CB2 vs Crate & Barrel in 2026: Which Is Worth It?
Updated: 2 days ago
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CB2 and Crate & Barrel are sister brands owned by the same company, so delivery fees, the 30-day return window and the store credit card are the same at both. The difference is the furniture. CB2 is smaller in scale and more modern, made with apartments in mind. Crate & Barrel's pieces are bigger and deeper, made for family rooms.
CB2 isn't automatically the cheaper one, either. On the same kind of piece the prices overlap, and the two six-seat dining tables I compared cost exactly the same: $799.
The quick answer:
Buy from CB2 for a small space, a more modern look or a lower-priced bed (the Andes queen is $999).
Buy from Crate & Barrel for deep, sink-in sofas made in the USA and more stores near you.
Buy either one on sale. Both had Black Friday prices live on November 4, 2026, and both pieces my clients bought were marked down.
Check where you'd return it. CB2 orders only go back to CB2, which has 24 US stores to Crate & Barrel's 70 or so.
I've bought from both brands for clients. One client got Crate & Barrel's Maison burl wood 8-drawer credenza on sale. Another chose CB2's Duncan L-shaped dining banquette in white performance fabric. Both deliveries went smoothly, and both clients were very happy with the quality.
For this CB2 vs Crate & Barrel comparison, I checked the same five pieces on cb2.com and crateandbarrel.com on November 3 and 4, 2026: a three-seat sofa, a queen bed, a six-seat dining table, a coffee table and a lounge chair. I also went through both brands' delivery, return and credit card terms.
If Pottery Barn or RH is on your list too, my RH vs Pottery Barn vs Crate & Barrel comparison covers those.
CB2 vs Crate & Barrel at a Glance
CB2 | Crate & Barrel | |
How Crate & Barrel describes it | "Cool and edgy," "small in scale" | "Contemporary and modern" |
Owner | Crate and Barrel Holdings | Crate and Barrel Holdings |
US stores | 24, plus 1 outlet | About 70 |
3-seat sofas I compared | $1,869 to $2,199 regular | $1,799 to $2,249 |
Where those sofas are made | USA, or Cambodia or China | USA |
White glove delivery | $179 to $399 | Same fees |
Returns | 30 days, CB2 stores only | 30 days |
Store credit card | 10% back in Reward Dollars | Same card |
Free design help | Yes | Yes |
If you like both looks, compare the exact piece you want. The price gap most people expect isn't really there.
Is CB2 Owned by Crate & Barrel?
Yes. Crate & Barrel calls CB2 its "sister brand," and both belong to Crate and Barrel Holdings, part of Germany's Otto Group. According to Crate & Barrel's about page, the company employs about 7,500 people across the two brands.
Crate & Barrel opened its first store on Wells Street in Chicago in 1962. CB2 followed in the early 2000s, also in Chicago.
Because it's one company, a lot is shared: the delivery fee table, the 30-day return window, one Visa card with rewards at both, and one trade membership for designers. Each brand sells its own designs, though, which is why the two catalogs look so different.
Returns are the exception. CB2's return policy says "CB2 items can only be returned to a CB2 store," so a CB2 side table can't go back to your local Crate & Barrel.
Is CB2 Cheaper Than Crate & Barrel? Prices Side by Side
Not across the board. These are the prices on each brand's site on November 3 and 4, 2026. Sale prices are marked, everything else was full price. In the tables, C&B stands for Crate & Barrel.
Timing matters as much as the brand. Both pieces my clients bought were marked down on November 4. The Maison credenza was on clearance at $1,749.97, about half its $3,499 regular price. The Duncan banquette was $1,867, down from $2,197.
Sofas
Sofa | Price | Depth x height | Made in |
CB2 Club 101" | $1,869 | 34.5 x 26 in | USA |
CB2 Camden 81" Apartment | $1,599 sale ($1,999) | 36.75 x 31 in | Cambodia or China |
CB2 Camden 101" | $1,649 sale ($2,199) | 37 x 31 in | Cambodia or China |
C&B Barrett II 91" | $1,799 | 36 x 30 in | USA |
C&B Gather 89" | $1,999 | 38 x 36 in | USA |
C&B Lounge 93" | $2,249 | 41 x 37 in | USA |
At full price the two ranges sit almost on top of each other. Crate & Barrel's cheapest sofa here, the Barrett II, costs less than CB2's Club. What you get for the money is different, and I cover that in the sofa section below.
Beds
Queen bed | Price | Material | Made in |
CB2 Andes | $999 | Oak veneer over engineered wood | Vietnam |
CB2 Facade | $1,799 | Solid maple frame | USA |
C&B Keane | $1,799 | FSC mahogany, meranti veneer, engineered wood | Indonesia |
C&B Gather | $1,999 | FSC oak, oak veneer, engineered wood | Poland |
Beds are where CB2 is clearly cheaper. The Andes costs $800 less than the Keane. Both use engineered wood, but the Keane adds FSC mahogany.
