Ikea can sell affordable furniture due mainly to what is used to make their products: a combination of fiberboard, particleboard, and other materials like steel and plastic.

While they might sound the same, fiberboard is a medium-density wood product heavier and stronger than particleboard and commonly used for cabinets.

Particleboard is made of sawdust, resin, and wood chips, while fiberboard

is made from pulverized wood fibers and resin, making it a cost-effective alternative to plywood.

Most cabinets are made from hardwood, but they’re typically more expensive. What makes Ikea's cabinets inexpensive yet durable is their use of both fiberboard and particleboard.

Ikea’s cabinets combine fiberboard for the doors and back panels, while particleboard is used for the frame and shelves.

Although fiberboard is more durable, using high-quality particleboard for the shelves and frame is one of the most cost-effective options

for constructing

strong cabinets.

Ikea’s cabinets may not be high-end, but the company’s use of polypropylene plastic to coat the particleboard makes them more resistant to moisture and general wear

and tear.