15 Best Places to Buy a Couch Online, According to Sofa Experts

Attention budget shoppers who appreciate cool features—like reclining seats, cup holders, built-in outlets—Ashley Furniture has a variety of great options. Not only is it easy to find a sofa under $1,000 (some even under $500), but respondents shared positive feedback across the board—from ordering to comfort, appearance, and quality. Plus, you have the choice to shop online or in store.

Survey respondents found the sofas are more durable than similarly priced offerings from other brands, though maybe not as sturdy as higher priced options. Many noted that Ashley Furniture's couches are easy to clean and hold up well over time. One said, "It's very comfortable, doesn't flatten with time, and is still in the same condition as when it was new." Most sofas include decorative throw pillows, which our respondents appreciated. Once you pick a style, your choice of fabric and color may be limited and customization isn't an option.

Known for its minimalist and mid-century modern designs, Article offers a curated assortment of stylish sofas—making the brand a top choice for people that like to entertain. Most designs come in woven, leather, or velvet fabrics in a limited range of colors. Article's sofas are not as deep as other brands, so they're a practical choice for apartments and other small spaces, though they may not be the most sensible for family lounging.

With Article, you can expect your sofa to ship quickly and for assembly to take between five and 15 minutes. Overall, survey respondents enjoyed the size and style of their sofas, plus they found the ordering process simple. One said, "We love the style and quality that Article offers. And the customer service is phenomenal."

If you're someone who prefers to see and feel a sofa in person, consider visiting a Macy's department store to explore a variety of options. We suggest starting online. Once you've found a few styles you like, the website makes it easy to check which showrooms to visit.

Macy's offers an array of timeless sofa styles, plus a range of color choices. Find affordable three seaters under $500, sleeper sofas, reclining sofas and splurge-worthy sectionals, including the well-rated Radley 5-Piece Chaise Sectional Sofa (respondents found it comfortable and well worth the price).

We had over 200 Macy's sofa owners provide feedback, and most agreed that the quality is good, but wished certain styles were more durable and a few experienced delivery delays. One user noted it’s a good idea to wait for a sale: "Some sales are better than others. It’s possible to get a really good price."

From loveseats and daybeds to sectionals and sleeper sofas, Joybird has a wide variety of mid-century modern styles. You can choose more than 75 fabrics and colors—the site offers free swatch kits and design services to help you plan your layout and customize your sofa.

Overall, Joybird owners enjoy the ordering experience and the "excellent array of choices in style and fabric," though they are on the pricey side. There's also a 90-day return policy for ready-to-ship items.

Amazon has a wide range of sofas with many options costing less than $500. Since the retailer is known for its fast (and usually free) shipping, you can expect to receive your new couch swiftly. You can find sofas from a variety of brands, although most may be unrecognizable and quality can vary. Our advice? Rely heavily on reviews, including photo reviews, before purchasing a couch from Amazon.

This four-seat sofa is from Furmax, and one respondent who purchased it wrote: "The couch was REALLY easy to put together, It’s super soft, and is actually really sturdy. I was hesitant as this is my first furniture piece from Amazon, but I’m impressed! It’s definitely not a top notch couch, but it’s definitely worth the money so far!"

With a variety of customizable couches, Crate & Barrel is a good option for families looking to invest in a comfortable sofa that will stand the test of time. If you're working with a tricky layout, you'll have the option to customize the size and configuration of your sofa or sectional, as well as choose a fabric. Since these couches are an investment, you can order up to five free swatches of the fabrics before settling on a style. Not to mention, there's the option to visit a local store.

In our latest sofa survey, respondents loved the ease of ordering and the overall comfort, appearance, and durability of Crate & Barrel's couches. Many noted that the fabrics are easy to clean, with one who said, "I can easily wash off pen marks," and another saying, "We have two toddlers and have had some minor spills—everything has cleaned up very quickly." Since most of Crate & Barrel's sofas are made to order, delivery may take months.

Showcasing a contemporary aesthetic, West Elm is home to a few of our favorite couches, including the best-selling Harmony sofa. (It was rated the most comfortable couch by Good Housekeeping experts, thanks to its cloud-like cushions). While West Elm sofas are a small investment, the prices are more affordable than some other brands—most are between the $1,000 and $2,500 range, although you may be able snag something cheaper on sale.

