Swedish furniture giant IKEA has announced it will launch its own second-hand furniture online trading platform in the UK, allowing consumers to buy and sell IKEA products directly with one another—a move seen as a direct challenge to second-hand platforms such as eBay, Vinted and Facebook Marketplace. The service is expected to go live within the next few months, though no specific date has been announced. Initially it will be open only to IKEA Family members, supporting transactions between users in the same city or nearby areas. This model is already running in European countries including Sweden, Spain, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal and Poland.

IKEA said launching the UK second-hand marketplace is "a meaningful step towards creating a destination that simplifies access to second-hand IKEA furniture," with the goal of making it "seamless" to pass on beloved IKEA furniture, providing members with a trusted and vibrant space that fosters direct transactions and makes buying and selling "simple, easy to use and rewarding."

Although detailed operating rules for the UK version have not yet been disclosed, clues can be gleaned from the experience of countries where it has already launched. In Spain, for example, IKEA offers sellers suggested prices and pre-filled product descriptions; if sellers choose to receive payment via IKEA gift card, they can earn an additional 15% of the sale price as a bonus. In addition, starting next January, Spanish buyers will pay a 5% transaction protection fee to cover related transaction costs. IKEA has not yet made clear whether these features will be introduced in the UK.

Second-hand shopping is increasingly in vogue, with platforms such as Vinted, which started out in clothing resale, having expanded into home goods and electronics. IKEA has previously piloted the collection and resale of second-hand furniture at some UK stores, and the new online marketplace extends this model online and enables direct transactions between members.

Source: Ikea announces major change as it takes on eBay and Vinted · Originally published 2026-08-25