IKEA returns: 365 days, or 180 once you open the box

Opening the box halves the window: 365 days unopened, 180 opened. The duration is stated plainly. What is not stated anywhere — not on the short page, not on the full policy — is the date the countdown starts from. «With your proof of purchase» is a document you must bring, not the day the clock begins.

How long, and on what

365days, unopened — start date not stated

The clause requires proof of purchase. It does not say whether the 365 days run from the purchase, from the delivery, or from anything else.

"you can return new and unopened products within 365 days, together with your proof of purchase, for a full refund"

ikea.com — IKEA US return policy · verified 2026-10-09

180days, opened — start date not stated

Opening the box halves the window. The start date is not stated for this branch either.

"You may also return open products within 180 days, with your proof of purchase, for a full refund."

ikea.com — IKEA US return policy · verified 2026-10-09

90days, mattresses — one exchange, not a refund

This is an exchange for another mattress, once, and it is a third window that the short page does not mention at all.

"Mattress purchases may be exchanged for another mattress one time within 90 days."

ikea.com — IKEA US return policy · verified 2026-10-09

What is excluded, whatever the window says

product_type

"We do not accept returns on plants, cut fabric, custom countertops and as-is products."

IKEA US return policy · verified 2026-10-09

item_condition

"We are unable to refund or exchange your items if your merchandise is found to be modified from its original form when purchased, dirty, stained, or damaged."

IKEA US return policy · verified 2026-10-09

channel

"Returns are not accepted at IKEA Planning Studio or IKEA Pick Up Point locations."

IKEA US return policy · verified 2026-10-09

What this looks like in practice

I bought a shelf 200 days ago and opened the box to check the parts. Can I still return it?

The 365-day window is for unopened products; once opened it is 180 days, so 200 days is outside it. But IKEA never states what day either window counts from, so whether you are at day 200 of anything is not something the policy lets you prove. That is the honest answer, and it is why a number alone is not a verdict.

Check your exact purchase

Product URL, buyer country, item condition. One verified answer, with the merchant's clause quoted and dated. We return UNKNOWN instead of guessing, and UNKNOWN is free.

Try ReturnCheck

The same card, for machines — stable id rc-card-ikea-365-or-180 · https://returncheck.m-angelmartinez-fer.workers.dev/cards/rc-card-ikea-365-or-180.json

{
  "card_id": "rc-card-ikea-365-or-180",
  "merchant": "ikea",
  "country": "US",
  "question": "How long do I have to return something to IKEA?",
  "answer": "conditional",
  "depends_on": [
    "item_condition",
    "product_type"
  ],
  "outcomes": [
    {
      "days": 365,
      "basis": null,
      "when": "the product is new and unopened",
      "conditions": [
        "unopened",
        "proof_of_purchase"
      ],
      "clause": "you can return new and unopened products within 365 days, together with your proof of purchase, for a full refund"
    },
    {
      "days": 180,
      "basis": null,
      "when": "the product has been opened",
      "conditions": [
        "opened",
        "proof_of_purchase"
      ],
      "clause": "You may also return open products within 180 days, with your proof of purchase, for a full refund."
    },
    {
      "days": 90,
      "basis": null,
      "when": "a mattress, exchanged for another mattress",
      "conditions": [
        "mattress"
      ],
      "clause": "Mattress purchases may be exchanged for another mattress one time within 90 days."
    }
  ],
  "denials": [
    {
      "scope": "product_type",
      "clause": "We do not accept returns on plants, cut fabric, custom countertops and as-is products."
    },
    {
      "scope": "item_condition",
      "clause": "We are unable to refund or exchange your items if your merchandise is found to be modified from its original form when purchased, dirty, stained, or damaged."
    },
    {
      "scope": "channel",
      "clause": "Returns are not accepted at IKEA Planning Studio or IKEA Pick Up Point locations."
    }
  ],
  "source_url": "https://www.ikea.com/us/en/customer-service/returns-claims/",
  "verified_on": "2026-10-09",
  "warning": "Verified on 2026-10-09; policies may change.",
  "check_endpoint": "https://returncheck.m-angelmartinez-fer.workers.dev/v1/check"
}

Verified on 2026-10-09. Policies change — check the source before relying on this.
Every clause above is quoted from IKEA's own published policy, with the page it came from and the date we read it. We do not paraphrase merchant policy, and we do not fill gaps with assumptions: where the policy does not say, we say so.
ReturnCheck is independent and not affiliated with IKEA.