Why Are Herman Miller Chairs So Expensive? (12 Reasons)

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There you’re in the market looking for a chair that can give you a good sitting posture, comfort, and support your overall health. Among the brands, you’re likely to encounter is Herman Miller. The brand’s designs have all you’re looking for!

Even so, when you compare its prices from the competitors’, the brand’s chairs are more expensive. So, why are Herman Miller chairs so expensive?

Herman Miller chairs are so expensive because the brand delight in offering the best. They use high-quality materials to manufacture chairs that prevent or solve your back and wrist problems. Herman Miller chairs aren’t overpriced since their costs equal the overall structure and high-end models.

This article answers this question comprehensively to help you make an informed decision. Read on.

Table of Contents

Why Are Herman Miller’s Chairs So Expensive?

Herman Miller chairs are so expensive for various reasons, which include the following:

Strict Quality Control
Advanced Building Materials
Ergonomic Design
Reputable Trademark Heritage
Adjustability and Customizability
Posture-Friendly Design
Home to Top Designers
Company Location
Long Warranty Period
Excellent Mobility
Constant Evolution
Pricing That Target Companies

Below we take a closer look at each of these reasons. So, keep reading:

1. Strict Quality Control

Besides being keen on details, Herman Miller also controls the quality of its chairs. For that reason, the brand tests various components to ensure they’re production fit. They use tests that reflect real-life use or even more.

While these tests ensure that you get a perfect chair, the brand incurs significant expenses. Consequently, the overall production cost of Herman Miller chairs goes up, and so is the price.

Some of the tests include the following:

The 160 hours of the chair’s exposure to ultraviolet light to test the paint’s ability to withstand or fit in extreme heat. That replicates the chair’s behavior with sunlight exposure.
Gouging the chairs’ paint coating using lead pencils to gauge their resistance to scratch.
Scratching the paint to assess its stickiness, whether it can remain on the material underneath permanently.
Measure the effect of hot water on the chair by pouring boiled water on it. A good chair must maintain its newness.
Heated wax (180° Celsius/ 356° F) in a vessel on the chair’s surface for twenty minutes. A chair in the right conditions should remain unchanged.
Eighteen staining agents on the chair surface, covered with a glass sheet to prevent evaporation. They wash the stain after an hour. An ideal chair must remain unstained or slightly stained.

2. Advanced Building Materials

Herman Miller uses high-quality materials, which yield increased manufacturing costs. These materials allow for comfort, durability, and ergonomically fit designs. While these features are crucial when choosing an appropriate chair, the brand offers you just that!

Herman Miller uses composite fiberglass/epoxy, CELCON acetal, steel, Lycra RTM, fiberglass, Hytrel RTM grade 5544 or 5556, and more.

Let’s take the example of Herman Miller Embody. It offers you a flexible backrest made of nylon 6 (a light, very tough but flexible polymer). The material can bend easily without losing its strength, even with prolonged use.

The inner part of this nylon 6 is a special glass material that enhances motion and durability.

In another example, Herman Miller Aeron is a product of 8Z Pellicles. This material offers selected pressure distribution and eradicates heat buildup with eight zones of diversified tension in the seat and back.

3. Ergonomic Design

Herman Miller invests in highly experienced furniture designers and engineers who come up with designs that meet your needs. The brand takes pride in excellence and offering the best to its esteemed customers. For that reason, the team of designers engages in thorough research and innovations, which results in high production costs.

An ergonomically comfortable chair is the ideal preventive measure and remedy for back and wrist pains. And, Herman Miller knows it all too well! That’s why they leave no stone unturned, to offer you a variety of unique and relaxing designs to choose from.

Nothing is expensive for a healthy body. Therefore, buying a costly yet comfortable chair is a wise decision.

4. Adjustability And Customizability

Herman Miller chairs are highly adjustable and customizable. The features that allow flexibility include:

Soft cushion on armrests
Tilt limiter
Dual posture fit SL
Pellicle fabric seat
Graphite frame finish.

As there’s no one-size-fits-all chair, the brand ensures its chairs suit your weight, height, and needs. These extensive adjustable features contribute to the chair’s high cost of production.

If you have challenges in choosing the right ergonomic chair, visit Herman Miller’s official website. Their excellent chair selector tool guides you through the process.

