Want to lay out cabinets and kitchen plans at home before heading to IKEA, but not sure which tool to use, whether it costs money, or whether you need to visit a store first?
IKEA's home planning actually comes in three forms, and a lot of people mix up "planning it myself online" with "getting help planning in-store" right from the start. This article clears it all up in one go: how to use the IKEA Planner online software, where kitchen planning lives, whether the in-store service costs money, how to read forum reviews, and how to work around its key limitation — being locked into IKEA's own catalog.
Caption: IKEA's three forms of home planning — ① plan it yourself with the online Planner ② kitchen/storage system planning ③ book in-store planning assistance
Key takeaway: According to a 2026 Mordor Intelligence report, the interior design software market reached USD 7.59 billion with an 11.12% compound annual growth rate (Mordor Intelligence, 2026). Free planning tools tied to a single brand catalog, like IKEA Planner, are exactly what capture budget-conscious homeowners who want to simulate before they buy.
1What Is IKEA Home Planning? The Difference Between the Online Planner, Kitchen Planning, and In-Store Service
IKEA's home planning comes in three forms: the online IKEA Planner software, kitchen and storage-system planning (like the Kitchen Planner and PAX wardrobe planner), and in-store or by-appointment planning services; the online tools all run right in your browser with no download and are free to use (IKEA, 2026). This addresses navigational searches like "IKEA planning software" and "IKEA home planning."
Mixing up these three forms is where many people take the wrong first step.
The Three Forms of IKEA Home Planning: Online Software, Kitchen Planning, In-Store Service
The first is the online Planner, which you use yourself in a browser — free, no download. The second is planners for specific product categories — modular furniture like kitchens, PAX wardrobes, and BESTÅ TV units each have their own dedicated planning tool. The third is an in-store or by-appointment planning service, where IKEA staff help you put a plan together.
The difference is who does the work. The first two are "you do it yourself"; the third is "someone does it for you." Which one do you actually need? Figure that out before you start.
The Positioning of IKEA Planner, the Online Planning Software
IKEA Planner's positioning is clear: it's tied to IKEA's own catalog, it's free, and it suits people who are buying exclusively IKEA products. It lets you lay out your space before you buy, confirming how cabinets and furniture look once placed and whether the dimensions work.
Its benefit is seamless integration with IKEA products — finish your layout and it can generate a shopping list directly. The tradeoff is that you can only place IKEA items, which we'll get into in more detail below.
Kitchen Planning (IKEA Kitchen Planners) and Other Rooms
The kitchen is the most complete piece among IKEA's planning tools. The Kitchen Planner lets you lay out countertops, cabinets, and appliances to see how the whole layout comes together. Note that IKEA's kitchen planner is designed for desktop and laptop use and doesn't support mobile phones (IKEA, 2026).
Beyond the kitchen, bedrooms, living rooms, bathrooms, and closets each have their own planner too. Most room planners work on mobile, with the kitchen planner being the one exception that requires a computer. This small difference is something many people only discover when they're actually about to use it.
2How to Use IKEA Planner: Operating the Planning Software and Simulating Furniture Placement
The IKEA Planner workflow goes like this: enter the corresponding online planner → choose a room shape or start from scratch → simulate furniture placement using the IKEA catalog → save and generate a shopping list; logging in with an IKEA Family account lets you save your plan and come back to edit it anytime (IKEA, 2026). This addresses the operational need behind searches like "ikea furniture simulation."
It sounds intuitive, but there are a few things worth knowing upfront.
Entering IKEA Planner and Setting Up Your Space
Start at the planning tools page on IKEA's official site and choose the space you want (kitchen, closet, or a general room). For a kitchen, the first time in will ask you to set oven position, range hood type, refrigerator preference, and layout type — all of which can be changed later, and you can also choose "start from scratch" and lay it out yourself.
