Herman Miller Aeron Review: Is It Worth It?

To earn a permanent slot at the Modern Museum of Art or MoMA, you have to be worth seeing, and that’s exactly what the Herman Miller Aeron is. This is more than an office chair, but a cultural icon created in the 1990s that has endured to this day. 

It’s no wonder that the Aeron continues to be Herman Miller’s biggest seller, as people adore this chair’s storied history and its variety of comfortable features that have been improved upon as the decades have gone by.

Deciding whether the ultra-expensive Herman Miller Aeron is the right chair for you isn’t an easy choice to make. In this full guide to the Aeron, you’ll learn about its history, pricing, and features. By the time you’re done reading, there will be no ambiguity on whether the Herman Miller Aeron will be your next office chair.  

Herman Miller Aeron Review Highlights

The Aeron is the crown jewel of Herman Miller office chairs. Created by designers Bill Stumpf and Don Chadwick, the Aeron was released in 1994 to massive acclaim. 

Available in three sizes for users big and small, the Aeron includes Harmonic Tilting for easier, more natural adjustments as well as PostureFit SL lumbar support. The chair is also backed by Herman Miller’s extensive warranty. 

What We Liked

• PostureFit SL is one of the best lumbar support features in any office chair, not only those by Herman Miller. 
• The 8Z Pellicle mesh is more than just breathable, but it’s tighter and looser in different areas for further lumbar support.
• You can choose from three sizes for the Aeron so it’s more inclusive. 

What We Didn’t Like

• The armrests are rather plainly designed and could look more striking.
• The adjustments, while fine, could be even more plentiful. 
• This is one of the most expensive office chairs you’ll come across. 

Herman Miller Aeron Review: Specifications & Features

Dimensions	Height: 38.5 inches to 43 inches Width: 26 inches to 28.25 inches Depth: 16 inches to 18.5 inches Seat height: 19 inches to 20.5 inches
Product Weight	40 to 43 pounds
Material	Recycled materials
Weight Capacity	300 to 350 pounds

Multiple Sizes

Are you frustrated by the restrictive chair size limits as imposed by most office chairs? The Herman Miller Aeron is available in three sizes that are designed to fit a wider variety of users. 

Size A is small. Its base diameter is 26.5 inches. The chair measures 16 inches deep, 26 inches wide, and 38.5 inches tall. You can adjust the seat height from 15 to 19 inches. Its weight capacity is 300 pounds.

For the average office chair shopper, Size B is medium. This version of the Aeron has the same base diameter but is 16.75 inches deep, 27 inches wide, and 41 inches tall. You can set its seat height from 16 to 20.45 inches. The Size B chair has a weight limit of 350 pounds.

The biggest of the Aerons is the Size C or large. This chair has a depth of 18.5 inches, a width of 28.25 inches, and a height of 43 inches with a base diameter of 26.5 inches. Set the seat height between 16 and 20.5 inches. The weight capacity for the Size C Aeron is 350 pounds. 

Sustainable Design

Although sustainability was not a dominating focus in the days the Aeron was originally released, times have changed substantially. Herman Miller has changed right along, producing today’s Aerons to be as eco-friendly as possible.

The chair is made of recycled materials at a facility that achieved Indoor Advantage Gold certification per SCS Global Services. The Gold certification is the best type of cert one can obtain in this category and means that Herman Miller restricts emissions and the release of volatile organic compounds or VOCs at its facilities. 

Pellicle 8Z Mesh Fabric

Mesh has long been a popular office chair material, especially if you live in a warmer climate or if you do a lot of high-intensity work. The mesh included with the Herman Miller Aeron is anything but ordinary though.

Instead, included with this office chair is the brand’s 8Z Pellicle mesh fabric. This suspension mesh is designed to augment your sitting experience. Named after the eight tension zones spread throughout the back and seat of the Aeron, the tautness varies from point to point.

For example, along the edge of the backrest, the Pellicle mesh is tight. Towards the middle, the mesh is more flexible so you can comfortably lean back into the Aeron but still feel supported all along.

PostureFit SL + More Lumbar Support

Another noteworthy feature of the Aeron is the PostureFit SL, an excellent lumbar and sacral support system that can correctly position your skeletal system, including all the muscles in your back along the way. 

As you naturally move in your chair while working on your latest task and then you relax in between assignments, the Aeron’s PostureFit SL backrest moves right along with you, even down to your micro-movements. This results in support all day so you might complain of fewer backaches. 

