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 | £350 (~$466) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £298 (~$396) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £228 (~$303) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £158 (~$210) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £88 (~$117) | 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 dining table is worth what is being asked:
- Water rings and heat marks on the top
- Veneer lifting or chipping at the edges
- Wobbling legs and loose joints
- Flat-pack tables that will not survive another move
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Solid timber construction rather than veneered board
- Recognised mid-century and design makers
- Extending mechanisms that run smoothly
- Matching chairs sold with the table
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 dining table, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Look at the edge: solid wood shows continuous grain through the edge, veneer shows a thin layer over board. Answer honestly, because buyers check at collection.
Give a realistic number rather than the optimistic one. Six comfortably beats eight at a squeeze in a buyer’s mind.
On solid wood usually yes; on veneer usually not. Say which it is and let the buyer judge whether they want a restoration project.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Look at the table edge to see whether the grain runs through or stops
- Measure the length, width and height, extended and closed
- Photograph the top in daylight so marks are visible
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 table from a corner, showing top and legs together
- The top surface straight on in daylight, which reveals marks honestly
- The underside or leg fixings, showing construction
- Extended, if it extends, and any damage close up
Details to confirm before you commit
- Length, width and height in centimetres, plus extended length if applicable
- How many it comfortably seats
- Solid wood, veneer, laminate or glass
- Whether chairs are included, and how many
Live dining 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
Sells steadily with peaks in spring and early autumn as people move house. Solid wood holds value well and sells all year; laminate moves slowly and cheaply.
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 dining 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 dining table for what to photograph and how to price, or what dining table is worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for a used dining table?
Around £32 to £228 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 dining 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 dining 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 · dining table value guide · selling dining table · Furniture · condition grades.