the glides do exactly what they should: they spread the load, reduce abrasion, and eliminate the nail or staple heads that sometimes protrude from old chair glides. On sealed hardwood, they left no marks. On stone and vinyl, they were equally benign, provided the bases stayed free of grit.

Value and who they suit

For chairs with round legs near 1-1/8 inches, these glides are a straightforward upgrade. They’re especially useful where felt pads fail: on low-pile carpet, on legs with modest angles, and in kitchens where adhesive pads get wet. If your chairs have smaller legs, plan on shimming or consider a different size; if they’re significantly square or have decorative arches at the bottom, expect more wear at the corners.

Each pack covers one chair. Most dining sets will need four packs, and counter stools with four legs will need one pack per stool. Factor that into cost comparisons with bulk felt pads. Given their durability and consistency, I see them as good value for frequently moved seating.

Tips to get the best results

• Measure twice with calipers or a tape; rounding up or down casually will lead to loose caps or split sides.
• Prepare the leg ends: clean, deburr, and square them if possible.
• If the fit is slightly loose, a wrap of cloth tape or a dab of silicone under the cap locks it down without being permanent.
• Rotate caps occasionally on non-round legs to distribute stress.
• Wipe the polyethylene bases during routine floor cleaning to maintain low friction and prevent grit scratches.

Where they fall short

Sizing tolerance is the primary limitation. This 1-1/8-inch size is happy in a narrow band; outside that, you’ll need shims or a different size. Non-round legs are accommodated, but the rubber walls take the brunt of the deformation and can fatigue faster over time. Finally, if you want a completely invisible solution on light furniture, the black cup will be noticeable.

Recommendation

I recommend these chair tip glides for anyone with 1-1/8-inch round chair legs who wants a reliable, low-maintenance way to protect floors and make movement easier—especially on low-pile carpet and hard surfaces where felt pads struggle. They’re simple to install, quiet in use, and durable under normal conditions. If your legs are smaller than an inch or markedly square and arched, be prepared to shim or consider a different size; with the right fit, they perform exactly as promised.