Spend enough to get the frame, seat support and upholstery your household will use every day, and stop paying once the extras no longer match how you live. A couch's price is driven by five things: the frame, the springs and foam under the cushions, the upholstery, the size, and any recliner or sofa-bed mechanism.
- If it is the main couch for a busy household: put the money into the build, a hardwood-and-MDF frame with webbing and zig-zag springs under high-density foam, like the Signature Corner Sofa with Chaise.
- If it also has to be the guest bed: you are paying for a mechanism, so make sure you will use it, as in the Elvis 3 Seater Pull-Out Sofa Bed.
- If you want leather: check it is genuine leather and not PU, as with the full genuine leather Picasso 3+2 Anthracite Leather Lounge Set.
In this guide
How to judge what a couch is worth
Asking "how much does a couch cost" gets you a range so wide it is not much use. A more useful question is what a particular couch gives you for its price, and whether you need it. Two couches can look almost identical in a photo and be built very differently underneath, which is where most of the price difference sits.
So compare like with like. Before you compare prices, read the specification on each product page: what the frame is made of, what sits under the seat cushions, what the upholstery is, how many people it seats and what moves. Then decide which of those things your household actually needs. A couple in an apartment and a family of five with a dog are paying for different things, even at the same price.
A quick test for any couch you are considering: would you sit on it most evenings for years? If yes, the frame and seat support deserve the biggest share of your budget. If it is for a spare room or a first rental, a simpler build that does the job is a sensible place to save.
Pieces in this guide
What drives the cost of a couch
The frame
The frame is the part you never see and the part that decides whether the couch stays square. Look for hardwood in the specification. In the couches covered here, from our sofas, lounges and couches range, frames are hardwood paired with plywood or MDF, and the Bentley recliners add a metal frame.
The seat support and foam
Under the cushions, webbing and zig-zag springs carry the load, and the foam on top decides how the seat feels and how well it holds its shape. High-density foam generally holds its shape better under daily use than softer, lower-density foam, and it is one of the places a cheaper couch saves money. Sit on a couch in a showroom for a few minutes, not a few seconds, to judge it.
The upholstery
Fabric choice moves the price more than most people expect. Heavy-duty synthetic fabrics such as the Rhino fabric on the Bentley and Elvis are made for everyday wear. Chenille and woven fabrics feel softer. Genuine leather sits at the top of the range, and it generally costs considerably more than PU, which is a coated synthetic made to look like leather.
Size and configuration
More seats cost more, and a chaise or corner adds frame, springs and fabric. Buy the size your room and household need, not the biggest that fits.
| Feature | Signature corner | Bentley 3 Seater | Picasso 3+2 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seats | 5, with a chaise | 3, two reclining | 5, across two sofas |
| Frame | Hardwood and MDF | Hardwood and plywood with a metal frame | Hardwood and plywood |
| Seat support | Webbing and zig-zag springs, high-density foam | Webbing and zig-zag springs, high-density foam | Webbing and zig-zag springs, high-density foam |
| Upholstery | Fabric, Dark Grey or Beige | Rhino fabric, Black or Charcoal | Full genuine leather |
| What you pay extra for | Size: a long bench plus a deep chaise | Recline, LED reading lights, charging dock, cup holders | Genuine leather, two matching sofas from one leather batch |
Notice the seat support is the same across all three. The price differences come from size, mechanism and material, which is exactly why it pays to decide which of those you need first.
Recliners and sofa beds: paying for a mechanism
A mechanism adds cost, so it should earn its place. On the Bentley 3 Seater Recliner Lounge the two end seats recline and the middle seat stays fixed. You choose manual or electric at purchase, and electric needs mains power. The Bentley 2 Seater Recliner Lounge takes up less room, and both of its seats recline fully. If the couch is mainly for watching TV with your feet up, that is money well spent. If you mostly sit upright, a fixed couch gives you more seat for the same spend.
Sofa beds work the same way. The Elvis has a seat base that slides out and lifts level to make a sleeping surface, plus a storage compartment in the chaise and cup holders on both armrests. That is good value if guests stay often and you have no spare room. If they come once a year, a regular couch and an air mattress may serve you better.
