Last updated: January 20th, 2026
Unique in that it has no adjustments (that is, no levers or knobs), the Herman Miller Cosm is one of the most unorthodox office chairs I’ve ever laid my eyes on. It’s one of the most highly sought-after ergonomic chairs and, consequently, one of the most expensive – retailing at around $3,000.
The gearhead part of my personality wants to say an emphatic “yes” to all of the above. The more measured part wants to buy a cheap office chair and spend the balance of funds on a romantic getaway with my partner instead.
Let’s see which is right – and whether the Cosm the obvious successor to the critically acclaimed Herman Miller Aeron.
(Related: What Are The Best Office Chairs In Australia?)
Herman Miller Cosm At A Glance.
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Visually Impressive. The Cosm is gorgeous to look at. It’s classy, sophisticaed, loud and yet … restrained at the same time. | Quite Expensive. Spending $2,200 – $2,700 on an office chair during (totally not) a recession is out of reach for many. |
| Solid Ergonomic Chops. Weight-sensitive recline mechanism is excellent at figuring out what you need – and giving it to you. | Not For Control Freaks. People who feel incomplete without knobs, dials and levers will be disappointed. |
1. Ergonomics.
If someone had asked office chair users what we wanted, we’d have emphatically declared ‘more knobs’.
This would be all too reminiscent of Henry Ford’s famous anecdote, where customers said ‘faster horses’ when asked about improvements to personal transport.
If you’re hell-bent on buying an office chair with adjustable lumbar support, fully adjustable arms, and fiddly seat angle adjustments, you may click away now.
(Related: Sihoo Doro S300 Ergonomic Chair Review: An Aeron Killer?)
How Good Is Cosm’s Reclining Mechanism?
The Cosm leverages something called ‘sitting force’, so when you’re finished moving, it reaches a fulcrum point, and the chair catches you and locks you in that position.
You feel like you’re floating, and the seat locks when you find your most natural sitting position. At all times, it’s adapting to you and the pressure you subject it to.
This is a much-improved version of a weight-sensitive mechanism first pioneered by Humanscale Freedom in 1999, and it works very well.
Important!
One minor annoyance worth mentioning, however, is if you want to recline all the way back, you’ll need to exert more effort with your legs and plant your feet firmly.
How Comfortable Are Cosm’s Armrests?
Cosm’s armrests are available in three variants:
- Fixed-height.
- Height-adjustable.
- Suspension leaf.
While I love that the leaf arms allow you to push your chair all the way under your desk, that’s where my enthusiasm for them ends.
(Related: Steelcase Series 1 Review: Worst Steelcase Ever?)
They have a hard plastic edge, and the mesh is the same as the seat, so it’s a little rough and abrasive on the skin.
Worst of all, your arms will be elevated in an unnatural position, and that takes some getting used to.
Since they’re not adjustable, the jury is out on this one, and I’m not convinced.
But even so, just because something is tagged as ergonomic doesn’t automatically mean it’s well-optimised.
Above: Cosm’s fixed armrests look great and at the right height for me. Try them on in the showroom before you buy – your mileage may vary.
What Sizes Is The Cosm Available In?
The Cosm is available in three sizes:
- Low back.
- Mid back.
- High back.
For most, I recommend you go for a high back (anyone above 5’ 3”). You’re going to love the extra back and head support when reclining.
(Related: UpDown Ergo ProFlex Review: Best $550 Chair?)
If you’re shorter than 160 cm, I recommend a mid back for the very same reason.
2. Price.
This will be a sticking point for many, as the chair retails for over $3,000, depending on the model.
(Related: Kedrom KD9060: Best Cheap Chair In Australia?)
That’s not dissimilar to the Herman Miller Aeron, and this is head and shoulders above (couldn’t resist a pun, sorry!).
- The higher the back, the more you’ll pay.
But I simply wouldn’t entertain the idea of the low back; it just doesn’t have that same sophisticated appeal as the mid and high back.
There’s something about an office chair with a higher back; maybe it’s that they’re throne-like or that they’re reminiscent of a Bond villain spinning around and saying ‘I’ve been expecting you.’
Boss mode activated.
3. Build Quality.
The quality of the Cosm can’t be disputed. It’s an office chair that’s been designed by Studio 7.5, based in Berlin, Germany – and it’s made in the USA.
Need I say more? Okay, maybe a little… It’s no surprise that Studio 7.5 spent several years extensively designing and refining the Cosm to get to the final version we see today.
