The 9 best places to buy a couch, whether your budget is $500 or $5,000

Shop all sofas at Sundays.

One of our favorite newer furniture brands is Sundays, which first came on our radar while interviewing interior designers for our guide to the best Cloud Couch dupes. We've since gone on to test the brand's signature Movie Night Sectional, which we adore. It has deep seats, feathery filling, and an upscale design — all at a much more competitive price than other luxury sofa makers. 

In addition to the Movie Night Sectional, Sundays offers a whole range of sofas and modular sectionals, customizable in size and fabric. As a nice bonus, shipping and in-home setup is free on larger items, meaning you'll never be stuck assembling a Sundays couch on your own.

Read our full Sundays Movie Night Sofa review.

Worth a look:

Shop all couches at Article.

Article uses a DTC model to offer its stylish furniture at prices up to 30% cheaper than traditional retailers. The brand has a mix of pre-made, ready-to-ship models as well as customizable sofas.

Article's designs are both modern and vintage influenced, making it easy for customers to find unique couches that will complement their living spaces. Many of the brand's options are modular and can be arranged to be left- or right-facing, depending on your preferences. 

With few exceptions, Article's sofas either don't require assembly, or have a simple assembly that should take under 15 minutes. 

Article is also Wangman's top retailer for purchasing a quality couch online; she said she loves the brand's great pricing, high quality, and fair return policy.

Worth a look:

Shop all couches at Wayfair 

If you're unsure exactly what style couch you're looking for or are working with a tight budget and still want tons of options, you'll want to shop with Wayfair, as it offers various styles and unique brands. Some of the brands available at Wayfair include pieces from its sister brand AllModern, as well as from family-owned brand, Novogratz. 

Wangman likes Wayfair for its budget-friendly prices but strongly suggests closely reading reviews and assembly instructions prior to making a purchase. If you're looking for a custom-designed sofa, Wayfair may not be the best choice, as most of its options are pre-made.

Worth a look:

Shop all couches at Burrow.

Burrow uses a direct-to-consumer (DTC) model to offer high-quality, customized sofas at a fraction of the cost of traditional retailers and is also very open about its production process, which includes rigorous testing. As "Burrow is meant to be the evolution of furniture" said Kuhl, it offers many modular sofas designed to grow with you as your seating needs change over time.

This feature persuaded Insider Reviews' deputy editor Lauren Savoie to purchase a Burrow model after a lengthy search. "Our previous apartment had a tight staircase, and I was worried about how we would get any couch in and out. I heard about how Burrow's couches came in chair-sized components, and knew it was the best solution for us." she says. "We recently moved to a space with a much larger living room, and I love that I can buy additional sections to grow the couch we have instead of having to buy a whole new sofa to fit the space."

All Burrow couches offer easy, tool-free assembly, and some are even equipped with built-in USB chargers. Customers can customize their couch in several ways, such as choosing fabrics and colors, leg finishes, and arm shape. Depending on the sofa's design, add-ons are also available, including matching chaises, ottomans, and pillows. 

Read our Burrow Nomad Sofa review for more.

Worth a look:

Shop all sofas at Benchmade Modern.

Benchmade Modern specializes in furniture for those looking to purchase custom on a tight timeline. Compared to the industry standard of waiting 14 weeks to receive your handcrafted sofa, Benchmade Modern takes a shorter amount of time, while maintaining high quality.

The brand also prioritizes creating sofas that are made to be lived on and enjoyed, so it uses durable family-friendly, and pet-friendly performance fabrics. It also offers a wide color and fabric selection, allowing you to choose from bold pops of color or more neutral tones. You can also customize legs and cushion type depending on whether you'd prefer to fluff your cushions frequently or not. 

As for assembly, most of Benchmade Modern's furniture is shipped fully assembled and only requires a quick leg assembly. If you're short on time, the brand also has a quick ship section that is updated regularly with items that can be shipped out within two days. 

Read our Benchmade Modern review for more.

Worth a look:

Shop all sofas at Crate & Barrel.

If you're looking to add a high-quality piece to your living area, Crate & Barrel offers several options. The brand has more than a dozen sofa collections, each available in different fabric colors. Many of its models are made of sustainably sourced materials such as chenille, velvet, and polyester. It also offers full fabric breakdowns, which can be found by simply hovering over each fabric option on the website, and includes information on the fabric's origin and durability. Although on the pricier side, the quality is unmatched, making Crate & Barrel worth the splurge.

Worth a look:

Shop all sofas at West Elm.

West Elm is another must-shop brand if you're looking for a modern, conversation-starting couch. The brand specializes in quality furniture and with options to customize size, fabric, color, and more.

Assembly varies by item, and instructions, as well as care instructions, are listed on the site. Some couches even have care instruction videos. 

Worth a look:

Shop all sofas at Homebody.

Homebody currently offers one option, aptly called The Couch. However, you can customize The Couch in over 360 configurations, opting for different couch colors, sections, ottomans, and recliners. The silhouette is reminiscent of other RH Cloud Couch dupes, with an edgeless, low-back design (though Homebody's prices are closer to actual RH prices than other dupes we've seen). 

