These Are Our 14 Favorite Couches We’ve Tested—and You Can Buy Them Online

I’ve had the Albany Park Barton in my living room for more than a year now, and the only complaint I have is that a vegan leather couch (or any leather, really) can be too cold to jump onto during the freezing winter months when you just want to cozy up. The secret? Have lots of throws so you can add a barrier between your skin and the cool material. The Barton is the second couch from Albany Park I’ve tested and it’s a noticeable upgrade in build quality. The frame feels more durable, and the plush foam seats are soft, supportive, and don’t need readjusting all that much (unlike the original Kova I tested).

This couch is deep enough for two people to comfortably cuddle together (plus a dog). I’m 6’4″ and the Barton is long enough that I don’t need to curl up to fit. I’d recommend adding some throw pillows to the ends so that you can more comfortably rest your head on the arms. Speaking of, my wife and I love the wide arms, which are stable enough to hold a coffee cup while we’re watching reruns of 30 Rock (just be careful). We regularly eat in front of the TV, and I cannot for the life of me find a stain or mark on the couch. If you do end up spilling something on it, the covers are removable. (I can’t speak for the other materials since I only tested the vegan leather, but there are several other fabrics you can choose from.) You can also choose the stain of the solid wood legs—oak, walnut, or black. Though they’re kind of hard to see, so it doesn’t feel like it matters much.

Fair warning, it does arrive in three separate boxes and you will have a much easier time if you have someone to help set it up. But the instructions are clear and easy to follow and, barring the amount of time it took me to get rid of all the recycled cardboard, it was pretty quick to build. Albany Park has a 30-day trial so you can give a test before committing to the couch. —Julian Chokkattu

Benchmade Modern features a wide range of couches for 1950s or 1960s-styled homes. It’s the best-looking and most comfortable couch I’ve ever sat on.

It isn’t just the couch that’s great, though. Benchmade Modern has put a level of polish on the online couch-buying process that doesn’t exist elsewhere (at least in our testing). The company’s website lets you browse colors and resize couches with a slider to see the cushion layout. When you have some idea of what you want, you can also order a full book of fabric swatches, along with a full-size printout of your sofa so you can make sure it fits in your living space. The coach arrived well-packaged in a full-size box. (If you’re upstairs, be sure it will fit up your stairwell.) —Scott Gilbertson

Who says couches have to look boring? You’ll have to spend a little time making sure the colors and patterns don’t clash with your room, but I love the sheer number of choices The Inside offers for its handmade, made-to-order Modern Sofa. I went with the Ink Frida and it looks excellent in my space, though there are more than 88(!) other patterns you can peruse.

The legs are metal, so you don’t have to worry about one breaking off if you plop down too forcefully, and the frame of the sofa is solid wood with laminated panels and tempered steel springs. The Inside offers white glove delivery, so it arrived fully assembled and all I had to do was make space for the delivery folks to squeeze it through my narrow stairwell and into the living room. Most important, it’s wonderfully cozy. The seats are plush and my wife and I have fallen asleep on this thing a few too many times. The covers are removable, though the company recommends spot cleaning.

I love the length. At 89 inches, I can comfortably stretch my 6’4″ body all the way, though we wouldn’t have minded if it had more depth. You will need to add throw pillows for the ends, as the arms are rigid; they help complete the look too. —Julian Chokkattu

This Article couch is a close second in comfort to the Benchmade Modern Laguna. It’s soft without being too soft. The single bottom cushion makes for excellent Sunday afternoon naps—there’s no crack to fall in. The Sven comes in a variety of colors and fabrics, but I tested the leather version. Article uses high-quality aniline leather, which has proved durable and stain-resistant in my testing.

