The short answer is yes, Havertys is worth it for shoppers looking for a reliable balance of quality and price. Their furniture offers better materials and craftsmanship than budget brands, with a focus on classic designs that won't fall out of style next season. Most of their pieces are built to last 5-10 years with proper care, making them a solid long-term investment for the mid-range market.
They operate in the sweet spot above starter furniture from places like Ashley but below the premium price tags of Pottery Barn or Ethan Allen. However, quality isn't uniform, so knowing which product lines offer the best value is key to a good purchase. Here’s a detailed breakdown of what to expect.
How Is Havertys's Quality?
Havertys' quality is consistent for a mid-tier brand, generally featuring solid construction principles and durable materials. Here’s what sets them apart and where they fall short:
- Frame Construction: Most upholstered furniture uses kiln-dried hardwood frames, which resist warping and ensure long-term stability. Spring systems are typically sinuous or eight-way hand-tied, both standard for this price point and a clear upgrade from the cheaper support systems found in budget sofas.
- Materials: Top-tier collections feature solid hardwoods like oak, maple, and cherry. However, many lower-priced items use a mix of engineered wood (MDF or particleboard) with wood veneers. While structurally sound for most uses, veneers are more susceptible to chipping or peeling over time, especially on high-use items like dining chairs.
- Cushion Quality: They primarily use high-density foam cushions (rated around 2.0 to 2.5 lbs/cu ft), which provide a firm, supportive feel and hold their shape better than the low-density foam used by cheaper brands. Some entry-level sofas may experience cushion flattening after 2-3 years of heavy use.
- Common Complaints: The most frequent issues reported by customers include veneer edges chipping, particularly on dining tables and chairs, and occasional wobbly legs on side tables after a few years. While their solid wood pieces are praised for durability, the engineered wood items are the source of most complaints.
Is Havertys Good Value for the Price?
Havertys generally offers good value, providing a tangible step-up in quality from budget furniture without requiring a luxury-level investment. Your money goes further on some items than others.
Price Positioning
Havertys sits comfortably in the middle of the furniture market. A typical sofa costs between $800 and $2,500, a dining table between $700 and $2,000, and a bedroom set from $1,200 to $3,500. This places them in direct competition with brands like Raymour & Flanigan but with a slight edge in craftsmanship and material quality compared to most of Ashley Furniture's standard offerings.
What You're Paying For
With Havertys, you're paying for a blend of North American manufacturing, above-average materials for the price, and timeless designs. Their focus on kiln-dried hardwood frames, high-density foam, and durable performance-grade fabrics means their furniture is built for everyday life, not just for show. The brand avoids fast-furniture trends, instead creating pieces designed to be versatile for many years.
Where You Get Good Value
- Solid wood furniture: Pieces from their premium collections made with solid oak, maple, or cherry offer exceptional durability and longevity, often outperforming similarly priced competitors.
- Upholstered seating: Sofas and sectionals with kiln-dried hardwood frames and high-density foam cushions are a sound investment and should hold up well for 5-10 years.
- Bedroom sets: Solid wood bed frames and dressers are built durably, and their classic designs prevent them from looking dated quickly.
Where You Don't Get Good Value
- Veneered pieces: Dining chairs, side tables, or console tables with wood veneer over particleboard can be risky. These pieces are prone to chipping and may not withstand heavy use or moisture well.
- Entry-level upholstery: Their lowest-priced sofas, while better than budget alternatives, may not offer enough of a durability improvement to justify the cost over options from value-focused brands.
- Trendy decor items: While mostly focused on core furniture, their smaller decor items can sometimes be overpriced for what they are. You can often find similar quality decor for less at other retailers.
Havertys Quality by Category
Quality can vary significantly between product types. Here's what to look for in their most popular categories.
Sofas & Sectionals
Ranging from $800-$2,500, Havertys sofas are one of their strong suits. Most feature kiln-dried hardwood frames and high-density foam, and your choice of sinuous or eight-way hand-tied springs. Fabric options are often performance-grade polyester blends designed to resist staining and wear. Verdict: A good value, particularly for models in the $1,500+ range which offer excellent construction for the price.
