Herman Miller Aeron
This chair blends innovative materials, ergonomic support, and breathable mesh to provide exceptional comfort and posture for long hours of sitting.
Buy on AmazonThe Herman Miller Aeron isn’t just an office chair — it’s a power move. Beloved by execs and startup founders alike, it’s become a symbol of success. But is it actually worth the hefty price tag?
I spent a few weeks with the Aeron to find out if it truly lives up to the hype. Spoiler alert: it absolutely earns its reputation. Read on for the full Herman Miller Aeron review — or just know this: it’s one of the most comfortable chairs you’ll ever park yourself in.
Configuration
The Aeron comes in three sizes — small, medium, and large — with size B (medium) being the most popular, according to a Herman Miller rep. When customizing your chair on the official site, you can pick everything from the type of back support to adjustable arm options, caster type, and more. The default setup features a sleek black frame and base, but if you’re feeling fancy, there’s a chrome-and-silver upgrade that adds a bit of flash to your setup.
Design
Thanks to its mesh construction, the Aeron’s seat floats slightly above the base, giving it a subtly futuristic vibe — without making you feel like you’re about to boot up Call of Duty.
Like most office chairs, it sits on a five-point swivel base with smooth-rolling casters — so smooth, in fact, my two-year-old had no problem pushing me around the room. One thing to note: unlike the bulkier X-Chair 2, the Aeron doesn’t come with a headrest, nor does it offer extras like a heating or massage pad.
For lumbar support, there’s a mechanism built into the backrest. You can’t adjust its height, but you can tweak the depth to dial in the right amount of lower-back support.
Comfort
Sitting in the Aeron doesn’t feel like sitting — it feels like being cradled. Like the X-Chair, it uses a breathable mesh seat that molds to your body, offering far more comfort than traditional padding.
The armrests are adjustable in height and can move forward or backward relative to the seat, though you can’t shift them outward. And unlike the X-Chair, there’s no option to raise the seat back or slide the seat itself forward.
Still, none of that really mattered. From the moment I sat down, the Aeron just worked. Most chairs require some fiddling before they feel right — but with the Aeron, comfort was instant.
Final Verdict
For most people, the $1,000+ price tag on the Herman Miller Aeron is a splurge — especially when solid options like the $300 Branch Ergonomic Chair get the job done for a fraction of the cost. But there’s no denying the Aeron’s next-level comfort. That mesh seat? It felt like a hammock for my backside during long hours buried in spreadsheets.
If the full price is out of reach, keep an eye out for office liquidation sales or secondhand deals. Trust me — your backside will thank you.