The best Herman Miller alternatives: class office chairs at a fraction of the price

The best Herman Miller alternatives are ideal for anyone who wants a comfortable office chair but can’t afford the premium prices charged by this well known brand. All the chairs on this list have been reviewed by the Creative Bloq team – many by yours truly – and assessed for comfort, build quality and value. My top pick is Branch’s Verve office chair, but as you’ll see, there are plenty of other great options on this list.

If you’ve got a bit more to spend, I also have a more general guide to the best office chairs for lower back pain. Or, for even more wallet-friendly options, see my guide to the best budget office chairs.

The top 3

The best Herman Miller alternatives

Best overall

30-second review: Looking for a chair that looks as stylish, refined and premium as a Herman Miller, but that’s waaaaay more affordable? I think this chair ticks all those boxes, with stunning aesthetics based around a seamless, sweeping colourful design. It’s also easy to assemble and delivers exceptional comfort and ergonomic support. 

Pricing: Branch’s Verve office chair retails around $600 / £900, which is about half the price of most Herman Miller chairs. Overall, this chair delivers excellent comfort and style aimed at creatives looking for a premium, personality-filled office chair: a great value alternative to a Herman Miller.

Design and performance: When I reviewed this chair, I found it super comfortable to sit in for long periods, with easy to adjust lumbar support helping me to find the ideal position. There’s a nice recline tension that allows subtle movement, too. But on the downside, armrests have a frustrating height adjustment mechanism that I found inconsistent in use. That’s pretty much my only gripe with the Verve – that and the fact that the adjustable height range probably wouldn’t suit anyone who’s a lot taller than me (I’m 5’10).

Best budget alternative

30-second review: When I review office chairs, I try not to give out stars like candy. For a long time, among the many chairs I had reviewed, the only one that had received a five-star rating was the $1,999 Herman Miller Embody. However, the Sihoo M18 left me with no choice but to award my second top score (there have since been one or two more, as we’ll see). It’s an absolutely sublime budget office chair, one that delivers supreme comfort and ergonomics at a price that has you wondering how on earth they’re making a profit on these things.

Pricing: While its RRP is around $299 / £260, the Sihoo M18 is currently not difficult to find for as little $129 / £130 – you could get 15 of them for the same price as the Embody, or three for the same price as the Branch Verve. For this price, it’s very difficult to fault the Sihoo M18. Is it just as sleek, cool and smoothly designed as a Herman Miller chair? No. But for the price, it’s outrageously close.

Design and performance: Its design is straightforward and effective, opting for elegant simplicity rather than being overstuffed with superfluous features like plenty of mid-tier office chairs, and it’s all the better for it. The foam seat is wide and comfortable, while still being firm enough that it doesn’t lose its shape, and the lumbar support is effective and adjustable. It does require self-assembly, but the process is very easy and took me about 25 minutes. 

Best mid-price alternative

30-second review: If you’re willing to spend a little more than our budget option, I can happily recommend the Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro. Another chair to earn a 5-star rating from me, this ergonomic wonder hits all the right notes you want from a supportive office chair, and it looks great into the bargain.

Pricing: At an asking price of $499 / £450, this is more expensive than the Sihoo M18, but it’s certainly much more affordable than a Herman Miller, while also offering a comparable degree of comfort and style.

Design and performance: Offering a level of comfort and support that feels effortless, the Ergonomic Chair Pro reveals itself to be a highly adjustable chair. If you’re the sort of person who likes to get your seating just right, you’ll be in heaven here. There are 14 ergonomic adjustments, 5-way adjustable armrests, and a padded, two-way adjustable lumbar support, but it never feels overwhelming or over-engineered. It’s ideal for sitters who are 5-foot something, which is most people, but fret not if you’re a little taller, as you can pick up a taller cylinder for $30 to increase the elevation. Assembly is easy enough, though will go quicker with an extra pair of hands. 

