To be clear, all IKEA items are technically non-toxic. Non-toxic means not expected to cause health problems in healthy folks.
However, if you are looking to go further and only want furniture that doesn’t offgas any formaldehyde or other VOCs, this post will be for you.
This article will be particularly useful for those with chemical sensitivities who have a very low tolerance for offgassing.
IKEA and Toxics
IKEA actually has great standards when it comes to toxicants. They have led the way when it comes to flame retardants, PFAS, toxic metals, formaldehyde, and other major chemicals of concern.
Flame Retardants
IKEA does not use flame retardants in their foam in the US. They do use some flame retardants on small areas like stitch bonds and zippers plus children’s tents. In some countries where they are required by law to use flame retardants in foam, they still use them. (Source)
PFAS “Forever Chemicals”
In 2016, IKEA phased out PFAS (polyfluorinated water and stain repellant) chemicals from all IKEA textile products.
Formaldehyde
Of course, a large amount of IKEA furniture is made with particleboard which is made with glues, possibly MDI, from the raw edges. They used to use formaldehyde but they don’t add that anymore. We don’t know what glue they are using instead of formaldehyde though sensitive folks do still pick up offgassing from their particleboard. So while this isn’t technically at a toxic level, this won’t make the list of 0-VOC items.
IKEA and Green Certifications
IKEA has never used certifications like Green Guard Gold on their products.
For a review of the lowest offgassing IKEA beds, see this article.
This article contains affiliate links, upon purchase I make a small commission at not extra cost to you.
1. Metal Items
Metal and the powder coating paint that IKEA uses don’t offgas any VOCs and aren’t expected to leach any chemicals of concern.
ENHET Bathroom vanity is made of all metal with a ceramic sink.
IDÅSEN High cabinet with drawer and doors (dark green), this series looks like school lockers and is all metal.
ADDE Chair (white) is metal and polypropylene.
FJÄLLBO TV unit (black), is metal and solid wood.
FYRESDAL Daybed is also all metal. It does come with 2 foam mattresses. The foam is not 0-VOC but it is low-VOC.
SAGSTUA Bed frame (black) is all metal with plywood slats.
2. Plywood Items
Plywood has extremely low offgassing and is often totally offgassed by the time it gets to the customer
NOLMYRA Chair is very simple with a plywood base and mesh fabric. Polyester is also extremely low in offgassing.
FRÖSET Chair (white stained oak veneer), this chair is all plywood.
3. Solid Wood Items
Some of IKEA’s indoor furniture is 100% solid wood. When it comes to building with wood there will almost always be wood glues involved but those are usually water-based PVA-based glues that have very low offgassing.
Plywood does have very low offgassing and is often offgassed by the time it reaches the customer. As for fibreboard parts, those can be sealed with shellac or AFM Safeseal.
INGO Table, solid pine.
JOKKMOKK Table and 4 chairs, (antique stain), solid pine.
TARVA Bed frame is solid pine and the slats are plywood.
PERSBOL Armchair has solid wood, some plywood, and a cushion.
LISABO Chair (ash) is made of solid wood and plywood.
TARVA Nightstand, TARVA Dresser, pine, is mostly solid wood with fiberboard (HDF) on the backing and draw bottoms. If you like you can seal the fiberboard with shellac and/or AFM Safeseal to block most of the offgassing.
BJÖRKSNÄS Nightstand (birch), is mostly solid wood except for the bottom of the drawer which is fiberboard and can be sealed as per above.
4. Wicker/Rattan Items
The natural rattan options from IKEA are a very benign option, the clear acrylic lacquer doesn’t have any noticeable offgassing to my perception (when I was extremely sensitive).
AGEN Armchair (rattan/bamboo) is all rattan and wood, there should not be any offgassing here.
ULRIKSBERG Armchair (rattan/anthracite) is all rattan and metal, there should not be any offgassing here.
GAMLEHULT Ottoman with storage, (rattan/anthracite) only rattan and metal there should not be any offgassing here.
ALSEDA Stool (banana fiber), banana leaves, and steel, there should not be any offgassing here.
HOLMSTA Armchair (handmade beige), made of handwoven rattan, bamboo, and wood. The paper rope does usually have some offgassing.
BUSKBO Armchair (rattan), the rattan IKEA items with a clear lacquer do not seem to have any offgassing. You will have slight offgassing from cushions.
TOLKNING Ottoman (with storage, handmade rattan) is made of rattan, clear acrylic lacquer with a little bit of plywood on the bottom.
5. Plastic Items
Solid polypropylene and polyethylene are both very safe plastics and can usually be used by the chemically sensitive. The harder the plastic the less offgassing.
RISHOLMEN Wing chair, in/outdoor, (brown) is made of plastic rattan (polyethylene and polypropylene) and should not have any offgassing.
LIDÅS Chair (white/Sefast white), these mid-century modern chairs by IKEA are made with a solid polypropylene seat and come in many colors and styles.
SKARPÖ Armchair, outdoor, (white), is made of solid polypropylene which does not offgas.
And most of IKEA’s outdoor chairs are safe as they are either plastic, wicker, metal, or solid wood. I won’t list all the outdoor options.