5. Reputable Trademark Heritage

The brand already has a credible legacy, and people just love it! Herman Miller is popular among professionals, artists, and gamers. The customers’ positive reviews have their fair share of the high cost of its chair.

Don’t be surprised to find a used Herman Miller chair having a high price. That is so because these chairs are still in good shape and durable.

Besides the official website, these chairs are doing great in the worldwide market through Amazon and other affiliate websites.

6. Posture-Friendly Design

The brand guarantees you comfort at your convenience. That makes customers overlook the high cost for the sake of a pain-free sitting experience and overall health.

Herman Miller is a posture-fit design expert for chairs that provide the necessary support of your back. Their chairs allow a natural forward tilt of your pelvis throughout your sitting.

For that reason, the high cost of these chairs results from the ability to give you what you need with uncompromised quality.

7. Home To Top Designers

Herman Miller is home to world-class furniture designers who create their signature products. For example, Charles & Ray Eames are among the top-ranking designers collaborating with Herman Millers.

In fact, the brand is the only approved manufacturer of Charles & Ray Eames furniture designs for all markets except in the Middle East and Europe.

Their designs produce the market’s finest and the highest quality chairs, whose prices are higher than the competitors.

8. Company Location

Herman Miller manufactures its chairs from the US with factories stationed in Zealand, Michigan. The brand has complete control over production and designs, as it has no outsourcing at all. As a result, they can ensure all their chairs have the correct standards.

Any manufacturing company in the US incurs some extra production costs, and Herman Miller is not an exception. Nonetheless, the brands’ high-quality products, ideal customer services, and easy chair fixing and replacing win the buyer’s heart!

9. Long Warranty Period

The brand gives a 12-year warranty period because they’re confident in the quality of their chairs. Otherwise, the company would be losing a lot of money to repairs.

The good code of quality of these chairs demands more expenses by the manufacturer. As a result, you’ll have to dig deeper into your pocket for your Herman Miller chair. Even so, it’s an investment worth your cash because of its durability and comfort.

10. Excellent Mobility

You don’t want to buy a chair that doesn’t allow movement while sitting. An office chair without appropriate mobility is incomplete. That’s why Herman Miller ensures you get one with perfect mobility and can move in any direction.

The moving parts and wheels are durable and costly, leading to the higher prices of Herman Miller chairs.

11. Constant Evolution

The continuous inventions and introduction of new and stylish designs lead to high production costs. Herman Miller has been in the headlines and won many awards as a result of these developments.

Also, the brand has often secured a place on the cover page of many newspapers and magazines.

12. Pricing That Target Companies

Majority of the Herman Miller’s customers are companies who buy chairs on a large scale. Most companies have no money constraints.

Hence, they can afford a bulk of chairs to improve employees’ productivity through appropriate sitting postures.

Are Herman Millers Chairs Overpriced?

No, I wouldn’t say Herman miller chairs are overpriced. Here’s why — their quality and features are top-notch.

The following features make Herman Miller Chairs seem to be overpriced. However, it’s worth digging deeper into your pocket.

Here’s why:

Their ergonomic designs give you a unique and relaxed sitting posture, eliminating back and wrist pains.
Top-notch designs from world-class designers.
They’re made of high-quality materials, making them more durable and comfortable.
They offer you excellent mobility so you can move in whichever direction you like.
Their unique adjustment features let you lower or heighten the armrests and angle them up to 30 degrees.
The 12 years warranty period gives quality assurance of the chairs. No one would provide such a warranty if they’re uncertain about the quality of the product.

How Can You Save On Your Herman Miller chairs?

There’re several ways in which you can save on your Herman Miller chairs. They include:

Being cautious of fake and knock offs
Buying a used chair
Visiting office designs outlet stores
Checking out for sales offer
Trying before buying

Being Cautious Of Fake And Knock-Offs

You should be keen not to fall into the hands of fake Herman Miller chair dealers. They intend to make quick cash by fitting Herman Miller parts with other chairs. The chairs won’t have a warranty, and hence you can’t get repair services if need be.

Since the chairs have the original Herman Miller prices, you may end up losing a good amount of cash. So, be careful!

