Your guide to the IKEA price adjustment policy

IKEA might be easy on the wallet, but it still stings when an item you just bought suddenly goes on sale. The good news? IKEA has a price adjustment policy that lets you get the difference refunded without having to return the product.

In this quick guide, we’ll explain how IKEA's price adjustment policy works, including the key eligibility criteria and the steps involved in requesting a refund. And if the process starts to seem like a chore, don’t give up just yet! We’ll show you how Settlemate can get your money back with zero effort on your part.

What is a price adjustment?

A price adjustment, sometimes called a price guarantee, is a clever retail policy that allows you to claim a refund for the price difference when an item you bought gets marked down shortly after. The policy usually applies to full-price purchases made within a recent time window (typically 14 days), although the exact rules vary depending on the retailer.

For shoppers, the perk is obvious: you get peace of mind knowing that the timing of your purchase won’t affect the final price you pay. You can buy what you want when you want it, without stressing about whether a sale is right around the corner.

And while it might seem that retailers are giving money away, price adjustments actually work in their favor as well. These policies help build customer trust, strengthen brand reputation, reduce returns, and even ease the pressure during big sales events.

Does IKEA offer price adjustment refunds?

If you’ve ever shopped at IKEA, you probably know it takes great pride in keeping its customers happy. One way it does that is through its price adjustment policy, or as the company calls it, the IKEA price guarantee. 

Before you can get a refund for the difference between what you paid and the new, discounted price, there are a few basic criteria you’ll need to meet:

1. You’ll need your receipt or order number.
2. The discounted item must have the same article number as the one you originally bought.
3. The promotion or sale must be active at the time you request the adjustment (past sales don’t count).
4. In-store purchases must be handled in person, while online orders go through customer support.

Some items don’t qualify for IKEA’s price adjustments, including:

• Products that already had another offer or discount applied
• Custom-made products
• Services or food from IKEA’s restaurants or bistros

Note: IKEA mentions that certain promotions, like kitchen event sales, may come with extra conditions, so make sure to double-check the fine print.

What is IKEA’s price adjustment timeframe?

The amount of time you have to request a price adjustment refund depends on whether you used your IKEA Family card during your original purchase:

• IKEA Family card members: 90 days from the date of purchase
• Non-members: 14 days from the date of purchase

Tip: Retailers often update their price adjustment policies, so it’s a good idea to review IKEA’s current terms before contacting customer service and requesting a refund.

What other perks do IKEA Family card members get?

Besides the generous IKEA family's 90-day price protection, becoming a member comes with other benefits, such as:

• Special pricing on selected products
• A free hot drink each time you visit an IKEA store
• Points for every purchase (one point for every dollar spent), which you can redeem for rewards
• Access to free workshops and events

Another standout perk is IKEA’s Buy Back & Resell program. It lets you sell your used IKEA furniture back to the store in exchange for credit. It’s a simple way to pocket a little extra money while giving your old items a second life and reducing waste.

How to get a price adjustment at IKEA

To claim your IKEA price adjustment refund, you’ll need to follow a few simple steps:

1. Look for price drops: Keep an eye on IKEA’s website or check in-store prices regularly to spot any price drops.
2. Prepare your proof: Find your receipt or order confirmation, check the purchase date, and make sure the article number matches the discounted item. If you used an IKEA family card, have the card number ready, too, as it affects your eligibility window for making a request.
3. Make a request: Visit your local IKEA store or reach out to customer support via online chat or phone.
4. Wait for processing: Once your request is approved, the refund will typically be made to your original payment method.

Why can manual price adjustment requests be a hassle?

While the process of requesting a price adjustment refund at IKEA may sound like a no-brainer, it can be a bit bumpier in practice. Here’s why:

1. Keeping track of purchases and price drops: You need to stay on top of what you've bought, when you bought it, and whether the item has gone on sale. This can quickly become overwhelming, especially if you’re monitoring several products across different retailers.
2. Potential exclusions: Besides the time window, you also need to confirm whether your item qualifies for a refund. Some IKEA products or promotions come with special conditions that you need to double-check before requesting a refund.
3. Back-and-forth with customer support: One Reddit user shared that they spent weeks going back and forth with IKEA’s customer support as their case kept getting delayed. Another customer mentioned that their request was initially denied, and they had to follow up multiple times before the adjustment was processed.

Luckily, there’s an easier way to claim your refund, without having to chase down every sale or spend hours dealing with customer support. Settlemate is an app that tracks your purchases, monitors price drops, and automatically applies for eligible price adjustments, so you can get your money back without lifting a finger.

How Settlemate puts price adjustment refunds on autopilot

Every store has different rules for price adjustments. But you don’t need to memorize every policy; Settlemate Retail Savings Autopilot does that for you, and even takes action on your behalf.

The Settlemate app will:

1. Automatically find your digital receipts in your inbox.
2. Continuously track for price drops within eligible windows.
3. Auto-file requests with the right documentation.
4. Notify you when your money is on its way back to you.

Automate price adjustments end-to-end with Settlemate Retail Savings Autopilot. Download the app from the App Store or Google Play today.

Not sure if the app’s right for you? Settlemate offers a generous refund policy. You’ll qualify for a full refund if your one-year subscription ends up costing more than the amount you recover through the app.

Frequently asked questions

Can you get an IKEA price adjustment without a receipt?

No. Showing proof of purchase is necessary to receive a price adjustment at IKEA. 

What is IKEA's return policy?

You can return new and unopened items within 365 days of purchase, provided you have a receipt. Opened items can be returned within 180 days, as long as they’re in like-new condition. Some items, like plants, cut fabric, and custom countertops, are non-returnable. Specific rules apply to returning mattresses: they can be exchanged for another mattress within 90 days, but only once.

How other brands handle price adjustments

If you’re curious to learn which other major retailers offer price adjustments and what their specific rules look like, explore our full collection of guides in the table below: