Herman Miller Sayl Ergonomic Office Chair Comprehensive Reviewed and Rated for 2023

Founded in 1905 and producing award-winning, signature office furniture pieces including the Aeron Chair, the Equa Chair and the legendary Eames Lounge Chair and Ottoman, Herman Miller has placed itself firmly as a hallmark in classic, comfortable and ergonomic furniture design that have withstood the test of time.

The Herman Miller Sayl Chair is no different from the company’s famous line of ergonomic office chairs. Designed by Yves Béhar and geniusly inspired by the Golden Gate Bridge, it's an ideal chair for high tables and counters. Among its chief features is its smart, 3D back support made from elastomer stands that gently stretches as you stretch and moves as you move - giving the user the freedom to move all throughout the working throughout the day.

We reviewed this excellent office chair and studied its design, features, price, pros, cons plus other bonus info that you’ll surely find helpful. Continue reading the article and you can decide if the Herman Miller Sayl Chair is ideal for you, too.

RATINGS

9.8

Herman Miller Sayl Chair Quick Preview

Summary

Inspired by the Golden Gate Bridge, people would expect the Sayl to be named after a bridge. However, the name is actually a wordplay of the word “Sail” the “i” is replaced with “Y” to acknowledge the innovative Y-Tower structure of the chair resembles the full mainsail of vessels that pass beneath the sweeping majesty of the world's best-loved bridges, including the Golden Gate Bridge.

But is this beautiful office chair as comfortable as it is aesthetically-pleasing? Based on our tests, yes it does. Comfortable enough to use for 5 - 8 hours with an innovative, breathable back rest that is made from elastomer strands that are both supportive and flexible. We definitely enjoyed the ease of movement and full, reclining lumbar support. Will this be a chair you’ll be comfortable using? Find out and read our reviews below.

PROS

• Made from 90% recyclable materials
• Made at a 100% green-energy facility in Michigan
• Cradle to Cradle Silver Certified™
• Easy, fuss-free assembly
• Versatile, ergonomic design great for both working or gaming
• Adjustable features make it ideal for high countertops/desks
• Keeps users cool with ventilated elastomer back
• Affordable price compared with other Herman Miller furniture
• 12-year warranty

CONS

• Not suitable for people who are 6ft. and above
• Priced higher than other office chairs
• Does not have a neck and/or head rest

Manufacturer Information

Based in Zeeland, Michigan, Herman Miller has thrived in the furniture industry for 100-plus years. Founded in 1905 as the Michigan Star Furniture Company, it was renamed Herman Miller Furniture Company in 1923 after then company president D.J. De Pree's father-in-law became the majority shareholder of the Michigan Star Furniture. Aside from producing furniture pieces that have gone on to win several prestigious design awards, Herman Miller has a solid reputation of placing primary focus not only on their customers' well-being but most especially on their employees.
Today, Herman Miller is synonymous to ergonomic home and office furniture with an everlasting design that’s a perfect fit for modern, luxurious spaces.

Product Specs & Features

Specifications

Features

Craftsmanship & Design Features

• Y-Tower™ structure inspired by the engineering principles of suspension bridges, specifically the Golden Gate Bridge
• Unframed 3D intelligent back
• Design offers expansive and comfortable range of motion
• Simple, elegant design
• Stellar adjustability and customizability features to ensure ultimate user comfort

Ergonomic Features

• Fully-customizable armrests that can be raised/lowered, pivoted or moved forward/back
• Depending on what the user prefers, a fixed-armrest and adjustable armrest model is available
• Herman Miller Sayl Gaming Edition is also available with specs especially made for gamers
• Lumbar support that can be moved up or down, depending on user preference
• Seat pan depth can be adjusted
• Chair height can be moved up or down
• Chair can be reclined with tension adjustment and tilt limiters for angle adjustment
• Easy, 5-minute set-up as the chair arrives almost fully assembled

Current Price

Herman Miller Sayl Chair - from $545.00 to $935.00 (depending on the model/selected customizability options)
Herman Miller Sayl Gaming Edition - $725.00
Disclaimer:
The price included in this article is the price of the product as of this article’s publish date. Prices may change without prior notice.

Available Colors

Frame / Base 
Black or Fog Studio White
Upholstery & Color
Crepe, Fog, Green Apple, Licorice, Midnight, Shale, Tomato
Rhythm
Berry Blue, Black, Charcoal
You can request Free Swatches here.

Shipping Policy

Shipping options depend on the item purchased as well as other factors including location. Deliver, however, is available within the contiguous United States. You can find Herman Miller’s shipping details and other related information in their Shipping and Delivery page here.

Returns Policy

If you are unhappy with your purchase, Herman Miller accepts returned items for a full credit within 30 days of delivery. You can find full return details and other related information in their Returns and Exchanges page here.

Warranty Information

The Herman Miller Eames Lounge Chair comes with a 12-year warranty. You can find full warranty details from their Warranty and Service page here.
Contact Herman Miller or any authorized retailer if you need more specific information.

Product Details

Design Inspired by the Golden Gate Bridge

The Herman Miller Sayl office chair was designed by the popular Swiss designer, Yves Béhar. He drew inspiration for the chair from the world famous Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. Yves used all the cables and struts that make up the support system of the bridge and started on with designing the back rest. Plus, fun fact: this is also where Behar’s design studio is located.
Looking at it at first, you can instantly see that the chair has a unique design. Whereas common chairs have solid, gapless backrests, this one has a more open web-like design. At first you might think that it does not offer much cushioning, which is true. However, this is actually a soft “shell” backrest that conforms to your back, offering you much needed support for those long hours in the office.
On top of that, since it has a more open design, it also features proper ventilation. Yes, with this chair, you have more breathability, preventing any unnecessary and, not to mention, uncomfortable sweating. So, not only does this piece of office equipment offer superb support, but it also keeps you cool and crisp throughout the day. Overall, the chair looks quite clean, but offers loads of features.

