Which size Herman Miller Aeron Chair Should You Get?

Introduction

If you are looking for quality office equipment, Herman Miller is a brand name that will come up quite often. Their flagship Herman Miller Aeron chair has sold over 8 million pieces. In fact, the Herman Miller Aeron chair was the pioneer in mesh back office chairs.

There are good alternatives to the Herman Miller Aeron chair, but when it comes to the top end of ergonomic chairs, the Herman Miller Aeron Chair is the gold standard. It has been the benchmark for ergonomic seating since it hit the market almost thirty years ago.

However, the Herman Miller Aeron chair comes in three sizes. This is in contrast to most premium chairs which typically offer only one size. This means having to choose an Aeron chair, which might be a bit confusing for the average office worker.

In this post, the Herman Miller Aeron chair is demystified so you can know which size is right for you.

What Size Chairs Does Herman Miller Offer?

The Herman Miller Aeron chair comes in three sizes: A, B, and C. They are otherwise called small, medium, and large respectively. The intent was to provide an inclusive range of sizes that would suit the height and weight of any user. These sizes offer the most comfort and support for a wide range of individuals.

Data source: https://www.hermanmiller.com/en_us/products/seating/office-chairs/aeron-chairs/specs/

For a comparison in imperial units (i.e. cm / mm), see this page.

Size A Aeron Chair

The Size A Aeron Chair is a small chair. It can be considered as the design for petite users.

The size A Aeron chair has a shorter seat height than its counterparts.  This allows for users who have shorter legs to be able to rest their feet on the floor or on a footrest. 

Size B Aeron Chair

The size B Aeron Chair tends to be suitable for most people. Its dimensions allow it to be safely considered a standard chair. 

As was previously mentioned, the Size B Aeron chair is considered a medium chair.

Size C Aeron Chair

The size C Aeron chair is the plus size model. Size C is the large size and is targeted to users who are big and tall. 

How to Tell the Size of a Herman Miller Aeron Chair

Identifying the size of the Aeron chair you are considering requires some close inspection.

First, stand with the back of the Aeron chair facing you. Under the top edge of the chair’s back frame, directly opposite the Herman Miller Logo, you will feel either 1, 2, or 3 raised dots. The dots will be similar to braille dots and the number of them will indicate the size of the chair you have:

• 1 dot denotes a Size A Aeron chair
• 2 dots are a sign that you have a Size B Aeron chair.
• 3 dots means you are dealing with a Size C Aeron chair

This video will help you to visualise the process just described:

Which Size Herman Miller Aeron Chair Should You Get?

When you need to fit the Aeron chair into a specific space, as well as when you want optimal support and comfort, the physical dimensions of the chair are a key consideration. 

It is also important to actually sit in the chair you are interested in (so long as it is possible). Chairs are never a “one size fits all”. Instead, they are very individual office tools and different people like different chairs and features.

Here are the different recommendations for the three Aeron chair sizes:

The size A Aeron chair is recommended for you if your height is between 4′ 10″ and 5′ 9″, and your weight is from 90 to 150 pounds.

The size B Aeron chair is recommended for those with a height range of 5′ 2″ to 6′ 6″ and if your weight is from 130 to 325 pounds. 

If your height ranges from 5′ 3″ to 6′ 6″, and your weight is from 180 to 350 pounds, then the size C Aeron chair is for you.

When you can’t test the seat?

But what can you do if you cannot access a physical Aeron chair to do test sitting? Herman Miller company has provided a sizing chart just for that! 

The Herman Miller Aeron size chart will help you find the perfect size by locating the point where your height and weight meet on the chart. The vertical axis represents height, and the horizontal axis represents weight. 

When using this chart, the value of your height must be converted to inches. Likewise the value of your weight must be converted into the correct unit, in this case, pounds.

This convenient chart from hermanmiller.com uses your height and weight as its key indicators. It is to be used only with the new Aeron chair (more on that below).

Now look at the chart itself. It is divided into five differentially shaded regions.When you locate your height and where it meets your weight on the chart, you will land in one of the shaded zones. 

The chair size that labels that region will be your Aeron chair of choice. Hermanmiller.com recommends using size B if your coordinates fall in either 

• Region ‘A or B’, or 
• Region ‘B or C’

Do These Rules Apply to the Classic Aeron Chair?

In 2016, Herman Miller released a redesigned Aeron chair. The original Aeron had been introduced in 1994 and became known as the Aeron Classic. The new version was named the Aeron Remastered. Both chair models have three sizes, A, B and C.

The two versions have several differences though. Features like the arm rests, build and finish, seat design, tilt lock and lumbar support all underwent some changes. Along with these features, Herman Miller also introduced a difference in the sizes of the two Aeron chairs. 

In fact, the Herman Miller website provides a size chart specifically for the Aeron Classic Chair. Check it out here.

A closer look will reveal that the height range (on the vertical axis) is from 4″ 10′ to 6″ 6′. This range covers from the smallest Aeron chair, size A, to the largest Aeron chair, size C.

The weight range on the horizontal axis is from 90 pounds to 300 pounds. Again, this covers from the size A to the size C Aeron Classic Chair. 

So where the Aeron Remastered chair can accommodate up to 350 pounds, the Aeron Classic Chair was tested and warranted for only 300 pounds or less. 

However, the instructions for finding the right size Aeron Classic chair with this size chart are the same.

Using the correct units, find where your height and weight intersect on the chart. Then make note of the zone you fall in. Bear in mind too, that you qualify for a size B chair if you fall into zone A/B or B/C, just like with the chart for the new Aeron.

What Problems Will You Have if You Get the Wrong Size Chair?

The Herman Miller Aeron chair was conveniently designed with ergonomics in mind. Being able to choose from such a wide range of options is a great opportunity to optimise the long hours of sitting you engage in.

If you choose the wrong size Aeron chair, you could end up dealing with discomfort and other problems with your health.

Here are some of the possible consequences of choosing the wrong size Aeron chair:

• Poor blood circulation
• Leg cramps
• Increased fatigue

• Decreased concentration
• Excess sweating and stickiness
• Poor brain health

• Lower back pain
• Neck soreness 
• Shoulder pain 
• Knee pain
• Poor posture
• A decrease in morale and motivation on the job
• Reduced productivity

What if You Already Bought the Wrong Herman Miller Aeron Chair?

If you had already invested in a Herman Miller Aeron chair before reading this article, you may now be realising you have a wrong size chair. Thankfully,the Herman Miller Aeron chair comes with an impressive 12-year warranty. There is even a 30-day guarantee to return the chair for a full refund.

Final Thoughts

Determining the right size Herman Miller Aeron chair will be useful for your office spacing as well as your health. That’s because sitting on the wrong size chair can affect your performance and your health in quite a number of ways. It is therefore important to know the size and details of the Aeron chair you are interested in.

Conducting a sitting test of a Herman Miller Aeron chair before purchasing will be crucial to making the right decision. It will allow you to select the exact Aeron chair that you are comfortable with. 

However, if you cannot physically get access to the Aeron chairs, you should take advantage of the sizing charts provided by Herman Miller.