Guide to Saving Money at IKEA Stores

Guide to Saving Money at IKEA Stores

od storage set you definitely did not plan on buying.

I know this because I’ve done it. Repeatedly.

Over the last few years, I’ve turned my "IKEA chaos" into something closer to a system. I’ve tracked prices, tested hacks, talked to staff, and yes, eaten an irresponsible number of meatballs in the name of research. This guide is the collection of what actually works if you want to save real money at IKEA—without needing to live off instant noodles for a month.

Start with the Website, Not the Showroom

When I first moved apartments, I made the rookie mistake: I walked into IKEA with a vague idea and no list. Two hours, three impulse rugs, and one near-breakup over a bookshelf later, my budget was wrecked.

Now I always start online.

I open IKEA’s site or app, search exactly what I need, and check:

• Current price and color options
• Stock availability at my local store
• Dimensions (I once bought a wardrobe that didn’t fit through my hallway—never again)

In my experience, going in with a written list and screenshots of product pages cuts my total spend by 20–30%, just because I’m not wandering through the maze thinking, “Oh, that’s cute, I definitely need a third side table.”

Pro tip: Use the “shopping list” feature in your IKEA account. When I tested this on a bigger purchase (sofa, TV stand, storage), I stuck almost exactly to my budget because I could see the full estimated total before I even got in the car.

Learn IKEA’s Pricing System (and the Yellow Tags)

One of the best things I ever did was spend 15 minutes just paying attention to the different tags in-store.

In my experience, here’s how it breaks down:

• Regular white tags – standard pricing
• Yellow tags – temporary offers or price reductions
• Red or “As-Is” area tags – heavily discounted, often 30–70% off

When I tested a “yellow-tag-only” challenge (only buying things that were on promotion or clearance unless absolutely necessary), my total dropped by nearly half compared to a previous, similar trip.

Also, IKEA has something called “New Lower Price” on some items. These aren’t short-term sales; they’re longer-term price reductions. In 2023, for example, IKEA publicly announced price cuts on certain lines after inflation pushed previous prices up. According to Inter IKEA Group’s FY23 summary, they tried to gradually bring some prices back down as supply chain pressures eased.

If you see a product labeled as "New lower price," it’s not a fake sale—it’s usually a strategic long-term adjustment, and in my experience those items often become solid value buys.

The Underrated Gold Mine: The As-Is Section

If you only remember one thing from this guide, let it be this: never skip the As-Is section (sometimes called the "Bargain Corner").

I once found a PAX wardrobe door at 60% off because it had a hairline scratch on the inside edge that you literally couldn’t see once installed. That one find saved me more than everything I’d “saved” using discount codes that year.

What I typically see there:

• Floor models
• Customer returns (often barely used or completely unused)
• Mis-measured countertops or custom pieces
• Discontinued colors or styles

Pros:

• Huge discounts — I’ve personally seen 30–70% off
• Already assembled items save you the frustration and time of building everything yourself

Cons:

• Limited quantities; once it’s gone, it’s gone
• Mixed condition — some pieces are great, some are very obviously not
• Often final sale, so no returns

When I tested a "furnish one room mostly from As-Is" experiment, I furnished a small home office (desk, shelving, storage) for under $150. The trade-off was mismatched finishes I had to paint or ignore.

If you’re flexible with colors and tiny cosmetic flaws, this is where the real magic happens.

Join IKEA Family (Yes, It’s Worth It)

I’m usually suspicious of loyalty programs because they often spam you more than they save you. IKEA Family is one of the few I consistently recommend.

What I’ve actually used and liked:

• Member-only discounts on rotating products (sometimes big-ticket items like sofas or mattresses)
• Free hot drink (varies by country, but I’ve had more free coffees than I want to admit)
• Extra time on returns in some markets
• Digital receipts – surprisingly helpful when you need to check the price you paid months later

According to IKEA’s own info, as of 2023, IKEA Family is free to join and has over 100 million members worldwide. The program is clearly designed to keep you coming back, but if you’re disciplined, the benefits are genuinely useful.

Downside: The best IKEA Family offers change monthly, so you can’t always time your purchase perfectly. I’ve waited for a member discount on a specific item that never came, only to finally buy it at full price.

Still, if you’re furnishing even one room, it’s usually worth signing up at least temporarily.

Time Your Trips: Weekdays and End-of-Season

When I asked a cashier what the "best time" to shop was, she laughed and said, "Anytime that isn’t Saturday afternoon."

From my own trips, here’s what’s worked:

• Weekday evenings: Fewer people, easier to think clearly and compare items without pressure.
• End of seasons (especially post-Christmas and late summer): more markdowns on textiles, seasonal decor, and outdoor furniture.

According to IKEA’s own financial communications and press coverage, they tweak prices and make room for new lines several times a year. You won’t see a Black Friday-style blowout, but you’ll notice clusters of discounts when they’re transitioning seasons.

