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 | £60 (~$80) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £51 (~$68) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £39 (~$52) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £27 (~$36) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £15 (~$20) | 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
Sizing again, made worse because it varies between a brand’s own lines. Beyond that it is the midsole: polyurethane crumbles with age even on shoes that were never worn.
Run through these before money changes hands — they are the things that decide whether football boots is worth what is being asked:
- Worn-down or missing studs
- Split uppers where the toe meets the sole
- Delaminated soleplates
- Older models several seasons out of range
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Studs with no wear and no missing screws
- Recent models still in current ranges
- Uppers with intact stitching at the toe
- Both stud sets included on screw-in boots
Common faults and fakes
Fakes usually show in the stitching regularity, the finish on the branded hardware, and a box label whose style code does not match the shoe inside.
Ask for the insole length in centimetres rather than the size, plus photographs of the sole, the heel counter and the inside of the shoe.
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 football boots, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Photograph the sole flat to camera. Stud height is the whole measure of remaining life, and a picture answers it far better than a description.
Give the code from the boot. Players buy for a specific pitch, and the wrong surface makes them useless however good the price.
Say plainly and give both size systems. Youth and adult scales overlap confusingly and this is the most common ordering mistake on boot listings.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Photograph the studs and soleplate clearly
- Check the toe seam for splitting
- State the size in UK, EU and US where marked
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 side on, clean, standing
- The sole plate flat to camera, showing stud condition and any crack
- The inside size label and the stitching around the toe
- Any split, peeled upper, loose sole or missing stud
Details to confirm before you commit
- Size as marked, with UK and EU equivalents, and whether junior or adult
- Surface type — firm ground, soft ground, artificial grass or astro turf
- Whether studs are moulded or screw-in, and whether a stud key and spares are included
- Upper material, and the state of the sole plate
Live football boots listings
Nothing matching is listed at the moment. Browse shoes & footwear 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
Peaks in August and September as seasons start, with a second lift in January. Youth sizes sell quickly and cheaply because children outgrow boots every year.
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 football boots 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 football boots for what to photograph and how to price, or what football boots are worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for used football boots?
Around £10 to £39 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 football boots before buying?
Ask for the insole length in centimetres rather than the size, plus photographs of the sole, the heel counter and the inside of the shoe.
Is buying football boots 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. Sizing again, made worse because it varies between a brand’s own lines. Beyond that it is the midsole: polyurethane crumbles with age even on shoes that were never worn.
See also: all buying guides · football boots value guide · selling football boots · Shoes & Footwear · condition grades.