Herman Miller Aeron vs Steelcase Leap

Selecting a good quality office chair that meets your requirements can be tricky, especially if you have to choose between two of the most popular ones in the market manufactured by two of the biggest names in the furniture industry – Herman Miller and Steelcase. Let’s have a head-to-head comparison of two of the best office chairs in the market right now – Herman Miller Aeron vs Steelcase Leap.

These chairs have been designed with ergonomics in mind and are thus extremely comfortable and feature-loaded, which are very useful for the users. 

Since both the Herman Miller Aeron and Steelcase Leap chairs look very similar, choosing one over the other is a tough decision. 

Thus, we are here to make it easier for you! In this article, we will compare each feature of one chair against the other and will help you decide which one will be ideal for you to rest your back and mind!

Also read: Steelcase Amia vs Steelcase Leap

Get ready for some hardcore comparison!

Herman Miller Aeron vs Steelcase Leap – Head to Head

Image
Herman Miller Aeron Ergonomic Chair - Size B, Graphite
Steelcase Leap Office Chair, Black Frame and Buzz2 Black Fabric
Seat Cushion Material
Recycled Breathable Pellicle (for staying cool)
100% Polyester
Adjustable Seat Depth
Height Recommendation
  • Size A for short/petite person (5'3" and under)
  • Size B for average height person 5'4" - 5'11"
  • Size C for 6" and over
  • Size B is the right fit for most people
  • Ideal for anyone in this height range - 4'9" - 6'4" (thanks to it adjustable height feature)
    Adjustable Seat Height
    Backrest Material
    Recycled Breathable Pellicle (same as seat cushion)
    100% Polyester (same as seat cushion)
    Adjustable Armrests
  • Fully Adjustable Arm Rests
  • Slides backwards and forwards, Up and down, Inwards and Outwards
  • Fully Adjustable Armrests:
  • Move up and down
  • Pivot in and out
  • Shift forward and back
  • Move Side to Side
  • Adjustable Lumbar Support
    Forward seat Tilt
    Headrest
    Can be bought separately from here
    Need to be purchased separately.
    Adjustable Back Rest
    Recline and Tilt Limiter
    Tilt Limiter lets you set Recline range at one of these three Postures:
  • UPRIGHT
  • MID-RECLINE
  • FULL-RECLINE
  • Comes with Recline Tension Adjustment and 5 position recline lock
    Weight Capacity
    350lbs
    300lbs
    Assembly
    Comes Fully Assembled
    Comes Fully Assembled
    Warranty
    12 years
    12 years
    Chair Casters
    Comes with Standard Carpet Casters (Not recommended for Hard Wood Floors)
    Comes with Standard Carpet Casters (Option to order casters for Hard Wood Floors)
    Chair Name
    Image
    Herman Miller Aeron Ergonomic Chair - Size B, Graphite
    Seat Cushion Material
    Recycled Breathable Pellicle (for staying cool)
    Adjustable Seat Depth
    Height Recommendation
  • Size A for short/petite person (5'3" and under)
  • Size B for average height person 5'4" - 5'11"
  • Size C for 6" and over
  • Size B is the right fit for most people
  • Adjustable Seat Height
    Backrest Material
    Recycled Breathable Pellicle (same as seat cushion)
    Adjustable Armrests
  • Fully Adjustable Arm Rests
  • Slides backwards and forwards, Up and down, Inwards and Outwards
  • Adjustable Lumbar Support
    Forward seat Tilt
    Headrest
    Can be bought separately from here
    Adjustable Back Rest
    Recline and Tilt Limiter
    Tilt Limiter lets you set Recline range at one of these three Postures:
  • UPRIGHT
  • MID-RECLINE
  • FULL-RECLINE
  • Weight Capacity
    350lbs
    Assembly
    Comes Fully Assembled
    Warranty
    12 years
    Chair Casters
    Comes with Standard Carpet Casters (Not recommended for Hard Wood Floors)
    Chair Name
    Image
    Steelcase Leap Office Chair, Black Frame and Buzz2 Black Fabric
    Seat Cushion Material
    100% Polyester
    Adjustable Seat Depth
    Height Recommendation
    Ideal for anyone in this height range - 4'9" - 6'4" (thanks to it adjustable height feature)
    Adjustable Seat Height
    Backrest Material
    100% Polyester (same as seat cushion)
    Adjustable Armrests
    Fully Adjustable Armrests:
  • Move up and down
  • Pivot in and out
  • Shift forward and back
  • Move Side to Side
  • Adjustable Lumbar Support
    Forward seat Tilt
    Headrest
    Need to be purchased separately.
    Adjustable Back Rest
    Recline and Tilt Limiter
    Comes with Recline Tension Adjustment and 5 position recline lock
    Weight Capacity
    300lbs
    Assembly
    Comes Fully Assembled
    Warranty
    12 years
    Chair Casters
    Comes with Standard Carpet Casters (Option to order casters for Hard Wood Floors)

    In order to find out which of these two are best, we will dive deep into specs of these chairs, from manufacturing material to built quality. 

