The best Herman Miller chairs ranked

I've been reviewing office chairs for years now, and no other brand stands out quite like Herman Miller. And when you buy direct, you also get an industry-leading 12-year warranty. But which one is right for you? I've drawn on my experience testing a number of Herman Miller chairs, both in my home and at the company's UK HQ and showroom, to compile this list of the absolute best. 

My number one pick is the Herman Miller Aeron, which is a design icon, an incredibly comfortable chair, and also one of the best office chairs for back pain. But there are many other great Herman Miller chairs, so read on to find the right one for you.

The top 3 Herman Miller chairs

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The best Herman Miller chairs

Modern icon

30-second review: If you picture a Herman Miller chair, you're probably thinking of the Aeron. This highly customisable chair remains the most popular Herman Miller chair of all, having sold over seven million units. It was a milestone for ergonomic chairs when it was released back in the 1990s, and it remains one of the most desirable office chairs around. In my hands-on review, I found it to be overall best ergonomic chair I've ever used.

Pricing: The price of a new Herman Miller Aeron chair in the US generally starts around $1,000-$1,300 / £1,000-£1,200 for a basic model, and can go up to $2,400 / £1,800 or more for highly configured versions with premium finishes like polished aluminum or onyx. Refurbished or used Aeron chairs are widely available and can be found ranging from $300-$900 / £350-£600. If you want all the adjustments, the Aeron remains an expensive option, but I feel that it lives up to expectations.

Design and performance: When reviewing, I found it exceptionally comfortable for extended work sessions, with the mesh back providing excellent breathability and the fixed lumbar support hitting just the right spot. The armrests, while non-adjustable, are positioned perfectly and feel substantial yet comfortable. The chair moves as one solid unit with no rattling, thanks to its die-cast aluminum construction. My only concern is that the limited adjustability means it may not suit users significantly taller or shorter than average (I'm 5'10").

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Best value

30-second review: If price is your priority, then you're looking for the Lino. You won't find a cheaper option than this minimal, no-nonsense chair. It looks more like a traditional office chair than most other Herman Miller chairs, but while it lacks the advanced features of the likes of the Aeron or Embody, it's still impressively comfortable and supportive.

Pricing: The Lino represents one of Herman Miller's most affordable options while still delivering their renowned build quality and comfort. It's positioned as an entry-level chair in their lineup, making Herman Miller design accessible to a broader audience without compromising on the essentials like smooth mechanisms and quality materials. Expect to find new Lino chairs starting around $670-$855 / £530-£800 GBP on the Herman Miller store and authorised retailers. Refurbished Lino chairs can be found for as little as $240 / £240.

Design and performance: Despite its affordable price, the Lino provides a comfortable and supportive seating experience. It has adjustable arms and seat depth so that you can find your perfect sitting position and a breathable suspension back offering full spinal and lumbar support. It also comes in a wide range of colours, material and finish options so that you can ensure that your Lino fits perfectly with your office décor.

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Best premium

30-second review: The Embody doesn't just support you - it actively encourages healthy micro-movements while distributing pressure perfectly across your body. It's the closest thing to a perfect chair you'll find. For some reason, Herman Miller markets the Embody as a gaming chair. I'm sure it will serve perfectly well as such, but that is to slightly under-sell the Embody. It is, all things considered, the best chair I've ever sat on. It really is that good.

Pricing: The Embody retails for around $2,195 / £1,715, positioning it firmly in premium territory. However, for a chair that represents cutting-edge ergonomic design, uses exceptional materials, and comes with Herman Miller's legendary build quality, it's an investment in your long-term comfort and health. This is a chair built to last a lifetime.

Design and performance: The Herman Miller Embody features a backfit adjustment so that you can tune the chair to your spine, a smooth tilt that mimics your natural pivot points, and a seat with four breathable layers for comfort and airflow. It also has the best arm rests that I've ever tested – simple, clever design that works. The real genius is how you feel when you've sat on the Embody for a while. Thanks to its skeletal back and seat design, which encourages micro-movements, and therefore blood flow, you feel super comfortable, but also fresh – not like you've just been sat on your bum for X hours. That really is genius design.

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Best compact

30-second review: If the price of Herman Miller's Aeron is just too much but you want a fine-looking chair with sound back support for both work and play, I think the Sayl is the perfect alternative as the best Herman Miller chair for those on a more prudent budget. Inspired by the geometry of the Golden Gate Bridge suspension system, the Sayl office chair has the hallmarks of a future design classic. Its striking Y-Tower armature and ventilated elastomer back not only look stunning, but they also give you plenty of spinal support as well as space to stretch and move about.

Pricing: The price of a new Herman Miller Sayl chair in the US generally starts around $735-$775 / £540-£700 for a basic configuration. Depending on chosen options such as arm type (fixed, height-adjustable, or fully adjustable), lumbar support, and specific upholstery fabrics or frame finishes, the price can increase, potentially reaching over $1,300 / £1,100. Refurbished or used Sayl chairs in the US can often be found in the range of $200-$600. 

