Steelcase Leap vs Herman Miller Aeron: Which Refurbished Chair Should You Buy?

Two of the best office chairs ever made. Different strengths, different trade-offs.

The Steelcase Leap V2 and the Herman Miller Aeron are the two chairs people ask us about most. Both are premium, both are built to last decades, and both are excellent refurbished. But they're designed around different philosophies, and they suit different people.

We refurbish and sell both chairs regularly. We strip them down, replace the wear parts, test every adjustment, and send them out to offices across the UK. So this isn't a comparison based on spec sheets. It's based on what we see, what we hear from customers, and what holds up over thousands of hours of daily use.

The fundamental difference

The Aeron is a mesh chair. The Leap is an upholstered chair. That single difference drives most of the trade-offs between them.

The Aeron's mesh back and seat provide airflow and a suspended, springy feel. The Leap's padded seat and flexible backrest provide cushioned support and a more traditional sitting experience. Neither approach is objectively better. It comes down to what you prefer and how you work.

Back support

Steelcase Leap V2: The Leap's LiveBack technology is its standout feature. The backrest flexes and follows your spine as you shift position. You get independent controls for lumbar height and lumbar firmness, meaning you can dial in exactly the right amount of lower back support. For people with existing back issues, this level of adjustability is hard to beat.

Herman Miller Aeron: The Aeron Remastered uses PostureFit SL, which supports both the lumbar spine and the sacrum with two independent pads. The Classic Aeron offers either a basic lumbar pad or the original PostureFit system. The Remastered's back support is very good, but it's more passive than the Leap's. It holds your lower back in position rather than actively adapting as you move.

Our take: If back support is your top priority, the Leap has the edge. It offers more adjustment options and the LiveBack system genuinely works over long hours. The Aeron Remastered's PostureFit SL is a close second, but the Classic's lumbar options are a step behind both.

Comfort over long hours

Steelcase Leap V2: Dense, supportive seat foam that doesn't bottom out. The Natural Glide System slides the seat forward as you recline, keeping you close to your desk. This is a small detail that makes a noticeable difference during an 8-hour day. The combination of padded seat and adaptive backrest creates a cocooned, supported feel.

Herman Miller Aeron: The mesh seat distributes weight without pressure points. You're suspended rather than cushioned. Some people find this liberating, especially in warmer environments. Others find it less comfortable than a padded seat, particularly if they're lighter and the mesh doesn't flex as much under their weight.

Our take: Both are excellent for long hours. The Leap feels more like sitting in a supportive armchair. The Aeron feels lighter and more open. Personal preference matters more here than any technical comparison.

Breathability

This is where the Aeron wins clearly.

Herman Miller Aeron: Full mesh back and seat. Air passes through the chair. In warm offices, during summer, or for anyone who runs hot, this is a meaningful advantage. It's the reason many people choose the Aeron over every other option.

Steelcase Leap V2: Upholstered back and seat. No mesh option on the standard model. In a well-ventilated or air-conditioned office, most people won't notice. But if heat is a factor, you will.

Our take: If breathability matters to you, the Aeron is the clear choice. Browse our mesh chair range if this is a priority.

Adjustability

Both chairs offer extensive adjustments, but they differ in what they prioritise.

Steelcase Leap V2: Height, seat depth, back tension, recline range, recline lock (infinite positions), upper back force, lower back height, lower back firmness, and 4-way adjustable arms (height, width, depth, pivot). The Leap has more back-related adjustments than any other chair in its class.

Herman Miller Aeron (Remastered): Height, recline tension, forward tilt, recline lock (3 positions), PostureFit SL firmness, and fully adjustable arms (height, pivot, depth). Fewer adjustments overall, but the ones it has are well-executed and intuitive.

Our take: The Leap gives you more control, particularly over back support. The Aeron's controls are simpler and quicker to set up. If you like fine-tuning your chair, the Leap rewards the effort. If you want something that works well out of the box with minimal fiddling, the Aeron is easier to live with.

Sizing

Herman Miller Aeron: Comes in three sizes: A (small), B (medium), and C (large). Getting the right size is essential for comfort and posture. Size B fits most people, but if you're outside the average range, you need to check. Read our Aeron size guide for details.

Steelcase Leap V2: One size. The wide range of adjustments is designed to accommodate most body types without needing different frame sizes. This makes it simpler to order and better suited to shared or hot-desking environments.

Our take: The Aeron's sizing system gives a more tailored fit if you choose correctly. The Leap's one-size approach is more practical for offices where different people use the same chair. For bulk orders, the Leap removes the sizing headache entirely.

Durability and what wears out

We see both chairs after years of heavy commercial use. Here's what we find.

