Herman Miller Aeron (2026) review: A classic, updated

I first reviewed the Herman Miller Aeron in 2021, during the height of the pandemic. At the time, everyone was looking for the best office chair to set up their ideal work-from-home environment, and the chair that had come to signify the excesses of the dot-com era was once again in style.

Five years later, and with workers returning to the office in greater numbers, the legendary design company has tweaked the classic design ever so slightly. Outwardly, the redesigned Aeron looks nearly identical to the original, but the company has made a few alterations to make the chair slightly lighter yet support more weight. And, in a nod to consumers wanting a little more personalization, you can now get the chair in colors other than white or black.

Undoubtedly, the Aeron is still one of the best office chairs around, even if it commands a premium price. I used the chair in my home office for around two months to see how well it compares to the original.

Sizing and pricing

Like the original, the redesigned Aeron comes in three sizes (small, medium, and large), which mainly translates to a wider seat. I, being of medium build (around 6 feet and 200 pounds), chose the middle size; if you have a chance to go to a showroom, I recommend the trip, so you’re not stuck in a Goldilocks-style situation with a chair that’s too small or too large for your carriage. The small-size chair supports individuals up to 300 pounds, while the large chair can comfortably sit those weighing up to 400 pounds.

When configuring the chair, Herman Miller also offers other customizations, from the type of back support, if you want fully adjustable arms, standard or leather armpads, and even the type of casters.

I suspect most people will spend the greatest amount of time picking out the color of their chair. Due to improvements in the manufacturing process, you can now get the chair in all black, all graphite, all white, blue, or green, or select a model with a color for the top, and a chromed-out base. I opted for the all-green design.

While I applaud Herman Miller in adding new colors to its portfolio, it's still dwarfed by the options offered by some of its competitors

This is not a cheap chair - if you pick one that’s fully tricked out, it’ll cost you $2,300. Even if you pick the most basic features (such as fixed armrests and basic back support), you’ll still be paying $1,620.

That said, the Aeron comes with a 12-year warranty, something that’s only matched by Steelcase.

Unlike the Steelcase Karman, Herman Miller doesn’t offer the Aeron in a high-back model, or with a headrest; for that, you’d have to look to its Vantum Gaming Chair.

Packaging and assembly

Unlike many office chairs, which require a little elbow grease to get set up, the Aeron comes fully assembled — a rather large box appeared at my house one day, but all I needed to do was open it up, and roll out the chair, and I was ready to go. Those with narrow entryways may find this a little bit of a challenge; I had to remove the chair from its box outside my house, and then wheel the chair inside.

Support and comfort

While I no longer have the original Aeron chair, I found the new model to be just as comfortable as the old model. I’ve been using it for two months in my home office (and sitting on it for far longer than I should) without issue.

The mesh seat and back provide just the right amount of tension and padding, and its vented design has kept me cool during warmer summer months.

One thing I like are the clearly-marked icons on all the adjustment arms, so you can know at a glance if you’re about to raise the seat, or adjust the tension of the back. Too often with other chairs, you’re left guessing

I really liked the armrests. They have just the right amount of cushioning. You can adjust them up and down, slide them forward and back, and angle the front of them in and out. About the only thing you can’t do is move the entire armrest inwards, as you can with some chairs, like the Steelcase Leap.

Bottom line

I had very little doubt that the redesigned Herman Miller Aeron would be any less of a chair than the one I sat in half a decade ago, but it was still nice to confirm as much. This chair has proved more than comfortable after many, many hours of sitting. Once I (easily) adjusted it to my preferences, I never had any issues with it or my back, no matter how bad my posture might be.

Yes, this is an expensive office chair. Our favorite model overall, the Branch Verve, costs a fourth of what the Aeron goes for, and has a 7-year warranty, which should be good enough for most. But, if you want the ultimate in office chairs — in terms of both design and comfort — the Herman Miller Aeron can’t be beat.