When moving to a new country, there is nothing like setting up your living spaces to start building your new home. While you have likely taken meaningful keepsakes with you, it is only a matter of time before you plan your first trip to a furniture store to make your home feel homier. This guide will introduce you to the best furniture stores in Germany and share relevant information on the furniture market in Germany.
If you are short on time and just want an answer. Here are the best furniture stores in Germany:
- IKEA
- Jysk
- Möbel Höffner
- Porta
- Home24
Which are the biggest furniture stores in Germany?
Like in many countries, IKEA is the clear leader in Germany’s furniture industry. The combination of stylish pieces, fair prices, and the overall experience caused almost a third of recent furniture shoppers to head to IKEA.
There are 54 IKEA stores all over Germany. No matter where you live, the nearest IKEA will likely be a maximum one-hour car ride away. There are stores near all major cities, commonly situated in industrial areas. While public transport is likely available, it might run on a more scarce schedule compared to inner city lines.
Depending on what you intend to buy, it might be advisable to go by car – be it your own or a rental. Even when looking for smaller items, you should remember that IKEA is designed to get you to buy additional nick-nacks.
If you have never been to IKEA before, you need to know that you must collect and assemble IKEA furniture yourself. While Click&Collect and online shopping options are available (at an additional charge between 5 and 165 euros), IKEA’s self-serve warehouse is at the core of their concept. Throughout the showrooms, you will find tags on all furniture pieces detailing where you will find them in the warehouse at the end of the store. There you will self-pick your parcels and pay for them at the cash register that follows. This US-based home-improvement blog offers a helpful guide to the experience.
Hot Tip
You can use the ‘Shop & Go’ checkout if you download the IKEA app. You scan all of your items with your phone, and you can go through the Express Checkout or the designated ‘Shop & Go’ checkout. This saves you from standing for what can feel like hours in line to pay.
What are German alternatives to IKEA?
If you want your home to look different from everybody else’s, Germany offers many alternatives to IKEA for all kinds of budgets.
Here are the five most popular furniture store alternatives to IKEA in Germany:
Jysk – formerly Dänisches Bettenlager (Danish Bed Store), offers Nordic-style furniture at a reasonable price range. As the name suggests, it primarily focuses on bedrooms and cozier living spaces, like living and dining rooms. In total, there are over 960 stores in Germany. Smaller ones may be located close to city centers but often solely focus on decor and smaller furniture items. Jysk does not offer kitchens, appliances, or furniture for children.
Möbel Höffner – is the place for you if you are looking for a wider variety of furniture for all kinds of budgets and rooms (including children and kitchen). You can find their massive stores in industrial areas outside smaller and larger cities all over Germany.
Porta – has a similar offering to Höffner. Their furniture stores are primarily based in northern and central Germany.
Home24 – is another popular retailer, focussing on high-quality, modern furniture in a higher mid-price range. While their ten showrooms (mainly located in Germany’s largest cities and often in the city center) allow you to browse their furniture in person, customers usually use the home24.de website to buy furniture online. Shipping is relatively cheap, with a maximum of 49 euros for even the largest furniture pieces.
If you prefer buying locally, most regions have local retailers, like Schaffrath in the Düsseldorf region.
Cheap furniture stores in Germany
Poco, Roller, or XXXLutz are popular options if you are looking for lower-priced furniture. They operate all over Germany with a wide selection of affordable pieces.
Buying furniture in Germany – offline or online?
When it comes to buying furniture, the question of whether to buy online or offline will likely cross your mind. While going to a physical store allows you to get the best feeling for the authentic look and texture, online shopping is often more convenient. In a recent survey, 64% of Germans prefer to shop for furniture in physical stores.
If you buy online, you should expect costs between 30 and 150 euros for shipment and delivery. While smaller items might be shipped using regular postal services like DHL or Hermes, more oversized items will likely be delivered using a forwarding agency. For the latter, you will be asked to schedule a furniture delivery date and time, either while placing your order or right after.
Store-bought furniture can also be delivered to your home. For more oversized items (e.g., closets, sofas, etc.), you often have to wait multiple weeks before the furniture you bought is ready to be shipped to you.
Most stores offer assembly services for online and offline orders. You can also add a pick-up service to dispose of old furniture. Depending on the size of your furniture, you should expect costs between 30 to multiple hundred euros.
Smaller store-bought items like desks or cupboards can be taken home with you right away. If needed, most furniture stores have their own transporter rental service for up to 150 euros per day or an hourly fare of around 20 euros. Renting externally (e.g., at Europcar) can be cheaper, though it will be less convenient.
If you do not have a valid driver’s license in Germany, don’t feel comfortable driving a transporter, or need help carrying heavy furniture into your apartment, Möbeltaxis (furniture taxis) are a convenient alternative. Like a moving company, they transfer furniture for you and carry it inside your home. You should expect costs of about 150 euros for this service.
Where to buy second-hand furniture in Germany?
If you are interested in buying second-hand furniture, local flea markets or eBay Kleinanzeigen are great places to look. You may also check out antique stores near you for pre-owned high-quality furniture and decor.
Our experience shopping furniture in Germany
While IKEA is one of our favorite furniture stores, our apartment is furnished with a mix of all the places we mentioned in our guide. Here is a rough overview:
- IKEA: bed, closet, lamps
- Porta: dining chairs
- Schaffrath: dining table
- Home24: carpets
- Specialized online shops: office desks & chairs, couch
- Amazon: smaller items like mirrors
We also talk about our experience and where to buy other home accessories and decor items in Germany in your YouTube video below:
Hot Tip
Should you ever intend to buy a showroom piece in a physical store, always ask for a reduced price, as you will most likely get it. Our dining table was on display, and also the last one they had, which got us a significant discount.
Conclusion
There are many options for buying furniture in Germany. Given that you can buy almost anything online, browsing furniture websites is always an excellent way to get an idea of what you like. Going to the store, however, is the best way to get an authentic feel for the furniture you are interested in.
Especially for oversized items, it is common to have furniture delivered to you. Alternatively, if you do not have a car, you can rent a transporter at the furniture store or hire a Möbeltaxi to take smaller furniture pieces home. Additional services like delivery, assembly, or disposal of old furniture are widely available, with costs ranging from 30 to multiple hundred euros depending on the size of the furniture.
We hope that with all the information given above, you feel ready to start your furniture shopping adventure in Germany. Enjoy!
