How We Tested

Best of the Year analysts toured CORT’s New York City showroom during a visit arranged in advance by the company. While there, they interviewed CORT’s lead designer and the showroom manager. The discussion covered the customer journey, popular rental options, pricing and rental terms, as well as what happens at the end of an agreement—including furniture cleaning and reconditioning, purchase options, returns and the handling of pieces that can no longer be returned to rental inventory.

Analysts also sat on, handled and visually examined a range of furniture to assess its comfort, condition and overall quality. Additional perspective came from another design and lifestyle expert who regularly uses the rental service and is affiliated with CORT through a collection she created with the company. The team considered insights from the showroom visit, interviews and hands-on assessment collectively in its final evaluation.

What Experts and Consumer Testers Said

One of our reviewers walked into a CORT showroom skeptical about furniture rental. She left feeling like she was walking out of a nicely furnished home or retail showroom. The furniture looked good, felt comfortable and, importantly, didn’t seem like quality had been sacrificed because pieces are designed to be used again and again.

Experts also liked how complete the service can be. You’re not limited to choosing a sofa, bed and dining table; CORT can also supply housewares, kitchen essentials, linens and more. That matters when you’re trying to get someone settled quickly — particularly during a relocation or another life transition when buying forks and bath towels is probably pretty low on the list of things you want to deal with.

“Not innovative for its own sake, but strongly differentiated by longevity and reliability, and I like that the model is inherently circular: rent, clean, reuse, and resell.” -Best of the Year Category Expert

CORT has been running a circular business for more than 50 years, long before that was a buzzword. Furniture gets rented, returned, cleaned and refurbished, then sent to another home. When a piece eventually leaves the rental fleet, it can be sold through CORT’s outlet rather than discarded. Our reviewers liked that reuse isn't a sustainability program sitting off to the side; it’s fundamental to how the business works.

Our experts recommend a few practical tips to ensure a smooth experience. First, take photos when your furniture arrives and again before it’s picked up, and make sure you understand the damage and end-of-rental policies, particularly if you have pets. And do the math for your particular situation. The flexibility makes a lot of sense for temporary stays, but if “temporary” starts turning into several years, buying may ultimately make more financial sense.

Best of the Year Bottom Line

When you need furniture, but you don’t need it for the long term, CORT merits your attention. They'll take care of the shopping, delivery, setup and what happens to everything when you’re done. For a temporary move, relocation or any stretch of life when buying a houseful of furniture doesn’t make sense, that’s a pretty great problem to solve!

Why Trust Us?

The Best of the Year Media team comprises award-winning editors, analysts, subject-matter experts and consumer specialists who have spent their careers helping people make smarter, more confident decisions. With deep expertise across consumer lifestyle categories, our team brings decades of experience evaluating products, brands and services. Our recommendations are grounded in rigorous evaluation combined with expert judgment and consumer insights, giving readers trusted guidance on products, services, and experiences worth bringing into their lives.

P.S. We use affiliate shopping links where possible. We may earn a few dollars if you click them. It’s one of the reasons we're able to give you a calmer site experience, with fewer ads and distracting pop-ups.