On a good day, shopping for a new sofa involves some rigorous research—throw in a budget, and the task becomes even more of a challenge. You need to bank hours to compare specs, order swatches, negotiate delivery times… or, you can read our guide to the best affordable sofas, and cut your search time in half. From Vogue-loved brands like West Elm, CB2, and Sundays to big-box retailers (trust us: the right IKEA couch can look surprisingly high-end), we found 13 seating options that made the cut.
The Best Affordable Sofas, According to Vogue
First, the rules. Budget obviously comes first, so we capped our search at $2,000, with several options around $1,600 and even one $600 gem. In-stock, bestseller options were a priority when pulling together our edit—though, fair warning: A couch typically comes with a long lead time for delivery, so factor that into your order even if it says it’s available to ship. Then, we looked for elements that blend form and function. Whether it’s a performance fabric that makes it a good option for homes with pets, a compact size that’s ideal for small spaces, or even a sofa bed, our selects span modern sofas and overstuffed, lived-in options—something for every sensibility.
Ahead, the 13 best affordable sofas that don’t skimp on style.
Best Overall Sofa
You want a simple, not-too-trendy, not-too-boring couch to anchor your living space; introducing, the Goldilocks of sofas. Clean lines and a slightly overstuffed slipcover make this option feel current, but it’s versatile enough to adapt to many style evolutions (and future living rooms) to come. For the price, you get a lot of choice: Customize your size, your seat depth, and your color for a piece that feels uniquely yours.
- Dimensions: 73” x 36” x26”
- Upholstery Options: Linen, canvas
- Colors Available: 20+ including olive, midnight blue, and mist
Best Sectional Sofa
If you have the square footage for it, an L-shaped style is an easy focal point. Article’s is made from a plush velvet that’s designed to be low-maintenance for cleaning and last you for years. Structure-wise, you can pick between four configurations for the set-up that makes most sense for your living area; the sectional further separates into two parts.
- Dimensions: 94.5" x 63.5" x 28"
- Upholstery Options: Velvet, polyester blend
- Colors Available: Yarrow gold, pacific blue, Welsh grey, quartz white
Best Slipcovered Sofa
All the look of a rustic, lived-in vintage piece, minus the price tag. IKEA’s budget-friendly loveseat (which also comes in a sectional configuration) has extra-deep seats and removable cushion covers for laundry day. I picked up a larger—and sadly sold-out—version of the Backsälen loveseat when I moved into my apartment three years ago, and I would buy it again in a heartbeat. It has housed many visitors over the years (it really is so comfortable—see again: the aforementioned deep seats) and the floor clearance is tall enough to accommodate under-couch bins; a must, in a tiny New York City apartment. For $600, I don’t think a better couch exists.
- Dimensions: 65" x 37" x 33.5"
- Upholstery Options: Cotton
- Colors Available: White, natural, gray
Best Skirted Sofa
Perhaps you’re looking for something to round out a breakfast nook, or an occasion sofa to transform a tiny room into a jewel box—either way, this sweet two-seater is a great contender. Choose from a range of eye-catching prints, from black-and-white zebra stripes to antique florals. Each piece is made-to-order, but you can order free fabric samples to get a glimpse of what the finished product will look like.
- Dimensions: 33 s 47" 34"
- Upholstery Options: Cotton
- Colors Available: 8+ including Francie blue, Jane stripe carbon, and Michigan bird toile
Best Sofa Set
Kick your feet up on a sofa that comes with a pal. Castlery’s mid-century modern-style loveseat has a matching ottoman that works as a foot rest for cozy nights in, or as extra guest seating when the evening is busier. (For a little more, you can purchase it as a three-seater set.) It comes in only two colors, but the performance polyester fabric zips off for easy cleaning and the tufting is designed to keep the fill in place.
- Dimensions: 68.1" x 38.2" x 34.3" (sofa); 34.1" x 25.6" x 17.9" (ottoman)
- Upholstery Options: Polyester blend
- Colors Available: Bisque, forest
Best Performance-Grade Sofa
From pets to small children, a living room sofa sees a lot of wear. Sundays’ solution is this sofa, which is stain-resistant, moisture-repellent, fully washable, and non-toxic—the stain-repellent treatment is made without chemicals that might be harmful to the smaller members of your household. You can choose from a few different sizes and configurations, but the compact two-seater is ideal for smaller spaces.
