Knoll

What Knoll does

Knoll is a premium furniture design company founded in 1938 and headquartered in Greenville, United States, with the legal entity Knoll, Inc. operating today as a core brand within the MillerKnoll global design collective (created when Herman Miller acquired Knoll for approximately $1.8 billion in 2021). Knoll designs, manufactures, and distributes modern furniture — work chairs, lounge seating, sofas, dining and conference tables, height-adjustable tables, workplace systems, and storage — for commercial, education, healthcare, government, and residential customers. Its catalog is anchored by canonical mid-century modern designs held in continuous production, including the Barcelona Chair (Mies van der Rohe, 1929), Saarinen Pedestal Collection and Womb Chair (Eero Saarinen, 1957), and Cesca Chair (Marcel Breuer, 1928), alongside contemporary proprietary systems such as Generation by Knoll (ergonomic task chair with Flex Back Net, Dynamic Suspension, and Continuous Lumbar, developed with Formway Design since 2009) and Dividends Skyline (open-plan workplace system with mitered panel corners and robotically welded steel frames). Sub-brands include KnollStudio, KnollTextiles, and Spinneybeck leather.

The business operates through three interlocking go-to-market motions: (1) enterprise contract sales channeled through MillerKnoll-certified dealers and Knoll showrooms in New York, San Francisco, London (The Sans, Clerkenwell), and Milan, serving architects, interior designers, and facilities professionals with quote-based, multi-year contract pricing; (2) direct-to-consumer e-commerce at knoll.com/shop for residential and home-office customers with pay-as-you-go pricing; and (3) regional international distribution via knoll-int.com and certified dealers outside North America. Revenue is generated primarily from hardware sales of furniture across both B2B contract and DTC residential channels, supplemented by licensing royalties from iconic designer collections. Customer segments span commercial organizations (the primary segment), education, healthcare, government (including the Canadian Federal Government), and residential/home office, with architects and designers serving as a critical specifying persona. Marketing leverages physical showrooms, industry trade shows (Clerkenwell Design Week, Salone del Mobile, NeoCon), an annual Design Days event, comprehensive online resources for design professionals (3D Furniture Symbols, Photo and Media Bank, Planning Ideas Library), and social media. Recent strategic emphasis has been on designer partnerships (Paolo Dell'Elce, Dozie Kanu, Johnston Marklee) and geographic expansion, with the 2026 Konzert private-office system extending Knoll's reach into Europe and the Middle East.

Name

Knoll

Legal name

Knoll, Inc.

Website

https://knoll.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Acquired

Headcount range

1,001–5,000 employees

Short description

Knoll, founded in 1938, designs and manufactures premium modern furniture — seating, tables, workplace systems, and storage — serving commercial, education, healthcare, government, and residential customers worldwide as a flagship brand within the MillerKnoll collective.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Modern Contract and Residential Furniture

NAICS

Office Furniture (including Fixtures) Manufacturing (3372), Furniture and Home Furnishings Retailers (4491)

SIC

Office Furniture (2520), Retail-Furniture Stores (5712)

akta.pro primary industry

Home Office Furniture Retail (Desks, Office Chairs, Bookcases, Filing/Storage) (CRAIAAAD)

Keywords

• Modern office furniture
• Ergonomic seating
• Contract furniture systems
• Mid-century modern design
• Height-adjustable tables

Headquarters

HQ city

Greenville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices4 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Furniture Sales: Knoll generates revenue primarily through the sale of furniture products including seating (work chairs, lounge chairs, sofas), tables (dining, meeting, height-adjustable), workplace systems, and accessories. Products are sold through multiple channels including direct consumer e-commerce, dealer networks, and contract sales to commercial organizations.
2. Contract/Commercial Sales: B2B sales of workplace furniture solutions to commercial organizations, educational institutions, healthcare facilities, and government entities through design professionals, architects, and dealers.
3. Licensing Royalties: Revenue from licensing agreements for iconic designs including Barcelona Chair (Mies van der Rohe), Saarinen Pedestal Collection, and other licensed mid-century modern designs that remain in continuous production.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Knoll designs, manufactures, and sells modern furniture for both commercial workplaces and residential homes. Its portfolio spans ergonomic seating (Generation by Knoll), iconic mid-century modern pieces (Barcelona Chair, Saarinen Pedestal Collection, Cesca Chair, Bertoia, Platner), modular workplace systems (Dividends Skyline, Antenna Workspaces, Reff Profiles), height-adjustable tables (k. stand, Lev), and storage (Series 2). Distribution combines a direct-to-consumer online shop with contract sales through showrooms and certified MillerKnoll dealers serving commercial, education, healthcare, and government organizations.

