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Nov 06, 2024

Best Couches 2024 | Tested - Forbes Vetted

The best couches have high-quality upholstery, cushions that are a blend of supportive and soft, a well-constructed wood frame, and a style that seamlessly fits your home’s aesthetic. After almost 5

The best couches have high-quality upholstery, cushions that are a blend of supportive and soft, a well-constructed wood frame, and a style that seamlessly fits your home’s aesthetic. After almost 5 months of testing 19 couches with 14 other Forbes Vetted panelists, I determined that the best couch overall is the Interior Define James Three-Seat Sofa, a luxurious but well-priced couch with plenty of customization options and a perfect blend of contemporary and traditional design. Article’s Sven Charme Tan Sofa also stood out for its excellent construction at an affordable price tag.

The best couches we tested blend seamlessly with home décor while being comfortable and functional.

Here are all the winning couches from our months-long testing process:

Scroll down to see more worthwhile couch options in the Other Couches We Tested section. (For more top shopping tips from experts, consult our ultimate couch buying guide.)

Interior Define

Upholstery: 3 | Colors: 26 | Fill: Foam; foam/down alternative; foam/down | Shipping: 10 to 12 weeks | Delivery: White-glove, $279

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The Interior Define James Three-Seat Sofa with Contrast Piping stood out during testing for its simple but well-built construction, as well as its transitional design. There are practically countless ways to customize the James sofa. I opted for the 104-inch-wide three-seater with contrast piping, performance plush velvet upholstery, a 44-inch depth, and cushions filled with layers of foam and a down alternative. The James sofa is also priced lower than many other less-customizable couches—which increase in price quite rapidly once you add on extra design or comfort elements

During day-to-day testing, this couch struck the right balance between soft and firm, and I found it just as comfortable for working from home as it was for cuddling up for a nap. I also set it up for an overnight guest (removing the back cushions to make it into a single bed), and it was met with great reviews.

I found the Interior Define James Three-Seat Sofa just as comfortable for working from home as it ... [+] was for cuddling up for a nap.

Washability and stain resistance were something I was worried about when choosing a light-green velvet upholstery, but it’s proven to be one of the easiest materials to clean during my couch trials. I tested for stain resistance on one of the four included throw pillow covers, and I was impressed by how easily Nutella, cranberry juice and wet coffee grounds came almost completely out with just blotting. After a run-through the wash on a cold and gentle cycle, the pillow cover was as good as new.

The 2024 Forbes Vetted Best Product Awards are here: Explore our 150 top-recommended items across categories after extensive research and testing.

Article

Upholstery: 3 | Colors: 22 | Fill: Foam, fiber, feathers | Shipping: 1 to 2 weeks | Delivery: Doorstep, free (purchases over $999); in-room, $119; in-room with assembly, $199

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Any sofa under $1,000 is more likely to cut corners, which is why I would typically recommend a higher upfront investment for a piece of furniture that should earn its keep for years to come. But the small and mighty Article Sven impressed us during testing with its performance and superior construction—the latter features a kiln-dried wood frame and quality cushion fill for a price much lower than sofas with similar construction and upholstery.

Audience development director Spencer Dukoff, who tested the Sven in the Charme Tan leather colorway, remarks that the couch is soft and supportive enough for a full day of working from home, thanks to its cushions’ balanced blend of foam, fiber and feathers. “You’re not going to fall into it and struggle to pull yourself out. ... Neither will you rest your tailbone on the very edge. The height of the seat aligns nicely with the seat’s depth, so you’re comfortable no matter how you choose to sit. The cushioning has a little give to it, which means it’s hugging you versus pushing up against you,” he notes.

The Article Sven Sofa proved to be soft and supportive enough for a full day of work due to the ... [+] blend of foam, fiber and feathers in the cushions.

During stain testing, the Sven’s leather was easily wiped clean from wet coffee grounds, but Dukoff cautions that you’d want to be careful with dark liquids or chocolate—which comes with the territory of leather care. The cushion covers are removable, though, so if you opt for the velvet or woven upholstery, they can be dry-cleaned and zipped back on.

