Herman Miller Sayl Review: Is It Worth It?

In the world of office chairs, you’ve always heard that Herman Miller is as good as it gets. Yet you’re also aware that most Herman Miller chairs are priced in the four figures. With both gaming chair and office chair versions available, you can’t help but be intrigued by the Herman Miller Sayl.

Is this chair worth owning? Is it more expensive than other Herman Miller chairs or less so? In this review, I’ll seek to answer those questions and more. Ahead, I’ll share all the information you need to make a purchasing decision, such as the Sayl’s specifications, features, and pricing. 

By the time you’re done reading, you’ll know definitively whether the Herman Miller Sayl is the chair you’ve been looking for. 

Herman Miller Sayl Highlights

The Sayl is an office chair (with a separate gaming edition available) from esteemed manufacturer Herman Miller. The chair features an elastomer back for breathability and ventilation, Y-Tower arms, advanced tilting, and a 12-year warranty. The Sayl also arrives almost fully assembled. 

What We Liked

• The Sayl is one of the lowest-priced Herman Miller chairs, as it costs less than $700. 
• Mesh-like backing is not a feature common of Herman Miller, but the Sayl has it in spades. 
• The chair is made of mostly recycled (90 percent) materials so you can feel good about owning and using it.
• That it comes assembled means you can use the Sayl the same day it arrives! 
• The weight range for the Sayl is 300 pounds. 

What We Didn’t Like

• Compared to other Herman Miller chairs, the Sayl isn’t obsessed with ergonomics. There’s very little in that department.
• The armrests are fixed by default unless you’re willing to spend more money.
• Lumbar support is lacking without paying extra.  

Herman Miller Sayl Review: Specifications and Features

There’s plenty more to talk about, so next, let’s delve deeper into the features of the Sayl. 

Professional Design

Herman Miller regularly employs the brightest minds in architecture and design to create concepts for its chairs, and that was true of the Sayl as well. The Sayl is a Yves Behar creation. Behar is from Switzerland and favors sustainability in his designs. 

Outside of Herman Miller, Behar has also designed for Cobalt Robotics, Prada, Jimmyjane, Happiest Baby, Samsung, Swarovski, General Electric, See Better to Learn Better, Western Digital, MINI, Kodak, Puma, and Movado. That’s quite a varied resume!

Elastomer Back

The most significant feature of the Sayl by far is the elastomer back. The elastomer material looks and behaves like mesh. The open spacing between the elastomer allows air to flow through with ease and perspiration to easily exit.

If you work up a sweat streaming video games or your job is very strenuous, you’ll appreciate the elastomer back of the Sayl that much more. 

Optional Lumbar Support

Admittedly, the Sayl does not include lumbar support by default. If you’re willing to pay moderately more for your office chair, you can outfit this Herman Miller creation with lumbar support.

The lumbar support feature is adjustable so you can customize your degree of ergonomics. Herman Miller is one of the biggest names in ergonomic chairs, so you’d be in good hands in the Sayl!  

3D Intelligent Suspension Backing

The Sayl also includes Herman Miller’s 3D Intelligent Suspension system so you can–as designer Yves Behar says– “live unframed.” The suspension back includes further ergonomics built right into the Sayl.

How so? The chair back molds and shapes itself to your body so the chair can be frameless for your comfort. Regardless of your body type or size, you can rely on the 3D Intelligent Suspension for comfort when using the Sayl for hours at a time. 

Tilt Limiting

Do you like to tilt in your office chair? The Sayl gives you options. The tilt limiter has four settings so you can lean all the way back or sit mostly straight. Along the way, you can also set your degree of tilt tension for a customized fit. 

Recyclability 

I once again have to mention that the Herman Miller Sayl is built of mostly recycled materials, with 90 percent of those materials recycled. Some of the materials include the upholstered polyester seat.

When Herman Miller mails the Sayl to your doorstep, it comes in two pieces to reduce the company’s environmental impact.  

Dimensions	26 inches deep by 24.5 inches wide by 40.75 inches tall; the seat is 18 inches wide by 20.5 inches tall
Product Weight	54 pounds
Material	Recycled polyester, foam, elastomer, and steel
Weight Capacity	300 pounds

Herman Miller Sayl Review: Our Insights

Let’s talk even further about the Sayl so you can continue to make up your mind about this Herman Miller office/gaming chair. 

Build Quality

The Sayl’s build quality is solid from figurative head to toe. The steel frame is designed for durability without weighing down the chair, seeing as how the Sayl weighs 37 pounds. 

The elastomer material is like a more durable mesh. The open spaces between the elastomer also encourage far more breathability than what you normally find in a mesh office chair.

The foam seat cushion is fine, although Herman Miller undoubtedly has comfier cushions than the Sayl’s. The recycled polyester seat fabric is soft and eco-friendly. 

You can select from three styles of Herman Miller polyester upholstery: Gemma, Rhythm, and Crepe. Between the three options, you have your pick of plenty of colors, everything from brights to pastels and neutrals. 

