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 console table is worth what is being asked:
- Wobbling legs and loose joints
- Water rings and heat marks on the top
- Veneer lifting at the edges
- Deep tables that block narrow hallways
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Solid wood and recognised design pieces
- Stable frames with no wobble
- Working drawers where fitted
- Narrow depths suited to hallways
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 console table, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Give the figure. It is the constraint in a hallway and the reason someone chooses a console over a normal table.
Check for wall brackets or a warning label. Tall narrow consoles can tip, and buyers with children need to know.
Test each one and say. Sticking runners are common and worth disclosing rather than leaving to be found.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Press each corner to test for wobble
- Measure height, width and especially depth
- Photograph the top 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 table against a wall, front on
- A tape measure showing the depth
- The top surface across the light
- Any drawer open, the legs, and every chip or mark
Details to confirm before you commit
- Length, depth and height
- Material and finish
- Storage — drawers, shelf or open
- Whether it needs wall fixing for stability, and the top condition
Live console 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 late summer. Narrow consoles sell fastest because hallway space is always the constraint.
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 console 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 console table for what to photograph and how to price, or what console table is worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for a used console 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 console 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 console 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 · console table value guide · selling console table · Furniture · condition grades.