Dining Tables
This is where the two brands are closest. Crate & Barrel's Basque 65-inch table and CB2's Blox 63-inch table both seat six, both are solid mango wood, and both cost $799. The Basque has a washed, lacquered finish and the Blox a midtone brown one, so pick the shape that suits your room.
If $799 is more than you want to spend, the Modway Lippa 48-inch round table on Amazon has a solid mango wood top and costs less than either. It's round and listed for four to six people, so it fits a smaller dining area than the Basque or the Blox.
Coffee Tables
Crate & Barrel's oak coffee tables were $1,199 (Terrane, 54 inches) and $1,299 (Stratton, 42 inches square). CB2's were on clearance: the Davison at $1,099.99, down from $1,499, and the Almera at $999.97, down from $1,999.
So at regular price, CB2's two oak tables cost more than Crate & Barrel's. On clearance they're cheaper, but the Almera is final sale and can't be returned.
If both are over your budget, this Vadisun solid oak coffee table on Amazon is a lower-cost option. It's about 39 inches wide, so it's smaller than any of the four tables above, with two drawers and an open shelf.
Lounge Chairs
Close again. CB2's Club chair is $1,044 and Crate & Barrel's Lounge chair is $1,149. Both are made in the USA.
CB2 vs Crate & Barrel Sofas: Which Is Better Made?
All three Crate & Barrel sofas I compared are made in the USA on kiln-dried frames. On paper the Lounge is the best built: a benchmade frame of FSC-certified hardwood, plant-based foam cushions wrapped in a fiber and feather-down blend, and a Flexolator spring base. The Gather and the Barrett II use kiln-dried engineered hardwood with sinuous springs.
CB2 is split. The Club is made in the USA on a kiln-dried hardwood frame with soy-based foam cushions, which puts it level with Crate & Barrel's sofas. The Camden is made in Cambodia or China on kiln-dried FSC engineered wood, in a stain-resistant performance fabric.
Delivery timing differs too. The Camden was in stock, while the Club showed a delivery date at the end of December.
My take on CB2 vs Crate & Barrel sofas: if a hardwood frame matters most, look at the Club or the Lounge. If you want performance fabric and a sofa you can have before the holidays, go with the Camden. Still choosing a fabric? My bouclé vs linen guide can help.
Beyond sofas, both pieces I bought for clients arrived well made: the credenza from Crate & Barrel and the banquette from CB2.
Which Is Better for a Small Space?
CB2. Crate & Barrel itself describes CB2 as "small in scale and multifunctional," and the measurements back that up:
Sofa height: the CB2 Club is 26 inches tall, Crate & Barrel's Lounge is 37.
Sofa depth: 34.5 inches against 41.
Lounge chair width: 34 inches against 40.
In a studio or a narrow living room, CB2's lower, shallower pieces leave more floor and wall showing. In a family room where people nap on the sofa, Crate & Barrel's deeper seats make more sense.
Planning a small room? My guide to zoning a studio without walls helps with the layout, and this one covers multifunctional furniture for small spaces.
The Duncan banquette I bought for a client is a typical CB2 piece: an L-shaped loveseat banquette, 77.5 by 51.5 inches, made to tuck a dining table into a corner. If you like the idea but not the $2,197 regular price, the Baxton Studio Arvid corner bench on Amazon does the same job for much less. It's a two-piece corner bench upholstered in gray fabric rather than white bouclé.
How to Pay Less at CB2 and Crate & Barrel
You rarely need to pay full price at either brand. Here are the ways to bring the price down, all checked on November 4, 2026.
Black Friday and Seasonal Sales
Crate & Barrel's Black Friday page was already live on November 4, with up to 50% off, furniture included, plus up to 60% off clearance. CB2 had up to 40% off furniture and lighting the same day. Deals change fast, so check the exact piece before you order.
Clearance
Clearance is where the biggest cuts are. The Maison credenza my client bought was half price on November 4, and CB2's Almera coffee table was $1,000 off. Some clearance pieces are final sale, so measure twice before you buy.
If you love the burl look but even the clearance price is too much, the GarveeHome burl-look sideboard on Amazon is the cheaper route. It's about 51 inches wide with three drawers and two doors, and the burl is a painted finish rather than real veneer, so think of it as the look, not the piece.
The Crate & Barrel Credit Card
The Crate & Barrel Visa Signature card works at both brands and has no annual fee. It earns 10% back in Reward Dollars at Crate & Barrel, CB2, Crate & Kids and Hudson Grace, and you can spend them at the first three.
You can pick 0% financing instead, from 6 months on purchases of $749 up to 24 months on $2,999 or more. Financed purchases don't earn rewards, so it's one or the other.
The Trade Program
Interior designers get one trade membership for both brands at 20% off. At CB2 the discount only applies to full-price items.
