Yes, Dovetail Furniture is worth it for shoppers seeking well-crafted, sustainably sourced furniture who are willing to pay a premium for domestic manufacturing and timeless design. The brand delivers good-quality solid wood pieces and traditional construction methods that justify its mid-to-high-end price point.
Dovetail offers better craftsmanship than most mass-market brands, but keep in mind that some variability exists due to their hand-finished process. Here’s a detailed breakdown of their quality, value, and what you need to know before you buy.
How Is Dovetail's Quality?
Dovetail's quality is consistently good, with a strong focus on durable materials and traditional craftsmanship. While not a pure heirloom brand, their pieces are built to last significantly longer than furniture from big-box stores. Here's a closer look:
- Materials: Dovetail predominantly uses solid hardwoods like oak, walnut, and maple for their casegoods (dressers, tables, etc.). Upholstery options are durable, featuring performance fabrics, natural linen, and top-grain leather designed to withstand daily use.
- Construction: The brand employs sturdy, time-tested joinery techniques, including dovetail drawers, mortise and tenon joints, and reinforced corner blocks on frames. This level of construction prevents wobbling and enhances long-term structural integrity.
- Finishes &, Hardware: Finishes are hand-applied in multiple coats, giving pieces a refined look. The hardware is solid and reliable, using materials like solid brass or stainless steel, which adds to the furniture's premium feel.
- Manufacturing &, Consistency: Most products are made in the United States and Canada under strict quality control. While this leads to consistent quality, the hand-finished nature of the products means minor inconsistencies or flaws in the finish can occur.
- Common Complaints: The most frequent issues are minor but notable. Some customers report veneer chipping on edges that see high traffic and occasional inconsistencies in the hand-applied finish.
Is Dovetail Good Value for the Price?
Dovetail sits in the mid-to-high end of the market, offering good, but not exceptional, value. You are paying a fair price for domestic manufacturing, solid materials, and timeless design that won't feel dated in a few years.
Price Positioning
Dovetail is priced higher than mass-market retailers but generally lower than high-end artisan brands. Expect to pay $1,200–$3,000 for a dining table, $2,000–$6,000 for a sofa, and $3,000–$8,000 for a multi-piece bedroom set. This places them in competition with brands like Crate & Barrel or the premium collections at West Elm.
What You're Paying For
With Dovetail, you are paying for three key things: quality materials (solid hardwoods), durable construction (traditional joinery), and ethically-minded manufacturing (sustainably sourced and primarily North American-made). The ability to customize wood types, finishes, and fabrics also adds to the value proposition, allowing you to get a piece that fits your home perfectly.
Where You Get Good Value
- Solid Wood Casegoods: Dining tables, dressers, and bedroom sets made from solid oak, walnut, or maple are an excellent investment. These pieces are built with quality joinery and are designed to last for decades with proper care.
- Customized Pieces: The ability to select your own finishes and fabrics means you are less likely to want to replace the piece later. This customization provides long-term value by ensuring the furniture fits your personal style.
Where You Don't Get Good Value
- Upholstered Seating: While the frames are well-built, some customer reviews mention that softer foam cushions may begin to sag after 3-4 years of heavy use. Be prepared for potential reupholstery or cushion replacement costs down the line.
- Veneered Items: Though they use high-quality veneer over MDF or plywood, some items with veneered surfaces are susceptible to chipping around the edges. For the price, you may find better durability in their solid wood collections.
Dovetail Quality by Category
Quality can vary by product type. Here’s what you can expect from their major categories:
Dining Furniture
Dovetail's dining tables and chairs are a standout category. Constructed primarily from solid hardwoods with sturdy joinery, these pieces are built to handle daily family use. Prices range from $1,200 to $3,000 for a table, reflecting the quality of materials and craftsmanship. Verdict: Worth it for a long-lasting centerpiece.
Sofas & Sectionals
Upholstery features reinforced hardwood frames and high-quality fabric or leather options. The main weakness lies in the cushion cores, high-density foam offers good support initially, but softer foam and down-blend cushions have been noted to compress over time. Expect prices between $2,000 and $6,000. Verdict: Good, but be prepared to rotate cushions regularly and consider eventual replacement.
