The 16 Best Places to Buy a Couch in 2024
The couch is the heart of the home—it’s where all the action happens, whether you're binge-watching your favorite series or playing board games with your family. Having a comfortable, durable, and stylish couch to sit on will make all those experiences much more enjoyable. That said, not all couches are made equal.
We surveyed our staff on couches they ordered from a range of retailers, including luxury made-to-order brands and reasonably priced big-box stores, and tested many sofas in our own homes. In doing so, we considered factors like product variety, price range, shipping options, and return policy. We also tapped interior designer Amy Vroom, who has sourced countless sofas for decoration projects in the Seattle area and beyond, and Noz Nozawa, founder of Noz Design, for expert tips on sofa shopping.
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West Elm has a great selection of mid-century modern pieces that stand up to years of wear.
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Delivery can take a while if you purchase a made-to-order couch.
West Elm is known for its vast array of modern furniture at reasonable price points. The brand has a great assortment of sofas in different styles, sizes, and fabrics, but not so many that it's overwhelming when browsing online. Many of West Elm's couches are made to order, so it can take weeks to months before they are ready to be delivered. However, West Elm offers a white glove delivery service that is seamless and convenient.
Nine of us have West Elm couches at home—the most out of any other retailer. Three of us can vouch for the brand’s Harmony collection in particular, which includes a sofa and sectional option. We were amazed by the sectional’s durability, which earned it the title of our Best Sectional Sleeper Sofa. The stain-resistant material withstood hot sauce, chocolate, coffee, and ice cream stains with no damage, maintaining its shape throughout a full year of use. Plus, it took us less than one minute to convert the sofa from a couch to a bed and back again.
Some of us had mishaps while ordering from West Elm—one sofa arrived damaged, while a sectional arrived with mismatched upholstery. In both cases, West Elm's customer service was helpful and resolved the situation, though it did take several months for a replacement to arrive. Additionally, the brand won't honor a price cut if your couch goes on sale after you purchase it. Overall though, we like West Elm couches for their durable, comfortable, and stylish designs that offer plenty of room for lounging.
West Elm Picks
Shipping Cost: $159–$429 | Return Policy: 30 days; made-to-order items not returnable | Delivery Options: Full-service delivery
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Our sofas were delivered in perfect condition earlier than we anticipated, and we were impressed by their quality.
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Styles skew more traditional and mid-century, so it's not a good place to find contemporary furniture.
We don't have enough good things to say about our couch-shopping experience with Room & Board. The website lets you explore several sofa categories—like sectionals, sleepers, and chaises—and refine your search based on factors like width, cushion type, and fabric to help you find the ideal sofa for your space. We were also impressed at the quality of the product listings: They were thorough enough that we felt confident purchasing after reading them.
The delivery process was smooth and flawless, with one of our couches even arriving ahead of schedule. Room & Board sofas also demonstrate impressive quality: The fabric is plush and substantial, and they are remarkably comfortable to sit on. After testing the brand’s best-selling Metro Sofa ourselves, we can attest that it’s the Goldilocks of couches—not too firm, not too soft, but just right. We found the fabric to be thick and durable and the cushions to be especially high quality. Even after a full year of use—and quite a bit of cat scratching—the couch still looked as good as new. We would even go as far as to say it’s the best couch we’ve ever tested. We’re also big fans of the André Sofa, which features a reversible chaise lounge and removable foot stool.
In addition to its impressive durability, the brand's return policy is also amazing—it accepts returns with no time period, so long as your couch isn't damaged or worn. Nozawa says that she only ever returns client purchases for them occasionally but has noticed that Room & Board is understanding.
Room & Board Picks:
Shipping Cost: $99 | Return Policy: No time period | Delivery Options: Full-service delivery
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The sofas are reliably comfortable, durable, and beautiful.
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The selection doesn’t cater to any styles outside of transitional or traditional decor.
Pottery Barn doesn’t compromise on quality, even though its products are manufactured on a massive scale. And its style is definitively transitional, which can suit a wide range of decor preferences and spaces. Pottery Barn sofas have streamlined yet old-world details, like rolled arms and skirted bases for an updated version of traditional looks.
No matter which model you choose, it’s likely available in multiple sizes and types of cushions, with over 95 fabrics and 30 kinds of leather to pick from. We love the Turner Roll Arm Leather Sofa Chaise Sectional, which aged like fine wine over one year of testing. The leather had a high-quality look and feel to it, developing a gorgeous patina over time. But Pottery Barn is no one hit wonder—in addition to the Turner Sofa, we’ve also had success with the PB Comfort Roll Arm Upholstered Sofa, Canyon Roll Arm Upholstered Sofa, and Buchanan Roll Arm Leather Sofa.
While Pottery Barn is expensive, we think its couches are worth it. We found the upholstery luxurious, the deep seats incredibly comfortable, and the stain-resistant fabrics a breeze to keep clean. The white glove delivery went smoothly, as well, taking only took a few minutes for each couch to be set up. While it may be overwhelming to sift through the brand's range of fabrics, you can take advantage of free swatches and interior design services to help you land on a decision.
Pottery Barn Picks:
- PB Comfort Roll Arm Upholstered Sofa
- Canyon Roll Arm Upholstered Sofa
- Turner Roll Arm Leather Sofa Chaise Sectional
- Buchanan Roll Arm Leather Sofa
Shipping Cost: $279–$429 | Return Policy: 30 days; made-to-order items not eligible for return | Delivery Options: White glove or door step delivery
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Crate & Barrel couches have dozens of upholstery options.
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Starting prices are high.
Crate & Barrel’s furniture selection proves that modern decor doesn’t have to be uninviting or dull. The brand offers plush, comfy couches that bring mid-century style and personality to your home. Options range from cozy bouclé couches to modern leather sectionals, and while the selection is pricier, you can also stop by one of Crate & Barrel’s retail locations or outlet stores to ensure your couch is what you have in mind.
Our experiences with Crate & Barrel were seamless. When shopping online, the product descriptions had all the information we needed, and we didn't experience any major hiccups or delays when using white glove delivery.
In addition to their attractive designs, we found the couches to be very well made. The Axis 2-Seat Sofa and Axis 2-Piece Sectional Sofa are both upholstered with easy-to-clean fabric that still looks great after years of use. We’re also big fans of the Lounge Couch, which is one of the comfiest we’ve ever tried. Available in three seat depths—36, 41, or 46 inches—the couch is ideal for entertaining multiple guests or relaxing. We found the cushions to be plump without being stiff, with just enough give to make them comfortable for napping.
Crate & Barrel Picks:
Shipping Cost: 10% of total cost | Return Policy: 30 days | Delivery Options: In-home delivery