ReviewHome & Decor
Crate & Barrel Review: Excellent Tableware and Timeless Design — But Furniture Orders Need Extra Caution
Crate & Barrel remains a go-to for stylish, reliable tableware and home goods, with a strong registry and showrooms — but furniture buyers report long delivery delays, damaged pieces, restocking fees and frustrating service, so large purchases need careful planning.
rating 7.0 / 10
7.0/10
- Best for
- Shoppers who want well-designed kitchenware, tableware and home basics, plus couples building a wedding registry
- Price
- Around $10 (glassware, kitchen tools) – $2,000–$5,000+ (sofas and sectionals)crateandbarrel.com, Crate & Barrel stores
The shortlist
03 PRODUCTS · PRICES CHECKED AUTOMATICALLY
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Best Overall Pick Crate & Barrel Dinnerware, Glassware & Serveware $10 Crate & Barrel
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Best for Home Cooks Crate & Barrel Cookware & Kitchen Essentials $15 Crateandbarrel
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Approach With Caution Custom Upholstery With Tight Deadlines Crate & Barrel
How this works — Links to shops may earn FailleGlam a commission. It never decides what we recommend, the score, or the order. Prices are read from each shop and shown with the time we last checked. How we review →
01 Why We Reviewed Crate & Barrel
Crate & Barrel, founded in Chicago in 1962, is one of America's best-known home retailers, selling furniture, kitchenware, dinnerware, glassware and decor with a clean, timeless aesthetic. ConsumerAffairs lists its pros as high product quality and design plus flexible financing, and it remains a popular wedding registry destination. Some buyers describe excellent service — one sleeper sofa buyer said a customer service lead went above and beyond to fix a minor issue, making it one of their best furniture shopping experiences.
The honest caveat: furniture reviews are heavily negative. Trustpilot's summary of recent reviews describes most reviewers as let down, citing unhelpful service, damaged or poorly made items, delivery delays, incorrect items and missing pieces. Buyers report waiting months — sometimes over a year — for sofas, receiving damaged replacements and being charged high return costs; one ConsumerAffairs reviewer cited a $129 return shipping fee plus a 25% restocking fee. A BBB reviewer said a designer-recommended 90-inch couch couldn't be delivered and they were only offered store credit.
02 Crate & Barrel at a Glance
At a glance
- Founded
- 1962 — Chicago, Illinois
- Product Category
- Furniture, kitchenware, tableware, glassware, decor, registry
- Price Range
- ~$10 (kitchen basics) – $2,000–$5,000+ (sofas, sectionals)
- Ships To
- USA and select international markets
- Made In
- Globally sourced
- Warranty
- Varies by product — check furniture terms
- Return Policy
- Non-furniture items generally returnable; furniture returns may carry shipping and restocking fees; custom pieces non-returnable
- Available At
- crateandbarrel.com, Crate & Barrel stores nationwide
- Review Count
- Mostly negative furniture reviews (~2.1 avg on SmartCustomer); strong brand reputation for housewares
- FailleGlam Rating
- 7.0 / 10
03 What FailleGlam Found: The Honest Breakdown
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+01
✅ Timeless, versatile design Clean styles that fit many homes and age well.
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+02
✅ Strong kitchen and tableware selection Reliable everyday essentials and entertaining pieces.
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+03
✅ Popular wedding registry Broad selection and in-store experience for couples.
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+04
✅ Showrooms and design help Try furniture in person and get design guidance.
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+05
✅ Flexible financing Credit card and financing options for larger purchases.
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−01
❌ Long furniture delivery delays Months-long waits and repeatedly moved dates.
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−02
❌ Damaged or poorly finished pieces Reports of broken sofas, loose threads and wobbly consoles.
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−03
❌ High furniture return costs Return shipping and restocking fees; custom pieces non-returnable.
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−04
❌ Frustrating customer service Long holds, transfers and conflicting information.
Our readCrate & Barrel shines for housewares. For furniture, choose in-stock items, measure carefully and plan for delays.