The CB2 Outlet
CB2 has one outlet store, in Naperville, Illinois. Anything bought there can only be returned to the outlet.
Delivery, Returns and Warranty
Delivery
Both brands charge the same delivery fees:
Local white glove: $179 for furniture orders under $999 within 100 miles of a shipping point, $289 for any amount within 100 miles, and $399 beyond that. Two people bring it into the room you choose and take the packaging away.
Timing: in-stock furniture arrives in 7 to 14 business days. Changing the date less than 3 days ahead costs $35.
Long distance: white glove is $399 per trip and takes 2 to 4 weeks. Basic freight is $299 and takes 16 to 21 business days.
Small items: from $6, up to 10% of the order on orders over $300. Neither site lists a free shipping threshold.
Both of my clients' orders were delivered without problems. Custom pieces take longer: when I checked, a custom Barrett II sofa showed "mid February" and the Gather bed showed a contact date of March 6.
Returns
Window: 30 days from when you receive it, new and unused, with proof of purchase.
Cost: you pay return shipping and any pickup fee.
Can't be returned: custom and made-to-order furniture, final sale items and floor samples. The holiday return extension to January 31, 2027 doesn't cover furniture.
Where: CB2 items go back to CB2 only.
Warranty
Neither brand publishes a warranty with a set number of years. Both say they "stand behind the quality" of their products and may repair or replace a piece with a defect or delivery damage, custom pieces included.
Since there's no fixed term, check everything on delivery day and again before the 30 days are up, while you can still send it back.
Free Design Help
Crate & Barrel's Design Desk is free in store, by video or at home, with no purchase required. CB2's design service is free too, but home visits are only for people within 60 minutes of a store.
CB2 or Crate & Barrel: Which Should You Buy?
Buy from CB2 if:
You live in an apartment or a small house and want low, shallow pieces.
You like a more modern, graphic look.
You want a lower-priced bed. The Andes queen is $999.
You live near one of its 24 US stores, since CB2 orders only go back to CB2.
Buy from Crate & Barrel if:
You want deep, sink-in seating for a family room.
You want a sofa made in the USA. All three I compared are.
You want more stores nearby for returns and design appointments.
If you like both, buy by the piece. A CB2 chair next to a Crate & Barrel sofa looks fine, and matching furniture sets are out anyway. Just remember they're separate websites, so ordering from both means two orders and two delivery fees.
If both are over your budget, my list of stores similar to IKEA starts lower.
FAQ
Is CB2 cheaper than Crate & Barrel?
Not across the board. The six-seat dining tables I compared cost $799 at both, and CB2's Club sofa costs more than Crate & Barrel's Barrett II. CB2 is clearly cheaper on some beds, like the $999 Andes.
Can you return CB2 items to Crate & Barrel?
No. CB2 items can only be returned to a CB2 store or through cb2.com. Crate & Kids items, on the other hand, can go back to Crate & Barrel.
Does the Crate & Barrel credit card work at CB2?
Yes. The same Visa Signature card earns 10% back in Reward Dollars at CB2 and at Crate & Barrel, and you can spend the rewards at either one.
When is the best time to buy from CB2 or Crate & Barrel?
During a sale. On November 4, 2026, Crate & Barrel was advertising up to 50% off for Black Friday and up to 60% off clearance, and CB2 had up to 40% off furniture. Some clearance pieces are final sale, so check before you buy.
How much is delivery at CB2 and Crate & Barrel?
The same at both. White glove delivery costs $179 for furniture orders under $999 within 100 miles, $289 for bigger orders within 100 miles and $399 beyond that. Small items ship from $6.
Does CB2 have an outlet?
Yes, one, in Naperville, Illinois. Items bought there can only be returned to the outlet.
Which is better for small spaces?
CB2. Its pieces are built smaller: the Club sofa is 34.5 inches deep, against 41 inches for Crate & Barrel's Lounge.
Is CB2 good quality?
It depends on the piece. The Duncan banquette I bought for a client arrived well made, and the Club sofa and the Facade bed are made in the USA on hardwood and solid maple frames. The Camden sofa and the Andes bed use engineered wood and are made overseas, so read the construction details on each product page.
Comparing more stores? See my ranking of the best US furniture stores, my guide to stores like West Elm and my Castlery vs Article vs West Elm comparison.
About Nina Sajaia
Nina Sajaia founded WarmCazza and has written about interiors since 2021, mostly Japandi and warm minimalism. She trained in interior and furniture design and has redesigned the same 625 sq ft apartment four times since 2021. She also finds furniture for clients within a set budget, from original pieces to Amazon dupes.
Written by Nina Sajaia. I checked prices, materials, sales, delivery fees and return policies on cb2.com and crateandbarrel.com on November 3 and 4, 2026. They change often, especially around Black Friday, so confirm them before you buy. The photos in this post are stock images, not photos of these brands' products. © WarmCazza - All Rights Reserved
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