Wayfair is a massive online marketplace for home goods, offering an almost endless selection of furniture and decor across every conceivable style and budget. Conversely, Overstock operates on a more curated model, focusing on providing high-value, discounted items, often with a tighter focus on modern, trend-forward aesthetics.
Let's look at the key differences to help you decide which online retailer is the right fit for your home furnishing needs.
Wayfair: The Mega-Retailer of Home Goods
Wayfair positions itself as a one-stop shop for everything home, boasting one of the largest online inventories of furniture, decor, appliances, and home improvement items. Its marketplace model brings together thousands of vendors, providing an unparalleled amount of choice for consumers, from budget-conscious first-time buyers to those seeking more premium pieces.
- Product mix: An exhaustive catalog covering everything from living room sofas and outdoor patio sets to lighting, rugs, large appliances, mattresses, and even flooring. It truly is a big-box store for the home, but online.
- Style/vibe: Virtually every style is represented, including modern, farmhouse, traditional, coastal, industrial, Scandinavian, and bohemian. The platform’s strength lies in its sheer variety, allowing you to find pieces for any design theme.
- Price point: Prices span a wide spectrum. You can find entry-level sofas starting around $300, while more premium, customized seating can cost several thousand. Dining sets are commonly available for under $500.
- Quality: Quality is highly variable as Wayfair is a marketplace featuring thousands of different manufacturers. It's crucial to read customer reviews and check product specifications. Many items are well-made with solid wood and durable materials, but some budget options trade longevity for a low price.
- Customization: Many upholstered items, especially from their in-house brands, come with options for different fabrics and colors, making it easier to match your existing decor.
- Sales: Known for its major "Way Day" sale, along with monthly and seasonal promotions. There are always thousands of items on sale at any given time.
- Return policy: You can return most items for a refund or store credit within 30 days of delivery. Return shipping costs are typically deducted from your refund.
- Delivery & Assembly: Offers a range of delivery options from standard curbside to full in-home setup and assembly for an additional fee. Lead times vary from a few days to several weeks for made-to-order items.
If you value having the largest possible selection and want an all-in-one source for every room in your house, Wayfair is almost impossible to beat.
Shop Wayfair: wayfair.com
Overstock: The Discounted Home Hub
Originally an online retailer for surplus and returned merchandise, Overstock has evolved into a formidable home goods destination focused on delivering value and style at a discount. While it also sells jewelry, electronics, and other goods, its core business is affordable and trend-conscious home furnishings with a more curated approach than Wayfair.
- Product mix: Strong focus on home goods, including furniture, rugs, decor, mattresses, and kitchen essentials. While the selection is smaller than Wayfair's, it is still extensive and carefully selected for value.
- Style/vibe: Skews toward modern, transitional, and contemporary designs. It's an excellent resource for shoppers looking for current, on-trend furniture that won't become dated quickly.
- Price point: Highly competitive and often lower than other major retailers. Sofas can be found starting around $250, and complete bedroom sets often go for under $600. Prices feel lean due to frequent coupons and flash sales.
- Quality: Overstock generally maintains a more consistent level of quality by being more selective about its suppliers. While budget items exist, the platform has a good reputation for providing dependable products made with materials like solid wood and quality upholstery fabrics.
- Sales: Flash deals, sitewide coupons, and seasonal sales are a constant presence on the site. Their rewards program also offers perks like cash back and free shipping for members.
- Financing & Price Matching: Offers financing options to make purchases more manageable and has a price match guarantee for certain products, securing its value proposition.
- Return policy: A 30-day return window is standard for most items. If the return is due to an error on Overstock's part, they cover the shipping, otherwise, the cost is the customer's.
- Delivery & Assembly: Standard free shipping is available on most orders, with options to upgrade to in-home setup in some locations.
Overstock is best for bargain hunters and shoppers who want on-trend styles without sifting through tens of thousands of options to find a good deal.
Shop Overstock: overstock.com
Wayfair vs. Overstock Comparison
Price Comparison
Both brands are known for affordable furniture, but Overstock often wins on raw price, especially on individual items. Its business model is built on securing good deals, and frequent coupons and flash sales often drive prices down even further. For example, entry-level sofas on Overstock regularly start around $250, while Wayfair's tend to begin closer to the $300 mark.
However, Wayfair competes aggressively with its own massive sales events like Way Day and ongoing promotions. While its list prices might be slightly higher, a well-timed purchase can result in comparable savings. Ultimately, Overstock is built for consistent discounts, while Wayfair relies on huge event-based sales to deliver value.