Adjustments Galore

The Aeron is adjustable almost down to the small details. With Harmonic Tilt, you can recline more naturally. The movement of the recline is smooth, and you’re never at risk of tilting yourself right out of your chair. 

You can also adjust the seat depth and the seat height, as I had mentioned. The armrests are adjustable as well, as you can raise them between 6.8 and 10.8 inches. 

Sturdy Caster Wheels 

The five-star base of the Aeron is complete with five caster wheels. By default, the wheels can roll over carpeting. You can also upgrade the Aeron’s caster wheels to have Quiet Roll technology so they can handle hardwood and carpeting alike. 

Herman Miller Aeron Review: Our Insights

The features of the Herman Miller Aeron sure are something. In this section, I want to delve even deeper into those features and the quality of this chair to guide your purchasing decision. 

Build Quality

Let’s start with an important consideration when choosing any office chair, the build quality. Given the sterling reputation of the Aeron and its longstanding legacy, it should come as no surprise that the build quality of this Herman Miller chair is fantastic. 

Between the sturdy base, the 8Z Pellicle mesh, and the recycled materials, the durability of the Aeron shines through in many of its design facets. 

Ergonomics

Ergonomics is another place where the Herman Miller brand really shines, and perhaps not more so than the Aeron. The 8Z Pellicle mesh is its own form of ergonomics, but it’s the PostureFit SL backrests that are the real standout. You can adjust the backrests on either side for customized comfort. 

Adjustability

The Aeron has a handful of adjustments, so let’s put them to the test. 

• Height adjustments: The height adjustments of the Aeron are nothing special, but you can raise and lower the height regardless of which size Aeron you choose, which is nice. 
• Backrest adjustments: The PostureFit SL backrest adjustment allows you to comfortably put in long hours working, playing, and relaxing in the Aeron. 
• Armrest adjustments: The Aeron’s arms might not be 4D, but you can still set the height. 

Comfort (Seat, Back, and Arms)

The 8Z Pellicle mesh of the Aeron cradles your upper back while the PostureFit SL backrests provide sacral and lumbar support. Altogether, that’s a good tag team of comfort. 

I do have to mention again though that the armrests could be better. They’re comfortable enough, and you can raise them over your seat so they’re out of the way, but they don’t do much else.  

Value

The Herman Miller Aeron retails for $1,395, which is exceptionally costly! You can reduce the price of the chair, but that means downgrading features. For example, foregoing the PostureFit SL backrest and choosing basic back support reduces the price of this chair to around $1,300.  

Herman Miller Aeron Review: Buying Experience

Are you still making up your mind? Here is some information on what the Aeron buying experience is like.  

Shipping

If you purchase your Aeron through Herman Miller’s website and you live in the contiguous United States or Canada, your order is eligible for free shipping. The excluded states include Hawaii and Alaska.

Assembly

Assembly? Not with the Herman Miller Aeron! When you purchase this famous office chair, it will arrive to your doorstep fully assembled. You can just unbox it and begin using it that same day. 

Warranty

Herman Miller’s warranty is comprehensive. The Aeron is protected for 12 years.

According to this page on Herman Miller’s website, the 12 years is for labor and parts. Under the warranty, the Aeron is eligible for three repair shifts for 24 hours each.

You must provide your manufacturing label to use your warranty. The manufacturing label includes the manufacture date, FO number, and product number. You must also take a photo of whatever is wrong with your Aeron and write a short statement about it. You’re only supposed to send one image unless you have a detailed problem that requires two photos. 

Return Policy

Should you find that you don’t like the Aeron, you can call or email Herman Miller to discuss an exchange or return. The return must be made within 30 days of when you purchased the Aeron and the chair should be in its original condition.

Herman Miller will take some money off your refund for restocking. This can be up to $500 or 10 percent of the chair’s purchase price. You also cannot get refunded for chair delivery or shipping. 

Is the Herman Miller Aeron Worth It?

Now comes the tough part, which is deciding whether the Herman Miller Aeron is the office chair you’ve been looking for. You might still be on the fence, which is why this section will reinforce what’s good and bad about the Aeron.

First, the Aeron’s reputation precedes it. This is a much-beloved chair and has been for decades. That’s why it has a permanent spot at MoMA. Unlike some fads, in which it’s all hype, the Aeron is not. 

The Aeron changed the game when it came out and continues to do the same today. Its lumbar and sacral support via the PostureFit SL backrest is something that many other chair brands try to replicate, but few have gotten close. 

The 8Z Pellicle mesh is also in a league of its own. You still get the breathability and moisture-wicking of mesh but with lumbar support as well. 

