IKEA’s UK Second-Hand Marketplace: What It Means for Shoppers
Usagevpn.com – IKEA has just launched another second-hand marketplace, giving customers in the UK a dedicated place to buy and sell pre-owned IKEA furniture. The platform is intended to help keep usable household items in circulation while offering a lower-cost alternative to buying new.
The customer-to-customer service builds on IKEA’s Buyback & Resell programme, introduced in 2021. Under the newer marketplace model, sellers can receive cash once an item sells or choose a digital IKEA refund card with 15 per cent additional value.
How the IKEA marketplace works
Customers can list eligible IKEA home-furnishing products that are currently sold or were available in the past. Mattresses, appliances, food, recalled goods, altered products and items from other brands are excluded.
IKEA has just launched another resale option with tools designed to simplify listings. Sellers can scan eligible products to access suggested pricing, measurements and professional product images. Buyers can review descriptions, care information and assembly instructions before arranging a purchase.
The company says marketplace prices are, on average, 60 per cent below comparable new IKEA products. That could help people furnish a home for less, while enabling sellers to recover value from furniture they no longer need.
Why second-hand furniture is gaining appeal
IKEA research found that more than one in four UK adults consider second-hand furniture more attractive when it comes with a personal story. Resale is also becoming more common: 63 per cent of UK consumers bought goods through resale platforms last year, representing a 51 per cent increase from 2024.
In the previous 12 months, 52 per cent of consumers sold something online, while 60 per cent said buying second-hand helped their money go further. For households moving, redecorating or searching for a particular piece, pre-owned furniture can offer a practical and more individual choice.
The way people furnish their homes has changed. Whether they’re moving, redecorating or looking for a particular piece, more customers are considering pre-owned furniture alongside new and are actively searching for items that can help create a home that feels personal to them.
Can resale address fast-furniture concerns?
Keeping furniture in use for longer can reduce waste and lessen demand for replacement products, raw materials and the emissions associated with manufacturing new items. This is particularly relevant for large household goods that can be difficult to transport or dispose of.
However, IKEA has just launched another marketplace while continuing to sell a substantial range of new products. The company introduces roughly 2,000 products each year, prompting criticism that its low-cost and frequently refreshed range contributes to a fast-furniture model.
An Ingka Group spokesperson said the second-hand marketplace complements, rather than replaces, the company’s new-product offer. IKEA products already account for nine per cent of Europe’s second-hand furniture market on other platforms, suggesting there is significant demand for pre-owned items from the brand.
We see the IKEA second-hand marketplace as complementary alongside our new product offer. People’s homes, needs and budgets change. Sometimes they choose new, and sometimes a pre-owned product is a better fit.
Frequently asked questions
Can UK customers sell any IKEA item?
No. Listings must be eligible IKEA home-furnishing products. The marketplace does not accept mattresses, appliances, food, recalled products, altered items or products made by other brands.
Do sellers receive cash or IKEA credit?
Sellers can choose cash from a completed sale or a digital IKEA refund card that includes 15 per cent extra value.
Why might buyers choose pre-owned IKEA furniture?
Second-hand items can cost considerably less than comparable new products, while product details, measurements and assembly guidance can help buyers decide whether a piece suits their home.
