Aeron vs Steelcase Leap V2 — the two most-bought used chairs in the UK
These are the two most common premium task chairs in UK offices, and they account for over 70% of the chairs we buy back. Both are excellent. Both hold their value. They're just different chairs designed for different priorities.
Mesh vs upholstered — the headline difference
The Aeron is mesh — back, seat, lumbar — using Herman Miller's pellicle suspension. It runs cool, adapts to your body passively, and is built around the philosophy that your weight should be distributed across a flexible surface.
The Leap V2 is upholstered — fabric over a contoured back and seat, with the LiveBack mechanism flexing the back as you move. It runs slightly warmer than the Aeron but offers more localised support, particularly in the lumbar.
Comfort over an 8-hour day
Both score very high on long-session comfort, but for different reasons. The Aeron's mesh keeps you cool and adapts to micro-movements; the Leap V2's upholstery and LiveBack offer more dedicated lumbar contour. Personal preference splits roughly 50/50 across our customer base.
If you sit hot, run hot, or live in a poorly-air-conditioned office: Aeron. If you have lower back issues that benefit from continuous lumbar pressure: Leap V2.
Build quality and longevity
Both chairs ship with 12-year warranties and routinely outlast that. Aeron pellicle does sag slightly over a decade; Leap upholstery shows wear at the front edge of the seat. Neither is a deal-breaker — both refurb back to Grade A condition cheaply.
Steelcase chairs typically have slightly more replaceable parts than Aerons, which makes them very repair-friendly for FM teams. Aerons are simpler in design (fewer parts) which makes them refurbishment-friendly for resellers.
UK used buyback values
Aeron Classic (1994–2017): £180 per chair Grade A.
Aeron Remastered (2017+): £250 per chair Grade A.
Steelcase Leap V2: £100 per chair Grade A.
Steelcase Leap V1 (pre-2006): around £40–£60 (much softer secondary market).
The Aeron carries an £80–£150 premium in the used market. Three reasons: stronger brand recognition outside corporate FM circles, easier to refurb (simpler design), and broader secondary demand from home-office buyers.
Which should you keep?
Keep whichever chair best matches your daily work — that's a comfort question, not a finance question. From a pure resale perspective: Aerons free up more cash per chair. If you need to choose which 50 chairs to keep from an estate of 100, sell the Aerons (you'll get more) and keep the Leaps if they're already in good condition.
If you're buying a single chair for a home office and choosing between a used Aeron and a used Leap V2 at retail: the Aeron is the safer resale bet long-term, but the Leap V2 is a steal at second-hand prices and arguably more comfortable for fixed daily seated work.
Sell either (or both) with us
We buy mixed batches all the time — Aerons, Leaps, Embodies, Gestures, Vitras, Orangeboxes, all in one quote, one collection, one BACS payment. Drop your chairs into the homepage calculator for an indicative number.
Get a quote on yours
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