Your spine is not cheap. Neither is a good chair — but it doesn't need to be $1,500.
Under $250 you're picking between adjustable mesh chairs. Above $400 you're buying real ergonomics. There's very little in between worth your money.
The default budget answer. Adjustable arms, breathable mesh back, tilt lock, and a five-year-plus lifespan in most home offices. Not a lumbar throne, but for the price nothing else touches it.
The cheapest Herman Miller worth owning. Y-Tower back gives real ergonomic support without the Aeron price tag, and the 12-year warranty means you'll own it longer than your car.
The middle-ground chair. Not Herman Miller money, not Amazon Basics compromise. Seven adjustment points, mesh back, and a 7-year warranty. If the Sayl is too much and the Amazon Basics is too little, this is your answer.