Months after initial testing, Dukoff says his family’s Article Sven Sofa has held up remarkably well—despite his 3-year-old’s energetic efforts to test its limits. “He's spilled water cups, played with action figures that could scratch the leather, rode the bolster pillows like horsies and jumped excitedly all over this couch and still looks great.” In addition to still looking fantastic, Dukoff says it remains comfortable enough for casual lounging. “If I can get a spare 15 minutes, it's a nice place to sneak away and take a cat nap,” he notes.

In terms of style, the Sven is quintessentially midcentury modern, with its tapered wood legs, sleek arms and tufted bottom cushions. Ideally, more customization options (such as upholstery fabrics or leg finishes) would be nice, but for the trade-off on price and ease of ordering, it can’t be beat.

Sundays Company

Upholstery: 1 (LiveLife performance fabric) | Colors: 9 | Fill: Feather, fiber | Shipping: 6 to 8 weeks | Delivery: White-glove, free

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The Movie Night sectional is the kind of sofa that completely wraps you up in a hug; it’s also big enough to host multiple people for a movie marathon. “This sectional gets an A++ for comfort,” our panelist, executive strategy editor Lindsay Boyers, tells us. “It’s so soft and roomy I sometimes even want to stay on it at night instead of going up to bed.” This softness is thanks to the ultra-fluffy cushions, which are filled with a blend of down and synthetic fiber.

The frame of the sofa is wrapped in more multi-density foam than a typical sofa, so the arms and back of the couch further conform to your body. Our panelist did say it requires a bit of scooting to get on and off thanks to the fluffy cushions and deep seat, and while they didn’t mind this at all, it’s something to consider for those with mobility issues. Also, keep in mind that the cushions require regular fluffing and flipping to maintain their shape and keep that casual aesthetic.

The Movie Night Five-Piece Modular Sectional's upholstery held up surprisingly well to cat claws, ... [+] but our tester observed wear in the spots where her dogs like to lie.

This couch’s performance linen blend fabric comes in nine colors (all neutral shades) and can either be dry-cleaned or washed on a cold, gentle cycle and then air-dried. During stain tests, the cushion covers came completely clean after a run in the washing machine and stayed in great condition, but Boyers notes that a portable steam cleaner (she used the Bissell Little Green) worked better for spot cleaning than blotting. Boyers also says that the upholstery held up surprisingly well to cat claws, but she noticed a bit of wear in the spots where her dogs like to lie. During jump tests, there were no creaks or cracks to be heard.

Because of its relaxed shape and textured, neutral upholstery, this sofa is designed to look “lived in,” so if you prefer something a modular sectional that’s more clean-lined and tailored, the re-fluffing of this one’s cushions might wear you down.

Lovesac

Upholstery: 9 | Colors: 150+ | Fill: Foam, fiber-foam blend, foam-down blend | Shipping: 1 to 10 weeks | Delivery: Doorstep, free

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Lovesac, makers of Forbes Vetted’s favorite bean bag chair, has incorporated a lot of thoughtful details into its sectional, including removable and machine-washable cushion covers, a modular design and plenty of add-ons. For example, you can purchase actually good-looking tray tables for dinner and movie nights, storage seats for hiding toys and blankets, power hubs for charging laptops, integrated surround sound for audiophile parents and wireless charging for teens who can’t put down their phones. While each upgrade adds to the total price of the couch, the Sactional proved to be the best for families with kids and pets during testing.

We recommend that you refer to this guide to narrow down which of Lovesac’s 150-plus cover options are machine washable and family- and pet-friendly. The removable covers are particularly great for messy kids and accident-prone pets (particularly older ones), as they can be tossed in the wash at the first sign of a stain or spill. During stain testing, senior updates editor and dog owner Karen Tietjen was able to get stains out with just dish soap and water; after a wash in the machine, the cushion covers came out looking like new, a good sign of the longevity of the upholstery. The modularity of this sectional is a major bonus for families as well, because it can grow and change along with them.

The modularity of the Lovesac Sactional is a major bonus for families—it can grow and change along ... [+] with them.

