If you’re looking to save money on an Aeron Classic, do not buy a used one on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace without first reading this post. There are many things to take into consideration.
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1. Aeron Classic Cleanliness
First, you absolutely need to consider the cleanliness of the chair. I know smelling the mesh isn’t a high priority for a lot of people, but you’d be surprised how much these chairs can stink. Even worse, once you take it home, it’s unlikely you can just return it. Once it’s in your home or apartment, nasty odors can be unbearable.
I think the inner portion of the Aeron’s frame is at the top of my list for parts that get really nasty. This part of the chair is almost impossible to see without first removing the mesh inserts on the seat and backrest. Our refurbishing process requires that every mesh insert is removed so that the frame can be properly cleaned. You have to be extra careful here when putting the mesh back into place. If you don’t remove the insert, you will be living with someone else’s snack crumbs in your chair. Yuck!
One of the more difficult parts on the Aeron to replace are the back and seat frames. This is why it’s imperative that you’re fully inspecting the frame for any cracks since this could be an expensive fix. Backrests don’t have too many issues, but we have seen plenty of cracked seat frames on Aerons older than 2003. While most of the seat frames are okay, these are more likely to experience some type of crack, whether it’s just a hairline crack, barely visible damage, or a full-blown break. Herman Miller did resolve this with a reinforced design that is much more durable on models that were made after 2002.
2. Aeron Pellicle Mesh
Herman Miller’s pellicle mesh is one of the reasons the Aeron is loved by so many. It is hands down the most durable mesh I’ve encountered, and I’m always amazed at how taut the mesh still is on older chairs. When compared to cheaper alternatives that tend to stretch after a few years, the Aerons can feel almost new when they’re over 20 years old.
However, you may come across a used model with saggy mesh. This is a major problem that you’ll definitely want to avoid. If the previous owners also like to sit crossed-legged or with one leg up, there is a good chance you’ll find that the mesh is breaking down near the front of the chair. Once this pellicle mesh starts falling apart, there really isn’t a good way to fix it. Smaller imperfections with the softer weave aren’t as big of a deal as the wire mesh that really kind of holds everything together. When the mesh begins to fall apart, the seat will start to lose its suspension feeling, and this can be something that needs to be replaced.
The foam pad that rests under the waterfall front on the Aeron is probably the weakest part of this chair’s construction. These are almost always completely flattened out and useless on older chairs we receive for refurbishing. They are also honestly one of the grossest things about the chair, as they tend to catch all of the previous user’s crumbs and drinks. Once this part has flattened out, you’re much more likely to feel the hard plastic frame around the front of the chair. If you find a chair with this piece visibly flattened or even missing, I would definitely plan on searching for an aftermarket replacement.
3. Herman Miller Aeron Adjustments
Depending on what functions the Aeron you’ve selected includes, you’ll want to run through all of those adjustments just to ensure that they’re functioning properly. The most sought-after Aeron comes with three levers, which includes the height adjustment, tilt limiter, and forward tilt function. You should have already checked the height adjustment, but now you’ll want to verify that the tilt limiter function is working. When you have the tilt limiter unlocked, I would also verify that the tilt tension is functioning. This part is definitely confusing, since the Aeron Classic requires a ton of turns to adjust the tension. So just make sure you don’t give up too soon. We’ve seen this take as many as a hundred turns to feel the difference in the tension required to recline in the chair.
The Aeron should also have a nice, smooth tilt function when working properly. If your chair has a forward tilt, make sure that you know how to actually test it, as this can be a little bit tricky. Once you actually have the forward tilt working properly, you should be sitting in a very forward position. You’ll want to make sure you can stay locked in this position.
4. Aeron Classic Arms
There are three different types of arm styles available on the Aeron Classic: Fixed Height, Height-Adjustable Only, and a Multi-Function with a height adjustment and pivot adjustment. If there is a height adjustment, you’ll want to check to verify this is working. The number one question you want to answer is: can you loosen it and move it up and down on the backrest? And secondly, are you able to actually tighten it down and have it hold in place nicely? There are two different types of arm height adjustments. There is one that is a dial system, which is an older version, and there’s also the more modern latch system, which is much quicker and easier to use. Both will work just the same. Make sure again that you can tighten the armrest into position and have them lock firmly into place.
