Couch Comparisons

West Elm vs Joybird: Who Has Better Couches?

Curious about which brand crafts the most stylish and durable couches between West Elm and Joybird? Join us as we unravel the couch competition between these two furniture gurus.
Alex Back | Couch.com CEO & Founder
West Elm vs Joybird

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    It's time for the ultimate sofa showdown between West Elm and Joybird. Which brand will steal the spotlight with their settees? Anticipation is high as we compare these furniture powerhouses to help you pick your perfect couch.

    Side By Side

    Features
    West Elm
    Joybird
    Made to Order Lead Times 8+ weeks 4-8 Weeks
    Free Shipping Option
    White Glove Delivery Option $279-$429 $129-$299
    Return Option
    Warranty Included
    Financing Option Affirm Affirm
    Assembly Required
    Large Fabric Selection
    Free Swatches Available
    Manufacturing Origin Import Mexico
    Avg. 3-Seat Couch Price $$-$$$ $$$

    West Elm and Joybird excel in delivering stylish, durable couches tailored to different budgets. West Elm offers a mid-range selection with a focus on sustainability, ideal for eco-conscious buyers seeking diverse design choices. In contrast, Joybird presents a premium range with top-notch materials and a lifetime warranty on sofa frames, making it a top pick for those valuing durability and quality in their seating solutions.


    BRAND #1: 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

    BRAND #2: Joybird

    A teal-colored bird logo with the word "JOYBIRD" in uppercase letters to the right of the bird. The bird is standing on two legs with a raised tail. The design appears on a white background.

    Joybird was launched in 2013 and instantly charmed the world with their Instagram-worthy couches. They've since cemented themselves as one of the top online furniture brands. They are currently owned by La-Z-Boy.

    Joybird | Brand Summary

    Joybird has stood the test of time and firmly cemented themselves as one of the best online couch retailers at their price point. They have a professional-yet-fun presentation, offer great quality products for the price, and allow customers to pick from dozens of beautiful fabrics.

    I have a few minor gripes with the website shopping experience and I’d encourage everyone to thoroughly examine the shipping and return policies, but overall there’s very little to criticize. Dare I say that Joybird sparks joy? I do dare.

    Couch Potato Note: Joybird is almost always on sale for up to 30% off. For this review, their price point is assumed to be 30% off the listed price. You should always wait for a sale before you buy a couch from Joybird (and you won’t have to wait very long). For all intents and purposes, their sale price is their actual price.

    Joybird | PotatoMeter Rating

    Online Shopping Experience Score 94%
    Durability and Quality Score 91%
    Shipping and Lead Time Score 92%
    Vibe Check Score 92%
    Customer Focus Score 90%
    Overall PotatoMeter Rating 92%
    Read Our Joybird Brand Review

    Joybird | Pros & Cons

    Pros

    • Huge fabric selection
    • Very fast lead times
    • High quality materials for the price
    • Tons of couch styles and sizes
    • Lifetime warranty on sofa frames
    • Has some brick-and-mortar locations

    Cons

    • Couches made in Mexico, not USA
    • No free delivery option
    • Returns can be costly
    • Fabrics have different grades/prices

    Joybird presents itself as a fun, trendy, and flashy brand. And for the most part, their couches deliver on that promise. But there are a few aspects that might detract from their appeal. Their couches are all made in Mexico, which also means that their lead times are not quite as good as other brands. Pricey white glove delivery and potentially costly returns might make ordering online feel like a gamble. And while Joybird has a huge fabric selection for their custom couches, choosing certain fabrics can add hundreds of dollars to your order.

    On the flip side, Joybird furniture has many brick-and-mortar locations in major metropolitan areas, allowing you to test out their couches in person. This is rare for an online couch company but is a major perk. Like Apt2B, Joybird has a large selection of stylish couches in a huge range of sizes and configurations. They offer loveseats all the way up through large modular sectional sofas. Joybird also has a great selection of affordable sofa beds and sleeper sectional sofas. They also back their high-quality couch frames with a lifetime warranty as well as a 1-year warranty on their top-tier upholstery craftsmanship. If you want it, Joybird has it.

    Shop Joybird Now

    And the winner is...

    In this sofa showdown, Joybird takes the crown with its premium quality materials and a lifetime warranty on sofa frames, appealing to buyers seeking top-notch durability and style. While West Elm offers sustainability and a diverse design range, Joybird's emphasis on quality makes it the ultimate winner in the battle of the couches.

    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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