If you're looking for the best Herman Miller chair for your home or office, our guide will make your decision a lot easier. With first-class lumbar support and sleek, modern designs that will stand the test of time, a Herman Miller desk chair will look the part in your office or desk space.
Those who are in the market for a Herman Miller desk chair will know that they're a real investment. It is certainly possible to pick up one of the best office chairs for back pain for a lot less money. Herman Miller desk chairs are famously worth the cash though, especially if you spend a lot of time sitting in front of a monitor. The adjustable lumbar support is especially useful for those with specific needs when it comes to back support, or who want to prevent any back issues from arising.
Herman Miller desk chairs typically come with a 12 year guarantee, and their mesh designs will keep them clean and well ventilated throughout years of use. With almost architectural precision, they're designed much like a mattress to be used each and every day and cater to your specific needs and preferences. The best Herman Miller chairs can come in three different sizes too, so small or larger buyers don't need to worry about finding a one-size-fits-all option that suits them.
You can jump down to our section on how to start choosing the best Herman Miller chair for you if you're undecided on which Herman Miller you should buy, or if you're not decided on the brand, see our rundown of the best office chairs from a range of brands or our guides to how to choose an office chair and how to clean an office chair.
The Best Herman Miller chairs in 2021
If you're considering a Herman Miller chair, chances are you're thinking about an Aeron. With its instantly recognisable – and much-copied – design it's a hugely desirable office chair. The Aeron really ushered in the era of ergonomic desk chairs, with its fully adjustable design that allows you to create the perfect custom level of comfort.
The Herman Miller Aeron chair is an expensive option, but it will live right up to your expectations with strong ergonomic features that encourage a healthy posture, as well as fine control over the arms, seat height, depth, and recline. There are three sizes to choose from as well as three colour and four arm options, but remember that these will push the price up.
You can choose from sizes A, B, or C, each with outstanding spinal support. Of course, it's expensive, but Herman Miller wouldn't have sold over seven million of the Aeron if it wasn't a classic for a reason.
If an Aeron's just a bit too much but you want a fine-looking and supportive chair, we reckon this is the perfect alternative. It has a webbed plastic back which offers more breathability than the Aeron too. That's ideal for those who work in warmer conditions or who run hot naturally because it will keep you far cooler than a padded back.
Inspired by the geometry of the Golden Gate Bridge suspension system, the Sayl office chair has all the hallmarks of a future design classic. Its striking Y-Tower armature and ventilated elastomer back not only look amazing but also give you plenty of spinal support as well as the room to stretch and move about, and its foam seat will keep you comfortable all day.
On top of the Sayl's bold colour options, you can specify adjustable lumbar support, but bear in mind that this will knock the price up. The same applies to the seat depth. Should you opt for a more expensive model, it can be fully adjustable, but for a lower-tier option, the non-adjustable depth should be more than enough support.
The Herman Miller Mirra 2's name comes from the fact that it's designed to intuitively mirror your natural movements. Herman Miller compares it with a good running shoe, and it's a pretty apt comparison. Some might find it just a little unyielding, but if support matters most to you then it's a definite winner.
The Mirra 2 is responsive and supportive and allows your body to move, stretch and reach naturally, and its Harmonic 2 tilt provides a balanced feel when you recline the chair. It 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.
Not quite the cheapest Herman Miller chair you can get (but only by the barest of margins), the Setu is a decidedly minimal office chair with a mesh seat and back, and a flexible spine that responds to your movement. It comes in six tasteful colour options and either white or black frames, and you can adjust the height but nothing else.
The greatest selling point of the Setu is its lightweight design, which makes it perfect for easy movements. 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 can have total control over, it does mould itself to every individual's body.
Basic but effective, it's described by Herman Miller as a side chair and we're not entirely sure how it would suit all-day use. However, if you don't spend the entire day seated or if you like a more firm chair with no cushioned seating, it would be a fine choice and comes at a reasonable price.
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.
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.
If price is your priority when you're after a Herman Miller chair, you won't find anything cheaper than the Lino. It's a minimal, no-nonsense option that looks a lot more like a traditional office chair than most Herman Millers, and while it lacks the advanced features of the Aeron or Embody, it's still impressive, comfortable and supportive.
It has adjustable arms and seat depth so that you can find your perfect sitting position, it has a breathable suspension back that gives you full spinal and lumbar support, and it comes in a wide range of colour, material and finish options so that you can ensure that your Lino fits in with your office décor perfectly.
Herman Miller describes the Embody as an office chair for those who take sitting seriously, so you know it means business. If your work involves sitting down all day, the Embody is built to make it a lot easier on your body. It's a premium pick, and that's even by Herman Miller's standards, but if you've got the money to spend on absolute guaranteed comfort, look no further.
It 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. Designed with experts in biomechanics, vision, physical therapy, and ergonomics, it's the ultimate healthy sitting option.
Everything about the Embody was designed with a sense of purpose. It has a narrow back to facilitate easy movements for your shoulders and arms, and it also has a 'kicker' to really let you extend and relax when leaning back. Note that this model is no longer being restocked in the UK.
Choosing the best Herman Miller chair
How do I choose the best Herman Miller chair?
In our best Herman Miller chair guide we've included all the measurements you'll need to get the perfect fit for you. There's more than just the dimensions to think about though, because the design materials will also play a part in not only the type of comfort you expensive, but how well your chair fits into your home office, too.
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 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.
How do I choose the right size Herman Miller chair
We love that Herman Miller has made its chairs in a range of sizes to accommodate to different customers, but it can make choosing the right size for you a little tricky. We suggest taking a look at the size reference chart, which combines height and weight to suggest an ideal chair for every user.
Why are Herman Miller chairs so expensive?
While Herman Miller chairs come at a premium price point, they do have the quality construction to match. If you want to invest in a desk chair that will last a decade or more, these options will be worth the initial cost.
They are guaranteed for 12 years as standard, which speaks to the company's intention of providing you with an office chair to last decades in your home. And although it is true that the Aeron Herman Miller chair is the most iconic option, it may not be the best Herman Miller chair for you.
There are actually some options that come significantly shy of the $1,000 mark, with a handful of the top picks in our guide available for about $500 on a good day.
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