Used cots in the US typically sell for $54 to $270. Cots are safety equipment with a long usable life, so buyers check standards and fittings before they look at condition.
What cots are worth in the US
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | $269 | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | $229 | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | $175 | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | $121 | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | $67 | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Guide ranges converted from sterling at the 2 August 2026 rate, not quotes — sellers set their own price. Grades are seller-declared; WishThrift does not inspect or verify them.
What lifts the price
- Current safety standard labels intact
- Solid wood construction with no splits
What pulls it down
- Bite marks and splintering along the top rails
- Drop-side designs, which are no longer recommended
Selling a cot in the US
Peer-to-peer payment apps dominate private sales, and buyers will usually offer one before they offer cash. Sales tax does not apply to a private sale between individuals.
The US resale market is enormous and highly local — most transactions still happen between people within driving distance of each other, and buyers expect to collect rather than wait for a courier.
Distances are the real constraint. State plainly whether you will ship or collection only, because a buyer three states away will otherwise ask.
Working out what yours is worth
- Bag every bolt and fitting with the cot when dismantling
- Inspect the top rails for bite damage and splinters
Getting it ready
- Check the mattress base and the slats for cracks, and confirm the drop-side or height adjustment still locks properly.
- Measure the mattress size it takes, since buyers need to know whether their existing mattress fits.
Photograph
- The fixings, allen key and instructions laid out together
- The mattress base and slats from above
Put in the description
- Whether all fixings and the instructions are present
- Material, and whether the height adjusts or a side drops
Type and mattress size: “Solid Pine Cot Bed with Mattress, 140x70cm”. A cot bed converts to a toddler bed and is worth more than a plain cot, so make the distinction clear. State whether a mattress is included, because that is a significant part of the value.
Steady all year. Cot beds sell faster than plain cots because they last longer, and solid wood outsells board.
It costs nothing to list
There is no listing fee, no selling fee and no commission, so the $269 a buyer pays is the $269 you keep. You and the buyer settle up and arrange the handover between yourselves; WishThrift does not hold the money or ship the item.
Where in the US
The United States is a big place and what sells well moves with it. These are the parts of the United States with their own page for cots.
- New York
- Los Angeles
- Chicago
- Houston
- Phoenix
- Philadelphia
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- Dallas
- Austin
- San Jose
- Jacksonville
- Fort Worth
- Columbus
- Indianapolis
- Charlotte
- San Francisco
- Seattle
- Denver
- Washington
- Nashville
- Boston
- Las Vegas
- Portland
- Detroit
- Memphis
- Louisville
- Baltimore
- Milwaukee
- Albuquerque
- Fresno
- Tucson
- Sacramento
- Kansas City
- Mesa
- Atlanta
- Omaha
- Colorado Springs
- Raleigh
- Virginia Beach
- Long Beach
- Miami
- Oakland
- Minneapolis
- Tulsa
- Bakersfield
Common questions
Where can I sell a cot in the US?
List it free on WishThrift and deal with the buyer direct. There is no selling fee, so the whole amount stays with you. Peer-to-peer payment apps dominate private sales, and buyers will usually offer one before they offer cash. Sales tax does not apply to a private sale between individuals.
Are all the fittings included?
Count them against the instructions before listing. This is the question that decides a cot sale, because sourcing replacements is genuinely difficult.
Why do missing fittings matter so much?
Cot bolts are model-specific and structural. Without them the cot cannot be rebuilt safely, which makes it unsellable.
Are drop-side cots worth selling?
They are no longer recommended and many buyers avoid them. Be upfront about the design if yours is one.
More: how to sell a cot, what cots are worth, or Baby & Kids across the United States.