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Herman Miller AeronvsSteelcase Series 1

Herman Miller Aeron vs Steelcase Series 1, scored side by side on all 4 Home axes. Overall 8.6 to 8.4.

Herman Miller Aeron

Herman Miller

8.6

The chair the resale market values above most new ones, which tells you what you need to know.

Price and availability change constantly, so we don't quote them here — the link opens the current Amazon listing.

Steelcase Series 1

Steelcase

8.4

Contract-grade adjustment and warranty at a price that does not require a spreadsheet.

Price and availability change constantly, so we don't quote them here — the link opens the current Amazon listing.

Where they diverge

Two products can average the same and still feel different, because the shape of the scores differs. Left of center is Herman Miller Aeron, right is Steelcase Series 1.

Herman Miller Aeron

Axis

Steelcase Series 1

  • 6.8
    Value
    8.4
  • 9.6
    Durability
    8.8
  • 9.0
    Ease of use
    8.4
  • 9.0
    Design
    8.0

Which one to pick

Take the Herman Miller Aeron

Leads on Durability, Ease of use and Design.

  • You sit for six or more hours a day, every day
  • You run warm and foam seats become unbearable
  • You would rather buy once than three times

Take the Steelcase Series 1

Leads on Value.

  • You want the office-furniture warranty without the flagship outlay
  • 4D arms — the adjustment most cheap chairs skip
  • A chair that will not look out of place in a home office

What each one gets wrong

Herman Miller Aeron

  • The outlay has to be justified this quarter rather than this decade
  • You want a padded seat — this is mesh, and it feels like it

Steelcase Series 1

  • You are very tall or very short — one frame size fits most, not all
  • You want the seat depth range of the higher Steelcase lines

Specs, side by side

SpecHerman Miller AeronSteelcase Series 1
SuspensionWoven mesh, no foam—
SizesThree frame sizes—
WarrantyTwelve yearsTwelve years
Back—Flexible LiveBack frame
Arms—4D adjustable

Rankings they both appear in

Questions

Herman Miller Aeron or Steelcase Series 1 — which should I buy?
Herman Miller Aeron leads on Durability, Ease of use and Design. If Value matters more to you, take the Steelcase Series 1 instead.
How far apart are they overall?
Herman Miller Aeron scores 8.6 and Steelcase Series 1 scores 8.4, a gap of 0.2. The total is the plain average of the 4 axes used in Home.