Steelcase Karman vs Vitra ID Soft

Side by side from official specifications, sourced prices and User Insights. No written comparison exists for this pair yet.

Steelcase

Steelcase Karman

$1,199 – $1,543

Vitra

Vitra ID Soft

From $995

$204

lower starting price for Vitra ID Soft than Steelcase Karman at the brand stores

Differences at a glance

Steelcase KarmanVitra ID Soft

Price: $1,199 – $1,543From $995
Seat height: 15.625–20 in (39.7–50.8 cm)400–520 mm (15¾″–20½″), measured with 64 kg load; 450 mm (17¾″) fixed seat height
Seat depth: Fixed seat depth (no number given)400–450 mm; 380 mm
Recline: Comfort dial supports four recline positionsFlowMotion mechanism, lockable in upright sitting position, optional synchronised forward tilt; or optional AutoMotion mechanism with automatic weight adjustment and two backrest tension settings (hard or soft). No recline angle published.
Arms: 4D arms or armless; 4D ARM: raise up and down, pivot in and out, shift in all directions2D armrests (height, width) or 3D armrests (height, width, depth, 360° swivel); ring armrests for conference use; also without armrests. Armrest height above seat 195–295 mm (7¾″–11½″)
Warranty: Steelcase Limited Lifetime Warranty5 years (Vitra Inc. Limited Warranty, sales via the Vitra online shop)

From 7 Steelcase Karman and 4 Vitra ID Soft user reviews, most mentioned first. Green is liked, orange is a caution.

Which is cheaper, the Steelcase Karman or the Vitra ID Soft?

The Vitra ID Soft is cheaper to start: $995 versus $1,199 for the Steelcase Karman at the brand stores (Sep 2026).

What do owners mention most?

Comfort for the Steelcase Karman, and price and value for the Vitra ID Soft, based on review summaries.