Shocking Ikea flyer from 1985 shows VERY surprising prices... but not everything is what it seems
A resurfaced flyer from 1985 has Allen-key enthusiasts agog at the price differences, with some of their most-loved furniture cheaper than what it was decades earlier.
Shared to Reddit, the user showed four popular products and the price from the catalogue in comparison to what they are on the Ikea website in 2025.
The first was the Billy bookcase - a staple in many houses all around the world.
In 1985, the load-bearing piece piece retailed for $82, and now has decreased in price, selling for $69.99.
The next piece was the simple Lack side table, selling for $25 in 1985. In 2025, the loved-item is retailing now for $9.99.
A Klippan loveseat 40 years ago was a tad puffier, but a more streamlined model is now almost $100 cheaper, at $299.
Lastly, the catalogue showed an armchair for $148, with the Poäng chair now only $69.
The furniture giant pointed out their price cuts in an advertisement published in 2015, which celebrated 30 years of the store being in America and showed off their low prices.
While the prices have risen in the last 10 years, they are still lower than the 1985 prices.
Despite the cheaper prices, many users chimed in declaring the quality of the furniture is far worse in 2025.
'Surprised how everyone's complaining that IKEA furniture is made more cheaply now than it used to be,' commented one user. 'Like yeah, sure it is, but how many companies have made their product intentionally worse over the years while ALSO doubling or tripling the price? The fact that prices haven't changed much shows at least some integrity on their part.'
'I agree. And while IKEA doesn't make the most durable products on earth, they definitely still make better stuff than comparably-priced products you get at other stores (Amazon, Walmart, etc),' chimed in another. 'You can still get a decent, weighty dresser for $100 at IKEA, best alternative you'll find on Amazon is some super thin particle board with those dreadful fabric pseudo-drawers.'
Others declared the Swedish furniture had stood the test of time.
'In general I think IKEA suffers from the reputation flat-pack furniture has that is caused by experiences with flat-pack made by literally any company other than IKEA,' one happy customer wrote.
They continued: 'I've bought cheap non-IKEA flat-pack desks and cabinets and it's barely cheaper and so much worse. The parts don't fit together as well, the joints aren't as sturdy, and the instructions are inevitably so much harder to follow assembling it.'
The showed four popular products and the price from the catalogue in comparison to what they are on the Ikea website in 2025 (pictured)
In June, Ikea announced it was closing more of its smaller-format stores in both the UK and California, as the global retail shakeup continues to claim big names.
Launched in 2023, the concept aimed to give customers a more tailored experience — with smaller showrooms where shoppers could meet with design specialists, place custom orders, and collect items. However, the company says the format no longer fits customer demand.
The Swedish furniture giant confirmed it is shutting down three of its Plan & Order Points locations this month — two in the UK and one in the US.
The Liverpool and Stockport stores closed last week, and the final US location in Long Beach is closing its doors forever in June.
The first Ikea store opened in 1958 in Sweden, and expanded to the US in 1985.
It has grown into a furniture empire and operates approximately 485 locations, 74 being in the US.
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