Design and performance: Our reviewer found the Sayl to be ideal for use both as an office chair and also for leaning back and watching videos or gaming (there are fun colours for gaming too). The webbed plastic back is very cool and breathable, making it this probably the best Herman Miller chair for anyone who tends to get too hot or who works in a hot office. The arm rests are adjustable too and I found they worked well in practice. 

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Best for restless

30-second review: The Herman Miller Mirra 2 takes its name from the fact that it's designed to intuitively mirror your natural movements. Herman Miller likens it to a good running shoe, and it's an apt comparison. When we reviewed it, we found the Mirra 2 to be responsive and supportive, allowing the body to move, stretch and reach naturally, while the Harmonic 2 tilt provides a balanced feel when reclining the chair.

Pricing: The price of a new Herman Miller Mirra 2 chair starts around $1,385-$1,395 / £700-£850. Depending on chosen options such as the back type (TriFlex polymer or Butterfly suspension), arm type (fixed or fully adjustable), adjustable lumbar support, FlexFront adjustable seat depth, and specific frame or base finishes, the price can increase significantly, potentially reaching over $1,700 / £1,100 for fully loaded models. Refurbished or used Mirra 2 chairs can be found in the range of $300-$700 / £250-£700.

Design and performance: The Mirra 2 has two back options, a flexible TriFlex back or an ultra-responsive Butterfly back. Its woven seat distributes your weight evenly and allows air circulation, and it comes in a range of great-looking colourways, giving you more colour options than with the classic Aeron above. Some might find the seat just a little unyielding compared to the Aeron, but if support matters most to you then it's a definite winner. 

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Best minimalist

30-second review: While not quite the cheapest Herman Miller chair you can get, the Setu is notably minimalist and one of the more affordable options. It has a mesh seat and back and a flexible spine that responds to your movement. There are six tasteful colour options and either white or black frames. Herman Miller bills it as a side chair, and the light manoeuvrability makes it very suitable for that. We're not sure we'd choose it for all-day use, but if you don't spend the entire day seated or if you like a firmer chair with no cushioned seating, this is Herman Miller quality at a more affordable price.

Pricing: The price of a new Herman Miller Setu chair generally starts around $960 / £780 for a basic configuration. Fully customised or premium configurations can reach over $1,200 / £1,200.

Design and performance: You can adjust the height but nothing else in this case, making it less ergonomic than other options on our list. That said, the plastic panels that support the back of the chair are designed to adjust and respond to your body with no manual controls necessary. So while it's not something you have total control over, it does mould itself to your body. The Setu's biggest selling point though is its lightweight design, which makes it easy to manoeuvre. 

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Form adjusting

30-second review: Available in three back heights, the Herman Miller Cosm is designed to adjust itself to provide you with optimum support. It features Herman Miller's Auto-Harmonic tilt mechanism that automatically gives you the balanced support and movement you need, based on your body and posture, and its seat and back are combined into a breathable and temperature-neutral Intercept Suspension that conforms to your body to provide dynamic spinal support. This also encourages better posture by allowing you to sit in a way that specifically aligns with your spine.

Pricing: The price of a new Herman Miller Cosm chair generally starts around $1,270 / £975 for a low-back configuration with fixed arms, with mid-back models typically starting around $1,635 / £1,400 and high-back models around $1,955 / £1,500. Depending on chosen options, the price can increase to exceed $2,000 / £1,600.

Design and performance: There are three arm options – fixed-height, height-adjustable and leaf – and multiple colour options; we particularly love the Cosm's 'dipped-in' look, which means it's the same colour from top to bottom. When we went to the Herman Miller showroom and tried out all the chairs, the Cosm was definitely up there with our favourites.

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FAQs

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How to choose

In our guide above, we've included all the measurements you'll need to get the perfect fit. There's more than just the dimensions to think about though. The design materials will also play a part in not only your level of comfort, but also in how well your chair fits into your home office.

Many Herman Miller chairs have a mesh back that supports and flexes with your body as you move throughout the day. These are designed to be breathable while still offering complete support, and while they may feel a little unyielding when compared to the couch, they will still allow you to sit back and relax thanks to an adjustable tilt handle.

The Aeron and the Mirra 2 are the most famous Herman Miller chairs, and the former is the best seller. These two chairs are the most adjustable, but also the most expensive in the lineup. Other options can be a little cheaper while still offering fantastic looks and ergonomic features, but they're not all as ideal for use as a regular work chair for longer periods each day.

The Herman Miller Sayl, which is a close contender for the top spot thanks to its sleek design and thoughtful construction, has a more breathable webbed plastic back which is ideal for those who work in warm spaces and want to keep cool.

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How we test

When we review chairs, we don't rely on the specifications manufacturers give us. Instead, our team of expert reviewers, who have a diverse range of heights and weights, assesses how each chair accommodates different body types in practice. With each model, we adopt the same rigorous methodology, evaluating each chair's overall design, adjustability, and comfort. We closely scrutinise the materials, the range of adjustments, ease of setup and use, and comfort level. We also pay attention to warranty and returns policies, and rivals chairs for value-for-money before presenting our final recommendations.

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