This is the Best Time to Go to IKEA

If you love crowds, there’s a good chance you’d love visiting IKEA on a Saturday afternoon. But for most of us, the store on a Saturday afternoon doesn’t sound like a whole lot of fun.

ikea store frontl i g h t p o e t/Shutterstock

If you love crowds, there’s a good chance you’d love visiting IKEA on a Saturday afternoon. But for most of us, the store on a Saturday afternoon doesn’t sound like a whole lot of fun.

IKEA has just about everything — furniture, kitchen gadgets, patio chairs and tables and even holiday decorations, toys and food. But if you need to get in and out as quickly as possible, there are certain times to visit and other times to stay away.

One employee posted on reddit that shoppers should do all they can to avoid going on the weekends, as this is when stores are the busiest.

“The best time to go towards the checkout for no queue is 30 minutes to an hour after opening,” the employee wrote.

The employee added that many show up at the store 30 minutes prior to the store’s official opening so when the doors open, they can grab what they need and get in and out without much hassle.

Another strategy is going mid-week, especially in the evening hours, when you can enjoy a meal (Swedish meatballs and a soft-serve ice cream cone!) and stroll without all crazy crowds you’ll encounter on the weekend. Employees note that Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays are ideal.

You can get these 15 home tech items at IKEA.

If you must visit on the weekend, try going after 6 p.m. Some bloggers note that the weekend rush often clears out by dinner time, leaving much more room to browse.

Another great time to visit IKEA? Head there late in the day that first Sunday in February when everyone else is gathered around the television watching that big football game. You’ll practically have the store to yourself!

Check out these 10 incredible IKEA hacks.

Need something but don’t want to visit the store? There’s always ikea.com.

Save money at IKEA with these eight little-known tips.

Rachel Brougham
Rachel Brougham lived through a major home renovation in 2019, knows the ups and downs of home improvement, and loves sharing tips with readers. A veteran journalist of both print and television, she’s won several awards for her writing and has covered everything from the environment and education to health care, politics and food. She’s written for several publications beyond newspapers including Bob Vila, Taste of Home and Minnesota Parent, and she currently writes a weekly syndicated newspaper column. Her memoir, Widowland, about the sudden loss of her husband, was published in 2022. She specializes in everything from home decor and design to lawn and garden, product reviews and pet care. When she’s not writing, you can usually find her tending to her garden (both vegetables and native plants), playing with her dog, watching sports with her family or getting some exercise. A native of Michigan, she currently lives in Minneapolis. An avid user of Instagram, you can follow her @RachBrougham.