One thing to keep in mind if you go leather: Over the long run, some maintenance will help your couch last longer. It’s worth periodically applying some leather oil to condition the surface. (Otter Wax [$10] is a popular choice.) Also, keep in mind that aniline leather has a tendency to darken slightly over time. I have not noticed this in my testing, but other reviews on the web confirm that it has happened to the Sven. This one arrives in full size. All you need to do is screw in the legs, but if you need to get it through a small entryway, be sure to check measurements ahead of time. —Scott Gilbertson

A Lovesac couch—aka Sactional—is expensive, but customizable. Only have space for a two-seater now? Turn that into a three-seater when you have your first kid, or even a 10-seater when you move into a house with a basement. Add storage seats and power hubs and switch out the machine-washable covers when you redecorate. You can configure and reconfigure it in a number of ways, including by making the seats deeper.

It’s comfy and sturdy, and the corded velvet cover I chose looks sophisticated but cozy. The best part? It doesn’t resemble a couch cover, which often looks baggy. It comes in many, many boxes, depending on what you get. That makes it easier to bring up small stairwells, but you’ll need a lot of patience and someone else to help you put it together. (And maybe a gift for your delivery person.) I recommend watching the company’s instructional videos. The hard pieces—like the frame, sides, and clamps that hold pieces together–come with a lifetime warranty, but covers and cushions have a three-year warranty.

★ Upgrade: For another few grand, you can add Lovesac’s StealthTech pieces (8/10, WIRED Recommends), which hide Harman Kardon speakers in the arms (plus a wireless charging pad) and a subwoofer under the seat. The bundle also comes with a center channel that plugs into your TV. You can get it when you order a new couch or connect it to a Sactional you already have at home. —Medea Giordano

The Burrow sofa sectional is plush, comfy, and fairly compact, but its best feature is how quickly it assembles. The Nomad ships in a few large boxes, depending on the options you choose (with or without an ottoman, extra cushions, etc.). Once you open the boxes, the build goes pretty quickly. Everything snaps together like a Lego set.

The Nomad held up well over its year of testing, considering I’m in a three-pet household. The cushions are still just as plush as they were on day one, and despite the need to occasionally push the cushions back in (they tend to slide if you sit and slouch for a long time, as I do), it’s one of the best couches I’ve owned. Additionally, it’s pretty compact without sacrificing seating space. The sofa sectional can easily seat three people, or four if you seat someone on the chaise. It’s a great choice for small apartments, and it really opened up my living room. —Jaina Grey

The Cozey Ciello XL (6/10, WIRED Review) is really easy to set up, especially with the company’s video instructions. Depending on the configuration you choose for this modular sofa, you might need a lot of room for assembly. Make sure you have a clear space to work in before putting it together (and a box cutter handy for cleanup afterward).

Each module arrives in its own box, with the cushions, covers, and hardware tucked inside the hollow seat, back, or armrest. Pull everything out, put it all together, and snap the modules together to bring your sofa to life.

I didn’t love the sofa’s boxy frame nor the way the crinkly, cloudlike cushions liked to slip and slide over the rigid structures beneath. But if you’re looking for room to stretch out, this couch has it. Its size makes it an obvious choice for families who need more room for movie nights. And the performance fabric, combined with the removable covers, makes for very easy cleaning. You can order free swatches of the performance fabric and the chenille options, and there’s a 30-day trial period as well as a five-year warranty.

As most cat owners know, cats love sharpening their claws on just about anything other than the dedicated furniture you buy for them. My two cats managed to turn two accent chairs and a sectional into dump-worthy eyesores in the space of several years. Which is why when I heard about Interior Define’s “cat-friendly” fabrics, I knew I had to try one of them. Interior Define does sell premade furniture, but is best known for offering the most customizable built-to-order couches—25 styles with over 150 fabric options, 35 styles of legs … the list goes on. You can even choose lengths and widths, sit depth, and cushion fill material. Customers have access to a free consultation with a design expert (either virtual or in person at one of ID’s 14 brick-and-mortar locations), and unless you’re a professional interior designer, I highly recommend this. Even as someone who has bought multiple couches, I was immediately overwhelmed by having to choose options—like tapered vs. stiletto legs—that I hadn’t previously considered.