Ergonomics

Here’s an area where I’d give the Sayl passing marks, but nothing exceptional. That’s surprising coming from a Herman Miller chair, but it is what it is. 

The adjustable lumbar support of the Sayl is not even a built-in feature; you have to pay extra for it. The 3D Intelligent Suspension system does make up for the lack of included ergonomics, but compared to other Herman Miller chairs, the Sayl is still sort of lacking. 

Adjustability

To what degree can you adjust the Sayl? Let’s take a closer look. 

• Height Adjustments: You can raise or lower the height of the Sayl as necessary. All you have to do is grasp the base, hold the footring spoke, and rotate it. Then you can set the height.  
• Lumbar Adjustments: The optional lumbar support is adjustable. The 3D Intelligent Suspension system is adjustable to a degree as well, but it’s automatic. Once you sit in the chair, the suspension system molds to your body. There are no knobs or levers to configure.
• Armrest Adjustments: The standard Sayl arms are fixed. If you’re willing to pay more money for this office chair, then you can purchase one of two armrest styles. One allows you to adjust only the armrest height and the other is fully adjustable. 

Comfort (Seat, Back, and Arms)

Comfort is about more than the plushness of the seat, but whether you can regulate your body temperature sitting in a chair. The Sayl certainly allows you to do that with its elastomer back and headrest. 

The polyester seat uses Herman Miller’s most premium fabrics, so it should be cozy. That brings us to the fixed arms. Few people find fixed armrests comfortable, which might inspire you to shell out more money to buy adjustable arms. 

Value

The Herman Miller Sayl with no extra features retails for $595. You can customize the frame base and suspension colors at no extra cost. You can also select the Herman Miller upholstery color you like without paying more.

As I’ve touched on, if you want anything beyond fixed armrests, that’s going to cost you. The height-adjustable arms increase the price of the Sayl to $725. The Sayl with fully adjustable arms is $735.

The seat depth of the Sayl is fixed at the quoted price above. By adding adjustable seat depth, the price of the chair is now $635. If you just added lumbar support, the bill for the Sayl is $665. 

Herman Miller Sayl Review: Buying Experience

Here are some more details about the Sayl buying experience to consider before you make up your mind about this Herman Miller chair. 

Shipping

Depending on whether you’re in the contiguous United States or outside of it, the shipping prices for a Herman Miller chair vary. For contiguous US residents, here are the shipping costs:

• FedEx shipping – if you spend $50 or more, FedEx shipping is free; you’d pay $7 in FedEx shipping if your order costs $49.99
• In-home national time-specific delivery within 75 miles – $349 a trip
• In-home national time-specific delivery beyond 75 miles – $449 a trip
• In-home national delivery within 75 miles – $249 a trip
• In-home national delivery beyond 75 miles – $349 a trip
• Threshold delivery – 10 percent of your order value up to $249

For those in Puerto Rico, Hawaii, or Alaska, you’d pay up to $499 in FedEx shipping at a rate of 12 percent of the order value. Threshold delivery has a max charge of $549 at a rate of 12 percent of the order value. In-home delivery costs up to $949 and in-home time-specific delivery is $1,049.

Assembly

Who wants to spend hours assembling an office chair? Not you, that’s for sure. You don’t have to when you own the Herman Miller Sayl. The chair ships out in two pieces to reduce environmental impact.

When the chair parts arrive, lock them together and voila, your Sayl is ready to use. Herman Miller says connecting the two parts doesn’t even require tools. 

Warranty

Like many of its office chairs, the Sayl is protected under Herman Miller’s expansive 12-year warranty. The 12 years include labor and parts as well as three 24-hour shifts. 

Before you can send your Sayl back as part of the warranty, Herman Miller requests that you describe the issue in full and provide a photo of the issue in question. You can send two images if one of them is a close-up; otherwise, send one photo.

You must also include the manufacturing label, which should clearly display the manufacture date, FO number, and product number in full. 

Return Policy

Should you change your mind about the Sayl, Herman Miller allows for returns within 30 days of when you bought the chair or received a receipt. You will not be refunded for delivery and shipping fees, and you won’t get the full value of the chair refunded to you either.

Instead, Herman Miller charges a restocking fee that’s worth 10 percent of the chair’s total purchase price. This fee can be no higher than $500. 

Is the Herman Miller Sayl Worth It?

Now I want to address what I’m sure is your main question. Is owning the Herman Miller Sayl worthwhile?

I would say yes. The Sayl is a surprisingly affordable chair considering that other chairs in the Herman Miller family cost upwards of $1,700. The 12-year Herman Miller warranty and the lack of assembly for the Sayl are plusses as well.  

Its elastomer back is a selling point for certain. The elastomer is great for staying cool, and the 3D Intelligent Suspension system supports you as you sit all day.

However, breathable office chairs can be a double-edged sword. As I talked about earlier, if you sweat a lot when working or playing, then a breathable office chair is a must. A chair like the Sayl is also very beneficial if you live in warmer climes.

