Couch Comparisons

Apt2B vs West Elm: Who Has Better Couches?

Looking to upgrade your living room with a new couch? Learn which brand - Apt2B or West Elm - offers the best in comfort, design, and durability to elevate your space.
Apt2B vs West Elm
Step right up, folks, as we unleash a sofa showdown between Apt2B and West Elm. These couch connoisseurs are ready to vie for your attention with their range of styles and materials. Curious to find out which brand will steal the show and earn that coveted center stage in your home?

Side By Side

Features
Apt2B
West Elm
Made to Order Lead Times 2-4 weeks 8+ weeks
Free Shipping Option
White Glove Delivery Option $149 $279-$429
Return Option
Warranty Included
Financing Option Bread Pay Affirm
Assembly Required Varies
Large Fabric Selection
Free Swatches Available
Manufacturing Origin USA + Import Import
Avg. 3-Seat Couch Price $$$ $$-$$$

In terms of style, both brands offer a wide selection, allowing buyers to find the perfect match for their homes. Apt2B's durability and sustainable practices position them as a reliable choice. On the other hand, West Elm shines in sustainability efforts, providing excellent customer service, making it a strong contender for those valuing eco-friendly options.


BRAND #1: Apt2B

A black and white logo consists of two sections: the left side reads "APT 2B" and the right side reads "Modern Furniture." The text is enclosed in a rectangular border.

Apt2B was founded in 2010 with the goal of providing customizable, USA made apartment size sofas at an affordable price. They've since expanded their offering to include sectionals, sofa beds, and more. Apt2B was recently acquired by The RoomPlace.

Apt2B | Brand Summary

Apt2B is a really fantastic option if you’re looking for a couch, sleeper sofa, or sectional that’s made in the USA, customizable, is made from quality materials, and ships quick. The delivery process is smooth and stress-free, highlighting the convenience from order placement to receiving the product.

But Apt2B furniture also offers “exclusive import” products that are manufactured overseas and don’t match the rest of their quality. This leads to a bit of an identity crisis on the website and weakens their overall rating. For the sake of this review I will mostly be focusing on their collection of Made in the USA couches, which is also what you should do when shopping at Apt2B.

Couch Potato Note: Like Joybird, I’d recommend that you only order Apt2B couches when they’re on sale (and they’re almost always on sale).

Apt2B | PotatoMeter Rating:

Online Shopping Experience Score 93%
Durability and Quality Score 90%
Shipping and Lead Time Score 96%
Vibe Check Score 86%
Customer Focus Score 88%
Overall PotatoMeter Rating 91%
Read Our Apt2B Brand Review

Apt2B | Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Most couches made in the USA
  • Exceptionally fast lead times
  • Huge fabric selection
  • Tons of couch styles and sizes
  • High quality materials for the price
  • Fabrics are all the same price

Cons

  • Some couches imported from overseas
  • Essentially only offers a 1-year warranty
  • Returns can be costly
  • No brick-and-mortar locations

Apt2B has a bit of a split personality when it comes to their couch offerings. They have high-quality, made-in-the-USA sofas, but they also sell cheaper, lower-quality, imported couches. It can be hard to tell which is which when shopping on their website. Their imported couches do not have a warranty, and their USA-made couches essentially have a 1-year warranty despite language promoting a lifetime warranty. A lack of brick-and-mortar locations makes it difficult to judge Apt2B’s quality and comfort in person.

However, they have an excellent range of USA-made couch sizes and styles available in dozens of fabrics. They sell large 2-piece sectional sofas, sectional sleeper sofas, apartment-size sofas, and big modular couches. If you want mid-century modern couches or modern couches you’ll have plenty to choose from at Apt2B furniture. Apt2B also has some of the fastest lead times for custom-built, USA-made sofas we’ve ever seen. The icing on the cake? Apt2B uses high-quality materials, especially at their competitive, mid-tier price point. Plus, every upholstery fabric option is the same price, so you can customize to your heart’s content.

Shop Apt2B Now

BRAND #2: West Elm

West Elm logo featuring the brand name in lowercase, black, sans-serif font on a white background.