It both looks and feels as solid as a static chair.
The super flexible frame is made from a combination of polymid and polypropylene materials, and the backrest features suspension mesh material which is composed of elastomeric and polyester.
Smart engineering is at the core of the Cosm.
- I particularly like how a single, uncut layer of mesh was used to construct the entire chair, running from the front of the seat to the tip of the backrest.
- Herman Miller has gone to painstaking lengths to ensure there’s no gap between the seat and backrest support, which is both an aesthetic and ergonomic advantage.
4. Aesthetics.
It’s a statement piece for your office, and it’ll stand out.
The colours that the Cosm is available in further add to the sophistication: canyon, glacier, nightfall, studio, carbon, and graphite. Thy are bold … and yet, strangely, not boastful.
When it comes to the shape, I can’t help but think there’s some subliminal engineering going on here that has connotations with feminine curves.
Whether or not that’s deliberate, only the engineers can say, but it has a visually striking profile – sexy, even.
Now, as for the casters, you’ve probably never given them much thought when buying an office chair, but it’s the attention to detail on things like this that really set the Cosm apart from the competition.
You’ve got two options:
- Carpet castors that are black and suitable for medium- to low-pile carpets.
- Hard floor castors that feature a soft tread and give the chair more traction, perfect for quiet rolling.
5. Comfort.
The Cosm can comfortably recline to around 150 degrees, and it feels sensational on your back – especially if you’re upgrading from a chair with poor ergonomic credentials.
That said, there is a noticeable difference in how taut the seat mesh is when compared to the backrest.
It doesn’t give you the greatest lumbar support, and it seems as though they’ve not quite caught the sweet spot between the firmness/softness of the back support.
My spine demands something a little firmer.
But I like how it feels overall. There aren’t many office chairs out there where the seat and backrest merge into one like the Cosm; most are separate pieces.
With the Cosm, you can feel the support all the way through your thighs, buttocks, lower back, and upper back.
(Related: 7 Best Home Office Chairs).
6. Ease Of Assembly.
If you’re lazy or just hate assembling furniture, you’re in luck.
The Herman Miller Cosm arrives pre-assembled. The hardest part is opening the box and rolling it out.
Whilst that might sound great, you should remember that you’re paying for that luxury.
In reality, the chair could probably be hundreds of dollars cheaper if it was packed more efficiently for transportation and if Herman Miller didn’t have to pay someone to assemble it.
7. Warranty & Returns.
A 12-year warranty is impressive. In fact, Herman Miller’s is one of the best in the industry.
Important!
Office chairs warranties often cover you for one eight-hour shift per day. But in Herman Miller’s case, the only caveat is that the warranty is valid if your body weighs less than 159 kg.
If you need replacement parts, they’ll send them free of charge if they’re covered by the warranty; and any repairs to the product will be made by an HM technician in the field.
Policy of Herman Miller’s main Australian stockist, Living Edge, suggests they don’t provide refunds once the chair has been delivered to you.
They may allow a return at their discretion, but I wouldn’t count on it. My advice would be to only commit if you’ve seen the Cosm in the flesh first.
Is The Herman Miller Cosm Chair Worth It?
Depends on your budget. You might be telling yourself that productivity is your motive and the Cosm will help you work harder.
Not true.
You can find more affordable options, more suitable for long work stints.
Get it to add a touch of sophistication or a splash of colour to your home office.
Your second-best option is to use the Cosm in boardrooms or hot-desking environments. The last thing you want is to have people without assigned seating fiddling with knobs for 5 minutes prior to a 30-minute meeting.
Tommy
Cody says:
Hi,
Do you know 9am HOME standing desks?
I want to know how about their desk.
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Cody, I’ve never seen them before but I took a quick look for you and I’m 90% certain it’s another Jiecang desk. You can tell by the design of the feet and the lowest height (60cm). Desky, Omnidesk, Stand Desk are all pretty much the same.
Cody says:
Which one do you mean? Pesk or Robin series? I am interested in their Robin series, it looks unique and beautiful. I can’t find anyone like it in Desky.
Steven McConnell says:
I was talking about the Pesk Series. Robin series does look attractive and unusual, but I’m usually not a fan of tubular legs as they tend to be more prone to wobble. I can’t say whether this is the case in this instance, as I haven’t physically tested the desk myself. The 10 year warranty is reassuring, however. I wish they offered a risk-free trial to let you test out the legs!
