The retailer has introduced a free peer-to-peer resale platform for IKEA Family members, expanding its circular retail services as new research highlights growing demand for second-hand furniture.
IKEA has launched a second-hand marketplace in the UK, enabling customers to buy and sell pre-owned IKEA furniture and home furnishings directly with one another. Introduced on 7 October 2026, the service extends the retailer’s existing resale activities, with second-hand products priced on average 60% below comparable new items, according to Ingka Group internal data.
The IKEA second-hand marketplace is free to use and available exclusively to IKEA Family members. It allows customers to sell furniture they no longer need, including products that may have been discontinued, while providing buyers with an alternative way to purchase IKEA home furnishings.
Unlike the established buyback programme, the new service facilitates transactions directly between customers. Sellers can choose to receive their proceeds in cash or opt for an IKEA digital refund card with a 15% bonus.
“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 second-hand 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.”
Emily Birkin, Development & Transformation Manager, Ingka Group
Second-Hand Shopping Becomes More Established
The launch follows growing consumer participation in the second-hand market.
Research commissioned by IKEA and conducted among 2,000 UK adults between 1 and 10 September 2026 found that 87% shop for second-hand goods. Among respondents who buy second-hand, 38% had purchased furniture, while 28% of all those surveyed said that a personal history or story would make pre-owned furniture more desirable.
Other market research cited by IKEA found that 63% of UK consumers purchased products through resale platforms in 2025, compared with 51% in 2024. More than half (52%) had sold an item online during the preceding 12 months, while 60% reported buying second-hand products to make their budgets go further.
In 2025, UK marketplaces and peer-to-peer platforms generated £34.1 billion in gross merchandise value. The UK second-hand home products market is also forecast to increase from £4.5 billion in 2022 to £6.1 billion by 2027.
How the IKEA Second-Hand Marketplace Works
The new marketplace has been developed specifically for IKEA products, with features intended to simplify the process of creating listings and assessing second-hand furniture.
Sellers can scan eligible products to create listings, with the platform providing recommended prices, professional product photographs and accurate dimensions.
Listings also contain product descriptions, assembly instructions and care information, giving prospective buyers access to product details before contacting sellers.
Both current and discontinued IKEA home furnishing products can be listed, although mattresses, appliances, food, modified products, recalled items and products from other brands are excluded.
“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. Our research found that more than one in four people said a personal history or story would make pre-owned furniture more desirable to them. IKEA products are designed to be used, maintained and enjoyed over time, and the second-hand marketplace, as well as our instore 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.”
Greg Lucas, Sustainability Manager, IKEA UK & Ireland
Affordability Remains a Focus
IKEA’s research also identified the potential value of furniture sitting unused in UK homes. Among respondents who provided an estimate, the average value of unused home and garden furniture was £428.
The retailer’s internal data indicates that products available through its second-hand marketplace are priced on average 60% below comparable new items, although individual prices will vary by product and seller.
The launch follows a separate affordability initiative introduced in August 2026, when IKEA announced New Lower Prices and in-store offers across hundreds of home furnishing products and accessories.
The initiative forms part of a €1.2 billion European investment to reduce prices, with reductions of up to 25%. Examples include the HEMNES daybed, reduced by 15% from £329 to £279, and the KALLAX shelving unit, reduced by 18% from £60 to £49.
The second-hand marketplace provides a further route for customers to access lower-priced furnishings without purchasing new products.
The service is available to IKEA Family members, with membership free to join. By combining direct customer-to-customer resale with its established Buyback & Resell programme, IKEA is extending the options available for keeping its furniture in use as household requirements change.
Terry Clark is the Publisher and Content Director of 365 Retail, with more than a decade of experience covering retail design, technology innovations, store openings and the wider retail industry. He also works closely with leading retailers, suppliers, agencies, events and industry awards across the UK.