6. Particleboard Completely Encased in Plastic Items
While particleboard is pressed with a binder, likely MDI, when it’s encased on all sides by plastic or metal this does essentially block the offgassing.
GRÅSALA / ADDE Table and 4 chairs, gray gray/black, table top is particleboard encased in Melamine.
BODARP matte gray-green kitchen cabinet series is made of particleboard. The front-facing pieces are all totally encased in PET plastic.
Sarah Sweger
This is so helpful! Thank you!!! What about the outdoor seat pad cushions (Froson /Duvholmen)?
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
some offgassing from the polyurethane foam, very minor offgassing from the polyester components. no PFAS.
Mel
This is a store helpful post! The ADDE chairs isn’t all metal though. The seat and back is plastic. It’s the safer plastic though. I bought 2 for my girls desks. No issues for us!
Corinne Segura, Building Biologist
thank you!
Sarah
Be aware that the Persbol chair is very low. Most chairs are around 18″ but that chair is 16.5″ measured to the top of the cushion.
Sarah
Bought two of the JOKKMOKK table and chairs a few years ago and love them! No odor at all and the stain tint is very nice.
Justin
Hi Corrine: I was wondering if you have any experience with IKEA mattress toppers, or foam or latex mattresses? I know that memory foam can be a major issue but I also wonder if IKEA options are less toxic? Thank you!
Corinne Segura
yes mentioned in my article on mattresses for the chemically sensitive
Jan W
Thank you so much for this list. We have no couches because of offgassing. So I am curious what you think of the Ikea Rocker Chair Poang? I would get it without the upholstery.
Corinne Segura
just depends on how sensitive you are, if youre super sensitive you should go with solid wood for a chair frame
Janet
Any couches?
Corinne Segura
i mention them in my article on non toxic sofas, but ikea sofas are not one of their best products
Gen Mayer
What about the Ikea Billy bookcases which are really popular and the Bror cabinets?
Corinne Segura
billy is made from particle board which most sensitive people avoid. Bror looks to be all metal so that looks good.
Kate
Any more dresser recommendations from Ikea, or only the Tarva dresser?
Corinne Segura
not only tarva, they have other solid wood options.
June
I just bought a Tarva dresser but the smell is so intense. I am glad to learn it’s solid wood so shouldn’t be off gassing….but what am I smelling? I had to move it outside and am considering returning it.
Corinne Segura
there are some wood glues which normally offgas quicky and the HDF parts are offgassing though i don’t know what glues they use in that. the post suggests some sealers for those parts.
Meritxell Espona
Ikea furniture has always smelled a lot to me so I find this hard to believe.
Corinne Segura
they have furniture made of different materials some offgas since they are made with particleboard and others are made of 0-VOC materials like the article explains
Sarah
I had a bad reaction to their Hemnes dressers a few years ago. They were listed a solid wood, but it appeared they glued together strips of the wood to make the “boards.” It had a significant glue-like odor. I had nausea and vertigo for days. Thankfully we were able to return them.
Sarah
(From a different Sarah who sometimes posts here.) I’ve had very good luck with things from the Hemnes line, though I did have one piece that smelled very nasty and never did off gas sufficiently enough even after many months. Strangely, it was stained white instead of the white lacquer. I think they’ve been moving away from the lacquer and doing more stain which actually looks quite ugly. So many products have changed post-covid for a host of reasons. Things that were once reliable and reasonably well made, are no longer. It’s so frustrating.
Chantal
This is so very useful and well laid out with links! This helps to also extrapolate for other furniture. For ikea you answered my question regarding the bjorksnas!
Beyond those you mentioned I’ve had great success with some ikea things like the Oskarsham chair (so comfortable) but not others like the soderhamn and their feather cushions (big no). But my all time favorite is the outdoor chair Havsten which I put in my bedroom!
KB
Do you think metals cabinets would have a condensation problem? It might be subtle, but I wonder about storing fabrics and paper products and might they be more mildew/mold prone when stored in metal. New England is a humid environment.
Corinne Segura
you wont have actual condensation but if it’s airtight then it wouldnt be the best places to store textiles youre right
Carly
Hello, I purchased the IKEA Tarva dressers and nightstand. There is a smell coming from the drawer.
I know the AFM seal coat can be used on the part that isn’t sealed and can be absorbed. For the drawer bottom that is white and shiny, what can be used?
Corinne
shellac, and see articles on sealing in offgassing
Karen
Hello! I noticed you said the ikea rattan pieces are pretty benign. Wondering if you would consider ones from other companies, like this one? https://www.cb2.com/noelie-rattan-lounge-chair-with-white-cushion/s604188 Or is only Ikea making the best for these currently?
Corinne
depends on the finish, Ikea uses very good water-based finishes that offgas fast, if this uses a higher offgassing finish it wouldn’t be as good.
karen
Thanks so much for that info to ask! I just called them to ask and I wish customer service folks had access to better info from the company. Customer service didn’t seem to know about the kind of finish or not on the wood. If I can find out, are there finishes that are a absolute no? They didn’t know though.
Corinne
I would at least go for water based over oil based (solvent based) coatings