IKEA EKTORP vs. UPPLAND: Should You Buy the Replacement or Hunt the Original?

The EKTORP and UPPLAND are the same shape and the same sofa lineage at IKEA — but they're not the same purchase. IKEA discontinued the EKTORP in the US in 2023; the UPPLAND is its direct successor in the current catalog. The buyer question therefore isn't really 'which one is better' — it's 'do I buy a new UPPLAND, or do I hunt a clean secondhand EKTORP and re-cover it?' That's a different decision than most furniture comparisons surface.

This piece exists because we've reviewed both individually — see our IKEA EKTORP Sofa Review and our IKEA UPPLAND Sofa Review for the deep-dives — and the same r/IKEA, Comfort Works, and Bemz communities surface in both. The aftermarket-cover ecosystem is the connective tissue that makes either sofa worth considering at all, and the trade-offs between them are clear enough to give a useful answer.

Short version: if you can find a clean secondhand EKTORP for $150–$300 and don't mind investing $150–$200 in fresh Comfort Works or Bemz slipcovers, that's the better-value path and you'll get the softer seat profile original EKTORP fans actually love. If you're shopping new, the UPPLAND is the only IKEA option in this silhouette and its pocket-spring seat is a real construction upgrade — but expect a meaningfully firmer feel, and skip the Remmarn cover.

The Lineage: How UPPLAND Replaced EKTORP

The EKTORP launched in the late 1990s and was IKEA's defining slipcover sofa for a quarter-century — the Wirecutter-loved, Reddit-recommended, every-young-apartment-has-one default. It was discontinued in the US market in 2023 and replaced by the UPPLAND, which IKEA explicitly positioned as the EKTORP's successor in the same product slot. Both share the rolled-arm slipcover silhouette, the same general dimensions, and the same washable-cover proposition.

The visual identity is similar but not identical. The UPPLAND has a taller back profile and a more substantial visual presence — a tighter, more upright posture. The EKTORP reads softer, lower, more cottage-traditional. Different rooms photograph differently with each.

Suspension & Cushion: UPPLAND's Real Upgrade

This is the clearest spec gap. The EKTORP's seat is a sinuous spring base paired with foam-and-fiber cushions — a soft, immediately yielding feel that owners describe as 'sink-in.' Cushion compression over three to five years is a documented issue, with replacement foam available through r/IKEA-recommended workshops.

The UPPLAND uses pocket springs in the seat cushions paired with high-resilience foam — a legitimate construction upgrade that produces better edge support and longer-term shape retention. The trade-off: the UPPLAND feels meaningfully firmer than the EKTORP, especially during the first few weeks of break-in. Reddit threads regularly include posts from owners describing the UPPLAND as 'hard' or 'like sitting on a rock' in the first month, with most reports softening over time as the foam compresses into a more familiar shape.

The UPPLAND's seat cushions are non-reversible, which means you can't flip them to even out wear — a real long-term limitation. The EKTORP's cushions are reversible and replaceable, with a robust aftermarket of replacement-foam workshops and DIY-fill guides.

Style: Same Family, Different Profile

Both sofas wear rolled arms and a slipcovered silhouette. The EKTORP is softer and lower, with a gently curved back and an upholstered fullness that reads as cottage, Scandinavian-traditional, or classic-casual depending on cover choice. The UPPLAND is taller and squarer, with the same rolled-arm vocabulary but a more formal, upright posture.

Cover variety is meaningfully different. The EKTORP — including its currently-discontinued original IKEA covers and the broader aftermarket from Comfort Works and Bemz — has been available in dozens of colors, fabrics, and prints. The UPPLAND ships with seven cover options across muted neutrals (Karlshov, Hakebo, Hallarp, Remmarn, and a few others), with no bold colors or prints in the current lineup. Aftermarket UPPLAND covers exist but are still developing — the EKTORP ecosystem had 25 years to mature.

Cover Quality: One Real UPPLAND Caveat

Cover fabric is a genuine variable on the UPPLAND. The Hakebo and Hallarp options earn consistent owner praise. The Remmarn light gray has documented snagging issues — multiple Reddit and Houzz reports describe small black dots and pulled threads within weeks of purchase. If you're buying UPPLAND new, choose Hakebo or Hallarp; specifically avoid Remmarn unless you've seen the fabric in person and accept the snagging risk.

EKTORP covers vary by era. Older production runs (pre-2018 roughly) used heavier fabric than later runs, and aftermarket Comfort Works / Bemz covers have generally been more durable than IKEA's own later EKTORP covers. The UPPLAND's IKEA covers, in the Hakebo or Hallarp options, are an upgrade over late-era EKTORP covers — multiple owners have switched and reported the new cover material holds up better.

Price & Value: New vs. Secondhand

UPPLAND: about $699 for a 3-seat with cover, new from IKEA, with a 10-year frame warranty. The cover replacement ecosystem (IKEA + emerging third-party) extends effective lifespan.

EKTORP (secondhand): pricing varies widely. Structurally compromised units with worn covers can be found at $50; clean examples with relatively fresh covers run $300–$400. The sweet spot for buyers willing to refresh covers: $150–$200 for a clean frame, plus $150–$200 in fresh Comfort Works or Bemz slipcovers, total $300–$400 for a fully-washable traditional sofa with the softer seat profile that is the entire reason EKTORP fans loved it.

The main risk in secondhand EKTORP: cushion condition. Compressed seat cushions are the single most common reason secondhand buyers report dissatisfaction. Sit on the cushions before purchase. If they've lost loft, factor in $200–$400 for replacement foam from a local upholstery shop or order pre-cut foam from one of the r/IKEA-recommended workshops.

Comfort Split: Who Each Sofa Actually Fits

UPPLAND community sentiment splits cleanly on a use-case axis. Owners who lounge, recline, or are taller than 5'8" tend to love the firm pocket-spring feel. Owners who sit upright or are shorter than 5'6" frequently find the seat too high (back-of-knee pressure) and the back cushions too thin for sustained reading or screen time. This isn't a quality split — it's a body-fit split, and it's predictable from the dimensions.

EKTORP doesn't have the same height-fit problem. Its lower seat and softer cushion are friendlier to shorter occupants and casual sitters, and the cushion compression that makes it less ideal for taller frequent loungers (the seat 'pillows out' under repeated weight) is the same property that makes it especially comfortable for kids and pets.

Who Should Buy Each

Buy a new UPPLAND if: you want a clean buying experience with a 10-year warranty, you prefer firmer pocket-spring seating, you can use the Hakebo or Hallarp cover (skip Remmarn), and you're 5'8"+ or fine with the taller seat height. Most new buyers in the IKEA slipcover-sofa segment should default to the UPPLAND.

Hunt a secondhand EKTORP if: you want the softer, lower-profile sit that long-term EKTORP fans actually loved, you're willing to invest in fresh covers from Comfort Works or Bemz, and you're comfortable evaluating cushion condition in person. Best total spend in the secondhand path is $300–$400 all-in for a clean frame plus aftermarket covers.

Skip both if: you specifically want firmer support but flexible cover style options. The UPPLAND's cover library is narrower than the EKTORP's was, and neither sofa is going to compete on long-term durability with a Crate & Barrel Petrie or a West Elm Henry at a higher price tier.