Buying A Used Chair

Since Herman Miller chairs have a 12-year warranty, you can get an old chair and still reap maximum benefits from it. However, you need to check the manufacturing date (at the bottom of the chair), buy from a reputable dealer, look at the return policy, and test the chair before buying.

Visiting Office Designs Outlet Stores

You can purchase a Herman Miller chair from outlet stores at a subsidized price. Luckily, these chairs still have their uncompromised quality. You can get an older or used model with superb quality and worth the cash in these stores.

Checking Out For Sales Offer

Although Herman Miller chairs are a pricey investment, you can acquire a discount of up to 30%. The deal is even mind-blowing when they throw a flash sale.

Keep visiting their official and affiliate websites not to miss these golden moments.

Trying Before Buying

Herman Miller chairs have different sizes to meet the customers’ body type best. Therefore, you should visit their stores and test the chair that addresses your needs appropriately.

How Can You Tell If A Herman Miller Chair Is Real?

You can tell if a Herman Miller chair is Real by checking the underside. There you find a manufacturing label with the Herman Miller logo, a model number, manufacturing date, and possibly the chair’s initial vendor. While these chairs should have three logos, finding one is enough to prove genuineness.

In some cases, you may even find the serial number on the same label. These details are also necessary for warranty purposes.

Moreover, all Herman Miller classic designs have a certificate of authenticity. In addition, most models have extra paperwork. That includes instruction manuals and other essentials to help you handle your expensive purchase the right way. Medallion also testifies the chairs’ sincerity.

Is that all about checking your Herman Miller authenticity! Not at all!

You can also determine the value of your chair online through platforms such as ValueMyStuff, Treadway, and WorthPoint. The channels find out the originality and value of Herman Miller Products by assessing and giving an appraisal.

Alternatively, you could register your chair on Herman Miller’s official website. Provide your purchase details, including product number, FO number, and manufacturing date. In case of any fault on your chair, the company contacts you right away.

Below are some alternative options:

Top 10 Herman Miller Aeron Alternatives
The 6 Best Herman Miller Embody Alternative
Top 3 Herman Miller Sayl Alternative

FAQS

Are Herman Miller Chairs Worth The Money?

Yes, Herman Miller chairs are worth the money. Why? Besides the features we’ve covered above, their shape and design minimize strain. Also, among other qualities, they have the appropriate tension adjustment and multiple locking positions.

Is Herman Miller High Quality?

Yes, Herman Miller is high quality. While their chairs come at a price higher than similar ones in the market, they have a quality that matches the cost. If you want to buy a durable desk chair, the Herman Miller varieties are your ideal options.

Why Is Herman Miller The Best?

Herman Miller is the best because their roots are in the USA, every component on their chair is up to standard. The parts assembling is perfect, leading to the smooth use of the chairs. Furthermore, Herman Miller chairs have very attractive designs.

How Long Do Herman Miller Chairs Last?

Herman Miller chairs have a guaranteed period of 12 years. Nonetheless, if you take the necessary care, you can have your chair for a minimum of 15 years. Used Herman Miller chairs are more affordable and still last a very long time. But of course, not like a brand new ones would.

Do Herman Miller Chairs Wear Out?

The Herman Miller chairs wear out several years down the line. However, the likelihood of this happening is very low. Why? Because Herman Miller provides you with durable chairs that serves you for decades.

Final Thoughts

Although Herman Miller chairs are expensive, the cost matches the chairs’ high quality and the tons of benefits you enjoy. From the ergonomic and posture-friendly design to adjustability and customizability, and excellent mobility, the brand offers you the best!

Therefore, Herman Miller chairs are a one-time investment worth the upfront cost you incur. The chairs prevent and get rid of back and wrist pain and enhance the overall health of your body.

Additionally, these chairs improve your productivity, as you tend to work for extended hours while sitting comfortably.

Author

Andrew Smith

Andrew Smith is the founder of CozySeating, is a father of 2, and an engineer from one of the leading furniture stores in the country. Due to his 10 years of experience, he has proved to be the best person to offer advice to clients regarding different seating furniture based on their needs and performance. Besides, he is a specialist in product reviews and always keeps up with the current trends in the market.

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Why Are Herman Miller Chairs So Expensive?