If your chair has a pivot adjustment, you’ll want to verify that the arm is clicking and holding between the pivot ranges. If the arm doesn’t hold in place, the pivot mechanism is likely broken or just worn out.
Arm pads on the older Aeron Classics are incredibly durable. Considering how many of these I’ve seen, I’m always surprised how well they’ve held up. While they may be full of scratches, many times, they’re still holding up without any types of cracking or splitting occurring. Now, these are constructed of multiple pieces with a sock-type system over a pad and a plastic mold. These original arm pads are rock hard so a lot of times, they aren’t the desired style. Herman Miller ultimately switched to a more comfortable PU pad that is formed into a plastic mold. Overall, these newer pads are softer and more comfortable than the originals.
5. Aeron Lumbar System
Aeron Classic comes with three different back types and two of them will include a lumbar system. The two lumbar systems available on the Aeron are a height-adjustable, very simple system that uses a PU pad with teeth that slide up and down the backrest. Alternatively, there is also a posture-fit system.
With the height-adjustable system, you’ll want to slide the pad off the backrest, just to inspect it. First, you’ll want to verify that all of the little plastic teeth are still attached to the pad. Also, look to see if the PU pad has held up well. A lot of the time, the first place that you’ll notice issues is near the ends by the plastic part that holds the teeth. Here, the pad will start to crack and break down.
The posture-fit system, you’ll also need to verify that it’s functioning as you rotate the adjustment knob. This typically isn’t much of an issue as the actual pad of the posture-fit. Over time, we’ve seen that the pad starts to break down and can be a mess. Additionally, you’ll want to make sure that the actual plastic mold holding the pad in place isn’t broken as well.
Furthermore, the cover on the top of the mechanism for the Aeron is removable. Now, this is designed to allow you to access the chair’s mechanism so you can resolve any issues it may have, including adjusting a set screw on the cylinder for the height adjustment. This is definitely a weak point on the chair, and if the cover has been removed before, there’s a good chance it could be broken and won’t latch down again. Now, this won’t have any real impact on the chair, but it could be annoying, and if it keeps falling off, your beautiful chair will definitely look incomplete.
You’ll also notice that the cover is one of the areas notorious for squeaking and creaking on the older Aerons. Chairs this age are liable to make sounds; just know it could be originating here. Herman Miller makes a solid product and we’ve seen enough original cylinders on a chair to know that there are still a lot out there. These could last another ten years or fail tomorrow. It’s important to verify that when you pull the height adjustment lever, the chair actually moves up at a good pace. If you find that it’s sticking when it raises, moves slowly, or won’t hold its height when you sit down, this could definitely be a problem.
If the cylinder isn’t working, that doesn’t mean you can’t fix it. There are aftermarket cylinders available online when you do a quick search. Some of those items will definitely be better than others and I would look for something that comes with a warranty. Older cylinders in Aerons can definitely take some extra elbow grease when you try to remove them. A large pipe wrench is attached for extra leverage to get some of these cylinders removed.
6. Casters
Arguably, one of the nastiest places on an Aeron chair that’s used is the castors. And to be honest, this is true for all used chairs we’ve seen come through our building. If the chair you’ve found doesn’t roll well, the castors are likely loaded with hair and other stuff it has just picked up rolling on the floor. If you located this online, I would ask for a quick picture of the underside of the base so you can see all of the different castors and what might be in them. If they are clean, you have a better chance they’ll function okay. If they’re nasty, plan on spending $20 to $70 for a proper set of wheels to replace those originals.
Bottom Line
Hopefully, this post helped you understand what to look for when buying your next Aeron Classic.
Additional Office Chair Resources
- Herman Miller Aeron Chair (Review / Rating / Pricing)
- 6 Best Herman Miller Aeron Chair Alternatives for 2025
- Herman Miller Aeron Mesh Office Chair 2025 Review + Pricing
- Herman Miller Aeron Chair vs Steelcase Gesture: Which is best?
- Herman Miller Aeron vs. Steelcase Leap: Which is best in 2025?
- Herman Miller Aeron Classic vs. Remastered (8 Differences)
