1stDibs is an international marketplace founded in 2000 and specialising in design, art and luxury products. The platform connects consumers, collectors and interior design professionals with selected galleries, antique dealers, artists, designers and manufacturers.
Its catalogue includes more than one million items across furniture, decorative objects, art, jewellery, watches and fashion. Antique, vintage and contemporary products may be listed, provided they comply with the platform’s quality standards and premium positioning.
Key Features and Services
1stDibs is a curated and selective marketplace. It does not allow unrestricted peer-to-peer selling: products may only be listed by professional sellers who have successfully completed the platform’s internal assessment process.
Buyers can:
purchase a product directly;
submit a price offer;
receive private offers from the seller;
contact the seller through the platform’s messaging service or managed calling system;
request information about the product’s characteristics, condition, provenance or customisation options;
use payment, fraud-protection and dispute-resolution services.
Transactions must be completed through the 1stDibs checkout system in order to benefit from the protections offered by the platform. An Authenticity Guarantee is also available for certain items and may, subject to the applicable terms, provide reimbursement of up to USD 100,000 where an item is confirmed to be inauthentic.
For Italian companies, the platform’s main advantage is access to a high-end international customer base that includes collectors, private clients, interior designers, architectural firms and professionals purchasing on behalf of their own clients.
Revenue
In 2025, 1stDibs reported net revenue of USD 89.6 million, compared with USD 88.3 million in 2024, representing growth of 2%.
Gross Merchandise Value, meaning the total value of products sold and reported through the marketplace, amounted to USD 363.9 million. Of this amount, USD 347.1 million, or 95%, was generated by transactions completed directly through the platform.
In the first quarter of 2026, the latest official quarterly reporting period available at the time of verification, 1stDibs recorded:
net revenue of USD 22.4 million;
GMV of USD 89.7 million;
approximately 31,000 orders;
approximately 58,000 active buyers.
The company’s revenue should not be confused with the total value of sales generated by sellers. Revenue derives primarily from transaction commissions, subscription fees, payment-processing fees, sponsored listings and other advertising services.
Permitted Products
The main product categories accepted on the platform include:
antique, vintage and contemporary furniture;
lighting;
rugs and textiles;
home accessories and decorative objects;
works of art and collectables;
jewellery and fine jewellery;
watches;
clothing, handbags, footwear and fashion accessories;
original creations by selected artists, designers and manufacturers.
Simply belonging to one of these categories does not guarantee acceptance. Items must be consistent with the marketplace’s premium positioning, accurately described and, where required, accompanied by documentation relating to authenticity, attribution, provenance, period, materials and condition.
Unauthorised copies, counterfeit goods and reproductions presented in a misleading manner are not permitted. Specific classification and authentication rules apply to works of art, jewellery, fashion items and products attributed to particular artists or designers.
Products containing materials subject to CITES regulations, such as certain types of wood, coral or leather from protected species, may require specific permits for international export. Obtaining the necessary documentation may extend shipping times.
Accessibility for Italian Companies
Italian companies may apply directly to become professional sellers. Italy is included among the countries represented in the platform’s official seller directory, which features numerous dealers, galleries and manufacturers based in Italy.
Access is not automatic. Applicants must complete the dedicated application form and provide at least two professional references able to confirm that the company:
operates professionally within its sector;
holds a high-quality inventory;
is reliable in its commercial relationships;
is able to meet the service standards required by 1stDibs.
The assessment may include a review of the company’s collection and products, requests for samples, verification of its website and social media channels, analysis of press and editorial coverage, visits to showrooms or workshops and an evaluation of how the company manages customer relationships.
The publicly available terms do not indicate any general requirement to establish a legal entity or maintain a warehouse in the United States. The presence of active Italian sellers confirms that companies can operate from Italy, provided they are able to manage their catalogue, communicate in English and handle packaging, exports, customs documentation and international shipping effectively. This conclusion is based on the application process and the current seller directory.
The platform is particularly suitable for:
antique dealers and galleries;
premium furniture brands and manufacturers;
designers and artists offering original collections;
vintage design dealers;
jewellers and fine-jewellery businesses;
companies specialising in vintage and collectable fashion.
It is less suitable for companies offering standardised, budget-range or widely available products typically sold through generalist marketplaces.
Countries and Markets
1stDibs operates as an international marketplace and facilitates insured shipping to destinations almost worldwide. The platform does not publish a single, exhaustive list of all countries in which sellers may market their products. Actual availability depends on the location of the item, the destination selected by the buyer, the type of product, the available logistics service and any applicable customs restrictions.
The official seller directory shows an established presence in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, France, Germany, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Austria, Switzerland, Ireland, Portugal, Denmark, Sweden, Australia and Mexico. This list should not necessarily be considered exhaustive of all destinations that can be served.
