I spent the pandemic in a dining chair. By month six, my lower back was staging a revolt. My shoulders hurt. My neck was stiff. I needed an actual office chair, but I did not have $1,000 for a Herman Miller — and honestly, I was not convinced any chair was worth that much.

So I tested five chairs under $300. I sat in each one for a full work week. Here is what I found.

What to Look For (Regardless of Brand)

Before I name names, here is what actually matters in a chair — the things I learned to check after a week of sitting:

• Adjustable lumbar support. Not just a curved backrest — the lumbar piece should move up and down. Your lower back curve is not in the same spot as everyone else’s.
• Seat depth adjustment. The seat pan should slide forward and back so the edge does not press into the back of your knees. If it does, you will unconsciously slide forward and lose back support.
• Mesh back. In a room without air conditioning, a solid back turns into a sweat trap by 2 PM. Mesh breathes.
• Armrests that adjust. At minimum, they should go up and down. Ideally, they also move side to side and pivot.

The Chairs I Tested

Best Overall: Ticova Ergonomic Chair (~$170)

Adjustable lumbar (up and down, not just in and out), mesh back, seat depth slider, and a headrest that actually supports your head instead of pushing it forward. The armrests adjust in three dimensions. For $170, this chair has no business being this good. It is the one I kept.

Best If You Are Tall: Hbada E3 (~$250)

Higher back than most budget chairs and a wider seat. If you are over 6 feet, standard chairs leave your shoulders unsupported. This one actually reaches. The lumbar support is aggressive — great if you need it, uncomfortable if you do not. Try it from a place with free returns.

Best If You Like Firm Seats: Branch Ergonomic Chair (~$280)

Very solid build quality. The seat cushion is firm — you sit on it, not in it. Some people love this. I found it fatiguing by day three. Good adjustments, nice-looking design, just not the right seat for me.

The Ones I Returned

Amazon Basics Ergonomic (~$140): The lumbar support is a fixed piece of plastic. It does not move. It hit me in the wrong spot and there was nothing I could do about it. Fine chair for the money if it happens to fit your back exactly. It did not fit mine.

Serta Big & Tall (~$220): Plush, cushy, feels great for about an hour. Then the foam compresses and you are basically sitting on the plywood base. The armrests are fixed — no adjustment at all. This is a chair for a reception desk, not for eight hours of work.

The Real Lesson

You do not need a $1,000 chair. But you do need adjustability. A $170 chair that adjusts to your body is better than a $500 chair that does not. The Ticova proved that. My back stopped hurting within the first week and I have not thought about my chair since — which is exactly what you want from a chair.