Steelcase Leap V2: The frame, mechanism, and LiveBack system are extremely durable. What wears: arm pads (most common), gas lift, seat foam on high-use chairs, and fabric on the seat edges. All standard refurbishment items. Read our full Leap V2 review for the detailed breakdown.

Herman Miller Aeron: The aluminium frame is effectively indestructible. The mesh holds up well but can develop slight sag over many years. What wears: arm pads, gas lift, and lumbar components. The mesh is rarely damaged but does require deep cleaning.

Our take: Both chairs are built to last 20+ years. The Aeron's mesh means there's no foam to compress over time, which is a slight long-term advantage. The Leap's upholstered components are all replaceable during refurbishment, so this difference matters more on paper than in practice.

Price

New, both chairs sit in similar territory. A new Aeron Remastered starts around £1,250 and climbs past £1,900 fully loaded. A new Leap V2 starts around £1,000 and reaches £1,300+.

Refurbished is where the value opens up. Our refurbished Leap V2 and refurbished Aerons both offer savings of 40-70% compared to new, with a 12-month warranty and nationwide delivery.

The Aeron Classic is typically the most affordable entry point into either chair. Read our Aeron pricing guide for full UK market pricing.

Choose the Leap if:

You prioritise back support above all else. The LiveBack system and dual lumbar controls offer more targeted support than anything the Aeron provides.

You prefer a padded seat. If mesh isn't for you, the Leap is the best upholstered ergonomic chair available.

You're furnishing shared workstations. One size fits most body types, which makes ordering simpler and hot-desking more practical.

You sit for 8+ hours in an air-conditioned or well-ventilated office. The breathability trade-off becomes irrelevant, and the Leap's comfort advantages come to the fore.

Choose the Aeron if:

You run hot or work in a warm environment. The full mesh design keeps you noticeably cooler, and no upholstered chair matches it for breathability.

You want minimal setup. The Aeron has fewer adjustments, which means you're comfortable faster. Most people sit down, make a couple of tweaks, and they're done.

You prefer a lighter, more open feel. The mesh creates a suspended sensation that some people strongly prefer over a padded seat.

You care about how your chair looks. The Aeron has design-icon status. The Leap, while well-built, doesn't turn heads the same way.

What you get from Coggin SOS

Whether you choose the Leap or the Aeron, every chair we sell goes through a full refurbishment:

• Complete strip-down and inspection
• Gas lift, arm pads, and castors replaced
• Lumbar and back support components checked and replaced where needed
• Deep clean of all surfaces (including Aeron mesh)
• All controls and adjustments tested
• 12-month warranty
• Nationwide delivery and installation

We have a showroom at our Lancashire facility where businesses can visit and try both chairs side by side. Get in touch to arrange a visit.

Frequently asked questions

Which chair is better for back pain?

The Leap offers more adjustable back support, making it a strong first choice for people with existing lower back issues. The Aeron Remastered's PostureFit SL is also effective but less tuneable. Either is a significant upgrade over a standard office chair.

Can I mix Leaps and Aerons in the same office?

Absolutely. Many of our business clients do exactly this. Aerons for employees who prefer mesh and breathability, Leaps for those who prefer padded support. Both chairs look professional and are built to the same commercial standard. Contact us for mixed-order pricing.

Which is better for hot-desking?

The Leap's one-size design makes it simpler for shared workstations. The Aeron requires the right size (A, B, or C) to be comfortable, so you'd need to ensure the correct size is available for each user.

Which lasts longer?

Both are rated for 20+ years of daily use. The Aeron's mesh avoids foam compression. The Leap's foam and fabric are replaceable during refurbishment. In practice, both chairs outlast almost anything else in your office.

Which is better value refurbished?

The Aeron Classic offers the lowest entry price for a premium ergonomic chair. The Leap V2 typically sits between the Classic and Remastered Aeron on price. All three are outstanding value refurbished compared to buying new.

I can't decide. Can I try them both?

Yes. Visit our showroom in Lancashire and sit in both before committing. Get in touch to book a visit. If you can't make it in person, call us on 01995 606414 and we'll talk you through the differences based on how you work.

The bottom line

There's no wrong answer here. The Leap and the Aeron are both in the top tier of office chairs, and both refurbish exceptionally well. The Leap wins on back support and padded comfort. The Aeron wins on breathability and simplicity. Choose based on how you sit, where you work, and what matters most to you.

Either way, buy refurbished. You get the same engineering at a fraction of the price, with years of life ahead. That's the smart buy.

Browse our Steelcase range or Herman Miller range, or call 01995 606414 to discuss your requirements.