04 Best Crate & Barrel Products Worth Considering
Crate & Barrel's range spans every room. After reviewing buyer feedback, here's where the value lies — and one category to approach carefully.
Crate & Barrel
Crate & Barrel Dinnerware, Glassware & Serveware
Tableware is Crate & Barrel's sweet spot: timeless designs, reliable quality and easy returns compared with furniture. Perfect for everyday use, entertaining and gifting.
Crate & Barrel
Crate & Barrel Cookware & Kitchen Essentials
From knives to Dutch ovens, Crate & Barrel curates dependable kitchen tools and exclusive colorways. If you're comparing kitchen brands, see our Great Jones review for colorful cookware alternatives.
Crate & Barrel Lounge & Gather Sofas — roughly $2,000–$5,000+
Premium / Comfort Pick
Crate & Barrel's deep, comfortable sofas are among its most popular furniture. Sit on the exact model in store, confirm in-stock fabric options and measure doorways, stairwells and hallways before ordering.
Crate & Barrel
Custom Upholstery With Tight Deadlines
Custom furniture has the longest waits and the least flexible returns. Buyers describe waiting over a year and dealing with damaged deliveries. Don't order custom pieces if you need them by a specific date.
05 What Buyers Are Actually Saying
A sleeper sofa buyer praises service:
There was a minor problem, but the customer service lead went above and beyond, making it one of our best furniture shopping experiences.
A brand overview highlights its strengths:
High product quality and design, plus flexible financing options.
On the concerns side, a buyer describes return costs:
If it didn't cost $129 in shipping plus a 25% restocking fee, I would have returned it on principle.
Another buyer describes a long wait:
After two damaged sofas and waiting over a year for delivery, I finally asked for a full refund.
The pattern: design and housewares earn praise, while furniture delivery, damage, returns and service drive the complaints.
06 Crate & Barrel vs The Competition
| Crate & Barrel vs The Competition | Our pick Crate & Barrel | Pottery Barn | West Elm |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price Range | ~$10–$5,000+ | ~$10–$5,000+ | ~$10–$4,000+ |
| Design | ✅ Timeless modern | ✅ Classic comfort | ✅ Mid-century modern |
| Tableware | ✅ Excellent | ✅ Good | ✅ Good |
| Furniture Delivery | ⚠️ Frequent delays | ⚠️ Delays reported | ⚠️ Delays reported |
| Furniture Returns | ⚠️ Fees + restocking | ⚠️ Custom restrictions | ⚠️ Custom restrictions |
| Registry | ✅ Strong | ✅ Strong | ✅ Available |
| Unique Strength | Housewares + registry | Family-friendly furniture | Modern style |
| Best For | Kitchens and registries | Traditional homes | Modern apartments |
For a deeper breakdown, see our full CB2 review — Crate & Barrel's modern sister brand.
07 Is Crate & Barrel Right For You?
Perfect For
Home cooks, entertainers and couples building a registry who want reliable, well-designed housewares.
Worth Considering If
You're buying a sofa. Choose in-stock options, measure every entry point and inspect delivery thoroughly.
Skip It If
You need custom furniture quickly or want easy furniture returns.
08 FailleGlam Recommends
Crate & Barrel
Crate & Barrel Dinnerware & Glassware
It's where Crate & Barrel is most reliable: timeless design, dependable quality and easier returns. Build a set gradually or add it to your registry.
09 Crate & Barrel — Questions We Get Asked Most
Q.01Is Crate & Barrel furniture good quality?
Many pieces are well designed, but reviews report damage and finishing issues. Inspect everything on delivery.
Q.02Why do Crate & Barrel sofas take so long?
Custom and made-to-order sofas have long lead times, and buyers report additional delays.
Q.03Does Crate & Barrel charge restocking fees?
Some furniture returns carry return shipping and restocking fees. Check the policy before ordering.
Q.04Is the Crate & Barrel wedding registry worth it?
Yes, for its broad selection of kitchen and tableware and in-store experience.
Q.05Crate & Barrel vs Pottery Barn — which is better?
Crate & Barrel for timeless modern style and housewares. Pottery Barn for classic, family-friendly furniture.