Ikea expands second-hand furniture marketplace to the UK, Ireland and Germany

Expansion across European markets

The Ingka Group, the largest retailer operating Ikea stores worldwide, is expanding its peer-to-peer second-hand marketplace to the United Kingdom and Ireland, with an official launch in Germany scheduled for 14 October 2026. The platform allows registered customers to sell used Ikea furniture directly to other consumers. Market tests for the digital exchange originally began in June 2024 across Madrid and Oslo. With the addition of Germany, the resale platform will operate across nine European countries, building on live services already active in Sweden, Spain, Norway, Belgium, Luxembourg, Portugal, and Poland.

Marketplace features and pricing

The marketplace is accessible to members of the retailer's loyalty programme, Ikea Family. Sellers create listings by scanning items, uploading photographs, or searching their prior purchase history, while the system automatically populates product measurements, assembly instructions, care guidelines, and catalogue descriptions. Items listed on the platform sell at an average discount of 60% compared to new retail prices, though sellers retain the ability to adjust the suggested pricing. Certain categories are excluded from resale, specifically mattresses, appliances, and food. Sellers can receive payment in cash or opt for an Ikea digital refund card that includes a 15% top-up on the final sale value. Buyers can also order free replacement components through the system, such as wall-anchoring safety brackets.

Integration with buyback schemes and logistics

Alongside peer-to-peer exchanges, Ikea is testing closer ties with its in-store Buy Back programme, which was first introduced in 2021 to let shoppers return used items for store credit. In late December 2026, trials in Spain and Portugal will allow sellers to receive an automated buyback offer from Ikea directly upon creating an online listing. Customers can then decide whether to proceed with a private sale or return the item to a local store. In Portugal and Sweden, the company is testing delivery partnerships to help users transport large furniture between homes. Greg Lucas, sustainability manager for Ikea UK and Ireland, explained the consumer demand driving the initiative:

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.

Market competition and fee rollout

The second-hand home goods sector in the United Kingdom is valued at more than £4.5 billion, with annual growth of approximately 6.5%. Ikea goods currently represent about 9% of all furniture traded on British second-hand marketplaces, and the retailer estimates that second-hand items could capture 16% of the UK homewares market next year. Transactions on the platform are free at launch, but Ikea plans to introduce a 5% buyer protection fee on 1 January 2027 to cover transaction handling and customer support. The initiative also serves as a customer acquisition channel, with Ingka Group reporting that 25.5% of marketplace users are new or reactivated Ikea Family members. While Ikea Switzerland previously noted interest in the platform as part of a goal to become a circular business by 2030, no decision on a Swiss rollout has been reached.