The Sactionals arrive at your doorstep in multiple boxes—you’ll need to assemble the couch yourself. For instance, Tietjen ordered a three-seat sectional with a movable ottoman, and the sofa came in 13 boxes. The entire process from bringing the boxes in to finishing assembly took an hour and a half; despite the somewhat tedious work, she reports it was simple to execute, and the directions were clear.

West Elm

Upholstery: 7 | Colors: 100+ | Fill: Polyester fiber, duck feathers, duck down | Shipping: 9 to 11 weeks | Delivery: In-home, from $279

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Our panelist, e-commerce senior vice president Emily Jackson, tested the 80-inch version of West Elm’s Shelter Queen Sleeper Sofa and confirmed that it’s great for naps—both as a sofa and using the memory foam mattress. The Shelter comes in seven different upholstery options in over 100 hues, including textured neutral weaves, saturated velvet hues and nubby bouclés. Since this sofa has a bench cushion and a series of side cushions filled with a combination of polyester fiber, duck feathers and duck down, you’ll want to frequently rotate and fluff it regularly.

During stain tests, Jackson’s Shelter Sofa, which has a polyester-linen weave, came almost completely clean with a bit of stain remover and blotting. Despite the manufacturer’s instructions to dry-clean, our tester ran the removable cushion cover through a cold wash cycle and let it air-dry; she notes it held up well afterward, with no fading, fraying or loss of shape. She noticed some creaking during jump tests, but that was from the metal pullout mattress frame, not the couch’s wood frame.

The Shelter Sofa's sleeper has a memory foam top, which cradled and supported our tester's joints ... [+] throughout the night.

As for the sleeper, Jackson enjoyed snoozing on the pullout mattress; since there’s more room to sprawl out, it’s a much more inviting place to sleep than a standard couch. It doesn’t hurt, either, that the mattress has a memory foam top, which helped support her joints throughout the night. Jackson admitted feeling overwhelmed when it came to choosing from the large selection of fabrics—but you can order up to 15 free swatches before taking the plunge.

BenchMade Modern

Upholstery: 30 | Colors: 130+ | Fill: Foam and fiber, foam and trillium | Shipping: 1 to 4 weeks | Delivery: Threshold (front door or first dry place, $249; white-glove, $399

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Home editor Sholeen Damarwala, one of our couch testers, opted for one of the Skinny Fat Sofa’s leather colorways in pursuit of the perfect leather option. Indeed, it comes pretty close, she says, thanks to its impressive stain resistance and countless customization options. BenchMade Modern offers four different leg finishes, including Black, Brushed Nickel, Walnut-Stained Wood and Honey-Toned Wood.

The brand-recommended foam and trillium cushion fill (trillium is a synthetic filling that mimics down) is softer than the foam and fiber option—and it’s a combination Damarwala says is exceedingly comfortable, rating her naps on this couch a 9 out of 10. She reports that the cushions haven’t needed to be re-fluffed, even after months of consistent use. Further, during jump tests and regular abuse by her toddler, the frame and integrity of the couch have remained intact.

Tester Sholeen Damarwala reports being impressed by how well the Skinny Fat's leather came clean and ... [+] repelled moisture.

As for stain testing, Damarwala was amazed at how well the leather came clean and repelled moisture—especially compared with her previous couch with machine-washable performance-fabric covers. While leather is almost always more expensive than fabric upholstery, it’s a preferable material for those with allergies; unlike fabric, it doesn’t trap dust mites and pet dander, and it can be easily wiped clean, as our tests reveal.

One drawback to ordering a sofa from BenchMade Modern is the limited brand photos and visualization tools: You can’t view the sofa with your chosen fabric while shopping online, and the brand doesn’t have a physical store where you can test the sofa. I recommend taking advantage of the free swatch samples and scouring customer review photos on social media for a better idea of what your sofa might look like once it arrives.

Pottery Barn

Upholstery: 32 | Colors: 124 | Fill: Down blend–wrapped cushions | Shipping: 5+ weeks | Delivery: In-home, from $279

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The Pottery Barn York Square Arm Slipcovered Sofa is highly versatile. In addition to being ideal for small spaces, it’s available in plenty of other configurations, like a deep three-seater, armchair, sleeper or an L-shaped sectional. You can also choose non-slipcovered, leather and more traditional rolled-arm versions.