Best saddle

30-second review: The HAG Capisco is something of a different proposition to your standard or traditional office chair. This ergonomic saddle-style seat is designed to be approached a number of different ways; you can play around with a number of different positions to find the one that works for you, even straddling it backwards if so desired (our reviewer found this surprisingly comfortable).

Pricing: It’s a pricier option than many on this list, though with an asking price ranging from $860/£660 to $1,200/£1,000, it’s still more affordable than most Herman Miller chairs. But the HAG Capisco is an immediately stylish and appealing object, and I think for many users it could be just the thing.

Design and performance: It’s designed to encourage you to change up position and keep moving throughout the day. Avoiding the eight-hour stagnant slump of the office worker is one of the best ways to stave off back problems, and so while the HAG Capisco may not be as conventionally comfortable as many other chairs on this list – it’s not the kind of thing you’d sink into – it may end up being much better for you in the long run.

Best for gamers

30-second review: If you’re primarily using your chair for gaming sessions, or a mix of office work and gaming, the Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 is a worthy and affordable alternative to a Herman Miller chair. After several weeks of extensive testing, this premium gaming chair left a highly positive impression on me with its robust comfort and meticulous attention to detail. 

Pricing: The Secretlab Titan Evo 2022 Chair generally starts at around $549/£419 for the Small and Regular sizes with NEO Hybrid Leatherette, and can go up to $619/£489 for the XL size or with SoftWeave Plus fabric. Special editions or NAPA leather options can push the price even higher.

Design and performance: One of its standout features is the fully adjustable lumbar support system, conveniently controlled via a knob on the right side of the backrest. The seat’s bucket-style design, reminiscent of racing chairs, ensures your backside stays properly supported even during marathon sessions. The use of cold-cure foam padding throughout contributes to superior overall comfort.

The Titan Evo is available in Small, Regular, and XL sizes to accommodate a wide range of body types. The stylish blend of leatherette and velvet-like upholstery finishes exudes a premium look and feel that matches the chair’s luxurious comfort. And the magnetic headrest is yet another well-designed feature that allows you to dial in your perfect seating position.

As a gaming chair, it doesn’t exactly have the effortless chic of something like the Branch Verve, nor the health benefits of the HAG Capisco. But it’s a comfortable option for marathon gaming sessions that comes somewhat close to capturing that Herman Miller feel.

FAQs

What is the best office chair for back pain?

Look for chairs with good lumbar support, adjustable seat height, tilt tension control, and a breathable mesh backrest. Ergonomic office chairs designed to promote proper spinal alignment can help alleviate lower back issues. For more details, read our article Best office chairs for back pain.

Should I get a mesh or padded office chair?

Mesh chairs allow more airflow and are breathable, while padded chairs provide more cushioning. So the choice between them comes down to your preference for airflow vs cushioning, and the climate you’ll be using it in.

What is the ideal height for an office chair?

The ideal seat height for an office chair will allows your feet to rest flat and your thighs to be roughly parallel to the floor with knees at about a 90-degree angle. Most chairs have pneumatic height adjustment that allow you to position your seat in this way.

How to choose the best Herman Miller alternative

To find the right Herman Miller alternative, look for an office chair with good ergonomic design and broad adjustability. Other thing to check for include lumbar support and a breathable mesh backrest. Consider chairs from reputable brands like Steelcase, Humanscale and Ergohuman that offer similar quality to Herman Miller at a lower price point. Just because they’re more affordable doesn’t necessarily mean they’ll be lower quality.

How we test office chairs

Our team at CreativeBloq takes a hands-on approach to reviewing office chairs from Herman Miller and other brands. We don’t merely consider the price tag; our testing process involves assembling each chair from its disassembled state, a common scenario for office chairs. This allows us to assess the ease of assembly, an often overlooked factor.

Beyond the initial setup, we integrate these chairs into our daily work routine, closely monitoring their comfort levels over extended periods. Equally crucial is the adjustability of various chair components, as this plays a pivotal role in ensuring optimal ergonomics, comfort, and safety. Our comprehensive testing methodology ensures that our recommendations are backed by firsthand experience, providing you with informed insights to make the best choice for your needs and budget.