The Vintage IKEA Furniture That's Now Worth Thousands
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IKEA is beloved for its low price tags. A $1 storage bin, a $10 desk—you name it, IKEA has it for a low, low price. And while some of the brand's more popular pieces can be on the pricier side, nothing compares to the IKEA vintage market. If you thought concert ticket resale was insane, welcome to the world of vintage IKEA furniture. How crazy is it? Well, a once 37 Euro chair was just sold at auction for an astounding $13,000. That's how crazy. And there seems to be no limit to the price markup.
Of course, vintage furniture has always been valuable, and IKEA especially so. The Swedish retailer is known for tapping budding design talent (like Alvar Aalto and Niels Gammelgaard) for collaborations. And when an item from a coveted collaboration is discontinued, its price skyrockets on the resale market. So whether you're a collector, or just curious about the old furniture pieces you have lying around at home, you might be wondering which IKEA pieces went up in value once they were off the store shelves for good. Read on to discover the 11 IKEA furniture pieces worth a lot of money. Who knows? Maybe there's a windfall resting quietly in your spare bedroom.
Mid-Century IKEA Teak Cabinet, 1950s
Mid-century case pieces (cabinets, credenzas, and shelving) are some of the most sought-after vintage furniture on the market. It's no surprise that IKEA's iterations are so valuable. This specific piece, a teak and birch cabinet with door detailing, is worth in the $3,000 to $4,000 range today
Grill Chairs by Bengt Ruda, 1958
If there's a theme to this list, it's Bengt Ruda's designs. IKEA only began tapping outside designers in 1957, so Ruda was one of the first to leave his mark. The IKEA Museum archive calls Ruda "the first qualified designer to be hired." This makes his pieces all the more valuable today. These armchairs, from an early collection in 1958, boast a unique tripod shape. According to the IKEA Museum archive, GRILL was a three-legged stackable chair with a steel tube or wooden frame, and a seat and back in molded teak. Back in the day, a single chair would only cost you $2.40—an absolute steal! Today however, a pair is worth nearly $9,000.
Ikea Sofa by Bengt Ruda, Early 1960s
Designed with an eye-catching, and highly durable, green flatweave fabric, this sofa has a distinctly mid-century feel. While we don't have original pricing information, now you can expect to spend around $4,000 on a three-seater model.
Bengt Ruda Cikada Armchairs by IKEA, 1960s
Another piece from one of Ruda's collections, this time in 1964, the Cikada armchairs are a classic safari style with a flexible seat and back. A set of three is selling on 1st Dibs for just above $4,700, however on other sites, you can find sets for close to $6,000. The construction of the chairs features a black beechwood frame with canvas upholstery and saddle leather armrests.
Polo Swivel Chair, M Wincrantz Möbelindustri AB, 1967
First introduced in 1967, the Polo swivel chair was part of a guest collection made by M Wincrantz Möbelindustri AB in Skövde. According to the IKEA Museum archive, these armchairs originally sold for the equivalent of $17.19. Available in a wide range of colors, these chairs were incredibly popular and are now considered an extremely rare find. They have appeared twice in anniversary collections, first in 1993, and then again in 2003 under the name SKRUVSTA. Many sell today for between $400 and $900.
Borkum 3-Seater by Johan Bertil Häggström, 1970s
Häggström's IKEA collection in the early 1970s was a true testament to the trends of the time. Loungey silhouettes, leather upholstery, and chrome accents were all key signatures for his seating. Today, the Borkum sofa would fit right in among the Linge Rose Togos and B&B Camaleonda sofas that are all the rage. A chair from the Borkum collection is worth around $1,200 while the three-seater sofa, pictured here, is much more, approximately $4,000 in good condition.
Impala Chair by Gillis Lundgren, 1972
A rare piece that deviates from IKEA's strictly Swedish naming system, this iconic chair (and corresponding sofa) by designer Gillis Lundgren is said to be named after the Chevrolet Impala. In the 1970s, this chrome and soft fabric lounge chair was originally sold for the equivalent of $280 in today's currency, but now you can expect to pay over $13,000 for a single chair.
Scandinavian Art Deco Table Lamps, 1980s
One of the few non-seating items on this list, these Art Decor table lamps are highly valuable for the IKEA Collector and vintage enthusiast alike. On 1st Dibs, a pair of these lamps are listed for $1,900, a far cry from their original, double-digit price tag in the 1980s.
Guide Shelving Unit by Niels Gammelgaard, 1980s
Among the most popular vintage IKEA pieces, the Guide shelving units were available in a wood finish, all-white, or with an eye-catching rainbow edge. On the resale market, these units can cost up to $1,500 while in the 1980s they were a mere $68. There is good news, though, for those who don't want to shell out four figures for a bookshelf: In February 2025, IKEA is reissuing this piece, along with others from Gammelgaard's collection as part of the brand's 80th anniversary. It's estimated that these new versions will sell at less than $150.
Karlskrona Wicker Chaise by Carl Öjerstam, 1990s
This highly coveted wicker and rattan chaise was designed by Carl Öjerstam in the mid-1990s. Originally, this lounge piece came with an attached neck pillow, but most chairs being resold don't include this feature, as the neck pillow seems to get lost in the sands of time. One of the more 'affordable' pieces on this list, these chaise longues can be snapped up for for between $800 and $1,400 on resale sites today.
Alvar Aalto Lounge Chair, 1990s
Arguably the most renowned Finnish furniture designer, Alvar Aalto was tapped for an IKEA collaboration in the early 90s. Incorporating his signature minimalist aesthetic and wooden construction, this lounge chair is a must-have piece for the Aalto-lover. These chairs are now worth around $2,000 today.
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