What a fair price looks like
Condition on WishThrift is described by the seller against five grades, and nobody inspects them on your behalf — so the description and the photographs are what you are buying on.
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £50 (~$67) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £42 (~$57) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £32 (~$43) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £22 (~$30) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £12 (~$17) | 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
On garden machinery, whether it starts from cold rather than warm. On glass and ceramics, chips and hairline cracks that do not show in a photograph.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether curtains is worth what is being asked:
- Sun-faded leading edges
- Unlined thin fabrics
- Unusual sizes that fit few windows
- Shrinkage from washing
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Common drop and width combinations
- Lined and thermal-lined pairs
- Quality fabrics with no fading
- Matching tiebacks included
Common faults and fakes
Reproduction and ‘in the style of’ pieces sold as originals, particularly in glassware and lighting.
Ask for a video of machinery starting from cold. On glass, ask the seller to photograph the piece against a bright window, which reveals cracks.
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 curtains, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
State it explicitly. It is the single most common misunderstanding in curtain listings and it wastes both parties’ time when it goes wrong.
Say pencil pleat, eyelet or tab top and photograph it. Eyelet curtains need a pole and will not work on a track, which buyers discover too late.
Check it separately. Linings perish and discolour from sunlight faster than the face fabric, and a rotten lining means remaking rather than hanging.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Measure the width and drop precisely and state both
- Check the leading edges for sun fading
- Note the heading type: pencil pleat, eyelet or tab top
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 pair hung, if you can, so the drape and fullness read
- One curtain laid flat with a tape across the width
- The heading tape and hooks close up
- The lining, plus any sun bleaching, mark, or worn hem
Details to confirm before you commit
- Width of each curtain and the drop, in centimetres
- Whether the width quoted is per curtain or for the pair
- Heading type, and whether hooks or rings are included
- Whether they are lined, blackout or thermal, and the lining condition
Live curtains listings
Nothing matching is listed at the moment. Browse home & garden 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 autumn as people warm up rooms, and in spring when they redecorate. Blackout and thermal curtains sell fastest.
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 curtains 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 curtains for what to photograph and how to price, or what curtains are worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for used curtains?
Around £6 to £32 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 curtains before buying?
Ask for a video of machinery starting from cold. On glass, ask the seller to photograph the piece against a bright window, which reveals cracks.
Is buying curtains 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. On garden machinery, whether it starts from cold rather than warm. On glass and ceramics, chips and hairline cracks that do not show in a photograph.
See also: all buying guides · curtains value guide · selling curtains · Home & Garden · condition grades.