Your old IKEA furniture could be worth more than you think – here's how much
With household budgets under pressure and sustainability becoming a greater priority for many shoppers, IKEA's little-known Buyback & Resell service gives you a practical way to earn store credit from unwanted furniture while helping reduce waste. Originally launched in the UK in 2021, the scheme has become a permanent part of IKEA's circular economy strategy and now operates year-round across IKEA's UK stores (excluding Plan & Order Points).
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The concept is simple: instead of sending unwanted furniture to landfill or attempting to sell it privately online, you can return selected eligible IKEA products in exchange for an IKEA Refund Card. Those items are then resold at discounted prices through dedicated Re-shop and Re-use areas in stores, allowing other shoppers to pick up bargains while extending the life of existing furniture.
As we all look for ways to save money and reduce their environmental impact, the scheme has become increasingly relevant. According to IKEA, the service forms part of its ambition to make sustainable living more affordable and accessible by encouraging customers to reuse, repair and recirculate products rather than replacing them unnecessarily.
How does IKEA Buyback & Resell work?
The process begins online through IKEA's Buyback estimator tool. You enter details of the furniture you wish to sell and provide information about its condition. The system then generates an estimated buyback value.
If the quote is acceptable, IKEA sends you an email containing a reference number and estimated offer. You'll then have 30 days to take the fully assembled item to the nearest participating IKEA store for inspection.
At the Returns and Exchanges area, staff assess the furniture to ensure it matches the description provided online and meets the scheme's requirements. Following the assessment, a final value is confirmed. In some cases, this may differ slightly from the original estimate if the condition varies from what was declared online.
Once the offer has been accepted, you receive payment via an IKEA Refund Card rather than cash. This card can be spent on future purchases in-store or online and does not expire, allowing you to save the credit until you genuinely need something.
Returned items that are suitable for resale are cleaned, checked and placed in the retailer's Re-shop and Re-use section. Products that are unsuitable for resale may be recycled or otherwise disposed of in line with IKEA's zero waste-to-landfill policy.
How much can you get for your furniture?
The amount offered depends primarily on the condition of the item being returned. Current buyback values are based on a percentage of the product's original selling price.
Typical rates are:
- As new condition: up to 45% of the original purchase price.
- Very good condition: up to 35% of the original purchase price.
- Well-used condition: up to 25% of the original purchase price.
For example, a dining table that originally cost £200 could generate up to £90 in store credit if it is returned in excellent condition. A similar item showing signs of use may receive considerably less, depending on its overall appearance and functionality.
How to get even more money back
One significant benefit for regular IKEA shoppers is the retailer's IKEA Family loyalty programme. Members receive an additional 15% on top of the standard buyback valuation, meaning furniture classed as ‘as new’ can return equivalent to 51.75% of the original selling price. Membership is free, making it worthwhile for anyone considering using the scheme.
Which items are eligible?
While IKEA does not accept every product it sells, a wide range of furniture categories are covered by the scheme. Eligible categories currently include:
- Dressers and chests of drawers
- Office drawer units
- Sideboards and display storage
- Bookcases and shelving units
- Small tables, including laptop tables
- Dining tables
- Desks
- Cabinets
- Multimedia furniture
- Children's furniture
- Chairs and stools that are not upholstered or leather
- Dressing tables and free-standing mirrors
- Kitchen trolleys and kitchen islands
- Plant stands and indoor pots
- Selected decorative items such as mirrors, bowls, vases and artificial plants.
To qualify, items must be complete, functional, clean and in a condition suitable for resale. Products must also be returned fully assembled and must not have been modified or altered.
This means popular furniture ‘hacks’ that involve repainting, cutting, customising or significantly altering an IKEA product are unlikely to be accepted through Buyback & Resell. Similarly, heavily damaged items may be rejected if they cannot be safely reused or resold.
Is it worth using the scheme?
For many households, the main attraction is convenience. Selling furniture privately through online marketplaces can often involve photography, listings, price negotiations and arranging collections with buyers. IKEA's scheme removes much of this hassle, offering a guaranteed valuation process and immediate store credit.
The downside is that owners are unlikely to receive as much as they might achieve through a private sale, particularly for highly sought-after products. However, if you were planning to shop at IKEA anyway, the simplicity of the service may outweigh the potential difference in value.
The scheme also appeals to environmentally conscious consumers. By keeping furniture in use for longer, IKEA hopes to reduce waste and encourage a more circular approach to home furnishing. Rather than being discarded, products are given a second life with another owner, helping reduce the demand for new resources and manufacturing.
How to check what your furniture is worth
Anyone considering selling back furniture can begin by visiting IKEA UK's Buyback estimator page. After entering the relevant product information and selecting the item's condition, customers receive an instant quote showing how much store credit they could be offered.
The quote is only provisional until the item is assessed by staff in store, but it provides a useful indication of value before making the journey. If you are satisfied with the estimate, you can simply book the return by following the instructions provided in the confirmation email.
At a time when many households are looking to save money, declutter their homes and make more sustainable choices, IKEA's Buyback & Resell programme offers a practical alternative to throwing furniture away. Whether you're replacing an old bookcase, clearing space for a home office or upgrading your dining room, that unwanted IKEA furniture could still have value – and earn you credit towards your next purchase.
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