- Dimensions: 66" x 32" x 36"
- Upholstery Options: Polyester
- Colors Available: Sugar, Newport stripe
Best Sleeper Sofa
Stacked cushions, a sleek silhouette, and elevated colors hide this sofa’s practical star feature: It folds out into a Queen-sized bed. It’s the ideal fit for the guest room-less decorator, and given you can customize it with so many fabrics and hues (be sure to take advantage of the free swatches to settle on the exact right shade), it feels closer to a custom piece than something you got at a bargain.
- Dimensions: 86" x 37" x 33"
- Upholstery Options: Linen, basketweave, velvet, chenille, canvas, boucle, twill
- Colors Available: 20+ including juniper, tawny, and ochre
Best Roll Arm Sofa
If you prefer the classic look of antique sofas, consider this bubblegum pink piece. Rolled arms and turned legs give this new design an old-world feel; to lean into the luxe element, choose from one of the rich velvet colors. The three-seater is spacious for the price, and because the frame is built from kiln-dried hardwood, it’s durable to boot.
- Dimensions: 88 x 33.5" x 37"
- Upholstery Options: Linen, velvet, polyester
- Colors Available: Peach orange, light beige, navy blue, silver grey, olive green, sky natural
Best Linen Sofa
For airy elegance reminiscent of a coastal cottage or a European apartment, choose linen for your sofa. CB2’s Italian-inspired one does come in a range of other fabrics, but the oatmeal-colored linen is versatile and sophisticated. “My past couch decisions haunt me, never wanting to make the wrong choice, but then ending up with a suite of options that didn’t work in my apartment—too small, too big, too uncomfortable. Finally finding the simple natural linen one made up for all the trial and error. It comfortably seats two (mind you, I have the 78-inch one) without taking up the entire living room. I’m not one to spend an entire afternoon on the couch, but curled up in a corner here makes it terribly tempting,” says shopping director Talia Abbas.
- Dimensions: 92.75" x 39.5" x 32"
- Upholstery Options: Linen, boucle, chenille, twill, velvet, shearling
- Colors Available: 20+ including java, putty, and dove
Best Eco-Conscious Sofa
New York-based brand Sabai is committed to sustainable design, with nearly all of its materials being recycled or upcycled, a repair shop where you can purchase replacement pieces (rather than throw the whole sofa out), and several certifications to back up its ethical practices. It all started with The Essential Sofa, a slim, low-profile piece that’s perfect for minimalists. The velvet upholstery is made from purely recycled fibers, so you can feel good about your purchase.
- Dimensions: 85" x 32" x 34"
- Upholstery Options: Cactus leather, hemp blend, recycled velvet, upcycled poly
- Colors Available: 8+ including chocolate, dusty rose, and moss
Best Settee
This is not a sofa to sprawl out in (mostly because, well, you can’t). This is a sofa to place strategically in an empty area in need of a little livening up: the foot of a bed, as a chic catch-all for the day’s clothes, the entryway, as a comfy spot to tie your shoes before heading out, or the open-concept living area, as a carved-out reading nook. The currant-colored velvet settee is sophisticated and luxurious—and since the made-to-order piece comes with White Glove delivery, there’s no assembly required on your part.
- Dimensions: 54" x 31" x 30"
- Upholstery Options: Velvet, linen blend
- Colors Available: 20+ including currant, olive, and rosewood
Best Designer Sofa
West Elm frequently runs designer collaborations, but its ongoing one with Pierce Ward continues to feel like a well-kept secret—chiefly because pieces like this rosy chenille sofa, which is both oversized and elegant, come in at under $1,500. The contract-grade piece was created as a modern take on a classic roll-arm sofa, and the slightly washed hue makes it the perfect anchor to ground a larger living room.
- Dimensions: 92" x 40" x 33"
- Upholstery Options: Basketweave, linen, chenille, velvet, canvas, boucle, twill
- Colors Available: 20+ including burnt umber, dusty blue, and tarragon
Best Statement Sofa
From the scalloped wood base to the plush moss green color (the ivory option may be better for neutral palettes) this playful pick makes a splash. The low profile is great for a relaxed, contemporary aesthetic; and despite its two-seat design, it can actually fit three people. Take advantage of the White Glove Delivery offered, which opens and assembles the sofa in your home so you don’t have to worry about having the right tools.
- Dimensions: 74.8" x 33.46" x 30"
- Upholstery Options: Fabric
- Colors Available: Moss, ivory
How we picked the best affordable sofas
We focused on Vogue-tested and approved brands, including specific sofas that our editors have in their own homes and have loved for years. Customization elements—like multiple color or upholstery options—were a plus, as they allow for a more bespoke look on a budget. And of course, every item here comes in at under $2,000.
