Apply self-adhesive felt pads or rubber feet to uneven legs

Stick adhesive-backed felt pads or rubber bumper feet to the bottoms of furniture legs to compensate for minor unevenness and eliminate wobble on hard floors. This is the quickest and easiest fix for a wobble caused by legs that are slightly different lengths, rather than by loose joints.

How It Works

Felt pads and rubber feet add a small, compressible layer to the bottom of each leg. By using thicker pads on the shorter leg(s), you can level the furniture without any tools or permanent modifications. The compliance of the material also helps furniture sit more stably on floors that are themselves slightly uneven.

Step-by-Step

1. Place the furniture on the floor where it will live
2. Identify which leg or legs are short by rocking the piece and observing which leg lifts
3. Clean the bottom of all legs with rubbing alcohol to ensure adhesive sticks
4. Apply felt or rubber pads to all four legs
5. Use thicker pads on the short leg(s) if needed, or stack multiple thin pads
6. Test stability and adjust pad thickness as needed

Tips

• Felt pads also protect hardwood and tile floors from scratches
• Self-adhesive felt pads come in various thicknesses (1/8-inch, 1/4-inch, 3/8-inch) and round or square shapes
• For chairs that move frequently, nail-on felt glides last longer than adhesive-backed ones
• Rubber feet provide more grip and are better for chairs on smooth floors that tend to slide
• Replace pads when they compress flat or peel off (typically every 6-12 months with regular use)
• This is a surface-level fix; if the wobble comes from loose joints, address the joints first

Limitations

• Only corrects minor height differences (up to about 1/4 inch)
• Adhesive pads can fall off over time, especially on chairs that are dragged rather than lifted
• Does not fix structural looseness in joints