When I tested going in late August vs mid-June for outdoor furniture, I saw multiple items marked down 20–40%, simply because summer was winding down.

Compare “Hackable” Basics vs Fancy Versions

IKEA is famous for “hacks” — turning cheap basics into custom-looking pieces. In my experience, this is where you save long-term.

Example from my own apartment:

• A plain LACK side table (ultra-basic, super cheap) + peel-and-stick marble vinyl + hairpin legs from Amazon = a side table that looks way more expensive than it is.

Instead of buying the fancier pre-made version from another brand, I saved around $80.

Categories where this works really well:

• Side tables
• Storage cubes and shelves (KALLAX is a classic for this)
• Basic dressers (like MALM) with swapped handles or added trim

Where it doesn’t always save you money:

• Sofas and beds — if you start adding third-party legs, covers, cushions, and upgrades, you can accidentally spend more than just buying a higher-end model upfront.

My rule of thumb now: I hack small and medium pieces, but I buy bigger-ticket comfort items (sofas, mattresses, desk chairs) more straightforwardly, focusing on value and durability instead of just lowest price.

Don’t Sleep on Returns and Warranties

One thing I didn’t fully appreciate early on: IKEA’s policies can protect your wallet if you use them intentionally.

Depending on your country, you often get:

• A fairly generous return window for unused items
• Mattress trial periods (in some markets, you can exchange a mattress after trying it at home)
• Multi-year warranties on many items (kitchen systems, some sofas, mattresses)

The value here isn’t obvious at the register, but over time, it’s huge. I once had a hinge issue with an IKEA kitchen cabinet about 18 months after purchase. Because of the warranty, I got replacement hardware for free instead of paying out of pocket.

The catch: You need to keep your receipts or digital copies. This is where IKEA Family helps again, since many purchases are logged under your account.

Use the Restaurant and Bistro Strategically

I never thought I’d say "eating at IKEA" can be a money-saving move, but hear me out.

On one trip, I skipped lunch thinking I’d be in and out quickly. Three hours later, I was cranky, hungry, and suddenly every plush throw blanket felt like a life necessity.

Now, if I know I’m doing a long, serious trip, I either eat beforehand or plan one stop at the restaurant.

Why it matters for your budget:

• Food prices at IKEA are relatively low compared to eating elsewhere mid-shopping.
• You’re less impulsive when you’re not starving and exhausted.

There’s also a sneaky upside: When I sit down with my cart partway through the store, I can literally see everything I’ve picked. I’ve removed items from my cart mid-meatball more times than I can count.

Downside: If you treat the restaurant as part of the "fun outing" every single time, the small costs do add up. I try to keep it functional — fuel, not an event.

Know When IKEA Isn’t the Cheapest Option

This is where the trust part comes in: IKEA is not always the best deal.

In my experience, IKEA tends to win on:

• Flat-pack furniture with simple designs
• Storage solutions (especially modular ones)
• Basic kitchenware and textiles

But it doesn’t always win on:

• Electronics (lamps with bulbs, smart home gear — often cheaper on sale elsewhere)
• High-end office chairs (ergonomic models from specialty brands can be a better long-term investment)
• Tiny accessories you can find at dollar stores or discount chains

I’ve seen multiple comparisons in places like Forbes and The New York Times’ Wirecutter where certain IKEA items score high for value, while others are called out as “fine, but not a steal.”

My approach now is pretty simple:

• For big items, I compare at least two other retailers.
• For small accessories under $10, I ask: "Would I buy this at full price if it wasn’t IKEA-branded and sitting in front of me right now?" If the answer is no, back it goes.

Final Thoughts (Without a Big Grand Finale Speech)

When I stopped treating IKEA like an amusement park and started treating it like a strategic mission, my spending went way down while the quality of what I bought went up.

If you:

• Plan online first
• Hunt the yellow tags and As-Is section
• Use IKEA Family selectively
• Know when to hack and when to invest
• And accept that not everything is a bargain just because it’s in a blue-and-yellow box

…you’ll walk out with furniture you actually need, money still in your account, and maybe—just maybe—only one pack of tealights instead of eight.

Sources

• Inter IKEA Group – FY23 Summary and Key Figures - Official overview of IKEA’s financial year, pricing context, and strategy
• IKEA – IKEA Family Program - Official details of IKEA Family benefits, offers, and terms
• Forbes – 10 Ways To Save Money On Furniture - Broader furniture-saving strategies that align with IKEA shopping tactics
• BBC – IKEA: The flat-pack giant’s global growth story - Background on IKEA’s business model and pricing approach
• NYTimes Wirecutter – The Best Things to Buy at IKEA (and What to Skip) - Independent recommendations on high-value and lower-value IKEA products