You probably have the means and want to go beyond budget for a premium office chair. The search shouldn't be difficult; in this guide, I review six of Australia's most expensive office chairs.

I’ve leveraged all of my expertise to compare and analyse every aspect to ensure each chair isn’t just a symbol of luxury but offers good ergonomics. Ready to elevate your workspace? Let's get started.

My Top Picks

Among the lot, here are my top three picks for a quick purchase:

Here are the ins and outs of the most expensive office chairs in the Australian market. I've handpicked them for their comfort, ergonomic design, health benefits, and luxurious aesthetics.

1. Herman Miller Embody

Overall, the Most Expensive Office Chair

Herman Miller is one of the most expensive office chair brands. The company has many ergonomic chairs that effortlessly combine ergonomic support with beautiful aesthetics. The Embody, which is the best overall and most expensive office chair in Australia, exemplifies this.

What Makes the Embody Worth the Money?

Let’s face it: A$2,000 plus is beyond the budget for an office chair. At that price, you can buy two MacBook Airs. But the Embody is worth every dollar if you are after ultimate support and comfort.

To begin with, the Embody has excellent back support. Its backrest has micro-adjustments that support your back and good lumbar support to eliminate lower back pain.

The Embody has many adjustment points, so it offers unique comfort. The critical ones are seat depth, seat height, tilt tension and limiter, arm width and height adjustments, and BackFit adjustment.

Herman Miller also includes a helpful setup guide for adjusting the Embody chair to your liking. You get valuable tips on fine-tuning the office chair for optimal comfort and support.

The other two features worth the investment are the adjustable armrests and the pneumatic seat lift. Herman Miller Embody's pneumatic lift system is cleaner, safer, and easy to store.

Embody's seat has four layers with different material properties and manufacturing processes. This ensures a customised and adaptable sitting experience that provides optimal comfort and support while promoting better posture and reducing pressure points.

Areas of Improvement

Let's start with the castors. They are very smooth on hard floors but can be detrimental to your type of carpet flooring. I recommend investing in laminate panels if you use the latter.

Secondly, you do not get a headrest, which provides head support and makes reclining and relaxing more comfortable. Embody's armrests also have limited adjustability with no angle adjustments.

Herman Miller Embody: Final Verdict

The Embody by Herman Miller is the most expensive office chair in the world or Australia. At the time of writing, it cost $2,609.50. Still, I recommend it if you are an office worker who cares about your back and posture or a WFH person seeking seamless comfort and support.

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2. Herman Miller Aeron

Best Quality Premium Office Chair

Available in three different sizes, Herman Miller Aeron is among the most popular and expensive office chairs in Australia and the world.

What Makes the Aeron Worth the Money?

Before discussing Aeron's ergonomics and performance, let's look at its warranty. Herman Miller offers a 12-year warranty on the chair, promising to repair or replace any damaged parts during this period.

This warranty duration surpasses that of many other office chair brands and manufacturers. This alone justifies Aeron's price point for extended use and value for money, guaranteeing at least a decade of quality use.

Now, to the ergonomics. If you like fine-tuning your office chair, you will appreciate Aeron's adjustment options. Its three-way, adjustable armrests are my favourite. Unlike the Herman Miller Embody, you get height, depth, and pivot adjustments for excellent arm support.

Aeron offers three lumbar support options. On purchase, you can choose the no lumbar adjustment (basic support), which is surprisingly supportive and comfortable. Alternatively, you can settle for the PostureFit SL model or the adjustable lumbar support.

The high-quality office chair also has a forward seat tilt, which eases pressure in your back and prevents pain in your lower spine.

Areas of Improvement

While the Herman Miller Aeron is almost perfect, there are a few things missing that you should consider before purchasing. The first is the plastic framing around the sides. They tend to cradle your body and, in some ways, limit movements like wiggling or shifting.

Like the Embody, the Aeron chair does not have a headrest, so if you often lean back or work in a reclined position, you might not find it as comfortable. Get an aftermarket headrest for additional support and comfort if this is crucial to your work.

Herman Miller Aeron: Final Verdict

The Aeron is among the best ergonomic chairs on the Australian market, with a price tag of $2,367 at the time of writing. While costly, its high build quality, superior support and comfort, and long-lasting durability make it a worthwhile investment. Still, the lack of a headrest and the slightly firmer seat are subtle factors to consider before purchase.

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3. HumanScale Diffrient Smart

Best Expensive Task Chair

The Diffrient Smart by Humanscale has aesthetic appeal, with clean lines that catch the eye and hint at a timeless quality. I recommend it as a task chair for use with a sit-stand desk.

