Office chairs

What Should You Check Before Buying a Used or Refurbished Office Chair?

Published · By Ergocrew · Specs and guidance as of that date, from the pages under Sources

Summary

A used or refurbished chair is worth considering only after you identify the exact version, check its condition and read the guarantee that applies to your purchase. Run the adjustments through their ranges, check that the seat holds its height, and inspect the base, casters and upholstery. Ask the seller which parts were replaced. Original manufacturer coverage may be restricted to the first purchaser, so get any separate refurbishment guarantee and return terms in writing.

Identify the model and generation

The same chair name can cover several sizes and more than one version. Herman Miller lists three Aeron sizes, A, B and C, and says they fit the first to the 99th percentile. Herman Miller lists seat depths of 16 inches for size A, 17 inches for B and 18.5 inches for C. A size C seat is 18.5 - 16 = 2.5 inches deeper than a size A. If a shorter seat is your priority, use the Aeron size A's listed 16-inch depth as a starting point, then confirm that the used chair is actually size A and check its fit with the seller.

The generation matters as well as the size. Herman Miller's design-story page says the Aeron Remastered, introduced in 2016, "debuted a more refined tilt mechanism," along with adjustable PostureFit SL and an updated Pellicle mesh called 8Z. The 8Z mesh has eight tensioned zones, four in the seat and four in the back. Herman Miller's current page lists the recline as Harmonic 2 Tilt. On a listing that only says "Aeron," those features are the ones to ask about.

For a Steelcase Leap, ask whether it is a V1 or a V2. Compare its controls with Steelcase's documentation for that generation and the seller's description. Steelcase lists a maximum load of 400 lb for the Leap.

Adjustments to test before paying

OSHA's chair guidance gives a useful baseline for what an adjustable chair should do. A maker's product page tells you what that particular model was built to do. Every listed adjustment should work on the chair you are buying, so test each one if you can see the chair in person.

If you cannot lower the seat far enough for your feet to rest flat, OSHA's guidance is to use a footrest "when the seat cannot be lowered."

Wear points: cylinder, casters, mesh and foam

The gas cylinder is what holds the seat height. If the seat sinks or will not rise, have the seller or an authorized service provider diagnose the cylinder and height-control mechanism before you pay. For the casters and base, OSHA's guidance calls for "a five-leg base with casters that allow easy movement along the floor," with casters suited to the floor you have. Roll the chair on a hard surface and watch for wheels that stick, wobble or leave marks. Check the base legs for cracks, especially near the center.

On a mesh chair, inspect the seat and back for sagging, loose strands and fraying at the frame. On foam, check for a lasting dip or uneven support. Look for splits along upholstery seams and ask the seller which covering is fitted.

Warranty and return terms

A warranty on a new chair does not automatically accompany a used sale. Steelcase's Americas Consumer Limited Lifetime Warranty, checked 2026-11-01, is non-transferable and covers the original end-use customer. MillerKnoll's U.S. and Canada warranty likewise identifies the original purchaser. Ask the seller which separate refurbishment guarantee applies to your purchase and obtain its terms in writing. The model's original warranty length is not a promise of your remaining coverage.

The FTC's warranty guide distinguishes legal designations from ordinary sales language: a "full" warranty must meet federal conditions, including service for any owner during its term; "limited" means at least one such condition is not met. Neither word tells you everything about a used chair's coverage. If a refurbisher offers its own guarantee, read the document for who provides service, the covered parts and the duration, rather than assuming a lifetime label covers every component.

Return terms are separate from a warranty. Ask how many days you have to return the chair, who pays for return freight, and whether a restocking fee applies.

Questions to ask the seller

BIFMA describes ANSI/BIFMA X5.1 as a standard "designed to evaluate general-purpose office chairs." If a listing cites the standard, ask whether the claim applies to this chair as built. A refurbished chair may contain replacement parts.

Browsing for one? Browse chairs in the feed →

Related guides

Sources

  1. Steelcase, Americas Consumer Limited Lifetime Warranty
  2. MillerKnoll, U.S. and Canada Limited Warranty
  3. Herman Miller, Aeron Chair
  4. Herman Miller, Aeron Chair Specs
  5. Herman Miller, Aeron Chair Design Story
  6. Steelcase, Leap
  7. OSHA Computer Workstations eTool, Chairs
  8. FTC, Businessperson's Guide to Federal Warranty Law
  9. BIFMA, Standards Overview

We have not tested these products. Specs and guidance are as published on these pages on the date above and can change; the manufacturer's page for your model has the current details.

