Hardwood scratches come from three sources: chairs dragging grit, furniture sliding under load, and hard feet denting soft finishes. Felt pads — the default fix — fail at all three within months: they slide off, absorb grit, and turn into sandpaper. Here's what actually protects a wood floor long-term.
Chairs: Rubber Caps That Can't Fall Off
The chairs that move fifty times a day do the most damage. Cup-style rubber caps stretch over the leg and grip mechanically — no adhesive to fail. Measure the leg diameter, match the cap's inside diameter, done. Square legs take square caps.
Tables & Wooden Furniture: Screw-On Feet
For furniture that gets slid — dining tables, dressers, benches — screw-on rubber feet are the permanent answer: one screw per foot, and the rubber both grips (so furniture stays put) and cushions (so accidental slides don't gouge). On wobbly pieces, adjustable leveling feet protect and level simultaneously.
Heavy Pieces & Appliances: Load-Spreading Pads
A loaded bookcase or refrigerator concentrates hundreds of pounds on four small points — enough to dent oak over time. Dense neoprene pads under each corner spread the load and stop the slow creep that scars floors during vibration (washers, dryers, subwoofers).
Why Rubber Outlasts Felt
Felt relies on adhesive (fails), absorbs grit (scratches), and soaks up spills (stains). Rubber attaches mechanically, wipes clean, survives mopping, and grips instead of skating. The one job felt does better — letting heavy furniture slide intentionally — is exactly the behavior that ruins floors.
Full sizing help: chair leg floor protectors guide and the leg cap size chart.