Most sofas are available in over 100 different fabrics, as well as various sizes, so you can customize a style to fit your space. While some quick-ship fabrics will ship within one to five weeks, other styles may take months to ship. Overall, we heard from 67 West Elm owners who gave the brand high scores for easy ordering and set-up. One said that their sofa "does not pill" and even after using it as their main sofa for five years, it's "held up very well."

If you're looking for sofas with built-in recliners, look no further than La-Z-Boy. As the name suggests, the brand is focused on creating sofas where you can be "lazy"—a.k.a. kick up your feet up and relax. While there are options without reclining seats, the brand stands out for its recliner chairs and sofas.

We surveyed over 350 La-Z-Boy sofa owners, who gave the brand high ratings, especially for comfort and appearance. One said, "I have a bad back and the support of this sofa is amazing." Many also mentioned the couches are easy to clean and that they appreciate the unique features, like built-in chargers and removable cushions.

The only downside? The site doesn't offer as seamless of a shopping experience as other online retailers—it's more difficult to locate dimensions and choose a fabric. But, at least there's the option to shop in store.

Lovesac is a smart option for homeowners looking to fill up a large living space or anyone who enjoys the flexibility of rearranging a modular sofa layout at home.

From arm style and configuration to fabric upholstery, Lovesac allows you to custom-design a sofa that accommodates your space. When you order a "Sactional" (a combo of the brand's name and sectional), you can buy as many seats and sides as you'd like—from two seats and four sides to the massive 10 seats and 12 sides. While Sactionals are expensive and some users found the sofas difficult to assemble, respondents loved that the couches are comfortable and easy to clean (the covers are machine-washable). "It's expensive, but so worth it," said one respondent.

Ideal for budget shoppers, Wayfair offers an array of stylish sofas at fair prices. From tufted cushions and trendy colors to sleeper sofas and reclining seats, you're sure to find a style that elevates your living room design. While most couches are easy to assemble yourself, the retailer also offers full-service set-up for an added cost.

Most survey respondents (we heard from 137 Wayfair sofa owners) were satisfied with their purchase, noting "unbeatable prices," great return policies, fast delivery, and helpful customer service. "Wayfair ordering was a breeze—fast delivery and fair pricing," said one. In terms of durability, some worried that their couch may not hold up well over time, although most found the sofa styles look pricier than they actually are.

IKEA is known for its affordable home furnishings, and they offer a number of modern sofa styles—from two- and three-seaters to sectionals. You'll find a wide selection of simple sofa styles under $1,000, plus a number of stylish choices under $500 and even $300. IKEA also prioritizes convenience, so many couches feature hidden storage and many have slipcovers that can be machine washed or dry cleaned. Hint: You can purchase spare slipcovers to upgrade your space in an instant.

The brand is ideal for price-conscious shoppers who don't mind assembling their own sofa. Ordering from IKEA is also helpful if you're looking for a sofa fast, since you have the option to order online and pick up from the store. IKEA sofa owners love the low prices, and many found the quality to be impressive albeit not as luxe looking as other brands. "Our sectional meets our family's needs and has been sturdy for the past 9 years," writes one survey respondent. "My only issue is that if we have to change all the covers (not just the cushions), it becomes a bit hard."

Burrow features a range of modular sofa designs that blends mid-century modernism with contemporary Scandinavian style. In an effort to maximize convenience, the brand ships all items in boxes that are easier to navigate through doors and hallways, a feature that's especially important for apartment renters.

Not only is the modular design simple enough to assemble yourself, but it allows users to rearrange the pieces as needed—like moving the chaise from one side to another the next time you move. Some users reported that the couches are smaller than expected so take note of the measurements.

The "Nomad" is the brand's most popular collection, which allows you to choose your favorite arm style, cushion fill, leg finish, material, and fabric color. Luckily, the website offers a straightforward, friction-free online ordering process.

Whether you're decorating a bonus room or a small space, or you'd like to score a super affordable couch, few brands can compete with Walmart's low sofa prices. We recently compiled the best couches to buy at Walmart, and options include functional futons, modern sectionals designs, tufted styles, and vintage-inspired sofas. Shop an array of stylish sofas for small spaces starting under $200.

The popular retailer sells a variety of third-party and private-label sofas, as well as options from its value brand, Mainstays. While we haven't personally tested any of Walmart's couches, the brand is worth mentioning due to its affordable prices, fast delivery, and easy-to-assemble offerings. Since quality will vary from brand to brand, just be sure to read reviews before buying.