West Elm launched in 2002 and opened its first storefront in 2003. They're owned and operated by Williams-Sonoma who also owns Pottery Barn. Despite their corporate nature, West Elm actually has a great emphasis on sustainability and eco-friendly initiatives.

West Elm | Brand Summary

West Elm has stylish, modern furniture with the quality and backing of the Williams-Sonoma brand. They have surprisingly competitive prices considering their selection and their quality. They also get some points for focusing on sustainability and supporting a worldwide community of artisans.

But operating under the umbrella of Williams-Sonoma does have downsides. Most of West Elm's couches are imported from overseas, they don't have any meaningful warranty program, and the lead times could be better than they are. West Elm's prices are more affordable than other brands with similar styles, but there's also not a strong reason why you should choose West Elm over another brand that has better lead times and a stronger customer focus.

West Elm | PotatoMeter Rating

Online Shopping Experience Score 85%
Durability and Quality Score 88%
Shipping and Lead Time Score 84%
Vibe Check Score 93%
Customer Focus Score 82%
Overall PotatoMeter Rating 86%
Read Our West Elm Brand Review

West Elm | Pros & Cons

Pros

  • Large selection of stylish sofas
  • In-stock couches ship quickly
  • Competitive pricing, especially on their leather options
  • 3rd party warranty option
  • Strong sustainability initiatives
  • Has brick-and-mortar locations

Cons

  • Couches are all imported
  • No standard warranty
  • Can't return made to order couches
  • 7 day return window may not apply even to In-Stock options
  • Shockingly low 1.1 star rating on TrustPilot

Is West Elm good quality? The brand has become a go-to brand for stylish sofas at surprisingly affordable prices. But those lower prices come at a cost. There’s no standard warranty on their couches, made-to-order couches can’t be returned, and their 7-day return window may not apply to their In-Stock or Quick Ship couches. That could make them an expensive gamble. Additionally, West Elm has a very low 1.1-star rating on Trustpilot, which could give you pause. But one saving grace is that you can purchase a 3-year Allstate Protection warranty for your sofa. This covers accidents, stains, material damage, and more.

On the positive side, West Elm has a huge number of glamorous couches to choose from. They’re also generally available in a wide range of luxury fabrics. So you can really design a couch that you love. The pricing is wonderfully competitive for their quality and the number of sofa styles available. West Elm also has plenty of brick-and-mortar locations where you can test out their couches in person. And if sustainability is important to you, West Elm has some impressive initiatives on that front. However, they are part of a big corporate umbrella, which might negatively affect some shoppers.

Shop West Elm Now

And the winner is...

After evaluating the key factors, Apt2B takes the crown in this showdown, offering top-notch durability, a diverse range of styles, and a focus on sustainability. With their quality materials and fast shipping, Apt2B proves to be the ultimate choice for those seeking long-lasting, stylish seating options.

A smiling man with short brown hair and a beard stands on a beach during sunset. He is wearing a black short-sleeved shirt with small white dots. The ocean and sandy shore are in the background, creating a warm and relaxed atmosphere.
Alex Back
Couch.com CEO & Founder
Alex Back is the founder and CEO of Couch.com. Previously, he was the co-founder and COO of the popular furniture brand, Apt2B, which was acquired by a large US retail furniture chain in 2018. He worked to integrate Apt2B, one of the very first online furniture retailers on the Shopify platform, into the operations of the 100 year old larger business entity and was deeply immersed in the business operations of both online and brick and mortar retail for 4 years before leaving in 2023 to start Couch.com. Working in various parts of the furniture industry since 2004, he has 20 years experience in retail sales, e-commerce, marketing, operations, logistics and wholesale manufacturing and distribution. He has worked extensively with partners such as Costco, Bed Bath and Beyond and Amazon and his work has been highlighted in many publications such as Forbes, CNN and HGTV, among others. Alex is delighted to bring his experience and authority on couches and the furniture industry to this platform, along with many of his industry colleagues who are helping him keep the Couch.com audience informed and engaged on a daily basis.
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