What a fair price looks like
Condition on WishThrift is described by the seller against five grades, and nobody inspects it on your behalf — so the description and the photographs are what you are buying on.
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £120 (~$160) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £102 (~$136) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £78 (~$104) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £54 (~$72) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £30 (~$40) | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Sterling guide ranges with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). Sellers set their own asking price; these are a starting point for judging an offer. All five grades explained.
The checklist before you pay
Size, and whether it will actually get into your home. After that, whether it is solid wood or veneered board, because only one of those survives a house move.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether a coffee table is worth what is being asked:
- Chipped glass edges, which are a safety concern
- Water rings and heat marks on the top
- Wobbling legs from loosened joints
- Veneer lifting at the corners
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Solid wood and recognised design pieces
- Toughened glass with no chips at the edges
- Stable, tight joints with no wobble
- Storage versions with working drawers
Common faults and fakes
Reproduction pieces sold as period or designer originals are the issue here rather than counterfeits — an unattributed ‘mid-century style’ piece is usually exactly that.
Ask for the height, width and depth, whether it dismantles, and whether the original fixings and instructions are present. Measure your doorway before you commit.
WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade anything, and no marketplace check replaces your own. If a seller will not answer a direct question about condition or origin, that is the answer.
Questions to ask the seller
These are the three that get asked most often about a coffee table, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Photograph it across the light rather than describing it. Coffee table tops always have some marking, and a clear photo settles the question far better than an adjective.
Look for an etched mark in a corner and say what you find. If there is no mark, say you cannot confirm it rather than assuming.
Check underneath. Removable legs turn an awkward collection into a boot-sized one, and it is worth knowing before the buyer books a van they did not need.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Check every glass edge for chips
- Press down on each corner to test for wobble
- Photograph the top surface in daylight
Photographs to ask for
If the listing does not already show these, ask — a seller who has the item will send them in minutes:
- The whole table from a standing angle, on a plain floor
- The top surface shot across the light so marks are visible rather than hidden
- The legs and the joint where they meet the frame
- Any shelf, drawer or glass edge, plus every scratch or chip close up
Details to confirm before you commit
- Length, width or diameter, and height in centimetres
- Material of the top and the frame, stated separately if they differ
- Whether it has storage — a shelf, drawer or lift top
- The condition of the top surface, described honestly including ring marks
Live coffee table listings
Nothing matching is listed at the moment. Browse furniture for what is live now, or everything on the site — stock changes daily and new listings are free to post, so it is worth checking back.
When to buy
Steady year-round, with a lift in January and again in early autumn. Solid wood and mid-century shapes sell within a couple of weeks; heavy glass tables move more slowly because buyers with small children avoid them.
Prices move against that cycle for a buyer: the cheapest time to buy is when sellers are listing most, not when demand peaks.
Paying and collecting safely
WishThrift does not process payments, hold funds or offer buyer protection — you agree the price and the method with the seller directly, which is what keeps the platform free on both sides. Meet somewhere public where you can, inspect before you pay, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed. Be wary of any seller who wants to move the conversation elsewhere before you have agreed anything.
Selling one instead?
If you already have a coffee table sitting unused, it is free to list and there is no commission — the price you agree is the amount you keep. Read how to sell coffee table for what to photograph and how to price, or what coffee table is worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for a used coffee table?
Around £13 to £78 in good condition, more for barely-used examples and less for anything with a described fault. Compare against the seller’s photographs rather than the grade alone.
How do I check a coffee table before buying?
Ask for the height, width and depth, whether it dismantles, and whether the original fixings and instructions are present. Measure your doorway before you commit.
Is buying a coffee table second hand safe?
Yes, with the ordinary care any private sale needs. WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or hold funds, so inspect before you pay where you can, meet somewhere public, and keep the conversation on the site. Size, and whether it will actually get into your home. After that, whether it is solid wood or veneered board, because only one of those survives a house move.
See also: all buying guides · coffee table value guide · selling coffee table · Furniture · condition grades.