---
title: "Why McGee & Co Is So Much More Expensive Than Target"
canonical: "https://simplyklassichome.com/why-is-mcgee-and-co-so-expensive-compared-to-target/"
author: "Arden Vale"
published: "2026-04-20T16:31:34+00:00"
modified: "2026-10-07T08:54:07+00:00"
language: "en-US"
site: "Simply Klassic Home"
description: "You've probably seen the sidebyside photos and wondered why is McGee & Co so expensive compared to Target. Same arched console, same bouclé accent chair,…"
categories: "Classic Home Decor"
attribution: "Simply Klassic Home (https://simplyklassichome.com/)"
---

# Why McGee & Co Is So Much More Expensive Than Target

You've probably seen the side-by-side photos and wondered why is McGee & Co so expensive compared to Target. Same arched console, same bouclé accent chair, wildly different prices. The honest answer: these are two different products wearing one designer name.

 

In our research, the gap usually runs three to five times the Target price on furniture. A Threshold with Studio McGee sideboard lists around $350. The closest McGee & Co version starts near $1,300, built from solid oak instead of veneer.

 

Here's where that extra money actually goes.

 

## Why McGee & Co Is So Expensive Compared to Target: The Short Answer

 

McGee & Co costs more because it's built to a different standard. The brand uses solid oak, kiln-dried hardwood frames, and made-to-order production. Target's Threshold with Studio McGee relies on engineered wood and high-volume manufacturing.

 

Same designers, same aesthetic, very different construction.

 

That's the thirty-second version. The real answer breaks down into three cost drivers:

 

- **Materials.** Solid white oak, brass hardware, and natural stone versus veneer-wrapped MDF and resin composites.
- **Production.** Small-batch and often made-to-order versus mass manufacturing priced backward from a shelf tag.
- **Business model.** A direct-to-consumer brand absorbing its own shipping and returns versus a licensed line riding Target's scale.

 

None of this makes the Target version a bad buy. It makes it a different tool for a different job. By the end of this page, you'll know exactly which job each one does best.

 

## Two Brands, One Name: How the Studio McGee Licensing Deal Works

 

Studio McGee is the interior design firm Shea and Syd McGee built in Lehi, Utah. After their Netflix show Dream Home Makeover took off, the studio's warm, neutral aesthetic became one of the most copied looks in home decor. Then the brand split into two very different retail deals.

 

In 2019, Target launched Threshold with Studio McGee, a licensed collection. Target licenses the designs, manufactures them at enormous volume, and prices each piece to hit a specific shelf price. McGee & Co works differently.

 

It's the studio's own company, which develops its own specifications and sells direct through [its own storefront](https://mcgeeandco.com).

 

|  | McGee & Co | Threshold with Studio McGee |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Who sells it | McGee & Co directly | Target, in stores and online |
| How it's made | Small-batch, frequently made to order | High-volume mass production |
| Who sets the price | The brand, based on production cost | Target, based on a target retail price |
| What you're paying for | The furniture and its construction | The licensed designer look |

 

The name on the tag is identical. What's underneath it is not. That single business decision explains most of the price gap before you even get to materials.

 

## What the Extra Money Actually Buys: Materials, Build Quality, and Specs

 

Manufacturer spec sheets make the gap obvious once you know where to look. Here's what changes as the price climbs.

 

### Case Goods: Solid Oak vs. Veneer-Wrapped Engineered Wood

 

Target-tier consoles and sideboards are typically built from MDF or particleboard wrapped in thin oak veneer. It photographs beautifully and keeps costs low. McGee & Co's case goods lean on solid white oak and kiln-dried hardwood, lumber dried to roughly 8 to 12 percent moisture so it resists warping.

 

One practical check works on any furniture buy: lift the piece. Solid wood weighs noticeably more than the veneer version.

 

### Upholstery: Frames, Cushion Fills, and Spring Systems

 

Upholstery is where the gap gets physical. McGee & Co sofas sit on kiln-dried hardwood frames with feather-down blend cushions. Most Target sofas use engineered wood frames with high-density foam, which softens faster under daily use.

