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 | £30 (~$40) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £26 (~$34) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £20 (~$26) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £14 (~$18) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £8 (~$10) | 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 cushions is worth what is being asked:
- Flattened or lumpy inners
- Stains and pet hair on covers
- Non-removable covers
- Faded fabrics from sun exposure
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Removable, washable covers
- Designer and heritage fabrics
- Matching sets sold together
- Feather inners, which hold shape better
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 cushions, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Say plainly. Covers-only is fine and sells, but a buyer expecting filled cushions who receives covers has a legitimate complaint.
Check for a zip or envelope back and say. Washability is a genuine deciding feature for anyone with children or pets.
Compare the front and back in daylight. Cushions fade on the side that faces the window and the difference can be striking.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Wash the covers and photograph them clean
- Plump the inners and check they hold shape
- Count the set and state the size
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 full set together, plumped, on a plain surface
- One cushion front and back
- The zip open, showing the inner pad
- The fire label, plus any stain, fade, pull or flattened pad
Details to confirm before you commit
- Size in centimetres and how many in the set
- Fabric, and whether covers are removable and washable
- Whether inner pads are included and their condition
- Whether a fire safety label is present, plus any fade or mark
Live cushions 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
Lifts in autumn and in spring around redecorating. Sets in current colours sell within a fortnight; odd single cushions are slow.
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 cushions 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 cushions for what to photograph and how to price, or what cushions are worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for used cushions?
Around £3 to £20 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 cushions 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 cushions 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 · cushions value guide · selling cushions · Home & Garden · condition grades.