Then pick a room shape close to your actual home as your base. This step's room dimensions should match reality as closely as possible — otherwise no matter how completely you fill it in, you're filling in the wrong space.
Simulating Furniture Placement Using the IKEA Catalog
Once your space is built, drag furniture in from the IKEA catalog and arrange it. Cabinets, sofas, dining tables, and appliances are all in the catalog — select one, place it, and adjust its orientation and size. This is the core of "furniture simulation."
We actually laid out a kitchen with it once, and what stood out most was how precisely it calculates IKEA's modular dimensions — you can see at a glance whether cabinets will fit together. But that's limited strictly to IKEA modules; that non-IKEA dining table you already have at home won't fit in here.
Saving, Generating a Shopping List, and Booking an Appointment
Once you're done arranging, log in with your IKEA Family account to save — your plan stays in your account so you can come back and edit it anytime. IKEA Planner can also turn your arranged furniture directly into a shopping list, and you can print it or download it as a PDF to bring to the store (IKEA, 2026).
If you need professional help, you can also book an in-store planning appointment from here. This is the bridge between "doing it yourself" and "having someone do it for you."
Caption: IKEA Planner's four steps ① build your space ② place furniture from the catalog ③ simulate and adjust the layout ④ generate a shopping list, save, or download a PDF
3Costs and Services: Does the Planning Cost Money, Is the In-Store Service Free
The online IKEA Planner is completely free and requires no download — open your browser, log in, and you're set (IKEA, 2026). Whether the in-store or by-appointment planning service charges a fee, and how much, depends on the store and the type of service — that part should be verified against official announcements from your local IKEA rather than assuming an unverified figure from the internet. This addresses questions like "ikea planning cost."
In one sentence: planning it yourself is free; having someone plan it for you depends on the service.
Is the Online IKEA Planner Free?
Yes, and no software download is required. This is one of IKEA Planner's biggest advantages — zero cost, zero installation, just open a webpage and start laying out your cabinets and kitchen. For anyone who just wants to try a simulation, there's no barrier to entry at all.
Saving requires an IKEA Family membership login, but IKEA Family itself is also free to join. So the entire online planning process really doesn't cost anything.
The Cost of In-Store/By-Appointment Planning Service
The in-store planning service is a different matter entirely. Whether this kind of "have IKEA staff help you plan" service charges a fee, and how much, varies by country, store, and scope of service. Some basic consultations are free, while more complete planning or installation assistance may be billed separately.
The right move is to check your local IKEA's official page, or ask the store directly. We won't give a number here that could go stale or vary by region — for anything cost-related, official announcements are the safest source.
Clearing Up the Confusion Around "IKEA Planning Cost"
Keep the two paths separate and there's no confusion. Planning it yourself online = free; having someone plan it in-store = depends on the service. Most people searching for "IKEA planning cost" want to confirm one thing: does laying it out myself at home cost money? The answer is no.
What usually costs money is "installation," "on-site measurement," and "complete design assistance" — these value-added services, not the online planning tool itself. Figure out which one you actually need so you're not worrying over nothing.
4Is It Any Good? PTT/Dcard Reviews, IKEA Furniture Quality, and Pet-Friendliness Questions Rounded Up
Based on the general tone of public discussions on PTT, Dcard, and similar forums, common praise for IKEA home planning includes being free, intuitive, and able to generate a shopping list directly; common complaints include being restricted to IKEA furniture only, the kitchen planner not supporting mobile, and the tool feeling clunky with complex layouts. This is a summary of general sentiment, not a precise statistic — actual experience varies by person. This addresses queries like "ikea home planning reviews" and "ikea home planning forum."
Notice something? The single most common complaint is exactly "being restricted to IKEA furniture only."
A Roundup of IKEA Home Planning Reviews on PTT/Dcard
Summarizing the common themes from public discussions: people who like it value being free, quick to pick up, seamlessly connected to IKEA products, and able to order directly. People who don't like it tend to get stuck on being limited to the IKEA catalog, needing a computer for kitchen planning, and it feeling insufficiently flexible for complex layouts.
