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 | £180 (~$240) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £153 (~$204) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £117 (~$156) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £81 (~$108) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £45 (~$60) | 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 an office chair is worth what is being asked:
- A gas lift that sinks slowly under weight
- Torn mesh or foam that has flattened out
- Missing or mismatched castors
- Generic chairs, which sell for very little whatever their original price
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Recognised ergonomic models with parts still available
- Working gas lift that holds its height
- Intact mesh or foam with no collapse
- Original arms and castors
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 an office chair, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Sit in it for several minutes and check. Gas lift failure is the classic used office chair fault and buyers always ask.
Test each lever individually and list any that do not. Broken tilt locks are common and worth disclosing.
Press it and be honest. Collapsed foam is the thing a buyer notices on day one and it is the main reason cheap chairs get resold again.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Sit in it and time whether the seat height holds
- Check the underside label for the maker and model
- Test every lever and the recline lock
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 chair from a three-quarter angle
- The seat surface and backrest, showing fabric or mesh condition
- The base, gas lift and castors
- The adjustment levers, plus any tear, stain or wear
Details to confirm before you commit
- Brand, model and size where applicable
- Whether the gas lift holds height reliably
- Which adjustments work: height, tilt, lock, armrests, lumbar
- Fabric or mesh condition, and whether the castors roll freely
Live office chair 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 with strong lifts in September and January. Recognised ergonomic brands sell within days at good prices; generic chairs are abundant and cheap.
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 an office chair 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 office chair for what to photograph and how to price, or what office chair is worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for a used office chair?
Around £20 to £117 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 an office chair 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 an office chair 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 · office chair value guide · selling office chair · Furniture · condition grades.