 

Durable cushions need foam density of at least 1.8 pounds per cubic foot. Foam certified by [CertiPUR-US](https://certipur.us) also meets independent standards for content and emissions. Aggregate buyer reviews report Target cushions flattening within two to three years of heavy sitting.

 

### Finishing Touches: Hardware, Stone, and Made-to-Order Production

 

Details carry real cost. McGee & Co specifies solid brass hardware, natural travertine, and hand-applied finishes. Many Target equivalents swap in plated metals and resin composites that imitate stone.

 

McGee & Co also produces in smaller runs, often made to order, which trades speed for tighter quality control. And if you'd rather upgrade a cheaper piece yourself, [a flawless painted finish](https://simplyklassichome.com/?p=19) closes much of the visual gap for under fifty dollars.

 

## McGee & Co vs. Threshold with Studio McGee: Real Price Comparison

 

### Side-by-Side Price Table by Category

 

Prices below reflect typical regular listings as of 2026. Sales swing both directions, so treat these as midpoints.

 

| Category | Threshold with Studio McGee | McGee & Co |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Accent chair | $150-$250 | $400-$800 |
| Console or sideboard | $150-$350 | $700-$1,500 |
| Sofa | $500-$800 | $2,000-$3,500 |
| Wall mirror | $60-$150 | $200-$500 |
| Vases and decor | $10-$40 | $30-$100 |

 

Notice the pattern. Decor sits closest in price, and honestly, close enough that brand barely matters. Upholstery and case goods show the widest gaps, and that's exactly where build quality shows up daily.

 

### The Fine Print: Lead Times, Shipping, and Return Policies

 

Price is only part of the total cost. Target ships most items free over $35, applies its standard 90-day return window, and knocks off another 5 percent with a RedCard. McGee & Co typically charges shipping on furniture, runs four to twelve week lead times on made-to-order pieces, and enforces stricter return terms with some final-sale categories.

 

Factor all of that in before you compare price tags. A "cheaper" sofa with a restocking fee and freight costs isn't always cheaper.

 

## When McGee & Co Is Worth It (and When Target Is the Smarter Buy)

 

Here's the honest split. Neither line wins everywhere, and most homes genuinely need both.

 

Quick gut check before we break it down:

 

- Choose McGee & Co for pieces you touch every single day.
- Choose Target for styling layers, guest rooms, and anything with a short season.

 

### Splurge-Worthy: Where the Quality Gap Shows Up Daily

 

Sofas, dining chairs, and the bed you climb into every night earn their premium. You use them for hours daily, so cushion fill, frame construction, and fabric wear compound fast. A well-built sofa also holds up to reupholstering or resale instead of the curb.

 

If a piece takes daily abuse, the sturdier build usually pays for itself in lifespan.

 

### Save Here: Where the Target Version Performs Just as Well

 

Consoles, mirrors, shelving, and most decor don't take real abuse. A veneer sideboard holding a lamp performs identically to a solid oak one, as long as you don't drag it across the room. Target's vases, candle holders, and seasonal accessories are genuinely hard to beat on price.

 

Spend your budget elsewhere and nobody will ever notice.

 

### The Mix-and-Match Strategy Most Designers Actually Use

 

Walk through a designer's own home and you'll find both price tiers living happily together. The pattern repeats in studio tours and designer interviews: one or two investment anchor pieces, surrounded by affordable layers. A quality McGee & Co sofa styled with Target decor reads as intentional, not budget.

 

Nail the details with [a foolproof pillow formula](https://simplyklassichome.com/?p=23) and the same trick works with [that layered fireplace look](https://simplyklassichome.com/?p=17) Shea does on every show. The mix becomes a choice, not a compromise.

 

## The Honest Downsides of Each Line (What Reviews Won't Always Tell You)

 

No furniture brand escapes complaints, and both of these collect plenty. Premium price doesn't buy premium logistics, and budget price doesn't mean flawless either.