We've tested Homebody's recliner, which is an add-on to any Homebody couch, and found it super comfortable, very plush, and durable. All the parts are easy to assemble and modular, so they're perfect for transitional homes — you can add, remove, or rearrange sections to adapt to your current space and needs. The quick assembly and disassembly also means you won't have any issues fitting the couch up tight stairwells or narrow doors that are often found in city apartments. The fabric covers are also removable and can be machine washed.

Worth a look:

Shop all sofas at Sixpenny.

Chances are you've run across an Instagram ad for furniture brand Sixpenny, which is known for its aesthetically pleasing couches with an easy, breezy feel. Many of its popular designs feature linen for an effortless, "I just threw this decor together" look. Business Insider executive editor Sally Kaplan tested the brand's Elias sectional in her home and found the sofa to be of incredible quality.

We highly recommend Sixpenny as a luxury pick, but you won't find a sofa under $2,000 here. This is the place to shop for investment pieces; we recommend looking elsewhere if you haven't settled into your long-term home.

With premium prices also comes premium service — all of Sixpenny's sofas ship free to your doorstep. You have the option of paying another $100 for white glove delivery, where a team will bring the sofa into your home and set it up in your space. Our tester opted for this upgrade and said it was well worth it.

Read our full Sixpenny furniture review.

Worth a look:

What are the differences between sofas and couches?

While many designers prefer to use the word "sofa" to indicate luxury or higher quality, the terms "sofa" and "couch" can be used interchangeably and refer to the same item, so search both while shopping.

What are the best materials for couches and sofas?

If you're spending hundreds or even thousands of dollars on a new sofa you'll want to make sure your investment will last through everyday wear and tear, spills, and other accidents that are bound to happen. Kuhl recommends looking for products made with olefin yarn as "it's sustainable, it's super durable and soft." 

What type of couch or sofa should I buy if I have kids or pets?

If you have children or pets, you should look for fabrics labeled as "performance." Performance fabric has been treated to be more durable against spills and heavy usage.

You can find performance versions of your favorite fabrics including velvet, linen, microsuede, chenille, tweed, and more. Parents and pet parents might want to look for sofas with removable covers that can be washed or replaced as needed. Our experts also recommend parents choose a couch with fewer cushions, as cushions will eventually show signs of heavier use.

Where do I start when looking for a sofa online?

Start your process by establishing a realistic budget that will ensure quality while also allowing you to avoid overpaying. "Sofas are definitely a category where you get what you pay for, for the most part," said Kuhl. You'll also want to think about the main functions you desire from your sofa. Whether you're looking for a couch based on aesthetic, design, comfort, or durability, you'll want to establish these factors prior to shopping. 

After you've determined the key functions you're looking for, you'll want to seek out brands that offer those features and go from there. Do some research and become familiar with the brand's return and warranty policies and make sure you have a clear way to contact customer service in the case that any issues arise. Pay close attention to reviews, as they will quickly help you determine quality, comfort, and even if there are any major design flaws. 

Li suggests ordering swatches of any materials you're interested in as they are a great indicator of true color, quality, and durability. 

How do I choose the best sofa size and proportions for my space?

In addition to taking accurate measurements, it's important to consider size, scale, and proportion when purchasing a new sofa. Wangman recommends that customers sketch out a floor plan of their space that includes the length and width of the room as well as the ceiling height. If you're not comfortable drawing a floor plan out by hand, she also recommends using free floor plan software programs such as SketchUp, SmartDraw, or Draft It.

What does a good couch cost?

How can I afford a couch on a budget? 

Many brands currently offer financing through third-party partners such as Affirm, or through opening a store credit card. Many of these options include a 0% APR time period that can last anywhere from 12 to 18 months depending on the price of the items purchased. 

However, if you don't pay off the entire balance by the end of the 0% APR time period you'll be stuck paying off high amounts of interest. 

If you don't have a huge budget but are in need of a new sofa, you have a few options. First, consider shopping with more budget-friendly retailers such as Wayfair and Zinus. You can also wait for sales, which typically occur during the summertime and during major sale events like Black Friday. 

A great way to save money while shopping is to find out if any of the brands you're interested in have a retail outlet. "If you are willing to do a little research and possibly a minor repair here and there, you can score a quality sofa for 30% less than the MSRP by locating the retail outlets of some of your favorite manufacturers," said Li.

Our experts recommend, if you can, spending more money initially to ensure you'll purchase a piece that will last you a long time versus having to constantly replace cheaper-made furniture every few years. Another tip is to buy modular furniture (Burrow is a popular option) that can be added on to and adjusted over time, allowing you to slowly expand your seating as your budget increases. You can also purchase a smaller sofa with a chaise, which will allow for additional seating space at a lower price.

Should I purchase a pre-made or custom couch?

When deciding whether to purchase a pre-made or custom couch, you should consider two main factors: budget and timeframe.

While custom products allow you to choose the fabric, style, and even the legs, you'll also have to wait several weeks to months for the couch to arrive. Custom also typically comes at a higher price. While pre-made couches don't allow customers as much design flexibility, they are available in many designs and fabrics, typically have a lower price point, and offer faster shipping times.

Overall, if you have time to wait and a higher budget, a custom couch can be a unique fixture in your home and better match the rest of your decor.