    The idea is to leave no stone unturned so that you can choose the best chair. 

    Adjustability

    This is one of the most crucial features to look into when buying an ergonomic office chair. The adjustability factor of a chair will determine its comfort level of the same. The armrest, headrest, and height of the seat should all be adjustable ideally to suit your needs. How can you feel at ease on the chair otherwise? 

    Thus, we are going to compare the adjustability factor of Herman Miller Aeron against Steelcase Leap.

    Herman Miller Aeron

    Herman Miller Aeron Ergonomic Chair - Size B, Graphite

    The adjustability factor has been well looked after in this ergonomic office chair.

    The chair’s crucial components, including the height of the seat and the armrest, can be adjusted as per your comfort (if you choose to opt for it). You can also choose to buy the chair without an armrest. 

    Steelcase Leap

    Steelcase Leap Fabric Chair, Black, -

    The makers have paid special attention to the adjustability factor of this chair. The height of both the armrest and headrest can be adjusted as per your requirement and comfort.

    And like the HM Aeron, Leap one can be purchased without the armrest too.

    The standard Leap comes without the headrest but if you want to buy the one with a headrest you can buy it from Amazon.  

    So, if you like resting your head while coding or gaming, this might seem like a good deal.

    [su_note note_color=”#008037″]Winner: In this case, Steelcase Leap takes the lead over Aeron, since the Steelcase Leap allows you to add a headrest to the chair. [/su_note]

    Size

    How would you like to fit yourself in a stuffy small chair designed for kids? No way, right?!

    If the chair’s size is not suitable for your size and body type, it is going to be super uncomfortable. Imagine working from a cramped up stiff chair for 9 long hours!

    Your back will become numb in no time. Thus you need to give special attention to the size of the chair you plan to buy.

    Herman Miller Aeron

    This chair comes in different sizes! But that’s not all. The company will allow you to add customization to each chair in different sizes!

    How cool is that?!

    Customization makes everything good and comfortable, and Herman Miller Aeron has played on that tune well. 

    Steelcase Leap

    Unlike Herman Miller Aeron chairs, the Leap one comes only in one size.

    Although the Leap comes with adjustable seat height, adjustable seat depth and adjustable armrests, it sometimes creates an issue since the one-size-fits-all sometimes doesn’t work.

    People vary by weight and by height, and one chair that is customized for a heavy person cannot be comfortable for a lean and tall individual or vice versa. 

    [su_note note_color=”#66ffbe”]Winner: Aeron steals the show in this category since the size of the chair is flexible. There are three variants for different heights of people so people can choose the one that suits their height.[/su_note]

    Material

    This is yet another very important factor that determines the comfort level of an ergonomic chair. If the material used in the making is not sturdy, chances are it will rip due to constant heat and sweat.

    Low-quality material will also make you feel hot and sticky when you lean on the seat and that’s not on the cards. Who wants a Velcro sound effect every time they try to get up from their chair?

    However, both of these chairs use supreme quality recycled and sustainable material 

    Herman Miller Aeron

    The Aeron makes use of a suspension pellicle mesh material that is ideal for keeping you cool, dry, and comfortable. If you are located in a warm climate where it’s apparently summer all year long, this is the chair you should opt for. 

    This mesh material is more breathable than any other material used in the construction of ergonomic office chairs. 

    Steelcase Leap 

    The Leap, on the other hand, comes with 100% polyester. Polyester is supposed to wick away the moisture from the body but it’s not considered to be a fully breathable material. 

    [su_note note_color=”#66ffbe”]Winner:  Aeron! Because of the better quality material used on the chairs. Though both of the chairs are made out of comfortable fabric, the breathability factor of pellicle mesh material gives an edge to Aeron.[/su_note]

    Build quality

    In addition to the seat material and the comfort, you would want the build quality of the chair to be supreme. If you are spending handsomely on an office chair, you will surely want its components to be sturdy enough to support your weight and be last long. 

    To that end, both of these chairs are not going to disappoint you. 

    Herman Miller Aeron

    Manufactured in the USA, this chair uses premium quality molded aluminum, plastic, and steel in its construction. The chair is super smooth to the touch and has a plush feel. 

    There are no loose or ill-fitted parts. Every piece of the chair fits perfectly. Additionally, the pellicle mesh material that has been used in the upholstery of the chair is one of the best materials tested so far. 

