Used backpacks in London, England typically sell for £15 to £70 (about $20 to $94). Backpacks are bought on litre capacity and whether the zips still run, so state the litres and test every zip before you photograph it.
Selling a backpack in London
London turns over more second-hand goods than anywhere else in the country, and for a reason that has nothing to do with taste: the sheer density of people moving in, out and across the city. It has a deep vintage and designer resale culture that predates the internet, so buyers here arrive knowing what a fair price looks like and will say so.
Rental tenancies here turn over faster than anywhere else in the UK, and a tenancy ending usually means an entire flat being cleared in a week. Add several hundred thousand students across dozens of institutions and the supply is effectively continuous.
Most small handovers happen at a station, because almost everyone is on the Tube or the rail network and almost nobody wants to drive. Driving into the centre means the congestion charge, the ULEZ and somewhere to park, so for anything you can carry, agree a station and a time. Anything sofa-sized needs a van and a realistic loading plan.
Ask which floor the item is on and whether there is a lift before you agree a price. A great deal of London housing is walk-up, and a wardrobe on the fourth floor is a different proposition from the same wardrobe on the ground.
Handing it over in London
Most private sales settle by bank transfer or cash on collection. Faster Payments clear in seconds, which makes a transfer as safe as cash for the seller — wait for it to land before the item leaves your hands. Around Camden, Brick Lane and Peckham are where this sort of thing tends to change hands.
What backpacks are worth
What lifts the price
- Undamaged straps, buckles and hip belt
- Waterproof coatings that have not delaminated
What pulls it down
- Failed or sticky zips
- Frayed shoulder straps and worn stitching at the anchor points
Working out what yours is worth
- Run every zip fully open and closed
- Turn it inside out and check for lining delamination
Getting it ready
- Find or estimate the capacity in litres, which is often printed on a label inside or on the back panel.
- Empty every pocket, clean the base and shoulder straps, and check for fraying at the seams.
Photograph
- The main compartment open, showing capacity and lining
- The shoulder straps and back panel, showing wear
Put in the description
- Whether it has a padded laptop sleeve, and what size it takes
- Condition of every zip, buckle and strap anchor
Steady with lifts in spring, in late summer for travel, and in September for school and university. Recognised outdoor and travel brands sell fastest.
Listing is free and there is no selling fee, so the whole amount the buyer pays stays with you. You and the buyer agree the handover between yourselves.
Same region (England)
Common questions
Where can I sell a backpack in London?
List it free on WishThrift and deal with the buyer direct. Most small handovers happen at a station, because almost everyone is on the Tube or the rail network and almost nobody wants to drive. Driving into the centre means the congestion charge, the ULEZ and somewhere to park, so for anything you can carry, agree a station and a time. Anything sofa-sized needs a van and a realistic loading plan.
Do all the zips work?
Run each one fully. Failed zips are the main reason backpacks are retired and the first thing a buyer checks.
How much is a backpack worth in London?
Most used backpacks change hands for £15 to £70 (about $20 to $94). Condition and completeness move that figure more than anything else.
More: selling a backpack across the United Kingdom, what backpacks are worth, everything second hand in London, or Bags & Handbags in London.
Guide range converted from sterling at the 2 August 2026 rate, not a quote — sellers set their own price.