The United States is the platform’s main market. In 2025, approximately 81% of net revenue generated by transactions completed directly through the marketplace came from US buyers. No other individual country accounted for more than 10%.
For an Italian company, the United States therefore represents the market with the greatest potential, but also the most demanding in terms of shipping, customs duties, insurance, documentation and the management of fragile or bulky products. Sales within the European Union are generally simpler from a customs and logistics perspective.
Costs and Commissions
1stDibs does not publish a single standard pricing structure applicable to all sellers. Commercial terms depend on the product category, item price, business model and membership plan agreed with the platform.
Several plans are available and may include:
According to the company’s official financial statements:
transaction commissions may range from 5% to 50% of GMV;
a payment-processing fee of approximately 3% of the buyer’s total payment, net of applicable refunds, is charged;
subscription fees are calculated on an annual basis and paid monthly;
standard product listings do not incur an individual listing fee;
sponsored listings and advertising services involve additional costs.
The 5–50% range is very broad and should not be interpreted as a standard 50% commission applying to all products. The actual rate is determined according to the product category, price and selected plan and is communicated to the seller during the commercial and contractual onboarding process.
Before joining, an Italian company should request a complete quotation covering the subscription fee, commission by product category, payment-processing fee, promotional costs, any logistics expenses and the conditions applying to returns and refunds.
Payment Systems
1stDibs manages the checkout process and collects payment from the buyer, deducting the applicable fees before transferring the net amount due to the seller. Detailed payout methods and timelines are not fully disclosed publicly and are set out in the contractual terms applicable to each seller account.
Buyers may use:
Visa;
Mastercard;
American Express;
Discover;
PayPal;
Apple Pay;
Klarna, in eligible markets and for eligible order values;
eligible US bank accounts through ACH;
bank transfer for orders of at least USD 2,500.
Electronic checkout is supported in:
US dollars;
euros;
pounds sterling.
Prices may also be displayed in other currencies, but payments are converted into one of the three currencies supported by the checkout system. Any currency-conversion fees may also depend on the buyer’s bank or card provider.
The platform also provides protection against fraud and chargebacks. Identity-verification and anti-money-laundering checks may be required before payment is confirmed for certain transactions involving art and antiques.
Advertising
Sellers can increase product visibility through Sponsored Listings, which allow selected items to be promoted within the marketplace’s search results.
The service operates on a cost-per-click basis: the seller incurs a charge when a user clicks on the sponsored listing. Standard product publication remains part of the marketplace service and does not involve a fee for each individual listing.
1stDibs also offers impression-based display advertising campaigns. These activities are established through specific insertion orders defining the format, duration, number of impressions and commercial terms of the campaign.
Prices, minimum budgets and targeting options are not provided through a publicly available standard rate card and must be requested from the commercial representative or account-management team.
For an Italian company, promotional activities may be particularly useful for supporting:
the launch of a new collection;
high-margin products;
items with strong potential in the United States;
seasonal or themed collections;
products listed in highly competitive categories.
Logistics Services
1stDibs operates an asset-light model: it does not purchase the products, take ownership of them or manage a centralised inventory. Items remain with the seller until they are sold. (sec.gov)
The platform works with specialised logistics providers to offer insured deliveries to destinations almost worldwide. Available methods depend on the item’s dimensions, weight, fragility, value, origin and destination and include:
standard or express parcel delivery;
freight transport with kerbside delivery;
air or sea freight;
specialised in-home delivery;
local courier services;
in-person collection or shipping arranged directly by the buyer.
For parcel shipments, the seller usually prepares and packages the item and receives a shipping label. Large, fragile or high-value products may require a custom-built crate and the use of specialised carriers.
Customs duties, tariffs, import VAT and clearance fees are not normally included in the price of the item or shipment and are generally payable by the buyer. Tax or identification details, such as an EORI number, may be required for customs clearance.
Italian companies must be able to prepare suitable packaging, commercial and customs documentation, accurate descriptions of materials and, where necessary, certificates of authenticity and provenance or CITES permits.
Customer and Seller Support
1stDibs provides assistance throughout the main stages of the transaction, including ordering, payment, shipping, claims, returns and dispute resolution.
Approved sellers can access:
catalogue and order-management tools;
logistics services;
fraud and chargeback protection;
assistance with dispute management;
training resources;
coaching to improve performance, organisation and listing quality.
Buyers can communicate with sellers through the platform’s internal messaging system or managed calling service. Communications and transactions must remain within 1stDibs in order to ensure traceability and access to the protections provided by the platform.
Each seller may establish its own return policy, which must be reviewed on the relevant product or order page. Where an item is damaged, does not match its description or the wrong item is delivered, the buyer must generally report the issue within seven days of delivery.
The required service level is high. To maintain their account, companies must provide reliable descriptions, respond promptly, keep product availability up to date, manage orders correctly and maintain consistent quality in packaging and shipping.
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