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 | £70 (~$93) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £60 (~$79) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £46 (~$61) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £32 (~$42) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £18 (~$23) | 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 side table is worth what is being asked:
- Water rings and heat marks
- Wobbling legs
- Veneer lifting at the edges
- Generic flat-pack tables
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Solid wood and recognised design pieces
- Stable, tight joints
- Original finish in good condition
- Matching pairs sold together
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 side table, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Measure it. Side tables are matched to sofa arm height and a few centimetres decides whether it works.
Photograph it across the light. Every used side table has marks and buyers simply want to see them.
Say what it is and photograph an edge. Solid, veneered and laminate are three different price brackets.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Press each corner to test for wobble
- Photograph the top in daylight
- Measure height, width and depth
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 whole table from a standing angle
- The top surface across the light
- The legs and their joints
- The underside with any maker’s mark, plus every chip or scratch
Details to confirm before you commit
- Height, and top length and width or diameter
- Material and finish
- Whether it has a shelf or drawer
- Top surface condition and any wobble or repair
Live side 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 lifts in January and late summer. Mid-century pieces sell within days when correctly identified.
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 side 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 side table for what to photograph and how to price, or what side table is worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for a used side table?
Around £8 to £46 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 side 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 side 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 · side table value guide · selling side table · Furniture · condition grades.