It doesn’t matter if you are new to flipping or you are just looking for your next project, picking the right furniture can make all the difference when you want to make money. I’m going to show you the best pieces of furniture to flip for a profit, along with providing some examples of my own high-profit sales towards the end.
1. Solid Wood Dressers
Solid wood dressers are always a safe buy when flipping. They’re durable pieces of furniture and they last a long time. Whether you choose to strip and stain them or give them a fresh coat of paint, these pieces can fetch high resale prices. I often sell my solid wood dressers and chest of drawers anywhere between $300 and $800 dollars finished. Of course, it all depends on the individual piece, but at the low end of $300 for a fresh solid wood dresser, you can easily make money when you find one for less than $75.
When looking for try to find dovetail joints and quality craftsmanship when sourcing these dressers, as they will sell for more! Also avoid dressers that need extreme drawer repairs and other challenging repairs as it will eat into your profit.
2. Mid-Century Modern Furniture
If you flip furniture you should already know that MCM furniture is incredibly popular for its sleek lines and timeless style. People will pay hundreds and sometimes more for a nice MCM piece of furniture. Look for dressers, chests, coffee tables, chairs, sideboards, or nightstands with walnut or teak finishes. Even if they’re a little beat up, a simple refinishing can dramatically increase their value. MCM flips are highly profitable and attract buyers quickly, I highly recommend keeping them on your radar.
3. Antique Pieces
Recently I have been loving antique furniture, they are often made of solid wood and just feel heavy. When furniture is heavy it’s often high-quality, and people will pay for the old stuff because “they don’t make em like they used to”. It’s true though, some of my favorite pieces of furniture I have restored have been antiques. The craftsman ship is nothing like what you find new today.
An antique is technically a piece of furniture that is over 100 years old. There are antiques that are considered rare and collectables, if you can determine such you can make some serious money. For example, Louis Xiv furniture can go for thousands and possibly millions. Just take a look at this multi-million dollar Louis Xiv center table. But even if its just an antique, sometimes refinished and cared for you can get $300-$1000 from the right buyer.
4. Pair of Nightstands
When someone new to flipping furniture starts their journey, I often suggest them finding a pair of high-quality nightstands for less than $50. I see a pair on the Facebook Marketplace weekly, and every now and then at a thrift store. A pair of nightstands either refinished with paint or a new stain job, you can often sell the pair for $200-$500. After refinishing 2 pieces you also learn a lot, you will understand the process much better. If you can find 2 solid wood nightstands, with a nice style, and in good condition for under $75, you can likely sell them for $150 each at minimum without doing any work, that’s easy money.
5. Free Furniture Finds
Depending on where you live free furniture is the absolute gold mine for us furniture flippers. It’s free so we have nothing to lose besides some time picking it up and a bit of gas. In bigger cities you will often be able to find free furniture on the Facebook Marketplace and other marketplaces online, but also by driving around and finding them on the roadside. Often these pieces will require some work, but that’s a part of the game. If you can learn how to fix the common issues of broken furniture, like drawer problems, peeling finishes, chips/gouges, etc., you can make a decent income from freebies.
6. Teak Furniture
If you find Teak furniture at a good price you can often make some money. Teak pieces will often be veneer, many MCM pieces are teak veneer over particle board, they are still valuable as their designs are stunning. I have found teak pieces for free and some less than $100, they are often worth anywhere between $400-$800 refinished and sometimes more. If you have solid teak you have money, some solid teak pieces sell for thousands of dollars.
7. Apothecary Cabinets
These multi-drawer cabinets are trendy and functional, often used for storage or as statement pieces. Their unique look makes them stand out, and a simple refresh can significantly increase their value. Look for vintage or reproduction pieces that are sturdy and well-built. I have seen some of these apothecary pieces sell in the thousands. Keep an eye for someone getting rid of them at a cheap price because you can make some serious flipping money off them.
8. Brand Name Furniture
Furniture from recognizable brands like Ethan Allen, Drexel, Broyhill, Kroehler, or American of Martinsville often sells for more. Buyers trust these names for quality and longevity. Even pieces in rough shape can be worth flipping, as the brand alone can add to their resale value after a proper restoration. Keep note of the names and you will be a better flipper. Search for stamps and markings to see what kind of brand name the piece is to possibly earn more.
Learn all about the best furniture brands to look for as a flipper in my full guide here.
9. Dining Tables
Dining tables are always in demand, especially solid wood ones. Buyers love both large and small tables. Large tables are great for families in homes, while smaller tables are perfect for those in smaller apartments looking for tiny table to fit into their space. Rustic farmhouse and MCM styles are especially popular right now.
10. Patio Furniture
Often forgotten, but if you plan the winter season gathering patio furniture for free or extreme discounts you can earn big bucks in the spring and summer. Look for solid wood patio sets, especially solid wood exterior teak pieces. I have seen people giving these away, with a simple refinishing and teak oil you can be making $500+ per set. Other sets like wicker can also be a good flip if you can get them for low prices.
Example of My Easiest and Highest Profit Furniture Flip
I found a 3-piece MCM bedroom set on the Facebook Marketplace for $100 and instantly messaged the seller. Luckily they answered and I ran to pick them up. It was a Kroehler dresser, tall dresser/chest of drawers, and a bedframe. The best part was it required almost no work, I simply used a touch-up marker kit and cleaned them up. I sold the tall dresser and bedframe for $450 and the large dresser for $415 delivery included.
If you want to learn more about flipping then make sure to join my community The Furniture Squad on Skool