diff --git a/e2e/global-setup.ts b/e2e/global-setup.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..39624a3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/e2e/global-setup.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,10 @@
+import { seedTestDatabase } from "./seed";
+
+export default async function globalSetup() {
+	await seedTestDatabase();
+}
+
+// Allow direct invocation: bun run e2e/global-setup.ts
+if (import.meta.main) {
+	await globalSetup();
+}
diff --git a/e2e/seed.ts b/e2e/seed.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..96a69ec
--- /dev/null
+++ b/e2e/seed.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,220 @@
+import { Database } from "bun:sqlite";
+import { unlink } from "node:fs/promises";
+import { drizzle } from "drizzle-orm/bun-sqlite";
+import { migrate } from "drizzle-orm/bun-sqlite/migrator";
+import * as schema from "../src/db/schema";
+
+const DB_PATH = "./e2e/test.db";
+
+export async function seedTestDatabase() {
+	// Remove old test DB if it exists
+	try {
+		await unlink(DB_PATH);
+	} catch {
+		// File doesn't exist, that's fine
+	}
+
+	const sqlite = new Database(DB_PATH);
+	sqlite.run("PRAGMA journal_mode = WAL");
+	sqlite.run("PRAGMA foreign_keys = ON");
+
+	const db = drizzle(sqlite, { schema });
+	migrate(db, { migrationsFolder: "./drizzle" });
+
+	// ── Categories ──
+	const [uncategorized] = db
+		.insert(schema.categories)
+		.values({ name: "Uncategorized", icon: "package" })
+		.returning()
+		.all();
+
+	const [shelter] = db
+		.insert(schema.categories)
+		.values({ name: "Shelter", icon: "tent" })
+		.returning()
+		.all();
+
+	const [sleep] = db
+		.insert(schema.categories)
+		.values({ name: "Sleep System", icon: "moon" })
+		.returning()
+		.all();
+
+	const [cook] = db
+		.insert(schema.categories)
+		.values({ name: "Cook Kit", icon: "flame" })
+		.returning()
+		.all();
+
+	// ── Items ──
+	const tent = db
+		.insert(schema.items)
+		.values({
+			name: "Zpacks Duplex",
+			weightGrams: 539,
+			priceCents: 67900,
+			categoryId: shelter.id,
+			notes: "DCF shelter, 2-person",
+		})
+		.returning()
+		.get();
+
+	db.insert(schema.items)
+		.values({
+			name: "Borah Gear Tarp",
+			weightGrams: 156,
+			priceCents: 11000,
+			categoryId: shelter.id,
+		})
+		.run();
+
+	const quilt = db
+		.insert(schema.items)
+		.values({
+			name: "Enlightened Equipment Enigma 20",
+			weightGrams: 595,
+			priceCents: 34000,
+			categoryId: sleep.id,
+			notes: "20F quilt",
+		})
+		.returning()
+		.get();
+
+	const pad = db
+		.insert(schema.items)
+		.values({
+			name: "Therm-a-Rest NeoAir XLite",
+			weightGrams: 354,
+			priceCents: 20999,
+			categoryId: sleep.id,
+		})
+		.returning()
+		.get();
+
+	const stove = db
+		.insert(schema.items)
+		.values({
+			name: "BRS-3000T Stove",
+			weightGrams: 25,
+			priceCents: 2000,
+			categoryId: cook.id,
+		})
+		.returning()
+		.get();
+
+	db.insert(schema.items)
+		.values({
+			name: "Toaks 750ml Pot",
+			weightGrams: 103,
+			priceCents: 3000,
+			categoryId: cook.id,
+		})
+		.run();
+
+	// ── Active Thread with 3 Candidates ──
+	const activeThread = db
+		.insert(schema.threads)
+		.values({
+			name: "New Backpack",
+			status: "active",
+			categoryId: uncategorized.id,
+		})
+		.returning()
+		.get();
+
+	db.insert(schema.threadCandidates)
+		.values({
+			threadId: activeThread.id,
+			name: "ULA Circuit",
+			weightGrams: 1077,
+			priceCents: 27500,
+			categoryId: uncategorized.id,
+			pros: "Great hip belt\nLarge capacity",
+			cons: "Heavier than competitors",
+			sortOrder: 1000,
+			status: "researching",
+		})
+		.run();
+
+	db.insert(schema.threadCandidates)
+		.values({
+			threadId: activeThread.id,
+			name: "Gossamer Gear Mariposa",
+			weightGrams: 737,
+			priceCents: 28500,
+			categoryId: uncategorized.id,
+			pros: "Very lightweight\nGood ventilation",
+			cons: "Smaller hip belt pockets",
+			sortOrder: 2000,
+			status: "researching",
+		})
+		.run();
+
+	db.insert(schema.threadCandidates)
+		.values({
+			threadId: activeThread.id,
+			name: "Granite Gear Crown2 38",
+			weightGrams: 850,
+			priceCents: 18000,
+			categoryId: uncategorized.id,
+			sortOrder: 3000,
+			status: "ordered",
+		})
+		.run();
+
+	// ── Resolved Thread ──
+	const resolvedThread = db
+		.insert(schema.threads)
+		.values({
+			name: "Camp Stove",
+			status: "resolved",
+			categoryId: cook.id,
+			resolvedCandidateId: 1,
+		})
+		.returning()
+		.get();
+
+	db.insert(schema.threadCandidates)
+		.values({
+			threadId: resolvedThread.id,
+			name: "BRS-3000T",
+			weightGrams: 25,
+			priceCents: 2000,
+			categoryId: cook.id,
+			sortOrder: 1000,
+			status: "arrived",
+		})
+		.run();
+
+	// ── Setup with Items ──
+	const setup = db
+		.insert(schema.setups)
+		.values({ name: "Weekend Overnighter" })
+		.returning()
+		.get();
+
+	db.insert(schema.setupItems)
+		.values([
+			{ setupId: setup.id, itemId: tent.id, classification: "base" },
+			{ setupId: setup.id, itemId: quilt.id, classification: "base" },
+			{ setupId: setup.id, itemId: pad.id, classification: "base" },
+			{ setupId: setup.id, itemId: stove.id, classification: "consumable" },
+		])
+		.run();
+
+	// ── User ──
+	const passwordHash = await Bun.password.hash("password123");
+	db.insert(schema.users).values({ username: "admin", passwordHash }).run();
+
+	// ── Settings ──
+	db.insert(schema.settings)
+		.values([
+			{ key: "weightUnit", value: "g" },
+			{ key: "currency", value: "USD" },
+			{ key: "onboardingComplete", value: "true" },
+		])
+		.run();
+
+	sqlite.close();
+	console.log("E2E test database seeded at", DB_PATH);
+}