Steelcase
The contract-furniture giant whose task chairs lead on adjustability and durability
- Founded
- 1912
- Country
- United States
- Warranty
- 12-year warranty covering the mechanisms, gas cylinder, arms, foam, and casters for 24/7 use, with the frame covered for the life of the original owner — on par with the best in the category.
- Support
- Sold through a global dealer network plus authorized remanufacturers; parts are plentiful and the chairs are highly repairable, which is why decade-old units stay in service on the secondary market.
Overview
Steelcase, founded in 1912 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is the world’s largest office-furniture maker and Herman Miller’s chief rival. Its Leap and Gesture chairs are fixtures of corporate offices and a perennial top recommendation, prized for deep adjustability and commercial-grade durability. Because Steelcase sells in huge volume to businesses, its chairs also feed an enormous used-and-remanufactured market that makes them some of the best values in premium seating.
Is it worth it?
Steelcase is worth it for buyers who want maximum adjustability and a chair built to outlast a decade of daily use — and it is arguably the smartest value in the category bought remanufactured, often at half the price of new. Those set on breathable mesh or an iconic look may prefer Herman Miller.
Steelcase reports
All reports
Best for Arm SupportSteelcase
Steelcase Gesture
The Steelcase Gesture is the pick for anyone who juggles a keyboard, phone, and tablet all day — its signature ball-and-socket arms rotate a full 360°, the widest-ranging armrests of any task chair, and follow your hands wherever they go. It was Wirecutter’s top office-chair recommendation for the better part of a decade, with a 3D LiveBack backrest, commercial-grade build, and a 12-year warranty. The trade-offs: at around $1,499 it costs more than the more adjustable Leap V2, its lumbar curve is fixed-height (the optional add-on draws criticism), and the upholstered seat runs warmer than mesh.
Best ValueSteelcase
Steelcase Leap V2
The Steelcase Leap V2 is the most adjustable premium office chair and the smartest value in the category. Its LiveBack backrest flexes with your spine, and almost everything moves — 4D arms, a seat-depth slider, and a lumbar you can tune for both height and firmness — so it fits a wider range of bodies than the Aeron out of the box. It is famously durable (corporate units stay in service for 15+ years) and backed by a 12-year warranty. The catch is mostly cosmetic: the upholstered seat runs warmer than mesh and the look is utilitarian. Bought remanufactured — a huge market, often around $700 — it may be the best ergonomic chair per dollar you can buy.