Why Is Wicker Furniture So Expensive? (10 Reasons)
In the age of big box stores and IKEA, quality furniture is hard to find and expensive when you do find it.
There’s a clear difference, however, between handcrafted, well-made furniture and the particle board we put together with Allen wrenches.
True wicker furniture can easily run you in the thousands of dollars, but you’ll get a quality product that, despite its flimsy appearance, is durable and beautiful.
One piece of good quality wicker furniture starts at around $80–$100 and can go up to around $4,000 for a full table set.
With its truly unique appearance, wicker furniture gives the home a timeless appearance, never going out of style.
Why Is Wicker Furniture So Expensive? (10 Reasons)
1. Cost Of Materials
Wicker furniture can be crafted with many different materials, as the term “wicker,” actually just describes the weaving method used to create the piece.
Wicker furniture can be constructed using synthetic materials, like plastic and polymer, which are cheaper, or natural materials, such as bamboo, willow reed, or rattan.
Natural materials will be more expensive, due to the limited resources and labor involved in retrieving and shipping those resources.
Some natural materials are not renewable also, driving the cost up due to their scarcity.
A lot of wicker furniture is made using plastic or resin fibers woven together to create a strong and thick material.
Resin wicker furniture can be used outdoors as it’s weather-resistant and durable against the elements.
These types of synthetic materials are cheaper to manufacture, will therefore cost you less, and might even last longer.
Many types of synthetic wicker contain recycled plastics, which are environmentally friendly.
Natural wicker furniture, created with woven bamboo, willow reed, or rattan, will cost more but deliver the real deal.
Natural wicker furniture can be sprayed with weather-resistant chemicals if used outdoors, but will most likely, break down faster than synthetic materials.
Using natural resources can also be detrimental to the environment and lead to overharvesting and human rights labor violations.
2. Type Of Frame
Wicker furniture can also be pricey due to the structural materials involved in constructing the frame.
Wicker furniture frames are commonly made from aluminum poles, which are built to last but can drive the cost up.
Most wicker furniture used outdoors is built with an aluminum frame since it stands up to weather and sun exposure much better than other materials and is non-corrosive, so it won’t rust.
A cheaper option is a steel frame but they are prone to rust and will probably break down faster than the aluminum counterpart.
Even if the steel frame is powder coated, it’s best to use them indoors, away from water and other outdoor elements.
A lot of wicker furniture is built with wooden frames also.
The type of wood will determine the cost and durability of the furniture piece.
Woods that are easier to source, such as pine, will probably cost cheaper than those that are harder to source, such as cedar.
The cost of the wood changes constantly based on availability and global shipping costs, affecting the cost of your wicker furniture.
No matter what kind of wood your wicker furniture is composed of, it should be treated with water-resistant stain if you plan on keeping it outdoors.
Wood is prone to break down fast in outdoor elements but is great for indoor wicker furniture.
3. Labor Costs
After materials, the biggest expense in manufacturing wicker furniture is labor costs.
Because wicker is a weaving process, much of it is done by hand, which takes much time and energy.
Wicker is manufactured all over the world, and depending on the country of origin’s labor laws, the cost of the final product will be different.
Unions and laws will dictate the hourly wages of their workers, affecting the wholesale cost of the product.
Wicker furniture construction uses a traditional method based mostly on techniques and variations in basket weaving that have been passed down for centuries.
The weaving process first soaks wet strips of the wicker material, like bamboo and rattan, making them easier to manipulate and work with.
Then, the strips are woven around the furniture frame base material, like wood or aluminum.
The process of weaving is labor intensive, extremely tedious, and takes practiced skill and experience.
Expert weavers know their value and will charge more for their time and labor.
Because much of the skill in weaving has been passed down for generations, it is a specialized craft.
Since weaving is a dying art, expert weavers are harder and harder to come by, forcing many furniture companies to look into cheaper, technological alternatives.
Depending on the type of furniture and complexity of the weave, a wicker furniture piece can be completed between one and four days or up to several months.
The tighter the weave and the larger the piece, the more time it will take to finish the project.
4. International Shipping Rates
Wicker furniture is usually produced in Asian countries, where the cost of raw materials and labor is cheap.
However, it then needs to be shipped to the United States, Europe, and other places around the globe, which can be quite expensive.
Wicker furniture is lightweight, but it’s bulky and takes up room in shipping containers.
Most shipping costs are based on volumetric weight or the amount of space it consumes in the shipping vessel.
International furniture export and import fees and taxes are generally pretty high in comparison to other products as well, contributing to the high cost of shipping.
Furniture stores must factor in these high shipping costs when pricing their furniture to ensure they see a profit.
5. Status Of The Current Global Economy
The costs of raw materials and shipping continually fluctuate every year, causing the price of wicker furniture to also fluctuate.
Many of these base costs are dependent on the status of the world’s economy and current inflation rates.
Stock rates also contribute to the price of base costs and can either drive up the final retail price or lower it.
Much like any other product, wicker furniture is no exception to the often drastic changes in the global economy.
Because it’s a product that relies on materials and labor from all over the world, the final price will need to factor in the sheer amount of taxes, shipping, and other manufacturing costs based on the country.
If the current price of bamboo is up, for instance, the cost of your bamboo wicker chair will be higher than it was last year, most likely.
If these resources are not renewable, the cost will be even higher, as their country of origin knows their value.