Product overview

Knoll is a furniture design company offering a comprehensive portfolio of workplace and residential furniture products. The offering spans multiple product categories including seating (work chairs, lounge chairs, side chairs), tables (dining, height-adjustable, meeting), workplace systems and storage, and accessories. Key product lines include the Generation by Knoll ergonomic chair, Saarinen Pedestal Table collection by Eero Saarinen, Barcelona Chair by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe, Dividends Skyline workplace systems, Cesca Chair by Marcel Breuer, and k. stand height-adjustable tables. Knoll is part of the MillerKnoll collective and continues to introduce new products such as the Konzert modular private office system. The company serves both commercial/contract and residential markets through showrooms and dealers worldwide.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• KnollStudio: Knoll's premium collection featuring classic designs from legendary architects and designers.
• KnollTextiles
• Spinneybeck

Quantifiable outcome

• Generation chair enables multidimensional movement throughout the workday without the complexity of metal links or springs
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature6 records

Partnerships

Eight partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Paolo Dell'ElcecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026Italian architect and designer Paolo Dell'Elce designed the Konzert modular private office system, unveiled at Clerkenwell Design Week 2026. The system offers configurable panels, tables, seating, and storage elements for architects and designers, now available across Europe and Middle East.
• Dozie KanucoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2026Artist Dozie Kanu debuted new product collections at Salone del Mobile 2026, representing Knoll's collaboration with emerging contemporary designers alongside established names.
• Johnston MarkleecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2026Architecture firm Johnston Marklee created the Biboni expansion collection for Knoll, unveiled at Salone del Mobile 2026 alongside other new product introductions.
• MillerKnoll ArchivescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 April 2026MillerKnoll Archives provides historical works for exhibitions including the Triennale Milano exhibition honoring designers Lella and Massimo Vignelli, with Knoll serving as Main Partner.
• MillerKnoll CollectivecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKnoll is part of the MillerKnoll global design collective, formed when Herman Miller acquired Knoll in 2021 for approximately $1.8 billion. The collective includes brands like Herman Miller, HAY, Muuto, Colebrook Bosson Saunders, and NaughtOne.
• Triennale MilanocoreGTM or Marketing PartnerKnoll is Main Partner of the Triennale Milano exhibition honoring designers Lella and Massimo Vignelli, showcasing historical works from the MillerKnoll Archives.
• Formway DesigncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNew Zealand-based Formway Design has collaborated with Knoll since 2009 to create the Generation chair collection. Formway's user-centered approach and research-informed design process aligns with Knoll's design philosophy.
• Antenna DesignminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAntenna Design contributes to Knoll's workplace collections including Antenna Workspaces, combining architectural expertise with furniture design for integrated workspace solutions.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Allsteel: HNI-owned contract office furniture brand offering seating, systems, and storage that overlaps Knoll's workplace portfolio in the mid-market contract segment.
• Vitra: Swiss design furniture company with comparable heritage-iconic portfolio (Eames, Prouvé) and a similar contract + residential go-to-market via showrooms in major cities.
• Steelcase: Largest direct competitor in the contract office furniture market, offering seating, desks, and workplace systems to similar commercial, education, and healthcare customers through a global dealer network.
• Herman Miller: Sister brand within MillerKnoll and the company that acquired Knoll in 2021. Direct peer in ergonomic office seating (Aeron, Embody) and workplace systems, with overlapping dealer and showroom networks.
• Teknion: North American contract furniture manufacturer with overlapping product categories in systems, seating, and architectural walls, serving similar commercial specifier channels.
• Humanscale: Direct peer in ergonomic task seating and monitor arms, competing for specification wins on premium ergonomic chairs where Knoll's Generation is positioned.
• Cassina: Italian high-end design furniture maker (part of Haworth) with an iconic licensed-design portfolio (Le Corbusier, Gerrit Rietveld) that competes directly with KnollStudio in the premium residential and contract market.
• Haworth: Privately held direct competitor in office furniture, systems furniture, and architectural interiors, with comparable product breadth and contract-channel distribution.
• HNI Corporation: Public parent of The HON Company and Allsteel, competing directly with Knoll in office seating, desks, and workplace systems sold through dealers.
• Kimball International: Direct competitor in commercial office furniture and hospitality seating, with a comparable mix of workplace, education, and healthcare customers.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/knollinc
• Instagraminstagram.com/knoll#
• Pinterestpinterest.com/knollinc
• Xx.com/Knoll_Inc
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/164618

Compliance7 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds1 record

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A2 records

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Knoll