Style & Aesthetic
This is a major point of difference. Wayfair’s approach is about sheer volume, if a style exists, you can likely find it there. From classic traditional to niche minimalist or vibrant bohemian, its filter-heavy search is designed to help you navigate millions of products to find your exact aesthetic.
Overstock’s selection is more refined. It focuses heavily on what's popular now: clean modern lines, versatile transitional pieces, and sleek contemporary designs. If you want a stylish home that aligns with current trends without feeling overwhelmed by choice, Overstock’s curated catalog is far easier to browse.
Quality & Construction
Because Wayfair is a marketplace, quality is product-dependent. You can find high-end, solid wood furniture from reputable manufacturers alongside flat-pack pieces made from particle board. Reading reviews is absolutely essential to gauge the quality and longevity of any specific item.
Overstock is more of a traditional retailer that curates its inventory, leading to more predictable quality control. While they still offer a range of price points, their items generally offer reliable construction for the price. Shoppers often report that it's easier to find a dependably built piece of furniture on Overstock without extensive research.
Product Selection
Wayfair is the undisputed winner when it comes to the breadth of its selection. Beyond just furniture and decor, you can shop for bathroom vanities, kitchen appliances, and flooring - making it a true online superstore for home projects. The number of choices within any single category, like "3-Seater Sofas," can be in the tens of thousands.
Overstock’s selection, while vast, is more contained. It offers everything you need to furnish a home but doesn't extend as deeply into home improvement or appliances. This focus can be a benefit, making the shopping experience faster and less overwhelming for those looking for core furniture and decor items.
Shopping Experience
Wayfair’s website and app are incredibly sophisticated, with powerful filtering tools that let you drill down by size, color, material, features, and customer rating. "View in Room" AR features and curated idea boards also help with visualization, which is necessary to manage its huge inventory.
Overstock's platform is more straightforward. The navigation is clean and simple, with prominent placement of daily deals and coupons. It's a no-fuss experience designed to get shoppers to a great deal quickly. For users who prefer a simpler interface without endless filtering, Overstock is refreshingly direct.
Return Policies
Both companies offer similar 30-day return windows for most products. The key difference is often in the details. With both, you'll likely need to pay for return shipping unless the item arrived damaged or was the wrong product. Always check the return policy for oversized items like sofas or mattresses, as they can sometimes be final sale or incur significant restocking fees.
Which One Should You Choose?
The right choice depends entirely on your shopping style and priorities. Both are excellent online destinations for affordable furniture, but they cater to different needs.
Choose Wayfair if:
- You want the absolute largest selection to find the perfect piece.
- You are searching for a specific, unique, or hard-to-find style.
- You enjoy using detailed search filters to narrow down options from a massive catalog.
- You're undertaking a large home project and want to buy everything from furniture to fixtures in one place.
Choose Overstock if:
- Your primary motivation is finding the lowest possible price and the best deal.
- You prefer trendy, modern, or contemporary styles that are in line with current decor.
- You easily get overwhelmed by too many choices and prefer a more curated selection.
- You are a savvy shopper who loves using coupons and taking advantage of flash sales.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Wayfair or Overstock cheaper?
Overstock is generally cheaper on a day-to-day basis due to its discount-focused model and frequent sales. However, Wayfair's major sales events, like Way Day, can offer deep discounts that make its prices highly competitive.
Which has better quality furniture?
Quality can be variable on both platforms, but Overstock tends to be more consistent due to its curated inventory. Wayfair's quality ranges from budget-tier to high-end, making it crucial for shoppers to read reviews carefully for each product.
Are Wayfair and Overstock the same company?
No, they are separate, publicly traded companies and direct competitors in the online home goods market.
Which platform is easier to shop on?
This is subjective. If you like powerful tools and filters to sort through a massive inventory, Wayfair is easier. If you prefer a simpler, less cluttered interface to browse curated deals, Overstock is often considered more straightforward.
How long does shipping take from these retailers?
For both Overstock and Wayfair, standard shipping for in-stock items typically takes 3-7 business days. Larger freight items like sofas or dining tables can take 1-3 weeks. Both provide tracking so you can follow your order's progress.
Can you return furniture to both stores?
Yes, both retailers accept furniture returns within a 30-day window, provided the item is in its original condition. However, be aware that you will likely be responsible for the return shipping costs, which can be expensive for large items.
Which is better for small spaces?
Both offer a wide range of furniture ideal for small spaces. Wayfair's extensive filtering system makes it slightly easier to search specifically for "apartment-sized sofas" or narrow down furniture by precise dimensions.
Do Wayfair and Overstock have physical stores?
Both are primarily e-commerce retailers. Neither operates a nationwide network of physical showrooms, though some may have outlet locations or occasional pop-up shops.
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.