Cody says:
Thank you very much, Steven; I will take your comments into consideration.
Erin says:
Do you know much about Kangadesks? There are Australian as well.
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Erin, its another Jiecang standing desk. Same as Desky, Omni, Stand Desk etc. The design of the feet and 60-125cm height range gives it away. The desk appears to currently be currently on sale for $299, which is an absolute steal and I’m wondering why they’re selling their stock at 1/3 of RRP. Regardless, even if they’re about to go bust, I’d still buy one at that price.
EDIT: Be careful. Fakespot showed these warnings while browsing their website: “Multiple eCommerce scam experiences detected, Poor customer service”
Suzy says:
Hi – given all the desks are so similar, is it possible to mix a desk from one brand with a drawer accessory from another? I don’t like the UpDown desk metal drawer (hangs very low so likely to impede leg space) but don’t mind the Desky one – can these be mixed and matched?
Thank you for the reviews! Super helpful.
Steven McConnell says:
Yes, it’s possible to play switcheroo. But you may want to consider that UpDown design is curved, so it will hurt less if you do jam your thighs into it. Desky’s meanwhile, is quite angular. Pro tip: you can also find a bunch of inexpensive slimline desk drawers on Amazon.
jason says:
I’ve spent far, far too much time agonising over which desk to get haha, definitely more than a week. Very happy that you’ve added the omni-desk to your catalogue. That was the one I was considering the most untill you came you with a review saying that it was more wobbly!
Anyways, do you have an opinion on the new updown desk KLIK Series? Its advertises to be significanlty ligher while having better (on paper) specs
Thanks!
Evelyn says:
Hi Steven, great blog post – thank you! I’m also wondering whether you have any opinion or insights on the new UpDown Desk KLIK series…they come at $100 more expensive (for the same size/table top) but seem to be ‘better’ according to the UpDown website.
Cheers!
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Evelyn, thanks! I will have a full review of the KLIK up around February 2025. It’s not necessarily a better standing desk – but it is lighter, less bulky and promises easier assembly.
Ben Clements says:
Hi. I’m interested to know more about whether I actually could fit the Desky cable management system in the Omnidesk? I’ve had a look at the omnidesks in person at the showroom and it looks like their cable management trays screw on (vs the clip in at the edges of the desk with the Desky tray). The desky system also has the power plugs that snap into place in the tray.
So I’m curious to know if you have you tried it, and if so how did you do it please? Or is your thinking that you’d just buy the power boards and plugs from Desky and rest them in the Omnidesk tray?
I’m stuck, because I prefer the Omnidesks but I really love the idea of a single power lead!
Thanks
Steven McConnell says:
I just had a new Omnidesk delivered to my house. Give me about two weeks to assemble it, test it out and report back.
Sunni says:
Thanks for your very helpful (and funny) review. I used the information to to buy a Desky standing desk in record time – no consumer agonising for weeks, as is my usual practice. It has a pneumatic up/down mechanism, so lets see how that goes.
Steven McConnell says:
Ha! You’re welcome, Sunni. Glad I helped you cut down on the agonising. The pneumatic mechanism is an interest choice – let me know what you think of it?
Amber says:
Hi Steven,
Really great and insightful review. It was refreshing to see something that wasn’t filled with ChatGPT affiliate link garbage!
I’m curious about your opinion on L-shaped standing desks? I know that Desky, UpDown and a few other retailers offer these types of desks and I would assume they are more strong and stable, but I’m not an expert and I can also imagine the opposite being true due to the irregular shape. I’ve been looking at these types of desks because I think their shape suits my space the best. Do you have any knowledge on this or do you only have experience with regular rectangular shaped desks?
Steven McConnell says:
Thanks, Amber. Did you know that I have a L-shaped standing desk review? Search for “arielle best corner standing desks” and you’ll find it.
Melissa says:
Hi Steven great article thank you!
I’ve spent way to much time on this, and I’m now leaning towards the Artiss thanks to your review.
I’m wondering if you have any insight into ergonomic chairs for the home office also?
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Melissa, thanks! The Artiss is a great budget pick. I’ve written numerous ergonomic chair reviews – Google “arielle best ergonomic office chairs” to find them 🙂
tania says:
hey are there any other manual desks apart from the ikea ones you don’t recommend, that you would recommend? I prefer the idea of not needing electricity to move between stand up and sit down but maybe that doesn’t really exist?
