REASONS TO BUY
Incredibly easy to assemble
Very adjustable
REASONS TO AVOID
Design isn't universal
Herman Miller Sayl Review
This chair distinguishes itself on its looks, but still provides a high level of performance
The Sayl has a very modern look.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
By David Wise ⋅ Senior Review Editor ⋅ June 30, 2021
Contributions From: Austin Palmer
RELATED: The Best Office Chairs of 2025
Our Verdict
One of the first noticeable things about the Herman Miller Sayl is its unique look. And yet — while this chair finishes in the upper portion of our group, it does not offer the highest level of comfort. That said, comfort is subjective and personal, and what the Sayl offers was still adequate for most of our testers. While pricey, this is on the cheaper end of many Herman Miller offerings, and it earned top marks in our ease of assembly metric. It is also quite adjustable. Overall, this a great chair, particularly if you love its modern look.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Sayl is a head-turner, no doubt about it. It was inspired by suspension bridges — specifically the Golden Gate Bridge — which are known for looking delicate while providing impressive support. The ventilated elastomer back of the Sayl is designed to flex with your body where it's most needed and keep air easily flowing. Impressively, no tools are required for assembly, and the materials are 90% recyclable.
The Sayl was a bit polarizing for our testers, but everyone agreed that it's mighty eye-catching.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Comfort
The Sayl delivered an acceptable performance. All of our judges agreed that they were content sitting in this chair for at least five hours, with four of them having no problem sitting for a full 8-to 10-hour day. It doesn't boast the tallest backrest, which may have contributed to the taller testers only wanting to sit in it for half of the day.
The backrest is made of a rubberized mesh, which some of our judges loved, while others were less enamored with it. The armrests have a much more universal appeal, and most of our judges also found the seat to be comfortable. As with all things of such a personal nature, if you're able to try this chair before committing, take the opportunity. Otherwise, look into the return policy of the retailer from whom you order, in case it's not a good fit.
Some of our taller testers wished the backrest was just a bit higher.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Adjustability
The backrest offers very good lumbar support, and we like that you can move it up or down. The armrests on the version we tested are fully customizable; you can move them up and down, closer or further to you, and forward and back. You can also pivot them, although we aren't the biggest fans of the raise and lower mechanism. We have seen versions of this chair without the completely adjustable armrests, so make sure you double-check you are buying the one you prefer.
You can adjust the depth of the seat pan and move the chair height up and down. When it comes to reclining, the knob that adjusts the tension is fine, and there are tilt limiters to set different angles, which allow you to recline. Overall, these various adjustments make it super easy to move the Sayl into a position that conforms to ergonomic guidelines.
The Sayl has an impressive set of adjustable features.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Durability
The Sayl performed quite well here as well. We didn't notice any major signs of damage after our testing process, though we could see the front padding of the armrests showing a bit more signs of wear than some of the other models in our lineup. The height adjustment lever also felt a little flimsy for our preferences. We saw a handful of user reviews that echoed this sentiment, noting that the front seat cushion padding and the armrest padding began to wear or break.
The rubberized mesh on the Sayl offers exceptional durability.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Ease of Assembly
This chair arrives almost completely built, and we had it ready to go in less than five minutes. No tools are required, and you only have to set the top on the base — that's it. The directions are also very clear — though that's not a surprise when there's only a single step involved in assembly.
The Sayl was a snap to assemble. Literally.
Credit: Jenna Ammerman
Value
The Sayl isn't the best value when compared to our entire lineup, but when looked at next to other Herman Miller products, it's a pretty decent bargain — especially if you are shopping for a high-end, premium chair that also sits pretty. For that reason, this is the model from Herman Miller that we recommend to folks that have an interest in the brand but want a bit of a break on price.
Conclusion
Overall, the Herman Miller Sayl is a solid chair and holds its own against much more expensive options. It's got a unique look, is fairly comfortable, and is as easy to assemble as anyone could hope for. That said, it might not be the best chair for everyone, so if you can try it out before committing, that's our recommendation.
—David Wise and Austin Palmer
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