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 | £300 (~$400) | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £255 (~$340) | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £195 (~$260) | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £135 (~$180) | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £75 (~$100) | 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 wardrobe is worth what is being asked:
- Particleboard construction that will not survive dismantling
- Doors that no longer hang square
- Missing shelves, rails or fittings
- Very large single-piece units that will not fit through doors
And the things worth paying more for, because they hold their value:
- Solid wood construction that dismantles and rebuilds
- Antique and mid-century pieces with a following
- Intact hanging rails, shelves and working doors
- Original keys for lockable pieces
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 wardrobe, and the answers tell you most of what you need:
Answer honestly, including whether a flat-pack unit is likely to survive dismantling. Buyers plan their van and their help around this.
Measure it. It is the dimension that decides whether long coats and dresses fit, and almost no listing includes it.
Check an edge or the back panel. Solid wood is worth several times chipboard and buyers will look at collection anyway.
Also worth establishing before you commit:
- Measure height, width and depth, and check your own doorways
- Confirm whether it dismantles and whether you have the fittings
- Open and close every door to check the hang
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 wardrobe closed, straight on, whole
- Doors open, showing the hanging space, shelves and rail
- The top and sides, showing any scuffs or water damage
- Any damage to the base, feet or runners
Details to confirm before you commit
- External height, width and depth in centimetres
- Internal hanging height, and how many rails and shelves
- Solid wood, veneer or flat-pack board
- Whether it dismantles, and whether the fittings are included
Live wardrobe 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
Peaks in spring and summer with house moves. Solid wood pieces sell well all year; flat-pack units are abundant and often sell only at low prices or free collection.
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 wardrobe 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 wardrobe for what to photograph and how to price, or what wardrobe is worth at each condition grade.
Frequently asked questions
What should I pay for a used wardrobe?
Around £32 to £195 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 wardrobe 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 wardrobe 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 · wardrobe value guide · selling wardrobe · Furniture · condition grades.