Furniture Stores in Germany: From IKEA to Kitchen Studios

You signed a lease that looked cheap, then walked into a room with no fridge, no stove, and a cable hanging where a lamp should be. That is a normal German rental, not a scam. Many flats come without a fitted kitchen (Einbauküche, often written EBK on listings), so furniture shopping is how you make the place livable, not a weekend of throw pillows.

Most people start at a big out-of-town warehouse (Möbelhaus), buy the cheap stuff first, then replace it. The chains below are the ones you will see from the motorway. If you are still hunting for a flat, Finding an Apartment in Germany walks through kitchen-included versus empty.

What to buy first when the kitchen is missing

In many rentals the kitchen is your job: you buy it, install it, and often leave it behind or sell it to the next tenant. Before you sign, confirm whether a kitchen is included, whether you must leave it when you move out, and whether the landlord approves installation changes. Measure the room twice, and check where water, power, and the extractor sit, because delivery fees on heavy pieces can wipe out a “cheap” ticket price.

When you get the design plan, check it yourself against the real room and the fuse box before you sign off. Not every kitchen designer nails the electrical layout: sockets can end up behind the hob or the tap, under-cabinet lights can be missing from the drawing, and heavy appliances (oven, dishwasher, washing machine if it sits in the kitchen) can be left sharing one fuse, which will trip the board the first busy Sunday. Running the PDF through an AI is a useful second pair of eyes if you are not sure what you are looking at.

Budget or DIY usually means IKEA or Poco for modular or pre-configured lines. You order, transport, and install, or you hire someone, which is fine for students, short stays, and simple rentals.

Full-service custom is Höffner, XXXLutz, or a local kitchen studio (Küchenstudio): in-store planning, made to measure, often 6 to 12 weeks for German manufacturers, with delivery and hookup usually on the quote.

Budget stores

IKEA sits in the budget to lower mid-range, and flat-pack storage (Pax, Billy) is why people go. Kitchens use the Metod system, with online 3D planning plus in-store desks; delivery and assembly cost extra.

Poco and Roller are the strict budget option: high-volume discount furniture, laminate flooring, carpets, and basic household goods. Styles are often traditional or plain rather than minimalist. Kitchen lines are cheap pre-configured rows (Küchenzeilen) you can pick up the same day.

Mid-market warehouse stores

Möbel Höffner and Möbel Kraft run large traditional showrooms with solid wood ranges, European brands, and home textiles. Their kitchen studios plan custom orders from German makers such as Nobilia or Nolte, then deliver and install.

XXXLutz is mid to upper mid-range: very large stores, wide brand selection, frequent discount campaigns, and the oversized red chairs outside. Mömax is the trend-oriented sister brand, budget to mid-range, with more ready-to-use furniture than flat-pack. Both plan custom kitchens, often with brand appliances (Miele, Bosch). Delivery and installation are standard options.

Most of these sit in edge-of-city retail parks, while city-centre shops tend to be smaller decor specialists.

Second-hand and what people get wrong

Kleinanzeigen and local Facebook groups are how people furnish a first month without a warehouse trip, and used kitchens sell too if you can move them.

Do not buy a custom kitchen before the lease is signed and the landlord has approved the install, and do not skip delivery quotes on sofas and wardrobes. “Empty” does not always mean “empty except the kitchen,” so read the listing for EBK.

Monthly housing costs sit in Cost of Living in Germany.

Useful links

• IKEA Germany
• Make it in Germany: Housing