For those who live in colder regions though, you don’t want air passing through your chair all day. You’ll end up freezing cold and unable to concentrate on your work (or fun). Since the elastomer back of the Sayl is even airier than most mesh, you could be chilled to the bone.

The polyester is comfortable, as is the plush seating, and the polyester is mostly recycled, which is a definite perk. The look of this chair is also fantastic. Even the fixed arms lend the Sayl a distinguished yet modern look.

You’re not stuck with the fixed arms, of course. If you want more flexible arms, you’re not adding hundreds of dollars on, only about $75, which isn’t too bad. That said, it would be nice if the fully adjustable arms were included by default.

Speaking of features not included by default, the adjustable lumbar support is conspicuous in its absence. Herman Miller is beloved for its ergonomics almost as much as it is for its stunning designs. 

The base ergonomics included with the Sayl are the 3D Intelligent Suspension backing. Even if you combine that with the adjustable lumbar support, that those are the only ergonomic features is surprising.

The Sayl is so ergonomically sparse that it almost doesn’t feel like a Herman Miller chair.

Ergonomics matter more to some people than others. If you’re a young gamer, you won’t care so much whether your chair has three or four types of ergonomic adjustments. For adults, especially older ones who spend hours sitting in one spot, ergonomics can make that sitting experience much more comfortable. 

Herman Miller Sayl Alternatives

If the last section gave you pause, you don’t have to make up your mind quite yet. In this section, I’ll compare the Sayl to three other Herman Miller chairs: the Aeron, the Embody, and the Mirra 2. 

Herman Miller Sayl vs. Herman Miller Aeron

Let’s start with the Aeron, which might be the most beloved chair of all time. It’s part of a permanent museum exhibit, for Pete’s sake.

The Aeron has a breathable back like the Sayl, but its 8Z Pellicle mesh is not as open as the Sayl’s elastomer. Air can still pass through and sweat can exit the Aeron’s back, but it’s not so open and breezy. 

You can also select from three chair sizes, a feature that the Sayl does not have. The arms of the Aeron are fully adjustable, although not by default. 

If you want ergonomics, you’ve got ‘em in the Aeron. The Pellicle mesh is tauter on the edges and then softer in the middle to cradle your back. PostureFit SL backrest pads are adjustable on either side for customized lumbar support.

The Aeron also features Harmonic Tilt for a natural recline that always feels balanced.

With the above features, you’d pay $1,445 for the Aeron, which is quite a deal more expensive than the Sayl (about $1,000 more). The extra cost really is due to the ergonomics, so only you can decide if ergonomics matter that much to you. 

Herman Miller Sayl vs. Herman Miller Embody

Looks-wise, the Sayl and Embody don’t have much in common. The Embody is an upholstered office chair that’s the solution to the too-breezy Sayl for those in colder climates. Its premium upholstery feels great.

The Embody features Pixelated Support for lessening pressure. The support feature moves as your body does, even during micro-movements so you always feel cradled. The Embody’s seat is built of four different materials to create a breathable, plush support layer you won’t mind sitting on all day.

The armrests are adjustable at no extra cost to you, which is something you cannot say about the Sayl. However, the Embody is very costly at $1,670.

The Sayl and the Embody are as different as can be. User comfort is a top priority in the Embody, but in different ways than the Sayl. If you don’t mind the hefty price tag, the Embody is a viable contender. 

Herman Miller Sayl vs. Herman Miller Mirra 2

The last Herman Miller chair I want to compare the Sayl to is the Mirra 2. Its Unique Loop Spine with torsional flex is akin to the Sayl’s elastomer back. The Mirra 2 gives you the option between a butterfly shape or TriFlex back technology to divide back support into different zones. 

Reclining, stretching, and kicking back is easy in this chair, as the Mirra 2 was designed for busy people on the go who switch between group and solo work. 

The adjustable lumbar support is not included by default with the Mirra 2, which should sound familiar enough to you by now. Its arms are also fixed unless you pay extra for adjustable armrests.

The other features of this Herman Miller chair are tilt limiting or standard tilt, seat angle adjustments, and adjustable seat depth as an added feature. The Mirra 2 with all the fixings costs $1,010. 

Between the Sayl and the Embody, I have to give it to the Sayl. Its looks are more inviting and it’s designed for people outside of the office. That’s not to say you couldn’t use the Mirra 2 for other purposes besides work, of course.

The Mirra 2 though is more expensive than the Sayl, and it requires you to pay for many more extra features. 

The Bottom Line 

The Herman Miller Sayl is an office and gaming chair (primarily the former) that features an elastomer back for fantastic breathability and temperature regulation. Although it doesn’t have the most ergonomic features compared to other Herman Miller chairs, its price tag is very reasonable. 

Whether you select the Sayl or one of the other chairs I reviewed for you in the last section, you can’t choose wrong if you go with Herman Miller.