If you’re an avid office ergonomic enthusiast, you’ve probably known Herman Miller office chairs are one of the best in the business. Often balancing the perfect combination of support, comfort, design, and function, they are pioneers in office furniture manufacturing. With so many options to choose from, many may wonder: which Herman Miller chair should I buy?
Which Herman Miller chair is best? The Herman Miller Aeron chair has been considered the best office chair in the world. Part of the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Arts, it’s become a legendary office furniture icon and ergonomic benchmark in today’s modern work environment.
If you watch a lot of movies, you will notice Herman Miller Aeron Chairs everywhere. Once you have one, you recognize them in the movie easier, and you know you are in good company.
During this time of writing, Herman Miller has over 19 different office chair models for you to choose from. However, we will focus on the top 5 best Herman Miller Office Chairs in the hopes of helping you complete the ideal ergonomic office setup. Not only will we cover functional chairs, but affordable ones as well.
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About Herman Miller
The Herman Miller Company was founded in 1905 when it was known as the Michigan Star Furniture Company. Since then, it’s become one of the best, if not the best, office furniture manufacturing companies today. This is done through its continuous innovation and outstanding attention to detail.
Mark Zuckerberg (founder of Facebook) is sitting in the Herman Miller Aeron.
With countless awards under its belt, there’s no denying the fact that Herman Miller continues to push the boundaries of office ergonomics and wellness. In 2020, Herman Miller received another award for its unique masterpiece, the Cosm chair. They received an iF Gold Award in the Office and Industry category at the iF World Design Awards 2020.
Best Herman Miller Chair Reviews
1. Herman Miller Aeron
The Herman Miller Aeron chair perfectly balances support, comfort, design, and function. Many consider the Aeron as the crème de la crème of ergonomic office chairs. It’s no surprise that the Aeron is currently on display at the Museum of Modern Arts in New York. It truly is the highest standard of work chairs in the world.
What we like about this chair: Made with Herman Miller’s patented pellicle mesh, the material of the Aeron chair is second to none. Personally, we find that Aeron’s mesh material is the best we’ve tested to date. Not only does it allow you to stay cool throughout the day, but the slight bounce provided by the mesh makes you feel comfortable.
In addition to its outstanding material, the Aeron chair is equipped with PostureFit technology. This allows you to adjust the tension of the backrest. This feature is a game-changer as it allows different users to change the back tension to their liking. It also allows you to raise or lower the position of the back support.
What we don’t like about this chair: There’s no doubt that the mesh seat makes this a comfortable chair, especially during humid days. However, it isn’t ideal for heavier individuals because it isn’t a very durable material. Some even reported a squeaking sound, so we suggest opting for bigger chair sizes with higher weight capacities if you belong to this population or have a larger body.
Final Verdict: The Aeron is the best Herman Miller chair. We can go on and on about the extensive features of the Herman Miller Aeron chair; however, it’s safe to say that the price is worth the investment. If you’re looking for a trustworthy personal office companion, buy the Aeron chair. Backed by an industry-leading 12-year warranty, the Aeron can fit people up to 350 pounds. With three size options, 99% of people can find a comfortable model that supports them.
The money becomes less of an issue the longer you keep your office chair. And a Herman Miller Aeron is still perfect after 17 years in our office. Many cheaper chairs have come and gone in the same time frame.
2. Herman Miller Cosm
The Herman Miller Cosm is where performance meets beauty. Its sophisticated ergonomic design instantly responds to your body, movement, and posture to provide natural balance and total support. The suspension and flexible frame give you a feeling of weightlessness. You just might forget you’re sitting in a chair at all.
What we like about this chair: If the Aeron is a chair for one, Cosm is the chair for many. The Cosm chair, made in collaboration with the German design firm Studio 7.5, is Herman Miller’s newest and perhaps most important furniture release since Aeron. Its biggest difference lies in an innovative concept of ‘passive ergonomics’.