Our tester, deputy editor Rebekah Lowin, owns the 94.5-inch version of the York Slipcovered Sofa; she shares that many naps and work-from-home days have taken place on the down blend–wrapped cushions. “Once you remove the back pillows, it’s deep enough to qualify as a twin bed (and for that reason, we’ve used it to house overnight guests on at least a dozen occasions),” she says.

Lowin has performed stain tests in real life with accidentally smushed chocolate chips and drops of red wine; she found that they weren’t a match for Pottery Barn’s line of performance fabrics. While the slip cover fabric she owns is not machine-washable (although many of the other fabric options are), Lowin recommends a Magic Eraser to remove stains. (Note that when it comes to particularly nasty stains or a scratchy cat, Pottery Barn does sell replacement slip covers).

Further, the frame not only held up well during jump tests with no creaking or breakage, but has continued to showcase its durability over time. After two years in her home, Lowin reports that her Pottery Barn York Square Arm Slipcovered Sofa is still in great condition.

Arhaus

Upholstery: 1 | Colors: 6 | Fill: Foam, down, feathers | Shipping: 2+ weeks | Delivery: White-glove, from $299

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The Owen sectional from Arhaus is perfect for homes with high ceilings and generous floor plans, basements that span the entirety of the home and families with tall people who dwarf regularly sized sofas. Our tester, deputy editor Jane Sung remarks that while it’s large and cozy enough to curl your legs up on, it does sometimes require effort to get in and out of. She adds that, based on her real-life testing, this couch could happily host three to five people for a movie marathon: The oversized cushions and seat depth can accommodate more people than a standard three-seater sofa.

The Arhaus Owen Five-Piece Sectional would happily host three to five people for a movie marathon.

Arhaus does not recommend dry-cleaning or using any water to spot-clean stains or spills; it instead suggests opting for a water-free solvent like Imperial Cleaner and Spot Remover. Sung performed the same stain tests as all the other couches to be sure, and despite dabbing with water and stain remover, the chocolate and red wine stains remained difficult to remove. Based on her findings, we recommend following the manufacturer’s cleaning instructions as closely as possible.

Sung appreciated the Owen’s contemporary design details, including the shape of the back pillows, piping around the edges and the ottoman that can be moved from side to side or double as a coffee table. While this couch is on the pricier end, the frame is hand-built in the United States with cross-directional (a.k.a. super-strong) hardwood laminate certified by the Sustainable Forestry Initiative, so it’s more likely to stand up to many years of use.

We also rigorously tested 11 other sofas. While almost all of them are more than serviceable, they didn’t make our final list of the best couches.

Floyd Sofa: While this popular sofa is visually appealing out of the box, we found it cumbersome to assemble and shallow to sit on. The back cushions became lumpy over time—not something we’d expect at this price point.

Joybird Braxton Sleeper: We would recommend this pick for an office or spare room. It’s available in many fabrics and colors, but the tufted back cushions aren’t necessarily universal in style.

Burrow Nomad: We considered this crowd-favorite for small spaces—but the slim couch was too shallow to get comfortable on and too firm to kick back in for long periods. Other Burrow sofa owners have had issues with deliveries and missing parts. We’d recommend this more for an office than as a primary sofa.

Burrow Field : Our big and tall tester noticed a slight creak when getting in and out of this couch. One cushion arrived with a broken zipper, but the brand quickly sent a replacement. Overall, they found it a tad too firm to truly relax or work in for an entire day.

Wayfair Madison: This sofa was quite comfortable during testing, but it did not hold up well to cat claws. It’s also only available in four fabrics. That said, this sofa is quite deep at 27 inches, which some prefer.

Raymour & Flanigan Wilkinson: A contender for best value, this couch was originally soft and enveloping. But the cushions became misshapen and pilled after just a few months of use. The textured poly-blend fabric also tended to trap dog hair and fray when run through the wash.

