08 October 2026, 10:25
By Furniture News Oct 08, 2026

IKEA launches secondhand marketplace in the UK

IKEA has announced the launch of its secondhand marketplace in the UK, giving people a simple way to buy and sell pre-owned IKEA products. The retailer says the new marketplace supports its vision of "creating a better everyday life for the many people by making it easier for customers to access and pass on IKEA products as their needs evolve through different stages of life".  

The launch of the IKEA secondhand marketplace complements IKEA’s existing in-store Buyback & Resell service, which was introduced in 2021, and allows customers to sell eligible products back to IKEA in exchange for in-store credit. The new marketplace enables peer-to-peer transactions, whereby sellers can choose to receive payment in cash or opt for an IKEA digital refund card with a 15% bonus.

Together, Buyback & Resell and the secondhand marketplace give eligible IKEA products two potential routes to a new owner – resale directly to IKEA or to another customer, creating a distinctive proposition in the resale market. 

“At IKEA, our vision is to create a better everyday life for the many people, and that means making well-designed, functional home furnishing more accessible at different stages of life and across different budgets. The secondhand marketplace is another way we can help more people access IKEA products at affordable prices, while giving customers a simple way to pass on items they no longer need,”says Emily Birkin, development and transformation manager at Ingka Group.

The launch comes at a time when secondhand shopping is becoming an increasingly established part of everyday spending, says IKEA, as consumers look for greater value, choice and the opportunity to find distinctive pieces with character and a sense of history. New consumer research commissioned by IKEA found that more than one in four UK adults (28%) said a personal history or story would make pre-owned furniture more desirable to them.  

In 2025, 63% of UK consumers bought products through reselling platforms, up from 51% in 2024. More than half (52%) had sold something online in the previous 12 months, while 60% buy secondhand to stretch their budgets, it found. Furniture is already one of the most popular secondhand categories, with 38% of people who shop for secondhand goods having bought furniture this way.

This growing appetite for secondhand shopping is reflected in the wider market’s continued expansion. In 2025, UK marketplaces and peer-to-peer platforms generated £34.1b in gross merchandise value, while the UK’s secondhand home products market is forecast to grow from £4.5b in 2022 to £6.1b by 2027.

Customers can list current or previously sold IKEA home furnishing products on the marketplace, with the exception of mattresses, appliances and food (modified products, recalled products and products that are not from the IKEA brand are excluded) .

Sellers can scan an eligible item to create a listing, making it easier to pass on IKEA furniture they no longer need. The platform provides recommended pricing, professional product photography and accurate measurements, helping sellers prepare their listings.  

Each listing also includes product descriptions, assembly instructions and care information, giving prospective buyers useful details before they make contact. Sellers can choose to receive their proceeds as cash or receive a 15% top-up on an IKEA digital refund card.

Greg Lucas, sustainability manager, IKEA UK and Ireland, says: “The way people furnish their homes has changed. Whether they are 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. IKEA products are designed to be used, maintained and enjoyed over time, and the secondhand marketplace, as well as our in-store buyback service, gives people a straightforward way to pass on items as their needs change, with the practical information they need to buy and sell with confidence.”

IKEA says prices will be, on average, 60% lower than comparable new products – and the marketplace could help customers unlock the potential from furniture already sitting unused in UK homes. Among respondents who provided an estimate, the average value of unused home and garden furniture was £428.15.

In August, IKEA introduced New Lower Prices and in-store-only offers across hundreds of home furnishing products and accessories, with discounts of up to 25%, as part of a €1.2b investment across Europe to lower prices. 

The IKEA secondhand marketplace is available exclusively to IKEA Family members.


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