Renewable resourced material will probably cost a little less and will be better for the environment.
Synthetic wicker furniture will be cheaper, not only because of the cost of the material but because it can be made in the country it is then sold in, eliminating taxes and shipping costs.
6. Holds Its Value
Wicker furniture has been valued for centuries, maintaining its status as a highly sought-after product.
Because wicker furniture has always cost a pretty penny, it was mostly purchased by the wealthy and elite and seen mostly in resorts and mansions.
This is another reason wicker is commonly associated with seaside and beach resorts and alongside pools.
It was a luxury product to be used during vacations and other times of relaxation.
In fact, many families pass down wicker furniture from generation to generation as family heirlooms.
If well maintained, wicker can last for decades, allowing it to be passed down and acquired as a priceless gem.
Vintage wicker furniture is highly collectible and can easily run in the thousands of dollars.
Though it always stays in style and maintains a contemporary look no matter what year you’re looking at, there are moments in history when it has risen to the top of popularity.
For example, because wicker became highly popular again in the 1970s, much more wicker furniture was produced, lessening the cost at the time.
Now, those vintage and retro pieces are collectors’ items found in auctions and antique stores for hundreds and thousands of dollars.
Wicker furniture is unique in design, unlike any other type of furniture.
This also contributes to its overall value.
7. Wicker Weaving Is An Art
Though we may sit on it and put our feet up, wicker weaving is an art and must be respected as such.
When you pay for a piece of wicker furniture, you’re paying, not only for function and beauty but for a work of art.
In the same way many people may use baskets created from weaving as actual bread baskets, those who purchase wicker furniture are buying an object of practical use and art.
Wicker weaving is a skill that takes an artist with patience and a cunning eye to complete.
The task is meticulous and falls into the textile arts, like blankets, rugs, tapestry, and macramé.
Therefore, many furniture retailers price wicker furniture as such, factoring in the precision, uniqueness, and individual artist.
Because weaving is a learned skill, the final product should be valued much higher than mass-manufactured furniture pieces.
Famous wicker items, like the peacock chair, have become iconic pieces in pop culture.
First made popular in the 1970s, reproductions of the peacock chair still cost a lot and are highly sought-after.
Original vintage peacock chairs can be purchased for hundreds and thousands of dollars.
8. Can Be Customized
Like some other pieces of furniture, wicker furniture is often custom-built.
Because it takes an artist’s eye and skill to produce, many people are willing to pay a large sum of money for the exact piece they need.
Many local artisans and small-business craftspeople today accept custom orders on wicker furniture pieces.
If you choose to go this route, you’ll end up paying high prices but will most likely end up with a priceless piece.
When customizing wicker furniture, you can often choose the raw material, like bamboo or rattan, as well as the framing material.
In addition, you can choose what piece you want, the style, and the size, ensuring it will fit perfectly in your home and blend with other pieces in your home.
If you’re commissioning a piece from a well-known weaver, you’ll also be paying for the name.
As these artisans are greatly sought-after, they can comfortably charge more for their products.
However, you might be put on a waiting list, as hand-crafted pieces of furniture take a good amount of time to complete and can’t be rushed.
9. Is Long-Lasting And Durable
Whether you get wicker furniture made from synthetic or natural materials, you’re purchasing a quality piece of furniture.
Of course, not all wicker manufacturers are created equal, and some may not give you the long-lasting furniture you envisioned.
For the most part, you’ll get what you pay for when it comes to quality.
However, you need to properly maintain your wicker furniture to ensure its longevity.
For example, natural wicker pieces left outside in the elements without some kind of weatherproofing will probably start to fade and break down quickly.
As previously stated, it’s best to keep natural pieces inside, safe from rain, sunshine, and extreme temperatures.
Synthetic wicker will stand up against the elements better and give you a longer-lasting piece of furniture.
Most synthetic materials, like plastic and polymers, are water-resistant and are treated to keep their colors bright and vibrant throughout the years.
With the proper care and attention, a piece of wicker furniture will last a long time.
The way it is woven creates an immense amount of strength and can withstand a good amount of weight and pressure.
This is why the process of tight-knit weaving has been around for so long.
Despite the actual material, the process itself forms unmatched structural integrity.
10. Never Goes Out Of Style
Though wicker is more popular in world culture at some times than others, like in the 1970s, the look of wicker is timeless.
Wicker’s timeless beauty allows it to fit with any other type of furniture you already have and avoids the problems that trendy pieces of furniture pose.
It’s easy to keep wicker furniture around for longer because it will blend with your style.
Wicker furniture is also extremely versatile, with indoor and outdoor uses.
Though wicker furniture is typically associated with patios and poolside, it can easily be used indoors alongside couches, recliners, and other indoor furniture.
Wicker pieces are extremely versatile in purpose and style, making them more desirable and expensive, whereas other furniture pieces may only suit one purpose and will look out of place in other areas of the house.
For instance, it would look strange to bring a lounge chair from the poolside into your living room.
However, if you brought a wicker chair from the poolside into your living room, no one would think twice about it.
Because of the weaving process, wicker pieces are generally very lightweight and easy to move around, making it that much more convenient to change pieces around and move chairs and tables indoors from outdoors and vice versa.
The versatility of wicker furniture goes unmatched by other types of furniture, driving consumers to pay higher prices for them.