Is the HumanScale Diffrient Smart Worth it?

The Humanscale Diffrient Smart is worth it if you want a high-end task chair. Given the price, I was skeptical about the mesh backrest. However, it was very comfortable: soft, body-conforming, and breathable.

The office chair has a tri-panel mesh system that conforms to your body when you sit in it. Its large natural curve supports your lumbar and spine, allowing you to work comfortably for long hours.

Another interesting feature of the premium task chair is the independent wiggle, which allows for a little movement without fully reclining the backrest.

This flexibility fosters comfort for a range of body types and sitting preferences. I found the large seat of the Diffrient Smart accommodating. It isn’t overly padded and feels supportive.

The high-end task chair has soft seat edges that won't dig into your legs. Likewise, its flexible plastic seat pan adapts to your movements to ensure optimal comfort during prolonged use.

Areas of Improvement

Diffrient Smart is a smart option if you want to shop beyond the budget for a task chair. However, it's a bit stingy on adjustability, which I can't complain about, as it's a task chair at its core. If you’re a meticulous adjuster, I recommend considering other options.

HumanScale Diffrient Smart: Who is it for?

Suitable for those not exceeding 187 cm in height, the Diffrient Smart is ideal if you spend most of your working hours with a sit-stand desk. If you're taller than the recommended height, the lack of an adjustable backrest and lumbar adjustments makes it less comfortable. At $1,395, it's one of the most expensive task chairs on the Australian market.

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4. Novara Executive Chair

Best Expensive Executive Office Chair

Executive chairs make a great first impression but must also be functional and practical if you intend to use them for long work hours. The Novara is both aesthetically appealing and highly functional.

Best Bits of the Novara Worth

The Novara features genuine leather upholstery, which is worth paying for and the recommended option for allergy sufferers. The finish is easy to clean, comfortable, and has a longer lifespan.

The chair has a uniquely designed back and headrest. When seated, you feel the contour shape of the backrest, which allows for more natural support through the spine. The adjustable headrest acts as cervical support; when reclining, it supports your neck, shoulders, and upper back.

Novara's Executive Chair has one of the most reliable seat height adjustments for finding the perfect posture. It also includes a synchro-tilt system, which encourages better spinal alignment.

Areas of Improvement

Novara falls short in providing comprehensive adjustment options. The armrests, locked at a fixed 28 cm, offer no room for modification, and the absence of lumbar or seat depth adjustments is a dealbreaker if you prioritise versatile comfort in your chair selection.

Novara Executive Chair: Is It Worth It?

The executive leather chair costs $1,187 as of the time of writing. The build quality is exceptional, featuring high-end materials like genuine leather, aluminium base, and timber veneer.

The model has a high back with an adjustable headrest, making it convenient for people taller than 182 cm. However, it's not a suitable option if you prefer to fine-tune your office chair, as it has limited adjustments. I also do not recommend it for long hours of sitting.

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5. Assist Synchron

Best Synchron Mechanism Office Chair

The Assist Synchron blends luxury with function, style, comfort, and robust durability without financial constraints. But the first and most incredible aspect of the Assist is its custom upholstery nature.

Pros of the Assist Synchron Chair

The Assist Synchron offers a wide range of high-quality fabric cards and colours like aqua, black, sea, mint, ocean, navy, and indigo. You choose your fabric by category: house, category 1, or category 3. Likewise, you pick between low-back and high-back versions.

The chair's adjustable seat height supports good posture and proper hip and pelvis alignment. Its seat depth slider adjusts the seat to your body type to maintain appropriate back support.

Synchron's distinguishing feature is its synchrony system with three locking positions. When reclining, you can adjust the seat and back angles, which allows your feet to stay in contact with the floor. It's an excellent tilt mechanism for reclining, tasking, and combination use.

Areas of Improvement

While the fixed arms of the Assist chair offer a sleek and uniform look, their non-adjustable nature isn't ideal. This lack of flexibility in armrest height and angle adjustment means they must naturally align with your workstation; otherwise, the investment might not be justified.

Assist Synchron: Who Is It For?

The Assist accommodates individuals weighing up to 130 kg and is tailored to height variances. However, if you're keen on ergonomic adjustments, the office chair falls slightly short of expectations. Still, its build quality, synchro-tilt system, and back and seat designs justify the $1,397 price point.

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6. Egon Leather Office Chair

Best Expensive Leather Office Chair

For a comfortable, stylish, high-end office chair with an antique ebony finish, look no further than the Egon. It's a premium upgrade to genuine leather.