Durable couch choices for pets and kids
With pets and children, the upholstery matters more than the badge. A few choices make a real difference:
- Choose a tight weave. Tightly woven synthetic fabrics stand up to daily wear better than loose weaves, where claws catch and pull threads. Velvet shows every paw print.
- Pick a forgiving colour. Mid-tones and greys hide marks better than pale cream or solid black, and a colour close to your pet's coat hides shedding.
- Look for wipe-clean surfaces. Leather wipes down easily, though claws can still mark it. Ask whether a fabric couch has removable covers before you assume it does.
- Protect it early. A fabric protector spray applied after delivery helps everyday spills bead before they soak in. You will find protector sprays and care kits in our furniture care range.
Rhino fabric, used on the Bentley recliners and the Elvis, is a heavy-duty synthetic that the Bentley's product page describes as resisting wear and pilling. For any fabric couch, vacuum weekly with a soft brush attachment and blot spills straight away rather than rubbing them.
Styling an affordable lounge so it looks finished
An affordable couch can look considered with a few inexpensive additions. Cushions and throws do most of the work:
- Choose a palette. Pick two or three colours that already appear in the room. Neutrals keep it calm; one bold colour adds energy.
- Mix textures. Combine knits, linens and velvets so the couch looks layered rather than flat.
- Layer the cushions. Use two sizes or shapes, with the largest at the back and the smallest at the front.
- Place throws with intent. Drape one over an arm or fold it across the seat, in a colour that ties to the cushions.
Some couches arrive with part of the styling done. The Spencer II Fabric Corner Sofa with Reversible Chaise comes with a matching storage ottoman and coordinating scatter pillows. The Easton Corner Sofa with Ottoman, a U-shape with a chaise at each end, includes a large ottoman and scatter cushions. If you want colour to do the talking, the Picasso 3+2 Orange Leather Lounge Set is the statement and needs very little else. Browse matching pairs in our sofa sets and lounge suites.
Budgeting mistakes to avoid
- Buying too big. An oversized lounge makes a room feel cramped and costs more. Measure the room and the walkways first; our guide to measuring for a corner or modular lounge walks through it.
- Paying for features you will not use. Recline, storage and pull-out beds all add cost. Choose them because you need them.
- Skipping the sit test. Comfort is personal. Seat depth, seat height and firmness feel different to everyone, so sit before you buy.
- Forgetting the access route. Many couches arrive flat-packed, and the cartons vary: the Signature ships in three, the Elvis in two and the Bentley 3 Seater in a single 215 cm carton. Check the carton sizes on the product page against your doors and hallway.
Couch cost questions
What is a reasonable price to pay for a couch?
A reasonable price is one that pays for the build you need and nothing you will not use. Compare couches on frame, seat support, foam, upholstery, size and mechanism, then pay more only where it matches how you live.
Is it worth paying more for a couch?
It is worth paying more for a main couch you will sit on every day, provided the extra money goes into the frame, the seat support and an upholstery that suits your household. It is less worth it for a spare room or a short-term rental.
Are leather couches worth the extra cost?
If you want real leather, yes, but check the label. Genuine leather and PU are very different materials at very different prices. The Picasso 3+2 sets are full genuine leather, with both sofas from the same leather batch so they match.
Do modular sofas cost more than a fixed couch?
It depends on the build, so compare them seat for seat. With a modular you are paying for separate sections that can be rearranged, which is only worth it if you will use that. A reversible chaise, like the one on the Spencer II, gives you some of that flexibility in a single corner sofa.
What couch fabric is best with pets?
A tightly woven synthetic fabric in a mid-tone is the most forgiving. Avoid loose weaves that claws can catch and velvet that shows marks, and apply a fabric protector spray early.
How should I budget for living room furniture?
Give the couch the biggest share, because it gets the most daily use, then budget for the pieces around it: a TV unit, a coffee table and a rug. If money is tight, buy the couch properly now and add the rest over time rather than buying everything at the lowest price at once.