Our own hands-on experience lines up with that too: it works great for "buying exclusively IKEA, just want to lay it out first" scenarios, but the moment you want to mix in another brand, it can't help you.
Is IKEA Furniture Good? Durability and Value-for-Money Reputation
"Is IKEA furniture good" is another common question. The general consensus in public reviews is roughly: simple styles, affordable prices, and decent value for money, but most pieces require self-assembly, and durability depends on the product line and how hard you use it — entry-level lines suit tight budgets or short-term rentals, while higher-tier lines tend to last longer. This is a general sentiment summary, not a guarantee.
One honest take: IKEA is great for "furnishing a home quickly at a reasonable price." If you're after heirloom-level durability, you may want to look at other options.
Is IKEA Furniture Pet-Friendly and Other Common Questions
The long-tail question of "is IKEA pet-friendly" also comes up. There's really no one-size-fits-all answer here — it depends on the material. Fabric and rattan are easy for cats to scratch or pets to chew, while easy-to-clean leather, metal, and solid wood hold up relatively well. When choosing furniture for a pet household, the priority is scratch-resistant, easy-to-clean materials — not which brand it is.
This also serves as a reminder: whether furniture holds up often comes down to dimensions and material more than brand. And whether the dimensions actually work, you won't know until you place it in your real layout.
5Roomfit vs. IKEA Planner: Locked to IKEA Furniture vs. Any Furniture at True Scale
IKEA Planner's biggest limitation is that it only works with furniture from IKEA's own catalog — no issue if you're buying exclusively IKEA, but a real dealbreaker if you want to mix in other brands. Roomfit fills exactly that gap: it's not tied to any brand, letting you place any piece of furniture at true 1:1 centimeter scale with automatic clearance labeling, and it's free to use with no download and collaborative editing.
If you already own furniture from other brands at home, this difference will feel very real.
IKEA Planner's Strength and Its Catalog Lock-In
Let's give credit where it's due first: IKEA Planner integrates very smoothly with IKEA products, calculates modular dimensions accurately, and generates a shopping list directly once you're done — a genuinely seamless flow. For people buying exclusively IKEA, the experience really is smooth.
But catalog lock-in cuts both ways. It only recognizes IKEA furniture — that non-IKEA sofa you have, the dining table you inherited, the bookshelf you bought elsewhere, none of it fits in here. Want to see what a new IKEA cabinet would look like next to your existing sofa from home? IKEA Planner can't do that.
Roomfit's Difference: Not Locked to a Brand, Any Furniture at True 1:1 Scale, Automatic Clearance Labeling
Roomfit goes the opposite direction — any brand can be placed. Three objective differences:
- Accurate scale: Any furniture is placed at the real centimeter measurements you took, with walkway clearances flagged automatically, without being tied to any catalog.
- No download required: Opens right in the browser and is completely free — just as lightweight as IKEA's online Planner in this regard.
- Collaborative editing: Multiple people can arrange the same floor plan at the same time, so you can discuss with family without passing files back and forth.
Scenarios Best Suited to Someone With Mixed-Brand Furniture
Roomfit is best suited to anyone who "already owns furniture from different brands, or wants to mix IKEA with other brands." Use Roomfit first to place all your furniture — regardless of brand — into the layout at real dimensions, confirm the overall fit and that walkways work, then decide which IKEA pieces to buy.