Eco-Friendly Construction

Environmentalists might also become fans of the Sayl office chair. This one does not only feature a unique design, but its construction is made from recyclable materials. The manufacturers also did not include any PVC plastics during its construction. Plus, this chair uses much lesser materials, but does so in a more intuitive and effective manner.
Aside from its eco-friendly design, it also features a lot of ergonomic features. First off, it has a (optional) PostureFit sacral support device. This passive support system helps your spine maintain its s-curve while you are sitting down. It not only helps you stay in an optimal and healthier position, but this also helps prevent any back pains or aches that may develop over time due to improper posture.

Adjustability

Another fantastic feature that the Herman Miller Sayl chair features is its adjustability, which it has a lot of. Yes, with this ergonomic chair, you have a variety of options to adjust your seating position until you are comfortable. Having said that, you might only find less than a handful of office chairs that offer the same amount of adjustment options.
Finally, let us relay to you what exactly those adjustments are. First things first, you can adjust the chair’s height. With this, you can adjust it from 15.5 inches to 20 inches, so that you can find the most optimal height for your desk. Aside from its total height, you can also adjust the height of its armrests from 6.7 inches to 10.8 inches.
Aside from those mentioned above, it also lets you adjust the armrest angle, arm width, arm depth, tilt tension, forward tilt angle, tilt limiter, and, lastly, it also lets you adjust the height of the lumbar support pad. In short, the Sayl chair has shortages when it comes to adjustments. This enables you to find your ideal height, angle, and tilt for better ergonomics.

Customizability

Now we know that the Sayl chair not only looks good, not only has an environment-friendly construction, and not only does it feature several adjustments, but it also offers you customizability. With this Herman Miller chair, you can customize its color, thickness, and as well as the materials used. This would enable you to be truly satisfied with your purchase.
This chair enables you to pick from a variety of color options. The company also lets you customize the seat depth. You can either opt for the default 16 inches or the larger one at 18 inches. The larger one would be better for people who are bigger in size. Overall, the Herman Miller allows you to be completely comfortable with it aside from its comfort features, but also for aesthetic reasons.

Durability

Now comes a crucial part of any piece of furniture - its durability. You do not want to spend an exorbitant amount of money just for it to give up in one or two years. However, with the Herman Miller Sayl, you do not need to worry about it crumbling down on you after a short period of time. We can confidently say that this chair will last you for a long time; even with its lesser materials.
Having said that, there are a number of online reviews that state that the padding on the armrests would show a bit of wear and tear, but it is nothing to complain about. Also, the chair height adjustment lever feels a little flimsy and not at all solid. Then again, there are also several online reviews that state that they have been using the chair for over 4 years with no complaints regarding durability or any loose screws.

Assembly

More often than not, a product’s assembly can turn off its customers even though it offers fantastic features. That is because some often need users to assemble it from scratch while some have overly complicated instructions on how to assemble it properly. Is it the same for the Herman Miller Sayl? The complete answer is a resounding no.
As stated earlier, this chair is already mostly assembled when it arrives at your doorstep. The base is already assembled as well as the top part of the chair. You only need to put the two together and now you have an ergonomic office chair setup in as fast as five minutes. It even comes with a simple instruction guide to help you place the seat correctly.

Things to Consider Before Buying a Herman Miller Sayl Chair

When shopping for new things, especially those with high price tags, it is best to know what you are getting into prior to purchase. It is a more tedious process, but it is the best cost-effective solution. This saves you from having to go through the return process. That said, here are a few factors that you need to consider before buying a Herman Miller Sayl Chair, including its design, price and seat depth.

It is slightly expensive

Usually, an office chair has a price range of $100 to about $400. However, with this Sayl chair, you are already paying $585 for it, at least. One specific Sayl chair design costs close to $700. Now the question is, “Are there better office chairs that cost less?” The answer is yes, absolutely. That is why if you are on a tight budget, you might want to look for an alternative.
Having said that, Herman Miller is known for its premium price tags and even premium furniture. And, their Sayl office chair is no different. It offers world class comfort that is second to none. If you have the means of spending an extra amount of money, then this office chair is the best around.

Its design is fantastic but is not for everyone

If you are someone who has an above average height (6ft. above), you might find this chair too small to keep you comfortable. At most, this chair’s backrest ends just about at shoulder level for most people. That is because it does not have a head rest. Also this chair’s seat is measured only at 16 inches. This means people with above average sizes won’t be comfortable at all. However, it does let you choose between 16 inches and 18 inches for the seat depth.
Simply put, this chair already offers the best features for many, but not all. However, if you are an average person in terms of height and/or size, then you can certainly benefit from using this task chair every day. Its design offers optimal comfort and support that can offer long-term benefits for office employees.

Conclusion

When your job demands that you sit around all day, having the right chair should be your top priority. Having the wrong one can greatly affect your health and not in a positive way. If you are looking to invest in an ergonomic chair, you should definitely check out the Herman Miller Sayl chair. It offers fantastic comfort, balanced support, multiple adjustment options, and more. Get started on having a healthier office life by clicking here.