Bedroom Furniture
Like their dining pieces, Dovetail's bedroom sets are generally excellent quality. With solid wood construction and dovetailed drawers, their dressers, nightstands, and bed frames are durable and built to last. A full set can range from $3,000 to $8,000. Verdict: A solid investment, especially the solid wood collections.
Our Verdict: Is Dovetail Worth It?
Dovetail Furniture is a great choice for consumers prioritizing domestic craftsmanship, sustainable sourcing, and durable materials over fast-furniture trends. Their strong suit is solid wood furniture, which offers reliable construction and timeless design that should last for many years, making it a sound investment for your home.
Quality Grade: B+
Dovetail earns a B+ for its commitment to high-quality materials like solid hardwoods and traditional joinery such as mortise and tenon. Their pieces are designed for longevity, and customer feedback confirms they hold up well over years of use. The brand loses points only for minor issues like occasional veneer chipping and slight inconsistencies in their hand-applied finishes.
Value Grade: B
At a B grade, Dovetail offers fair value. The price is justified by its domestic manufacturing, sustainable practices, and durable construction, which far exceed mass-market alternatives. While you pay a premium, you get a product designed to last. The value is slightly diminished by the potential long-term costs associated with some upholstered pieces, like cushion replacements.
More Quality Brands Like Dovetail
If you appreciate Dovetail's focus on quality materials, sustainable sourcing, and timeless style, these other brands offer a similar commitment to craftsmanship:
Room & Board
Known for its American-made furniture, Room & Board shares Dovetail's commitment to quality craftsmanship and sustainable materials. They offer a modern-meets-timeless aesthetic with an emphasis on solid wood construction, and their price point and durability are highly comparable.
Shop now at roomandboard.com
Crate & Barrel
While a larger retailer, Crate & Barrel's premium collections offer quality and design similar to Dovetail. Look for their solid wood dining and bedroom furniture, which often feature classic joinery and durable, kiln-dried hardwood frames at a similar mid-to-high-end price point.
Shop now at crateandbarrel.com
Rejuvenation
A sister brand to Williams-Sonoma, Rejuvenation focuses on classic, American-made lighting, hardware, and furniture. Their pieces emphasize quality materials like solid brass and domestic hardwoods, sharing Dovetail's ethos of creating heritage-quality items designed to last a lifetime.
Shop now at rejuvenation.com
Schoolhouse
Schoolhouse champions American manufacturing and timeless design, creating modern heirlooms. Their furniture often features solid wood and classic construction techniques, appealing to buyers who value longevity and functional, simple aesthetics much like Dovetail.
Shop now at schoolhouse.com
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Dovetail furniture solid wood?
Dovetail primarily uses solid hardwoods like oak, walnut, and maple in its casegoods. However, some pieces incorporate high-quality wood veneers over a plywood or MDF core for design stability, so it’s important to check the material specifications of each individual item.
Where is Dovetail furniture made?
The majority of Dovetail's furniture is manufactured in the United States and Canada. This commitment to domestic production allows for stricter quality control and supports their sustainable sourcing standards.
How long does Dovetail furniture last?
With proper care, Dovetail furniture is built to last for many years, often 10-20 or more. The solid wood construction and traditional joinery ensure long-term structural integrity. Upholstered pieces may require cushion refreshing or reupholstery after 5-7 years of heavy use to maintain comfort.
Is Dovetail considered a luxury brand?
Dovetail occupies a mid-to-high-end position in the market. While not at the extreme price point of ultra-luxury or bespoke artisan brands, it is considered a premium brand due to its focus on craftsmanship, quality materials, and domestic manufacturing.
At Interior Insider, we're dedicated to curating the best in home decor, interior design, and home essentials to help you discover brands we think you'll love. Every brand we feature is independently selected by our editorial team based on quality, design, and craftsmanship. When you make a purchase through our links, Interior Insider may earn a commission - which helps support our small team and allows us to continue bringing you inspiration and expert advice for creating your perfect space.
Looking for more inspiration? Explore our curated design guides to find your next favorite piece.