These tools can work in relay: use Roomfit first to verify the overall layout, then bring the IKEA items into IKEA Planner to generate a shopping list and order. For other online floor-plan tools, see the Floorplanner online floor-plan guide and the free, open-source Sweet Home 3D guide; for on-site measuring or rendering, the Magicplan and HomeByMe measuring guide and the Kujiale and Coohom cloud 3D guide are also worth checking out.
| Comparison Item | IKEA Planner | Roomfit |
|---|---|---|
| Furniture you can place | IKEA catalog only | Any brand |
| Core purpose | Simulate before buying IKEA | Get the true 1:1 fit right |
| Cost | Free | Completely free |
| Installation | No download required | No download required |
| Walkway clearance | You have to judge yourself | Labeled automatically |
| Multi-user collaboration | Handled separately | Built-in collaborative editing |
6FAQ
Does IKEA's home planning tool cost money?
The online IKEA Planner is completely free and requires no download — open your browser, log in, and you're set, and saving only requires a free IKEA Family membership (IKEA, 2026). Value-added services like in-store planning, on-site measurement, or installation typically cost money and vary by store and region. If you're wondering whether laying it out yourself at home costs anything, it doesn't; services where someone helps you are billed per official announcements.
How do you use IKEA Planner, and can it simulate furniture?
Yes. The workflow is entering the corresponding planner, choosing a room shape or starting from scratch, dragging furniture from the IKEA catalog into place, then saving and generating a shopping list (IKEA, 2026). For a kitchen, the first time in asks you to set the oven, range hood, refrigerator, and layout. It calculates IKEA's modular dimensions very accurately, but you can only place IKEA's own furniture — non-IKEA furniture won't fit.
Can I use the IKEA kitchen planner on my phone?
No. IKEA's kitchen planner is designed for desktop and laptop use, and officially it doesn't support mobile phones (IKEA, 2026). Most other room planners (bedroom, living room, bathroom, etc.) do work on mobile — the kitchen planner is the one exception that requires a computer. Many people only discover this when they're actually about to use it, so it's best to have a computer ready when planning a kitchen.
What do PTT/Dcard reviews say about IKEA home planning?
Based on the general tone of public discussions, common praise includes being free, intuitive, able to generate a shopping list directly, and integrating seamlessly with IKEA products; common complaints include being limited to IKEA furniture only, the kitchen planner not supporting mobile, and the tool feeling clunky with complex layouts. This is a summary of general sentiment, not a precise statistic, and actual experience varies by person. Overall, it works well for buying exclusively IKEA, but has real limits if you want to mix in other brands.
What should I use if I want to mix IKEA with other furniture brands?
IKEA Planner can only place items from the IKEA catalog — mixing in other brands isn't possible. A brand-agnostic tool like Roomfit is a better fit here: any furniture can be placed at true 1:1 centimeter scale with automatically labeled walkway clearances, no download required, and collaborative editing. In practice, use Roomfit first to place furniture from all brands into your layout and confirm the overall fit, then bring the IKEA items into IKEA Planner to generate a shopping list and order.
7Conclusion: Use Planner If You're Buying Only IKEA, Use Roomfit If You Want to Mix Brands
IKEA home planning comes in three forms: doing it yourself online, a category-specific planner, or booking in-store help. The online IKEA Planner is free, requires no download, can simulate furniture, and generates a shopping list directly — great for anyone buying exclusively IKEA. The kitchen planner requires a computer and doesn't support mobile, so plan ahead for that. As for cost, planning it yourself is free, while in-store planning services are billed per official announcements.
Its biggest limitation is being restricted to IKEA's own furniture. If you want to mix different brands, or already own furniture from elsewhere, use a brand-agnostic tool that places any furniture at true 1:1 scale — like Roomfit — to get the overall layout right and confirm the walkways work, then bring the IKEA items into IKEA Planner to order. Get the dimensions right first, then decide what to buy — get the order right, and your home will fit together just right.
Caption: IKEA Planner only recognizes its own catalog; Roomfit isn't tied to any brand, letting any furniture be placed at true scale in the same layout
8Related Reading
- Recommended Free Interior Design Apps: The Must-Have List
- Room Planning Apps and Online Furniture Layout Tools: How to Choose
- The Complete Guide to Furniture Placement Simulation: Get the Fit Right Before You Chase Looks
