Ikea to pilot online buyback service for secondhand furniture

Service to be tested in Spain and Portugal this year, with a UK rollout if successful, as pre-loved markets boom

Ikea is to test an online version of its buy-back service where the retailer offers vouchers for unwanted secondhand furniture.

The new plan emerged as the world’s largest furniture retailer takes on Vinted and eBay with its own secondhand online marketplace which launches in the UK this week.

The UK service will be free initially, but a “buyer protection fee” of about 5% of an item’s price will be introduced in time. At launch, buyers and sellers will arrange collection or delivery directly with one another through the marketplace. Ikea said it is exploring ways to make delivery easier in future.

“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 said it was making the sale of used versions of its products easier by providing pre-filled product descriptions and price suggestions. The company also offers sellers 15% extra on the price of the item sold if they agree to be paid in the form of an Ikea gift card.

In 2025, 63% of UK consumers bought products through reselling platforms, up from 51% in 2024.

The trend has boosted sales at Vinted, which began as a clothing resale site but is now expanding into homewares and electronics, as well as at Facebook Marketplace, Gumtree and smaller, more upmarket sites such as Vinterior.

There is heavy competition for the secondhand market, with the electrical goods retailers Currys and AO, for example, both selling pre-owned items.