Best Office Chairs Europe

Steelcase vs Herman Miller

The two biggest names in premium seating look alike from a distance. For a European buyer, they differ on where they're made, which standard they cite and how they sell.

Updated By The Best Office Chairs Europe editorial team10 sources

Steelcase builds its European task chairs in France and declares EN 1335-1:2020 and EN 1335-2 for Leap, Gesture and Series 2. Herman Miller builds its European Aeron, Embody, Sayl and Setu in the UK, publishes Europe-scope EPDs for them, and declares BIFMA testing rather than an EN 1335 Type. Both offer 12-year warranties on their main chairs.

Steelcase runs a remanufacturing programme in Europe; Herman Miller does not.

Steelcase and Herman Miller plants for EuropeSteelcase builds its EMEA task chairs in Sarrebourg, France; Herman Miller builds its in Melksham, United Kingdom.SteelcaseSarrebourg, FranceHerman MillerMelksham, UKWHERE EACH BUILDS FOR EUROPE
Where each brand builds task chairs for Europe, as stated in its 2026 EMEA brochures and EU-scope EPDs. Map: Natural Earth, equal-area projection.

Brand by brand

Steelcase vs Herman Miller
SteelcaseHerman Miller
OwnerAcquired by HNI Corporation on 10 December 2025.Part of MillerKnoll.
European chairs made inSarrebourg, FranceMelksham (PortalMill), United Kingdom
Inside the EU?YesNo (UK)
WarrantyGlobal Products Warranty (February 2026): lifetime on frames and shells, 12 years on mechanisms for Leap, Gesture, Series 2, Karman and Please. The business warranty excludes consumer retail sales; consumer terms differ by store.12 years, 3 shifts for Aeron, Embody, Sayl and Cosm; 12 years for Mirra 2 and Setu (EMEA product sheets).
Environmental documentsProduct Environmental Profiles (PEP) are listed in the EMEA brochures; we did not confirm whether they are EN 15804 EPDs.Europe-scope EPDs for Aeron (aluminium and plastic base), Embody, Sayl and Setu, valid to 2031.
Take-back / refurbishment"Circular by Steelcase: Remade": chairs remanufactured at Sarrebourg (Please, Think, Reply and others) with a 5-year warranty.No Herman Miller-run take-back or refurbishment programme for Europe found. Aeron Refurbished and rePurpose are US and Canada only.
Official online storesSix official online stores: DE (also AT), FR (also BE, LU), NL (also DK, SE, FI), ES, RO and UK.Separate official stores: EU store (Belgium and Luxembourg only), Germany/Austria, France and the UK.

The chairs side by side

Chairs by brand
ChairDeclaredSeat span coversLowest official priceSpec Index
Steelcase AmiaEN 1335-1/-2Type C€1,019 (DE)67
Steelcase GestureEN 1335-1:2020 · EN 1335-2:2020 · GS · BS 5459Type B, Type C€1,169 (DE)71
Steelcase Karman–Type B, Type C€1,169 (DE)45
Steelcase LeapEN 1335-1:2020 · EN 1335-2:2020 · GSType B, Type C€1,240 (DE)80
Steelcase PleaseEN 1335-1:2020 · EN 1335-2:2020 · GS · BS 5459Type B, Type C–57
Steelcase Series 2EN 1335-1:2020 · EN 1335-2:2020 · GSType B, Type C€765 (DE)65
Herman Miller AeronBIFMAType B, Type C€1,451 (UK)60
Herman Miller CosmBIFMAType B, Type C€1,516 (UK)46
Herman Miller EmbodyBIFMAType B, Type C€2,120 (DE)58
Herman Miller Mirra 2–Type B, Type C€1,239 (UK)53
Herman Miller SaylBIFMAType B, Type C€794 (DE)64
Herman Miller Setu––€878 (UK)18

Steelcase's 2026 brochures publish no maximum user weight, but its online stores do: 150 kg for the Leap and 160 kg for the cheaper Amia, which we set side by side in Leap vs Amia. Herman Miller publishes 136–159 kg depending on model. Herman Miller's euro stores charge nearly the same price before VAT in each country, while Steelcase charges the same VAT-inclusive price in Germany, France, the Netherlands and Spain: see the price comparator.

Model match-ups

Questions buyers ask

Which has the better warranty, Steelcase or Herman Miller?

Both quote 12 years for their main task chairs in Europe. Herman Miller’s EMEA sheets say 12 years, 3 shifts, and its EU store says the warranty includes parts and labour with limited exceptions. Steelcase gives lifetime cover on frames and shells and 12 years on mechanisms, but its global business warranty excludes consumer retail sales.

Are Steelcase chairs made in Europe?

Yes. Steelcase’s 2026 EMEA brochures say the Leap, Gesture, Series 2, Karman and Please sold in Europe are made in Sarrebourg, France. Herman Miller’s European Aeron, Embody, Sayl and Setu are made in Melksham, in the UK.

Sources

  1. Steelcase — Leap brochure 2026 (PDF): www.steelcase.com/content/uploads/sites/10/2026/09/EN-Leap-Brochure-2026.pdf
  2. Steelcase — European plants article (German): www.steelcase.com/eu-de/forschung/artikel/themen/zusammenarbeit/innovation-als-kernstuck-i
  3. Steelcase — Remade warranty (PDF): www.steelcase.com/content/uploads/sites/10/2025/02/Steelcase-SAS-Circular-by-Steelcase-Rem
  4. Steelcase — HNI acquisition press release: www.steelcase.com/eu-en/press-releases/hni-corporation-completes-acquisition-of-steelcase-
  5. Herman Miller — PortalMill, Melksham: www.hermanmiller.com/en_eur/contact/portalmill/
  6. MillerKnoll — UK manufacturing facility (2015 release): news.millerknoll.com/2015-11-17-Herman-Miller-opens-new-UK-manufacturing-facility,-expands
  7. Aeron EU EPD (International EPD System): www.environdec.com/library/epd28576
  8. Herman Miller — EU store: eustore.hermanmiller.com/
  9. Herman Miller — Aeron (EMEA): www.hermanmiller.com/products/seating/office-chairs/aeron-chairs/
  10. Herman Miller — Aeron product sheet EMEA (PDF): hermanmiller.com/content/dam/hermanmiller/documents/product_literature/product_sheets/emea

All sources checked 21 October 2026. Where a manufacturer does not publish a value, we say so rather than estimate it.

Cite this page

Best Office Chairs Europe, “Steelcase vs Herman Miller”, https://bestofficechairs.eu/compare/steelcase-vs-herman-miller/, updated .