If you’ve been following our continued search for the best office chairs, there’s a good chance you’ve seen Herman Miller’s and Steelcase’s names before. They’re two of the longest-standing brands in the office furniture industry, and they both produce some of the highest-quality chairs money can buy. While they may not be the best choice for your first office chair, as several of their configurations are in the thousands of dollars, they unquestionably stand out as our two top picks for the ultimate splurge.
Herman Miller and Steelcase have both been around for quite some time. The former was founded in 1905, and the latter started up in 1912. In other words, they have some precedent to justify their prices. And a century of design and development has certainly paid off: these brands have produced some of our favorite chairs of all time in the Herman Miller Aeron and the Steelcase Karman. They’re some of the most comfortable chairs we’ve tested, they have stellar build quality, they’re vastly adjustable, and they just freakin’ look good.
All of that said, these chairs aren’t just great because they’re expensive. Each brand brings something unique to the table, which is why some deeper research is critical before you drop a grand (or more) on your next chair. These seats are made to last a lifetime (while remaining comfortable the whole time), so we’ve put together this comparison to highlight key differences in how each company’s design principles, product ranges, customizability, and warranty info could influence your decision.
Herman Miller vs Steelcase: Design
Both brands have quite a range of designs for their chairs. This is certainly a byproduct of their century-spanning reigns as industry leaders, but it’s also for the sake of giving you as many options as possible for both comfort and aesthetics. Steelcase’s silhouettes are a bit more similar to each other than Herman Miller’s, but there’s still plenty of variation in materials with each brand. Whether you want foam, mesh, or a stiffer composite for your seat and backrest, both brands have you covered.
In Herman Miller’s case, the brand has some especially avant-garde designs courtesy of regular collaborations with designers like Eames. While these chairs aren’t quite as optimized for comfort, they’re some of the most prolific statement pieces you can put in your office. Just watch the price tag, as these can climb well over $3000.
Herman Miller vs Steelcase: Products
Both Herman Miller and Steelcase have incredibly wide ranges with their products, so comparing all of them would be a bit too apples-and-oranges for anyone to explain cogently. As such, we’ll look at the flagship models from each brand: Herman Miller’s Aeron and Steelcase’s Gesture. Their role as each brand’s bestseller shines a pretty bright spotlight on their comfort and adjustment priorities.
The Aeron, starting at $1275, is a model we’ve tested ourselves, and we know from experience that it’s a hit for a reason. It’s lined with a mesh-like fabric that wraps around your rear end and holds you like a hammock, gently suspending you over the cantilevered base. This option is also the way to go if breathability is a top priority, as that mesh material allows for unfettered airflow around your entire body. In other words, no more sweaty back after a few hours of conquering spreadsheets.
On the other hand, we have the Steelcase Gesture, which starts at a slightly steeper $1399. We’re currently testing this one, but the differences between it and the Aeron are pretty clear nonetheless. Unlike the Aeron, this chair has a much more built-up backrest, which sacrifices some breathability for the sake of extra cushioning. This chair also uses foam, but it's not a sluggish seat by any means. Thanks to Steelcase's proprietary cushioning tech called LiveBack, you can sit in just about any position you can imagine in this chair and it will adapt to keep you from forming hot spots. The backrest is also a good deal taller on the Gesture than the Aeron, which means you get a little more shoulder support but a less compact silhouette.
For a more comprehensive look at each brand’s product ranges, we have pages dedicated to explaining the key differences between the heavy hitters each company offers. Check out our Herman Miller guide and our Steelcase guide for more info on each company’s office chair lineup.
Herman Miller vs Steelcase: Configurability
On both brands’ websites, the initial price listed on the product pages can be a bit deceiving. You can configure your chair on both sites to meet all of your specific needs, and every single adjustment changes the price. If, for example, you wanted upgraded casters, maximum armrest adjustability, and premium lumbar support, you can wind up doubling the price of chairs like the Aeron. You don’t need all of these configurations for a Herman Miller chair to be supremely comfortable. That said, if you know you have certain ergonomic needs, such as extra lumbar support, those add-ons can be a worthwhile investment.
Steelcase’s chairs aren’t quite as configurable as Herman Miller’s in terms of additional hardware, but you still get options like upgraded casters and optional headrests. You can also customize the aesthetics much more thoroughly on Steelcase’s site where you can pick from 29 different color variations for the upholstery on the Gesture for instance.
Herman Miller vs Steelcase: Warranty
Both Herman Miller and Steelcase offer 12-year warranties on their chairs, which cover any malfunction or damage that isn’t a result of human error. In other words, if a component breaks from regular use, it’s covered, but you’re unlikely to get coverage for a fabric rip that it got in the back of your moving van. Either way, if the damage is covered by warranty, you’ll be compensated for both the parts and the labor needed to repair it.
With Steelcase, there is also some fine print regarding which components actually get the full 12-year coverage. The official list is here, but to highlight some examples, you only get three years out of wood components and five years out of components that contain electronics.
You can’t go wrong with either
Both Steelcase and Herman Miller have storied pasts that warrant the reputation each brand has attained, but at the end of the day, you can’t throw money at any old chair and make it fit you perfectly.
Ultimately, you’re probably going to find the best fit for you within each brand by trying these chairs out in person, like we did with Herman Miller’s range. But it’s good to know beforehand how each brand’s configurability, price variations, and warranty mesh with your needs.
