IKEA has officially launched a dedicated second-hand marketplace. Sellers can scan items with their phones to generate listings, and the platform automatically provides suggested pricing, professional product photography, dimension data, product descriptions, assembly instructions, and care information. Second-hand items are priced about 60% lower than new ones.

Key Points

  • IKEA's second-hand platform is limited to its own furniture and home goods. Suggested pricing is automatically adjusted based on a percentage of the original price combined with condition, and sellers can also set their own prices.
  • Sellers can choose cash payment or an IKEA gift card, with an extra 15% bonus for choosing the gift card.
  • IKEA Family members can list home goods for sale, but mattresses, appliances, and food are excluded. Buyers can order new spare parts such as wall-fixing brackets for free.

IKEA says the platform will make "affordable" products more accessible, directly targeting competitors including eBay and second-hand fashion platform Vinted. The platform includes a "buyer protection fee," which is waived during the initial launch period, but IKEA emphasizes that if it starts charging in the future, it will inform customers "clearly and transparently" and reflect it as a cost to customers.

This is not IKEA's first foray into second-hand business. The "Buy Back" program launched in 2021 allows customers to sell eligible items back to stores in exchange for in-store credit. The new online second-hand platform is an extension of that program, and the two will be connected through the seller entry point. A pilot in Spain and Portugal in late December will integrate the buyback system into the platform first.

Greg Lucas, Sustainability Manager for IKEA UK and Ireland, said the way people furnish their homes has changed: whether moving, renovating, or searching for a specific item, more and more customers are willing to consider second-hand furniture alongside new purchases, actively seeking items that make their homes feel more personal. He added that IKEA products are designed to be used, maintained, and enjoyed over a long period, and the second-hand marketplace and in-store buyback service allow people to easily pass items on when their needs change, with enough practical information to support both buyers and sellers in trading with confidence.

From an industry perspective, the entry of this Swedish home retailer continues a trend in recent years: Vinted, originally focused on fashion apparel, has expanded into electronics and home goods, while retail peers such as John Lewis and Currys also sell second-hand and refurbished goods through their own platforms. For second-hand e-commerce and the resale market, brand-owned official channels are becoming new competitors, and using original product data to create standardized listings is seen as a key selling point that distinguishes official platforms from general second-hand websites.

Source: Ikea launches second-hand marketplace as it takes on eBay and Vinted · Originally published on 2026-10-07