    Steelcase Leap

    This one has a unique feel since it’s made out of very high-quality plastic. Thus the chair is quite flexible and lightweight. Your office chair should ideally allow free movement and space. This idea backs up Leap’s design, which results in this great chair. Even though made out of plastic, all the components used in this chair are nicely done.

    [su_note note_color=”#66ffbe”]Winner:  Aeron chair leads in this category too. While Steelcase Leap does use high-quality plastic in the manufacturing of its chair, Aeron takes it a step forward by using sturdier construction materials like quality molded aluminum and steel.[/su_note]

    Assembly and Shipping

    Though there are many semi-assembly chairs in the market that require just the basic tools to set up, to a few, it may seem like a hassle. You might be one of them and that is alright.

    You might not be comfortable with tools, and using even the most basic ones for setting up an office chair can seem tricky to you. 

    Thankfully, both Herman Miller Aeron and Steelcase Leap chairs are shipped fully assembled. Trusted partners like FedEx and UPS are used to ship the units. 

    Also, both these chairs have manufacturing units in the US and Europe, where most of their customers come from.

    [su_note note_color=”#66ffbe”]Winner: There is no clear winner in this case as both the chairs are well packaged and shipped through reliable partners.[/su_note]

    Ergonomic Backrest

    The importance of this factor to ensure the comfort of an office chair cannot be highlighted enough. If the ergonomic chair does not move with your back or support the same, the entire purpose of getting an ergonomic office chair is lost. Additionally, an ergonomic backrest is ideal for you if you suffer from back problems. 

    So how do these two chairs perform on this line? Let’s find out:

    Herman Miller Aeron

    As mentioned earlier, this chair comes in different sizes. Aeron Classis is the most basic one paired with non-adjustable lumbar support. A slightly pricey version is Posture fit SL. This one offers more lumbar support, particularly in the sacral and lumbar areas. 

    Steelcase Leap

    This one just offers one S-back-shaped chair. The lumbar position of this chair can be adjusted to a great extent, and its firmness can also be changed. The backrest can be moved up and down to adjust its curve or flat as per your convenience. 

    [su_note note_color=”#66ffbe”]Winner: Aeron is a clear winner in this category since it offers the ultimate comfort with its adjustable lumbar support feature. Additionally, since the chair comes in different sizes, its support and comfort can be customized to an extent. [/su_note]

    Warranty

    Even though you have to choose between two of the most popular office chairs in the market, checking out the warranty of the same is essential. To our surprise, there is a difference in the warranty policy between the two leaders. 

    Herman Miller Aeron

    This includes a 12-year warranty that covers all parts of the chair including the padding, upholstery, casters, and mechanism. The warranty, however, covers 24/7 usage with not more than 300 lbs. This is the capacity of the size A version of the brand. The B and C ones come for 350 lbs. The brand either sends a technician to fix the chair on-field or takes it to the workshop. 

    Steelcase Leap

    Like Herman Miller, this Steelcase Leap also offers a 12-year warranty which covers padding, frame, upholstery, casters, and mechanism. 

    The only difference with Herman Miller is that the maximum weight of the basic chair is 400 lbs, and the oversized one is 500 lbs with 24/7 usage. But Steelcase takes a different approach to the warranty.

    They will either replace or repair the chair with a similar product free of charge for any component that might have been damaged due to normal use or if a replacement is required commercially, the brand refunds or credits for the damaged product.

    [su_note note_color=”#66ffbe”]Winner: Steelcase adds another feather to its hat in this category owing to its unique warranty approach. Unlike Aeron chairs, Steelcase offers replacement of a damaged product and also refunds the money for a commercial replacement.[/su_note]

    Aeron vs Leap (Pros and Cons)

    Herman Miller Aeron
  • Great mesh material for upholstery
  • Three sizes for utmost comfort
  • Multiple customization options
  • Lacks neck and head support (available to purchase separately
  • High priced
    Lumbar support cannot be adjusted as per height.
  • Steelcase Leap
  • Multiple back adjustments
  • Fully adjustable armrests
  • Comes with both flex and glide feature
  • Foam padded upholstery is not comfortable.
  • Chances of stains and spills
  • Armrests are not padded
  • Verdict

    The winner is clearly Herman Miller Aeron since the score stands at 4.8/5. Herman Miller Aeron chairs are not only available in different sizes but they are also made out of high-quality material and offer great ergonomic support to the back and lumbar. It is a little bit more expensive than Leap and a few other good office chairs in the market however if you’re looking for a chair for the long term then Aeron should be your first choice. 

    All these features make this chair ideal for you if you suffer from chronic back pain. The chairs from this brand are long-lasting and highly recommended.

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