Regardless, I pushed through to choose the Sloan sectional in onyx cat-friendly performance velvet with oiled-walnut legs. Now for the downside of having a couch built by Interior Define: the wait. Given that the couches are built to order in China or Vietnam, delivery can take two, three, or even four months. (Mine took four.) Reasonable, but still worthy of consideration if you’re in need of a couch quickly. All of ID’s made-to-order couches come with white-glove delivery.

As for the finished product, the seat and back cushions—for which I chose a standard down blend—are firm. Not uncomfortably so, but firmer than I’m used to. I also wish I had selected a wider depth (40 inches rather than 36), as the cushion length feels noticeably short. Otherwise, despite some groans and squeaks after seven months of heavy use (including a couple of tween sleepovers), the couch is still beautiful and sturdy. The best part? The cat-friendly performance velvet works. Both of my cats despise the fabric’s tight weave—they tried sharpening their claws a few times but quickly gave up and now use their long-neglected scratchers. After seven months, the Sloan still looks pristine, which to me was worth the wait. —Kat Merck

The Auburn Sectional from Castlery offers comfort with a contemporary design that feels straight out of a boutique lobby. The setup couldn’t have gone smoother; each modular piece clicks into place without tools. Its curved silhouette and clean lines give it a sculptural aesthetic, while the performance bouclé fabric (100 percent polyester and PFAS-free) holds up well against everyday stains and pets. I have two cats who treat every couch I purchase like a playground and scratching post, and I was beyond impressed by how well this one held up to their claws. The fabric still looks intact (just don’t look too hard) with no significant snags or tears. Even better, spills don’t soak in; they slide right off. The texture is plush but firm.

It’s the kind of couch that’s perfect for lounging or curling up in a ball for a midday nap. The modular build means you can customize it to fit your space, whether you want a classic chaise or an L-shaped setup. Available in off-white cream or gray chalk, it looks and feels expensive. The fabric does cling to dust and pet hair, but the gray chalk color camouflages it brilliantly. Plus, it’s easy to vacuum and maintain. Seriously, I love Castlery’s spill-resistant fabric so much, I had to test out the company’s bed frame. —Boutayna Chokrane

It’s hard shopping for an outdoor couch. You need to consider the material so that it can weather the elements, potentially buy a storage box to store cushions, and consider the color, because who wants visible stains? That’s why I was so intrigued with Outer. The company’s couches come with OuterShell, a built-in cover that wraps around the couch cushions to keep them protected from bird droppings and rain. Just pull it over the cushions when you’re not using them, and affix the Velcro to the underside. If you’re going to be away from home for extended periods, or there’s a big storm on the way, there’s a grab handle on the cover that lets you easily grab them all one-handed and bring them indoors.

I am lazy, and have only brought the cushions inside once before a big storm. Otherwise, I’ve just left the OuterShell over the cushions, and in the two months of testing, they still look and feel fabulous. (That’s with various rainstorms and heat waves.) There’s no mildew or anything of the sort on Outer’s performance fabric cushions, which are made from recyclable materials and have a waterproof protective barrier as well, and they look just as new. I have the navy color, so I don’t spot anything, but the good news is the cushion covers are machine washable.

It’s super easy to get the couches ready for lounging—you can roll the cover up and tuck it away, or just fling it over the seat. And it has my wife’s seal of approval! That’s a high bar, considering she’s very picky. As I type these words, she’s blissfully napping on the couch outside. The OuterCloud cushions are super plush and soft, and the fabric doesn’t feel rough on skin.

The couch itself uses Forest Stewardship Council-certified wood, which means the Grade A teak employed here is harvested from responsibly managed forests. It looks gorgeous and feels sturdy. But you don’t have to feel limited by teak—Outer also has wicker and aluminum options. Speaking of, you can completely build out your preferred seating layout using Outer’s Modular Seating tool, or choose one of the preconfigured options, whether that includes an L sectional or two armless chairs.

It’s spendy, and I’ll need to see how the Outer couch fares over the course of a year—especially when winter comes around—but there’s a lot to love so far, and the overall quality is promising. If I could make one wish, it would be that the arms of the chairs were wider so that I could plop a cup of coffee down, though that also could just invite a spill. —Julian Chokkattu