Bedroom Furniture
Pricing for bedroom sets is typically $1,200-$3,500. The key differentiator here is solid wood versus engineered wood with veneers. Solid wood dressers and bedframes are sturdy and meant to last. However, cheaper sets use more particleboard, which could be a weak point over time. Verdict: Stick to the solid wood collections for the best long-term investment.
Dining Furniture
A Havertys dining table will cost between $700 and $2,000. Their solid wood dining tables are excellent and built to handle decades of family dinners. The real area of concern is often the chairs, models with veneer are notorious for chipping at the edges. Verdict: A solid wood table is a great buy, but be extremely selective about veneered chairs or dining sets.
Our Verdict: Is Havertys Worth It?
Havertys is a smart choice for consumers ready to graduate from starter furniture and invest in pieces that will last for years. By focusing on their well-regarded solid wood lines and higher-quality upholstered seating, smart shoppers can get durable, classic furniture that strikes an excellent balance between cost and quality.
Quality Grade: B
Havertys earns a B for its commitment to solid construction standards like kiln-dried hardwood frames and high-density foam in its core offerings. This places them firmly above budget brands. The grade is held back from an A by the inconsistent use of materials - specifically, the prevalence of particleboard and veneers in lower-priced lines that can lead to durability issues like chipping.
Value Grade: B
The brand gets a B for value because their pricing accurately reflects the quality offered. You get what you pay for: a dependable, stylish piece of furniture that's built for medium to long-term use. While not a bargain, Havertys is not overpriced, and their focus on durability and classic style means you are less likely to need to replace items in just a few years.
More Quality Brands Like Havertys
If you appreciate the balance of quality and price that Havertys provides, here are some other brands that operate in a similar space or offer a step up:
Ashley Furniture (Higher-End Lines)
While often seen as a budget-friendly option, Ashley's higher-end collections offer comparable quality to Havertys, sometimes with more contemporary styling. Look for their solid wood pieces and sofas with detailed construction specs to get the best value.
Shop now at ashleyfurniture.com
Raymour & Flanigan
Operating at a nearly identical price and quality point, Raymour & Flanigan is a direct competitor with a massive selection and strong reputation for customer service and quick delivery. They also feature a mix of solid wood and engineered wood constructions, so careful selection is key.
Shop now at raymourflanigan.com
La-Z-Boy
Best known for recliners, La-Z-Boy builds exceptionally durable frames across all its upholstered furniture. If your priority is a sofa or chair that combines extreme comfort with longevity, they are an excellent mid-range choice, though often at a slightly higher price than Havertys.
Shop now at la-z-boy.com
Pottery Barn
If you're willing to increase your budget by about 20-30%, Pottery Barn offers a noticeable jump in quality with a focus on solid woods, premium materials, and fine craftsmanship. It's a great option for shoppers looking for "heirloom-lite" furniture that can last a decade or more.
Shop now at potterybarn.com
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does Havertys furniture typically last?
With proper care, Havertys furniture is designed to last 5-10 years. Solid wood pieces can last significantly longer, while less expensive veneered items or entry-level upholstery may show wear closer to the 5-year mark, especially with heavy daily use.
Is Havertys furniture made of solid wood?
This is a common point of confusion. Havertys offers both solid wood furniture and pieces constructed from engineered wood (like MDF or particleboard) with wood veneers. Their premium collections are typically solid wood, while more budget-friendly lines use mixed materials to keep costs down. Always check the product description for material specifics.
Where is Havertys furniture made?
Havertys sources its products from a mix of U.S. and international manufacturers. A significant portion of their solid wood furniture is made in North America. To remain competitive on price, certain upholstered items and other components are typically sourced from manufacturing partners in Asia, such as Vietnam and China.
Is Havertys better than Ashley Furniture?
Generally, Havertys offers a slight step up in overall quality and craftsmanship compared to most of Ashley’s mainline offerings. While Ashley provides competitive value at a lower price point, Havertys typically uses better internal components like frames and cushion foam, leading to improved longevity and comfort for a moderately higher cost.
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