The Ultimate Guide to Choosing Stem Casters for Furniture

Whether you’re trying to increase the maneuverability of your furniture or make it easier to clean under, adding stem casters can be an excellent solution. However, determining which casters are suitable for your project can feel overwhelming with all the options available.

There are a few crucial things to consider before making your purchase.

Style

Choosing the proper stem caster is more than finding one that fits your furniture. The type of caster you choose can affect the overall quality of your piece and how well it rolls, especially over long distances or carpets.

Different types of casters use different methods for attaching to furniture. There are threaded stem casters that screw into a pre-threaded receptacle. These grip ring stem casters fit inside a receptacle and are tension-held by the ring or hollow kingpin stems casters that bolt onto the bottom of a furniture leg.

Plate-mount casters mount using four screws or bolts fed through a thick plate and can have more locking features than stem-mount casters. Choosing the correct mounting type can help your furniture last longer and move around more easily. 

Material

Many furniture legs have holes at the top for mounting casters. These can be inserted with a grip ring stem or threaded stem caster. Choosing the right one for your needs depends on the thickness of your furniture leg, and it is best to use a measuring tool like a caliper.

Grip ring stems have an elongated ‘ring’ that expands upon insertion into the socket. When measuring these, measure the head of the ring and not its wider, rounded top. Threaded stems have threads that go through the caster and are secured with a nut on the other side. These are best for heavier applications and are offered in swiveling and rigid options. They are also easy to replace, but you must accurately gauge your furniture’s leg diameter and length.

Size

When deciding which stem casters are best for your furniture, there are many factors to consider. These include load capacity, mount type, and wheel size. It is essential to accurately assess your furniture’s weight capacity before choosing a caster, as overestimating could lead to damage or failure.

For heavy-duty applications, top plate model casters are a great choice. These casters are typically fixed to the furniture with a screw or bolt, giving them added stability. They also have swivel and brake capabilities, making them ideal for more versatile applications.

Familiar caster stems include threaded, grip ring, and grip neck. Threaded stems are designed to screw into a pre-threaded hole in the furniture, while the grip ring and grip neck stem are tension-held in place by a steel ring.

Load Capacity

When choosing a caster, accurately assess the weight capacity you will need. Overestimating loads can damage furniture and employee injury, while underestimating may result in a sudden caster failure.

Use an adjustable wrench to measure the diameter between the caster’s jaws for threaded stem casters. If there is a slight wiggle, the caster is sized correctly. For grip ring stems, look for a slightly narrower upper segment to fit into a specific socket dimension. Use a caliper to measure this section as well. Grip neck stems have a similar design and are tension-held within a socket by metal rings. These are also commonly called wood furniture casters. Both types are available in a variety of load capacities.

Mounting

It’s essential to consider the mounting method that will work best with your furniture before selecting a caster type. Plate mount casters attach to a flat surface, such as a foot or a plate on the bottom of a leg, and are the go-to for most shop carts and other pieces that will require a heavier load capacity.

Grip ring stem casters feature narrow stems that fit into a socket on equipment legs and are available for wood and plastic furniture. Threaded stem casters use a threaded bolt that extends through the caster assembly and fits into a matching hole in furniture legs. These casters are easier to install, but overestimating the stem size can lead to an incorrectly tightened nut that erodes the caster.