Sabai Essentials Sectional: This pick was enjoyable to sit in and its removable cushion covers were easy to wash. But its cushions became misshapen too quickly, resulting in a more rumpled look; the velvet was also not as luxe as we’d like.

Amazon Rivet Revolve: This Prime pick will be delivered in as little as two days, but it’s not the most comfortable nor the best long-term investment. We had to switch positions often when napping to avoid stiffness, and there’s only one upholstery option available.

Macy’s Radley 5-Piece: We liked this pick’s durability when it comes to rowdy kids and pets, and it’s a reasonable price point for families not looking to invest in a forever piece. But since the covers aren’t removable and the silhouette is slightly dated.

Castlery Jonathan Leather Extended: Fans of clean lines and contemporary furnishings would like this couch, but it was too firm to sink into or curl up on. It’s also only available in two different brown leather options.

Wayfair Brewington 82-Inch (Out Of Stock): This affordable sofa unfortunately scored low marks for comfort. The leather remained too cold to the touch to be inviting, and it doesn’t have any customization options.

We prepared for couch testing by collecting a group of panelists from the Forbes Vetted team, most of whom have young kids and pets. In the end, 15 total panelists tested 19 different couches for almost five months, taking detailed notes and snapping photos of the entire process.

Our panelists recorded how straightforward the ordering process was, taking note of customization options, availability of customer photos and reviews, and any hiccups along the way. They also took note of the shipping time, ease of delivery and whether or not the couch was cumbersome to move or assemble.

Screenshots from our stain-resistance tests.

Our primary objective was to take detailed notes on how each couch held up to everyday use. Each panelist napped, worked from home and hosted movie nights on their couch. They reported back on potential joint aches from prolonged lounging, if they felt they had to readjust frequently to remain comfortable, and how many people could feasibly fit on the couch. They also paid close attention to how easy it was to get in and out of the couch, how much they did or did not sink into the cushions, and whether the couch promoted a sense of ease or if they felt perched on the edge.

Each panelist performed a set of tests on a swatch of their couch fabric. The swatches were each stained with a smear of Nutella, a spot of dark juice and a pinch of wet coffee grounds to simulate a range of common household stains. These stains were then treated with OxiClean stain remover and either blotted clean or run through a cycle in the washing machine. Panelists took careful notes as to whether or not the stains were removed, if any residue was left behind and if the composition of the fabric remained intact.

Ideally, each couch on our final list should withstand years of abuse from kids, pets and adults alike. We had panelists lightly jump on their couches, listening for springs, creaks or snaps. In addition, any cushion covers that could be removed and laundered were run through a standard wash cycle, which panelists then checked for shrinkage, misshapenness or frayed edges.

Here are some of the most important variables to consider when looking for the right couch for your home:

In general, you’ll want to choose a fabric that’s going to stand up to years of lounging, spilling and cleaning—while also being soft and comfortable to the touch. For homes without pets or kids, you have more freedom to choose fabrics like loosely woven tweed or highly textured bouclé.

That said, performance fabrics (best for families and pets) have come a long way and can be just as luxurious and expensive-looking as the less durable counterparts mentioned above. According to Nicole Crowder, a furniture designer and upholsterer, the most durable fabrics are tightly woven, heavyweight and have a low pile; examples include velvet, suede, chenille, cotton-linen blends and polyester blends.

When browsing fabric samples, Eva Higby, founder of interior design firm Higby Design, recommends looking for fabrics with stain guards woven into the yarns as opposed to a finish that is applied afterward. Look for cushion covers that can be removed and machine-washed if you have kids and/or pets, too.

Most sofas are filled with foam, down, synthetic fiber or spring coils, but most often it’s a combination of two or more. Which fill to choose depends on two things: how much time you’re willing to commit to maintaining your sofa and how much support you want.

Sofas primarily filled with solid or shredded foam are quite supportive, but usually very dense and firm. Fiber- or down-filled sofas tend to be fluffy and plush, but lack proper support for backs and bottoms. “In theory, I love down,” Crowder says, “but it’s hard to maneuver in the seat because there’s no support; it’s hard to get out of and it can look a little lumpy.”