Steven McConnell says:
Hey Tania, all of the premium brands (UpDown, Desky, etc) offer a manual crank model. Definitely the way to go if you want to avoid electronics. But TBH I suggest you reconsider. Electronics are very reliable these days – and hand-cranking your standing desk is more annoying than you’d expect.
Adam says:
Hi, do you know much about the UpDown Klik vs Pro system?
Steven McConnell says:
The company has shipped their new Klik standing desk to me yesterday. Stay tuned!
Scott Long says:
You mention in your review of the Up Down Pro that you would get the cable holes and grommets done, but it looks like your (very pretty) Messmate desk doesn’t have them. Is your recommendation a hindsight reflection, or did you choose not to spoil the look of the desk with the grommets? Without the grommets can you can still run the cables behind the desk and into the cable management tray? Cheers!
Steven McConnell says:
Scott, I said in the review that grommets and holes are a great idea, not that I have them. They’re less important if your standing desk faces a wall. But if you have an open-plan style home office like mine, they’ll make your workspace look much cleaner. PS You can still run cables into the tray without the holes and grommets – the cables will simply run behind the desk.
Isaac Jenkinson says:
Hello,
Have you had a chance to try the new UpDown Lyft model? Curious about its stability vs the pro.
Steven McConnell says:
Isaac,
Not yet. On first glance, it looks like a budget alternative to the “big brothers”. It’s probably pretty good (UpDown has a reputation to maintain), but I’m of the opinion that buying cheap means you pay more in the long term. I’d save up another few hundred bucks and get the Pro. You can often get a melamine or bamboo-topped model on sale for around $900.
David says:
This is a great site and will help me decide on which desk to buy. Have you heard any good/bad reviews about the Blacklyte Atlas Lite or Ergo-Rise II from BDO furniture?
Steven McConnell says:
David, thanks for the kind words. Never heard of the Atlas Lite until you mentioned it. Looks like a decent gaming desk that borrows heavily from Secretlab Magnus – but why not just buy a real Magnus instead?
As for the Ergo-Rise – looks like a decent desk, but its height controller is outdated. The best standing desk brands have upgraded to OLED controllers.
Ben says:
Thank you for writing this review Steven; really helpful to break through the BS.
By any chance have you used or hold an opinion on Vertilift desks?
Steven McConnell says:
You’re welcome. God, I haven’t even heard of them – but thanks for the heads-up. There are too many standing desks on the Australian market. Obviously I haven’t used these in person, but I’m almost certain they’re yet another Jiecang variant (i.e., frames are identical to Desky). You can tell by the identical max and min heights, as well as the design of the foot.
Eloise says:
Hey Steven, I was recommended the Alwyn or Octavia (Living Fusion) 140cm sit and stand desks from Temple and Webster which don’t even get a mention in your review. Would you bother with any of their brands ? (I may have dodged a bullet by finding your review!)
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Louise, I haven’t had first-hand experience with the T&W standing desk (must add one to my list!).
However, I had a look through the specs for you.
It doesn’t look too bad, actually – considering the price. If you can’t stretch your budget to ~$950 for an entry-level UpDown or Desky, this could be a good option.
Jordan says:
Hi Steven, Thanks for the review! I am starting out with a home office set up and need a new chair and sit stand desk. I’m a student but I prefer to buy things I know will last, but I don’t have too much experience with sit stand desks. I initially thought to buy the Artiss but have considered buying the Acacia UpDown Pro+ so I know it lasts and I don’t have to buy another desk in a couple of years. Is it worth the price jump for me? Thanks!
Steven McConnell says:
Hi Jordan, the Artiss and the UpDown desks sell at two very different price points. If you have the budget, I suggest you stretch to the UpDown standing desk – you won’t regret it.
jason says:
I know you’ve disqualified the flexispot e7 pro so the e7 max plus would probably also be disqualified, but a quad motor 4 column desk frame at a prices competitive with UpDown desk is incredibly tempting. Plus 15 year warrenty (if the company lasts that long)
Have you had a chance to take a look? Its like half the price of the desky quad!
Steven McConnell says:
Hey Jason, great observation. I haven’t included quad standing desks here because they’ve traditionally attracted a niche consumer – someone who needs to place a tonne of gear on the desktop and doesn’t mind paying 2X the usual price. But Flexispot’s sharp pricing on their quad desk certainly changes things. I haven’t seen one in the wild yet – but the specs look promising.
Steven