While the Aeron made its name through manual adjustments, the Cosm adjusts to the user-sitting experience intuitively. Cosm follows the natural motion of the user’s body instead of having the user follow the pivot points of the chair. For example, the sitter’s legs will not lift when the chair reclines. This feature is truly innovative in the world of office ergonomics.
Not only that, but this high-quality chair is available in bold color options, such as canyon red and glacier color versions that don’t look like ordinary red and blue palettes. These unique color versions meet the wants and needs of a broader range of users in terms of design.
What we don’t like about this chair: This chair model has an innovative design to ensure a healthy seated posture. However, some might find it a little lacking due to missing manually adjustable key features. Besides being a non-adjustable office chair, the Cosm Chair isn’t a practical choice for tasking because the leaf arms might become uncomfortable after a few hours of usage.
Final Verdict: The Cosm is for you if you’re looking for an office chair for many users. It comes in three different armrest options: adjustable arms, leaf arms, and fixed arms. It also has three backrest heights: low, mid, and high. Its sophisticated ‘passive ergonomic’ design instantly responds to your body, movement, and posture to provide natural balance and total support.
3. Herman Miller Embody
With a chair frame inspired by the human back, the Herman Miller Embody chair is designed to promote healthy support for your back. Due to its exceptional support and adjustability, the Embody is perfect for intense focus and long-term sitting. It truly is a proven health-positive work chair.
What we like about this chair: Right off the bat, we can vouch for the Embody to be one of the best office chairs for long hours of sitting, especially in front of a computer. The interlocking, maze-looking plastic frame provides flexible support for your spine. Not to mention, the design is a work of art.
Two things to note here: armrests and backrest. The armrests are not only height-adjustable, but they can be moved farther or closer to the body of the user. While the armrests feel a bit ‘stiff’, it’s wider than most work chairs, catering to a wide range of users. The backrest is narrow, allowing the user to not feel constricted especially during long hours. It’s as if you can move around while sitting and stretch your upper body every once in a while.
What we don’t like about this chair: Although this is an ideal chair for achieving the natural curves of your spine while sitting, some might find the lack of foam a drawback. This Embody Chair feature can reduce the seat comfort level for those on the heavier side.
Final Verdict: Herman Miller Embody is often compared to Aeron. Buy the Embody if you’re looking for the best support for your spine. It doesn’t use traditional foam padding like most chairs, but a suspended plastic coil to support the seat. This unique structure provides a healthy bounce, helping to promote healthy blood flow during working while sitting.
4. Herman Miller Mirra 2
One word to describe the Herman Miller Mirra 2: adaptive. The Mirra 2 responds and adapts as you work while sitting. With its intuitive design and lightweight feel, the chair promotes ease of movement and athletic agility, making it perfect for either individual focus or constructive collaboration.
What we like about this chair: Originally designed as a lower-cost alternative to the iconic Aeron chair, the Herman Miller Mirra 2 works similarly to its more expensive counterpart, including its flexibility and breathability. Obviously, the more affordable price point is definitely a plus.
The biggest difference with the Aeron, however, lies in the ‘butterfly’ design backrest. It’s made with a tri-flex polymer material that flexes as you move. What we like about this material is how easy it is to clean. Just wipe it with a damp cloth once in a while, and you’re good to go. The arms are padded and come with four adjustable features.
What we don’t like about this chair: Being one of the most affordable chairs with key features to help prevent a bad posture, the Mirra 2 isn’t an ideal choice for people on the heavier side. Like other chairs with a mesh seat, you might not be able to achieve the most comfortable seating position.
Final Verdict: Many consider the Herman Miller Mirra 2 as the ‘poor man’s Aeron’. While it doesn’t sound like praise, this is actually a good thing. This basically means that you don’t have to dig deep into your wallets to get a decent Herman Miller chair. Go buy this chair if you’re looking for an awesome value.
5. Herman Miller Sayl
Sadly, in 2023 it looks like the Sayl Chair by Herman Miller is no longer available.