“All down cushions molt,” add Christy Scott Spearman and Kate Duffy of Duffy Scott Interiors. “You’ll always be vacuuming up tiny feathers.” Some of our top picks do include down, which adds an undeniable fluff and casual feel—but they’re all balanced with multiple other materials to provide as much support and as little maintenance as possible.

An easy way to tell how well a couch is built is to see how heavy the frame is. “Couches shouldn’t be impossible to move,” Crowder says, “but it shouldn’t be something you can push over with one hand.” Mass-manufactured wood “use a more inexpensive composite material that can crack or break easily over time, especially in different temperatures,” she says.

A good rule of thumb, according to Higby, is to look for kiln-dried wood frames to prevent cracking or warping over time. “An eight-way hand-tied construction is the ultimate” in spring suspensions, she adds. That said, Isy Runsewe of Isy’s Interiors explains that “if you like to switch out the furniture in your home or aren’t looking for a lifelong investment, engineered wood is still a very good option.” A well-constructed sinuous spring frame can still be durable, especially if you have a tight budget, Runsewe adds. Weigh your budget against how high-quality you want your sofa to be.

In terms of style trends, Runsewe has seen a resurgence of two very different styles: traditional (like the English roll arm or a Chesterfield sofa) and modern (such as the curved, soft shapes from Italian designers Mario Bellini and Gaetano Pesce). Higby’s advice for choosing a sofa that will transcend trends is to look for clean lines, a tailored look, square versus T-shaped cushions, straight or sloped arms that are about 6 inches wide, and a low back. She explains: “A sofa that is too high across the back separates it from the rest of the room and makes it feel more formal. Arms that are too wide feel chunky and heavy and can dominate the room. ... A sofa needs to ground the space but not overwhelm it.”

“People love to hate sectionals,” Higby says, “but for families, they can’t be beaten because they create connections and allow family members to lounge together.” They’re great for couples, too: One person can sprawl out on the chaise lounge while the other takes the main part of the couch. If you’re sectional-averse, Higby recommends two sofas perpendicular to each other. If you entertain a lot, consider a sofa and chairs to create a conversation area.

The best way to tell how deep you want your sofa is to try it out in real life; it’s hard to imagine what 40 inches really means. “On average, I look for an interior seat depth of 24 inches and an overall depth of 40 inches,” Higby says. “And if my clients love to lounge or cuddle up on a sofa, I look for an overall depth of 42 to 43 inches.”

I’ve thoroughly tested and researched a variety of products for shopping guides and reviews for over five years, from robot vacuums to dog beds. I’ve written for brands such as the Strategist, Domino, Insider Reviews and Real Simple.

For this piece, I and 14 other panelists from the Forbes Vetted team spent almost 5 months testing 19 of the most popular and highly rated couches, taking detailed notes about the ease of delivery and assembly, comfort, frame and upholstery quality, stain resistance, durability and aesthetics of each couch.

I also consulted the following four experts:

The most durable upholstery for couches are performance fabrics with rub counts between 50,000 and 150,000. Those will generally be the longest lasting, but if you’re worried about stains or frequent washing, choose a couch that can be recovered or slip-covered down the line.

While comfort can be subjective, the most comfortable sofas have just the right combination of upholstery and cushion fill for napping, watching TV and spending time with friends and family. If you prefer a warm-to-the-touch sofa, you might want to steer clear of leather, which can remain chilly, and if you want something soft, stick with velvet, cotton blends, suede or microfiber. For a super-fluffy cushion, look for a large percentage of down fill, but if you prefer a firmer seat, go for a foam or spring core wrapped in fiber.

A couch is high quality if it’s soft but supportive, stylish and durable. We recommend one with foam- and fiber-wrapped cushions and a simple, sleek silhouette that’s upholstered in a performance fabric.

The style of sofa that is timeless, Higby says, is one that blends classic styles with a modern feel. “Go toward cleaner lines for a more tailored look. Finding that balance between comfy and crisp is so important. Too comfy and it veers into La-Z-Boy territory; too crisp and it feels like your grandmother’s sitting room.” The highly customizable yet classically designed James Three-Seat Sofa from Interior Define is a good example of a timeless couch.