Last updated: June 14th, 2026
The Herman Miller Mirra 2 is in a tough spot. Retailing for about $2,250, it’s not a budget office chair – unless you’re an investment banker with an underperforming portfolio.
Yet, it’s not as posh as its more famous and expensive sibling, the Herman Miller Aeron.
You could increase your budget by $250-750 (depending on the colour you want) and buy the Aeron ergonomic office chair instead.
But you could just as easily save your money and stick wth the Mirra 2 for its careful balance of comfort, cost, ergonomics and style.
Which is the right decision?
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Polite and attractive aesthetic. Friendly, modern design that takes cues from the Aeron. | Cheap-ish build. Doesn’t feel like a $2,250 office chair. Too many cheap plastic touchpoints. |
| Fantastic backrest. Flexible and ventilated, it allows you to move while keeping you cool. | Armrest shape. I don’t love the “high-dome” design at all. |
| Adjustable front lip. The waterfall edge of the seat rolls out, giving tall people extra depth. |
Reasons To Buy The Herman Miller Mirra 2 Office Chair.
Above: Curved lines and all-mesh construction give the Mirra 2 the appearance of a baby Aeron.
Let’s talk about looks. The Mirra 2 office chair will appeal to both men and women, but it’s not a power chair for Wall Street banker wannabes.
If you buy one off the showroom floor in Australia, you’ll likely be dealing with a company called Living Edge (they’re the biggest stockist of HM chairs), and offered the option of Graphite (black) colour only.
Expert Tip.
Herman Miller can build the Mirra 2 in over 50 colour variations, with separate options for the frame, backrest and seat pan. I recommend exploring this option, as the generic black colour makes the chair look cheaper than it is. The downside? You’ll need to be patient, as custom orders have a 2-3 months lead time.
Above: You can order the Mirra 2 in custom colours, like this one with a blue backrest and a bright red seat pan.
Despite the gentle appearance, the Mirra 2 is rated to a very impressive 136kg.
But while it will cope with the weight of larger people, it will struggle with width, as the seat pan size is not generous.
Mesh is exactly what you’d expect from a $2,500 Herman Miller chair – taut, thick and doesn’t look like it will sag any time soon.
Herman Miller Mirra 2 offers seat height and depth controls, fully adjustable arms with height, width and pivot controls and two-way adjustable lumbar support.
Expert Tip.
You’ll come across online reviews showing that a bare-bones Mirra 2 can be loaded with a plethora of optional adjustments, such as tilt limiters and tension knobs. That applies to international markets. Australia gets fewer options (only arms/no arms, backrest suspension).
Above: Adjustable lumbar support locks into position using levers on each side of the backrest.
Speaking of lumbar support, it’s one of the best I’ve ever experienced in an office chair, although the mechanism is somewhat fiddly.
(You adjust the height by clipping the lumbar’s wings onto backrest holes).
Thankfully, the adjustment range is generous.
(Related: ErgoTune Joobie: Best Office Chair In Australia?)
It will move very high or surprisingly low to fit the curvature of most people’s lumbar spines. Depth adjustment is also included and is aimed at people who dislike pokey lumbar support.
The chair’s recline offers three tilt-lock positions and has a satisfying rocking motion – very similar to the rocking feeling you get on the Aeron.
I’m also a big fan of the mesh seat.
It’s actually a perfect mix of rigidity and flexibility – not as rigid as the classic bucket design you get on the Aeron, but nowhere near as flexible as that of a classic bendy chair, like the Steelcase Leap V2.
Fun Fact.
Have you noticed that most mesh chairs don’t have a true seat-depth adjustment? That’s because it’s a difficult engineering problem to solve. (How do you control the depth of a frame with taut mesh stretched across it?) Most brands solve the issue by moving the entire seat base forward, which creates a new problem – a gaping hole behind your backside.
Herman Miller solved it with a unique seat depth adjustment mechanism that lets you bend the front edge of Mirra 2’s seat pan at the point that feels most comfortable to you.
This makes the chair suitable for both people with short legs (150-165cm) and for the giants among us (up to 195cm).
Above: You can control seat pan depth by adjusting the falloff steepness of its front edge
Herman Miller is committed to sustainability, which is apparent in the Mirra 2 chair.
It’s made from 90% recycled materials, and it’s also 90% recyclable. The chair is made in the USA at Herman Miller’s factory, which only uses renewable energy sources.
As you’d expect, Mirra 2’s warranty is great. You get the standard Herman Miller’s 12 years of coverage on all parts.
(Related: What Is The Best Standing Desk In Australia?)