 

Where McGee & Co frustrates buyers, per verified feedback:

 

- Shipping damage on freight pieces, with claims that take weeks to resolve
- Customer service response times that lag the price point
- Finish and color inconsistency between production batches
- Threshold-only delivery unless you pay extra for white glove service

 

Where Target's line falls short:

 

- Veneer edges that chip once kids, pets, or a vacuum get involved
- Wide console shelves that sag under heavy loads
- Popular pieces discontinued within a season, so matching later is impossible
- Color shifts between production runs, noticeable if you add pieces a year apart

 

Here's the pattern. McGee & Co's frustrations hit before delivery. Target's show up after it.

 

Neither is a scam. Each brand optimizes for a different buyer, and knowing which frustration you'd rather live with settles half the debate.

 

## Smart Alternatives if Neither McGee Line Fits Your Budget

 

If you're after the sweet spot between "too flimsy" and "too pricey," you've got real options:

 

- **Hearth & Hand with Magnolia.** Target's other designer collab, priced close to Threshold with a farmhouse lean.
- **Article, CB2, and World Market.** Mid-tier brands that land between Target and McGee & Co on both build and cost.
- **Pottery Barn sales.** Wait for a 20 to 30 percent event and the classic line undercuts McGee & Co on sofas.
- **Secondhand.** Facebook Marketplace and Chairish carry used McGee & Co and vintage solid-wood pieces at half retail.

 

Don't sleep on the DIY route either. A thrifted solid-oak dresser, sanded and repainted with the right painting technique, delivers the McGee look for under $150 total. Older furniture often beats new engineered wood on construction anyway, since hardwood was the standard back then.

 

One caution with secondhand: measure everything twice. There's no return window on Marketplace, and not every "solid wood" listing is honest. Ask for a close-up of the drawer joinery.

 

Dovetails mean quality. Staples mean keep scrolling.

 

## FAQs: McGee & Co vs. Target Questions, Answered

 

### Is McGee & Co furniture actually good quality?

 

Yes. Spec sheets put it a clear tier above Target, with kiln-dried hardwood frames, solid oak case goods, and feather-down blend cushions. Aggregate reviews rate the designs and construction highly, though shipping and customer service draw mixed marks.

 

Most owners call it strong mid-tier quality, not luxury tier.

 

### Is Threshold with Studio McGee the same company as McGee & Co?

 

No. Threshold with Studio McGee is a licensing deal where Target manufactures and sells the designs. McGee & Co is the studio's own brand with separate factories and specifications.

 

Same designers, same aesthetic, but the products share little beyond the name and the look.

 

### Does McGee & Co ever go on sale?

 

Yes, typically a few sale events per year with discounts around 20 to 30 percent. The site also runs a warehouse section with open-box and discontinued pieces at deeper cuts. Popular sizes sell out early, so shop the first day of an event.

 

### Are the Target Studio McGee pieces durable?

 

For decor, mirrors, and light-use furniture, yes. Buyer feedback shows veneer surfaces and foam cushions wearing faster under heavy daily use, with visible softening by year two or three. Treat them as styling pieces rather than workhorses and they hold up fine.

 

## The Verdict: How to Decide Before You Click Buy

 

Work through these four questions in order and the answer usually reveals itself:

 

1. **How often will you use it?** Daily use earns the better build. Occasional use doesn't.
2. **How long should it last?** Two to three years favors Target. Five to ten favors McGee & Co.
3. **Can you wait?** Need the room finished next month? Target wins on lead times alone.
4. **What's your real budget?** If the splurge strains your finances, it's the wrong splurge.

 

Our bottom line is simple. Buy McGee & Co for the two or three anchor pieces you touch every day: the sofa, the bed, the dining chairs. Buy Threshold with Studio McGee for everything that dresses the room around them.

 

You'll get the look you're chasing at a price that doesn't sting, and every piece will be doing the job it was actually built for.