Steelcase Leap V2 vs Series 2: Which Steelcase Should You Buy?
On Amazon the Leap V2 costs a little over twice what the Series 2 does. This page lays out what the difference pays for and where the Series 2 already covers the need.
Both chairs are Steelcase task chairs with a 400-pound capacity, 4D arms, and the 12-year Steelcase Limited Lifetime warranty. They differ in price, in how far the lumbar and recline adjust, and in the buying routes open to each.
The Series 2 costs under half as much as the Leap V2 when both are bought new. It has a handle-released seat-depth slider with 2.75 inches of travel, height-adjustable lumbar built into its Air LiveBack, and a mesh back option. The Leap V2 adds a separate lumbar firmness dial, a five-position tilt lock with tension control, and a remanufactured route through Crandall.
Buyers who want the core Steelcase adjustments at the lower price are the natural fit for the Series 2. Buyers who want finer control over lumbar and recline, or who want to buy remanufactured, are the natural fit for the Leap V2.
Buy the Series 2 if 4D arms, height-adjustable lumbar, an adjustable seat-depth slider, and a 400-pound capacity cover the need. The new price is under half the Leap V2’s.
Buy the Leap V2 if lumbar firmness, a five-position tilt lock, or a remanufactured purchase matters. A reseller lists its fit at about 5’0″ to 6’4″.
Choose the Leap V2 or the Series 2?
Choose the Leap V2 if you…
- Want lumbar set for both height and firmness
- Want a five-position tilt lock with tension control
- Want a published seat depth range of 15.75 to 18.75 inches
- Want to buy remanufactured from Crandall
- Fall within the listed fit range of roughly 5’0″ to 6’4″
Choose the Series 2 if you…
- Want a lower new price with a 400-pound capacity
- Want a mesh back option
- Need a seat height range of 16.5 to 21.5 inches
- Prefer assembly in under 2 minutes with no tools
Leap V2 vs Series 2 at a Glance
| Spec | Steelcase Leap V2 | Steelcase Series 2 |
|---|---|---|
| Price (new) | ~$1,400 Steelcase Leap V2 on Amazon (~$1,400) |
~$665 Steelcase Series 2 on Amazon (~$665) |
| Remanufactured | ~$749 at Crandall Remanufactured Leap V2 at Crandall |
Not listed at Crandall |
| Back and seat | LiveBack; seat material not listed | Air LiveBack in mesh or quilted upholstered; high-density foam seat |
| Seat depth | 15.75 to 18.75 in, adjustable | Adjustable, 2.75 in slider |
| Seat height | 16 to 20.5 in | 16.5 to 21.5 in |
| Lumbar support | Adjustable height and firmness | Height-adjustable |
| Arms | 4D (height, width, depth, pivot) | 4D (height, width, depth, pivot) |
| Tilt / recline | 5-position tilt lock with tension | Weight-activated synchro-tilt, upright lock |
| Weight capacity | 400 lb | 400 lb |
| Warranty | 12 years | 12 years |
| SeatedLab rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.0 / 5 |
How They Compare
What the Extra Money Buys
The Series 2 costs under half what the Leap V2 does when both are bought new. For that price it includes 4D arms, an adjustable seat-depth slider, height-adjustable lumbar built into its Air LiveBack, and the same 400-pound capacity.
The added cost of the Leap V2 pays for a lumbar firmness dial separate from lumbar height, and a five-position tilt lock with tension control. Whether those justify the gap depends on how much the lumbar and recline settings will be used.
Where the Adjustments Differ
Both chairs have an adjustable seat depth. The Leap V2 slider moves across about 3 inches, from 15.75 to 18.75 inches. The Series 2 slider is released by a handle and travels 2.75 inches. Steelcase publishes no absolute seat depth for the Series 2, so the two ranges cannot be compared end to end.
Lumbar is where the two split. The Leap V2 sets lumbar height and firmness separately. The Series 2 lumbar adjusts for height only and is built into the geometry of its Air LiveBack. Recline differs the same way: the Leap V2 has a five-position tilt lock with tension control, and the Series 2 has a weight-activated synchro-tilt with an upright lock.
LiveBack and Air LiveBack
The Leap V2 pairs the LiveBack with the Natural Glide System recline. Its back measures 18 inches wide by 25 inches high. Seat material is not listed.
The Series 2 uses the Air LiveBack geometric flexor pattern and comes with a mesh back (Intermix) or a quilted upholstered back. Its seat is high-density foam with flexible edges and adaptive bolstering.
Seat Height and Stated Fit
The Series 2 seat rises from 16.5 to 21.5 inches. The Leap V2 seat rises from 16 to 20.5 inches. The Series 2 range sits higher at both ends.
A reseller listing gives the Leap V2 a fit range of roughly 5’0″ to 6’4″. None is listed for the Series 2. Both chairs carry the same 400-pound capacity.
Where to Buy and What Is Covered
Both chairs carry the Steelcase Limited Lifetime warranty, which is 12 years, so coverage is level on a new purchase. The difference is the remanufactured market. Crandall remanufactures the Leap V2 and lists it at a little over half the new Amazon price, with a 12-year warranty covering parts for the original owner. At that price the remanufactured Leap V2 sits only slightly above a new Series 2.
Crandall does not list a remanufactured Series 2, so that chair is bought new. The Leap V2 can be bought new or remanufactured.
Final Verdict
The two chairs share 4D arms, capacity, and warranty length. The decision rests on lumbar and recline control and on the price gap.
Choose the Series 2 if…
The Series 2 feature set already covers the need, and a mesh back is a plus. The new price is under half the Leap V2’s.
Choose the Leap V2 if…
Lumbar firmness and a five-position tilt lock matter, or a remanufactured purchase from Crandall is on the table.
When budget decides, the Series 2 is the lower-priced chair. When lumbar firmness and recline control decide, price the Leap V2 both new and remanufactured.
Keep Reading
Related pages:
- Steelcase Leap V2 Review. New and remanufactured options
- Steelcase Series 2 Review. Specs and rating for the Series 2
- Is the Steelcase Leap V2 Worth It?. The price against the alternatives
- Series 1 vs Series 2. Two lower-priced Steelcase chairs side by side
- Gesture vs Series 2. The step up from the Series 2
- Herman Miller vs Steelcase. The two brands compared
- Best Office Chairs. Picks across price tiers