More office chairs guides

Office chairsWhat Should You Look for When Choosing an Office Chair?An office chair has to fit two things at once, your body and the desk you already own. Compare the seat-height range, seat depth and seat width first…Read the guide →Office chairsWhat Makes an Office Chair Ergonomic?An ergonomic office chair fits your body and desk through adjustable seat height, seat depth, back support and armrests. The label alone does not…Read the guide →Office chairsWhat Order Should You Use to Adjust an Office Chair?Start at the floor and work up: seat height, then seat depth and the backrest, then the armrests, and only then the monitor and the things you reach…Read the guide →Office chairsWhere Should Lumbar Support Sit on an Office Chair?Lumbar support should meet the inward curve of your lower back while you sit back with your feet supported. Its position depends on your body and the…Read the guide →Office chairsShould You Choose a Mesh or Leather Office Chair?Choose by fit first and material second. Mesh lets air through and flexes under you; leather and leather-look covers sit over foam padding that air…Read the guide →Office chairsWhich Office Chair Features Matter Most for Long Workdays?For eight-hour days, the chair has to support more than one position. OSHA's workstation guidance says that "working in the same posture or sitting…Read the guide →Office chairsIs a Weight Rating Enough When Choosing a Big-and-Tall Office Chair?No. A weight rating is the manufacturer's upper limit for the load, and you should stay under it, but it says nothing about whether the seat is wide…Read the guide →Office chairsWhat Should You Check in a Cross-Legged Office Chair?A cross-legged chair is a wide, often armless seat built so you can fold your legs under you. Check that it still works when you sit normally: the…Read the guide →Office chairsDo You Need a Built-In Footrest on an Office Chair?For desk work, the footrest you may need is a separate one on the floor. It solves a specific problem: the chair has been raised to suit the desk and…Read the guide →Office chairsHow Do You Choose an Office Chair Mat for Carpet or Hard Floors?Choose a chair mat rated for your floor surface and, for carpet, its pile depth. Many plastic carpet mats use grippers, while hard-floor versions use…Read the guide →Office chairsWhat Office Chair Works Best in a Small Space?In a small room the chair that works is the one that fits under the desk and rolls back far enough for you to stand, not the one with the smallest…Read the guide →Office chairsWhat Does an Ergonomic Office Chair Cost, and What Do You Get at Each Price?The chairs compared here ranged from $159.99 to $609.99 at the makers' US stores, checked 2026-10-13. A larger budget does not automatically buy a…Read the guide →Office chairsIs an Office Chair's Sale Price a Real Discount?A crossed-out price does not, by itself, establish a real saving. For a seller's former-price comparison, the FTC looks at whether the higher price…Read the guide →Office chairsWhich Armrest Adjustments Matter on an Office Chair (2D, 3D, 4D, Flip-Up), and Can You Upgrade Them?Start with height and width: OSHA asks for armrests low enough for "relaxed shoulders" and close enough to support the lower arms. Forward-back travel…Read the guide →Office chairsDo Seat Cushions and Lumbar Pillows Fix an Office Chair, or Make It Worse?A cushion can change how a chair fits, but it does not repair its adjustments. It raises your sitting position by the thickness left under your…Read the guide →Office chairsUnder-Desk Footrest or a Chair With a Built-In Footrest: What Each Costs and When You Need OneFor seated desk work, use a separate footrest if your feet cannot reach the floor after you set the chair for the work surface. CCOHS asks for support…Read the guide →Office chairsWhat Do BIFMA, ANSI and CAL 117 Labels on an Office Chair Mean?ANSI/BIFMA X5.1 is a test standard for general-purpose office chairs; a listing that says only BIFMA does not identify which standard was used or…Read the guide →Office chairsWhat Do PU, Bonded and Genuine Leather Mean on a Chair Listing, and What Is a Double-Rub Count?Genuine leather refers to hide, while bonded material contains leather fibers mixed with other substances. PU identifies polyurethane, but the label…Read the guide →Office chairsIs a Gaming Chair Worse Than an Office Chair for Desk Work?Not because of the label; for desk work, compare the chair's adjustments. OSHA's chair guidance asks for an adjustable seat depth, height-adjustable…Read the guide →Office chairsKneeling Chairs and Saddle Stools: Who Are They For, and What Are the Trade-Offs?Kneeling chairs and saddle seats offer different ways to sit and change position, but the category name does not establish fit. A kneeling design uses…Read the guide →Office chairsHow Should an Office Chair Recline (Synchro-Tilt, Knee-Tilt, Tilt Lock)?Look for a recline you can move into and hold, with controls that suit your use. OSHA asks for at least 15 degrees from vertical and a backrest that…Read the guide →Office chairsHow Do You Fix an Office Chair That Sinks or Rolls Badly (Gas Cylinder and Casters)?For a chair that sinks, first ask the maker to check the height-control mechanism and identify a compatible replacement cylinder if needed. Replace…Read the guide →Office chairsDo You Need a Headrest on an Office Chair?A headrest is worth checking if you regularly recline and want support in that position. OSHA's purchasing guide calls for one when a backrest…Read the guide →Office chairsWhat Does an Office Chair Warranty Actually Cover?A chair warranty covers the failures, parts and purchasers specified in its terms, rather than everything that happens during the headline number of…Read the guide →Office chairsWhat Should a Short Person Check in an Office Chair?Check the lowest occupied seat height and the shortest usable seat depth first. You need foot support and enough space between the seat edge and your…Read the guide →

All office chairs guides · All guides and search