Where The Herman Miller Mirra 2 Falls Short.
Above: Mirra 2 is made almost entirely from plastic. It doesn’t feel cheap to the touch, but not quite premium, either.
My biggest gripe with the Mirra 2 is that it doesn’t feel like a $2,250 chair. Even though it has the coveted Herman Miller badge, its build reminds me of dashboards on 2005 Ford Falcons.
Call me old-school, but when I pay $2,000+ for an ergonomic office chair, I want it to feel rock-solid.
The Mirra 2 doesn’t. In fact, it’s more flimsy than the $750 Ergotune Joobie office chair. Certainly not as nice as top Steelcase models, like the Leap and Gesture.
The sitting position is quite upright – much more so than that of the Aeron or the Joobie. This isn’t an issue per se, but it strongly hints at the underlying philosophy of the Mirra 2.
I’d say it’s a tasking office chair with an excellent recline, rather than a chair for people who love to rock back, but sometimes need to sit bolt upright.
This is an important detail – because it illustrates that fundamentally, the Mirra 2 is very different to the Aeron. It’s not an “Aeron killer” at all, as some online reviews breathlessly exclaim.
In fact, it’s not even in the same category.
Herman Miller doesn’t offer one with the Mirra 2, so if you like to kick back and rest your neck, this isn’t the right chair.
I also don’t love Mirra 2’s armrest ergonomics. Their curved top design isn’t ideal for resting your forearms for long periods of time, despite their generous width.
Above: Mirra 2’s armrests need to be less flimsy and have a flatter surface.
I prefer the flat, soft, leatherette-topped armrests, like the ones on the Aeron chair and the Steelcase Leap.
How The Herman Miller Mirra 2 Stacks Up.
The Herman Miller Mirra 2 is under a lot of pressure to perform – because of its $2,250 price tag. Herman Miller’s brand takes the edge off, but only so much.
| Adjustments | 4/5 |
| Comfort | 4/5 |
| Aesthetics | 3.5/5 |
| Build Quality & Waranty | 3.5/5 |
| Cost | 3.5/5 |
| OVERALL | 3.7/5 |
My Final Verdict On The Herman Miller Mirra 2 Office Chair.
The Herman Miller Mirra 2 is a mid-range ergonomic office chair in the company’s lineup. It’s unofficially touted as the “poor man’s Aeron” – both a compliment and a death sentence.
I disagree.
- Sensible people who believe the Aeron is overpriced will likely think the same about the Mirra 2.
- Ostentatious people who want a status symbol won’t like the Mirra 2 because it’s not blingy enough.
Both types will miss the key point.
That, from a functional perspective, the Mirra 2 is not an Aeron competitor at all. It’s a tasking chair that competes directly against the (cheaper – and arguably better) Steelcase Series 2.
And I would choose the Series 2 over the Mirra 2 every day of the week. It has better armrests, is just as comfortable, and is more attractive in that smart, understated kind of way.
Steven
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.
Madeleine Hetherton-Miau says:
Ok, this is hands down the best review page I’ve come across. Thank you for doing this! Independant and smart. Totally love the cut to the chase approach and particularly the ‘most stand-up desks are almost identical – don’t agonise over the decisions’ combined with truly useful. info about details – eg. I am one of those people who need 12 powerpoints and hate cable clutter…
Steven McConnell says:
Ha, thanks Madddy!
You know the funny bit? I tell people not to overthink their choice of standing desk, but noone listens. I can see readership metrics on this page, and people read it like it’s the Bible, multiple times.
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
Goce says:
Do you have a list of best non standing desks? I never stand so I don’t see a reason to spend extra on electric motors etc.
Steven McConnell says:
Ha! That’s the best question so far. I don’t – do you think people want a guide on this?
Goce says:
I’m sure there are other people like me. I’d be interested in style and other than standing functionality offered by such a desk.
me says:
Just going to note if the xl wasnt $100 more than the reg price would have a “short person’s tax”. XL also has an 180kg rating compared to the 100kg rating on the reg. clearly the XL is more chair.
Steven McConnell says:
Not if both the regular and XL sizes were sold for the price of regular. But yes, I take your point on the higher rating.
tiranga says:
Thanks for sharing your insights after four years of using the UpDown Pro+ Desk! It’s great to hear about its durability and functionality over time. I’m considering a height-adjustable desk for my home office, and your experience helps me weigh the pros and cons. Did you notice any specific wear and tear after several years of use?
Steven McConnell says:
Zero issues! A part of me wishes this desk broke, to give me an excuse to buy something different. I get bored having the same office setup. But this thing won’t quit.