The best Herman Miller alternatives are ideal for anyone who wants a comfortable office chair but can't afford a premium price. Known for its excellent ergonomics and stylish designs, Herman Miller is responsible for some of the most iconic office chairs ever made, and its prices reflect that rich heritage.
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I've put together this guide to help you find alternative office chairs that won't break the bank. 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 options.
As well as helping creatives get the best deals on kit, I'm also CB's chief tester of office chairs, and have reviewed a lot of different chairs at a range of prices. It takes a lot for an office chair to really impress me – the chairs on this list are the ones that have managed it.
Practically as stylish, refined and premium as a Herman Miller, but significantly more affordable – the superb Branch Verve chair gets my vote as the best all-around budget Herman Miller alternative.
One of the most impressive chairs I've ever tested, and currently available at an outrageously good price, the Sihoo M18 is a bargain chair that still manages to feel premium, comfortable and stylish, all in one.
A saddle-style chair designed to stave off stagnation by encouraging the user to switch positions, HAG's Capisco is a more expensive choice, but one that could have significant benefits for long-term health.
A fantastic chair sitting squarely in the mid-range, the Branch Ergonomic Chair Pro offers a highly granular level of adjustability without ever feeling overwhelming. A five-star chair rivalling Herman Miller for style.
Robust and comfortable, this is the ideal Herman Miller alternative to choose if you like to settle in for marathon gaming sessions. The Secretlab chair boasts a fully adjustable lumbar support system.
Colours: Black, coral, light grey, dark grey, green and blue
Weight: 18kg
Max load: 125kg
Assembly: Needs assembly
Warrenty : Seven years
Reasons to buy
+
Great design
+
Comfortable
+
Good lumbar support
Reasons to avoid
-
Arm rests not adjustable
-
Limited height
Buy it if
✅ You like elegant style: Branch have knocked it out of the park. ✅ You like lots of colour choice: There are tons of options.
Don't buy it if
❌ You're exceptionally tall: The adjustable height range is a little narrow.
The bottom line
🔎 Branch's Verve chair is for my money the best Herman Miller alternative around, offering sumptuous style at a reasonable price. ★★★★½
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. Did I mention it's around half the price of most Herman Miller chairs?!
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).
Overall, this chair delivers excellent comfort and style aimed at creatives looking for a premium, personality-filled office chair. In short, this chair offers a great value alternative to a Herman Miller.
Our expert says
Our expert says
Beren Neale
"The Verve is a seriously cool chair with bags of style and personality – and considerably cheaper than Herman Miller."
Colours: Blue, pink, white, orange, grey and green
Weight: 17kg
Max capacity: 150kg
Dimensions: 68 cm x 70 x 130 cm
Assembly: Needs assembly
Reasons to buy
+
Comfortable
+
Stylish
+
Incredibly good value
Reasons to avoid
-
Assembly required
Buy it if
✅ You're on a shoestring: This can be picked up for as little as $129. ✅ You want adjustable lumbar support: It's elegantly designed and works well.
Don't buy it if
❌ You want something pre-assembled: Assembly is required.
The bottom line
🔎 The Sihoo M18 offers incredible value for money, especially with the frequent discounts it seems to enjoy. ★★★★★
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.
While its retail price is around $299, the Sihoo M18 is currently not difficult to find for as little $129 – you could get fifteen of them for the same price as the Embody, or three for the same price as the Branch Verve. 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.
For this price, it's very difficult to fault the Sihoo M18. It does require self-assembly, but the process is very easy and took me about 25 minutes. Is it just as sleek, cool and smoothly designed as a Herman Miller chair? No. But for the price, it's outrageously close.
Our expert says
Our expert says
Beren Neale
"Unless modern aesthetics are most important to you, I just don't see the M18 disappointing. It's a new classic budget chair, and I love it."
✅ You like to keep mobile: The design promotes regular movement. ✅ You want a unique-looking design: The striking look comes in a range of colours.
Don't buy it if
❌ You want a cosy chair to sink into: This is most definitely not that.
The bottom line
🔎 The HAG Capisco promotes healthy movement throughout the working day, which is great for long-term health benefits. ★★★★
As you have likely already observed, 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).
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.
It's a pricier option than many on this list, though with an asking price ranging from $860 to $1200, it is 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.
Our expert says
Our expert says
Tom May
"This ergonomic stool is neither cheap nor conventional, but it would suit anyone willing to experiment with sitting and standing."
✅ You like a granular level of adjustability: It's hugely flexible. ✅ You want a chic design: It's distinctly Herman Miller-esque.
Don't buy it if
❌ You want the cheapest option: This sits in the mid-range.
The bottom line
🔎 Branch's Ergonomic Chair Pro offers all the adjustability you could want, and wraps it in a stylish, mid-price design. ★★★★★
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 my coveted (I assume it's coveted) 5-star rating, this ergonomic wonder hits all the right notes you want from a supportive office chair, and it looks great into the bargain.
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. At an asking price of $499, 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.
Our expert says
Our expert says
Beren Neale
"This a fantastic chair that has 'bestseller' written all over it. It's chic while offering loads of ergonomic adjustments."
✅ You want plush comfort for gaming: The faux-leather and memory foam are impressive. ✅ You want lots of customisability: I was impressed with how adjustable it was.
Don't buy it if
❌ You want the ultimate in chic style: While it's somewhat good-looking for a gaming chair, it's not quite got that Milleresque elegance.
The bottom line
🔎 Secretlab TITAN Evo 2022 is a big, comfy gaming chair that provides plenty of adjustable support, and isn't bad-looking either. ★★★★½
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.
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.
Our expert says
Our expert says
Beren Neale
"A premium product that both looks good and comes with plenty of adjustable features."
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.
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.
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.
Beren has worked on creative titles at Future Publishing for over 13 years. Cutting his teeth as Staff Writer on the digital art magazine ImagineFX, he moved on to edit several creative titles, and is currently the Ecommerce Editor on the most effective creative website in the world. When he's not testing and reviewing the best ergonomic office chairs, phones, laptops, TVs, monitors and various types of storage, he can be found finding and comparing the best deals on the tech that creatives value the most.