The chair's seat and back feature premium foam padding that contours to your body shape. This decreases pressure on your back and hips and improves posture and blood circulation. You also get a height-adjustable foam-padded seat, padded armrests, and seat angle tilt control.

Egon's cowhide leather on top of the padding develops an aged look and softens over time. It accommodates a weight capacity of up to 150 kg, thanks to its five-legged base with heavy-duty castors.

Areas of Improvement

The Egon Leather Office Chair is best if you want a vintage-style office chair. However, the arms on this chair are neither adjustable nor removable, so if they don’t fit your style, you will have to return the chair. Likewise, the back height isn’t adjustable. While I had no problems with the back, you may find it uncomfortable during long sitting hours.

Egon Leather Office Chair: Final Verdict

The Egon has durable build quality and material and is priced at $1,329. If you're not overly concerned with maxing out adjustability features, you'll be fine. However, if you engage in prolonged work periods or require more adjustability, you might need to explore alternatives.

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What is the Most Expensive Chair?

The most expensive office chair in Australia is the Embody by Herman Miller. But the most expensive chair in the world is The Dragon’s Chair, which sold for a staggering $28 million at auction. Other notable options are:

• Marc Newson Lockheed Lounge Chair: Valued at $2.9 million.
• Pininfarina Aresline Xten: Priced at $1.4 million.
• The Skull Chair: Crafted from 24 Karat gold and fine leather, this chair costs $600,000.
• PlumeBlanche Diamond-Encrusted Chair: Encrusted with diamonds, this limited-edition chair is priced at $300,000.

These chairs combine luxury, design, and history that transcend mere functionality.

What is the Most Expensive Office Chair Brand?

Herman Miller is the most expensive office chair brand in Australia. Here are the reasons why the brand is loved by many people in the world and Australia:

#1 - Premium Quality Materials

Every part of a Herman Miller chair features high-quality materials and construction. They are designed to provide superior functionality in terms of support and comfort and are highly durable. You can buy a used Herman Miller chair and still appreciate the build quality.

#2 - Ergonomic Design

For ergonomics, Herman Miller leads the way on multiple fronts. Every part is purposefully designed: the backrest, seat, armrest, frame, or lumbar support. Consider the spine-like design of the Embody’s back, for example. It’s unlike any other you have come across for an ergonomic office chair.

#3 - Customisability and Adjustability

Herman Miller chairs are highly customisable and adjustable with very few model exceptions. You can fine-tune a Herman Miller chair to adapt to your body type and movements. This translates to optimal comfort and support with no strains and aches for long work hours.

#4 - Warranty

The Herman Miller warranty is extensive compared to competing expensive brands in Australia. You get 12 years of coverage on parts and labour. The closest is the ErgoTune brand, which offers a 12-year limited warranty applicable to all chair functionality but aesthetic defects and damage from misuse.

Is an Expensive Office Chair Worth It?

Certainly, an expensive chair is often worth the money. Here's a concise breakdown of why I recommend investing in a high-quality office chair:

1. Comfort and Health: Spending long hours at your desk demands a comfortable and supportive chair. Cheap chairs often lack proper ergonomics, leading to discomfort, neck and back pain, and potential health issues. Investing in a quality chair designed for comfort can significantly improve your well-being and productivity.
2. Durability: Premium office chairs are constructed with durable materials that withstand wear and tear over time. Unlike cheaper options that break down quickly, a well-made chair can last for years without losing its functionality or appearance.
3. Warranty and Cost: Cheap chairs usually come with short or nonexistent warranties. When they break, you're left with no recourse but to buy a new one. Over several years, the cumulative cost of replacing inexpensive chairs can exceed that of a single high-quality chair. So, spending a little more upfront on a reliable chair pays off in the long run.

How Long Do Office Chairs Last?

The average lifespan of an office chair typically falls between five and ten years. However, several factors influence how long a chair will endure:

1. Price and Build Quality: Higher-priced chairs with better build quality tend to last longer.
2. Materials: Durable materials, resistant to dirt and wear, contribute to longevity.
3. Usage and Environment: Chairs used for extended hours or in dusty environments may wear out faster.
4. Warranty Length: A chair with a five-year warranty should last at least 7 to 8 years, while those with 10 years or more warranties may last 12 to 15 years or even longer.

Remember that proper maintenance and care play a crucial role in extending the life of your trusty office chair.

Summary

It took a while to research the most expensive office chairs in Australia. The options on my list guarantee that extended periods of sitting are accompanied by discomfort, lower back pain, and related issues.

Unlike low-cost chairs, which often require replacement after a few years, an expensive office chair represents a long-term investment that will serve you for many years. So, choose wisely.