I also quite appreciate that you can select from three different sizes for the Aeron. The size inclusiveness is great and not something you see from a lot of office chair brands. 

There are a few areas of the Aeron that Herman Miller could stand to improve. Its armrests are exceedingly simple compared to some arms that you see in gaming and office chairs today. Those are 4D armrests, which means they can rotate, raise, lower, pivot, and turn at angles. 

As adjustable as the Aeron’s arms are, they’re not comparable to office chairs with 4D armrests. 

The adjustment features of the Aeron, while high-quality, are just not enough. Again, if you look at many of today’s gaming and office chairs, you’ll see that they’re edging in on the Aeron with adjustments. These chairs have so many subtle adjustment tweaks that the Aeron might soon have to catch up. 

Then there’s the biggest downside by far, which is the price of the Aeron. At nearly $1,500, many people will find that price ridiculously expensive for an office chair. I don’t blame you if that’s how you feel. 

Herman Miller Aeron Alternatives

It doesn’t hurt to look at a few of Aeron’s competitors. One of these chairs could be just what you’ve wanted! 

Herman Miller Aeron vs. Herman Miller Embody

Okay, full disclosure, the Herman Miller Embody isn’t less expensive than the Aeron. It’s costlier, retailing for $1,570. 

The Embody has a lot of what the Aeron doesn’t, including fabric rather than mesh. With Pixelated Support, which is the weight distribution system in the Embody, the sensation of floating that you’ll enjoy each time you sit in this chair is one of its best features.

The seat is made of a variety of support layers that promote comfort, coolness, and breathability. The Backfit adjustment knob allows you to set your degree of ergonomic support for a healthier posture. 

If you liked the micro-movements of the Aeron, the Embody took that feature and ran with it. This chair has a hidden spine built within it that supports and mimics your own. 

The Embody only comes in one size, and its armrests aren’t any more revolutionary than the Aeron’s. This chair also features a five-star base with caster carpet wheels, although you can pay extra for hard-floor casters. 

Check out our full guide on the Herman Miller Aeron vs Herman Miller Embody

Herman Miller Aeron vs. Steelcase Leap

Moving away from Herman Miller chairs for a moment, the Steelcase Leap is a worthy contender for your next office chair. I wrote about the Leap V2 here, so give that review a read when you get a chance.

The Leap is another fabric office chair. It’s covered in Steelcase’s Buzz 2 fabric, which is polyester. The Buzz 2 fabric certainly isn’t as luxe or high-quality as the 8Z Pellicle mesh found in the Aeron. And while the extra padding is comfortable, it doesn’t provide quite as much support as the Aeron’s mesh and can also get quite warm. I’d recommend checking out my guide on Mesh vs Fabric Chairs to help give you a better idea of which is the right fit for you.

The LiveBack technology included with the Leap is a lot like the Aeron’s PostureFit SL backrest, as the LiveBack is also a backrest with micro-movements for a greater degree of support. 

The Leap’s NaturalGlide adjustment system mimics the Aeron’s Harmonic Tilting for more effortless adjustments. You do get a great degree of adjustable features in the Leap though, including a five-position recline, recline lock, recline tension, seat height, back firmness, and lumbar controls.

The armrests, while not quite 4D, can pivot like 4D armrests do. This chair is also only available in one size. You’ll like the price though, which is $1,028.

Check out our full guide on the Herman Miller Aeron vs Steelcase Leap

Herman Miller Aeron vs. Herman Miller Mirra 2

The last chair I want to talk about is another Herman Miller pick, the Mirra 2. This is probably a closer cousin to the Aeron than the Embody. It has a TriFlex back with openings throughout that increase breathability like Pellicle 8Z mesh. 

With a wide butterfly back, more of your own back receives support as you work all day. The Mirra 2 doesn’t support subtle back movements like the Embody or the Aeron. You can add adjustable lumbar support, but this isn’t the PostureFit SL backrest. 

Its arms are adjustable, but not more so than the Aeron, and the tilt limiter puts this chair on par with the Aeron too. The Mirra 2 will save you money since it retails for $1,010.

Check out my guide on the Herman Miller Aeron vs Herman Miller Mirra 2

The Bottom Line 

The Herman Miller Aeron is the manufacturer’s biggest-selling chair for a reason. This mesh office chair has all the features that modern office workers need including exceptional back support. Such high-end features come with an equally high price tag.

If you can live with that, then the Aeron is one of the best office chairs you can get. Should its cost be too high for you, there are plenty of other office chairs with Aeron-like features but lower price tags such as the Steelcase Leap.