Inspired by the Golden Gate Bridge, designer Yves Béhar delivers the perfect balance between dynamic support and affordability. The result is a chair that offers a striking design and exceptional value. The silhouette of the chair is inspired by the architecture of suspension bridges, albeit by means of smart engineering and the creative use of simple materials.
What we like about this chair: The Herman Miller Sayl is the first office chair with a frameless back. You think the odd-looking spider web pattern is not comfy, right? We beg to differ. Not only is it soft to the touch, but it’s surprisingly reliable as well. This is a testament to Herman Miller pushing the boundaries of innovation.
Personally, we like how simple the Sayl chair is. Reducing materials has a direct impact on the environment by creating less carbon footprint. In Sayl’s case, less is more. The adaptive backrest is comfortable even without a frame. The armrest also works intuitively even without additional buttons.
What we don’t like about this chair: Some taller testers considered this affordable office seating product uncomfortable. The non-adjustable arms didn’t allow them to achieve a custom fit and a comfortable position.
Final Verdict: Known for its budget-friendly price, the Herman Miller Sayl chair is for you if you want to step up your office ergonomics game without investing a large sum of money. For a fraction of the most expensive chairs, you’ll get a designer brand office chair that not only is beautiful but supports your back beautifully.
Although some find it uncomfortable, a wider range of taller testers agree with shorter testers that the chair’s backrest flex ensures sufficient backrest angle for the most comfortable position. Overall, this chair isn’t an ideal choice for people with a height of six feet and above.
Which Herman Miller Chair is Best?
Many consider the Herman Miller Aeron to be the best ergonomic office chair in the world. Often considered number one in the pantheon of office ergonomics, the Aeron has become a status symbol and more than just a mere work chair. The combination of design and materials is truly something to behold.
Though many ask if Herman Miller chairs are worth the investment, there’s no denying the fact that Herman Miller has pioneered the innovation of today’s ergonomic office chairs. Often considered the ‘grand-daddy’ of work chairs, its perfect blend of form and function sets itself apart from the competition.
Which Herman Miller Chair Should I Buy?
While many consider the Aeron to be the best, answering which Herman Miller chair I should buy comes down to your personal preference, including what you use the chair for and your budget.
Like basic chairs, not all ergonomic chairs have basic and advanced features that will work for all body types and heights.
The best Herman Miller office chair debate will always remain subjective. Nonetheless, It’s a good thing Herman Miller offers a large selection of office chairs that differ in design and features.
Here are our recommendations in terms of “Which Herman Miller Chair should I buy?” if you are still undecided:
If money’s not a concern, then the Aeron chair is your best bet. We can’t rave enough about the Herman Miller Aeron. To sum it up, it’s the best. Bar none. Choosing the best will always be a subjective matter, but we have to go with Aeron. We’ve considered the Aeron the top pick for the best ergonomic office chairs.
If you want the best back support and adjustability, the Embody chair is for you. With a wide seat base and narrow backrest, the Embody chair offers unparalleled comfort through its unique plastic frame. Not only is the seat comfortable, but the extensive adjustment options cater to a wide range of users.
If you want to get the best value for the price, buy a refurbished chair. It’s the most affordable way to get into a chair on this list, giving you the best bang for your buck. This choice is not foe everyone, so consider your options. But know that all Herman Miller Chairs are made to last, so used is not as bad as you think for this brand!
Final Verdict
And there you have it, the complete reviews of the best Herman Miller office chairs. Hopefully, you can answer: which Herman Miller chair should I buy?
You can also consider our top recommendations for ergonomic chairs based on your specific circumstances. Nonetheless, all of the products mentioned are up there with the best of them.
They all have a seat design that offers additional lumbar support for most body types and heights. Also, consider slowly adding comfortable seating fabric cushions. You’ll find many Herman Miller accessory options to help further reduce and prevent lumbar and neck pain.
If you have the budget, you can’t go wrong with these amazing office chairs. 🙂
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