Used cardigans in the UK typically sell for £8 to £40 (about $11 to $54). Cardigans sell on fibre and button completeness, so check the composition label and count the buttons before you photograph anything.
What cardigans are worth in the UK
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £40 | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £34 | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £26 | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £18 | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £10 | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Guide ranges converted from sterling at the 2 August 2026 rate, not quotes — sellers set their own price. Grades are seller-declared; WishThrift does not inspect or verify them.
What lifts the price
- Natural fibres with good weight and drape
- All original buttons present and matching
What pulls it down
- Stretched, gaping button bands
- Pilling on the front where it rubs
Selling a cardigan in the UK
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.
Royal Mail, Evri and InPost cover the whole country, and InPost lockers mean neither side has to be in for a delivery. Tracked 48 is the usual default for small parcels.
Two practical things shape a UK sale. Bank holidays and the run-up to Christmas slow collections right down, so build a few extra days in. And postage from mainland Britain to Northern Ireland, the Highlands and the islands carries surcharges that catch sellers out — quote for the buyer’s actual postcode rather than a flat rate.
Second-hand demand peaks in January, in the weeks before Christmas, and at the start of the academic year in September.
Working out what yours is worth
- Count the buttons and check they all match
- Button it fully and check the band lies flat
Getting it ready
- Check every button is present and firmly attached, and look for a spare sewn inside the placket.
- Read the composition: wool, cashmere, cotton and acrylic sit at very different prices.
Photograph
- Laid flat, front, buttoned
- The buttons and buttonholes close up
- Cuffs, elbows and any hole, pill or stretch
Put in the description
- Fibre composition and knit weight
- Pit-to-pit and body length laid flat
- Whether all buttons are present and any spare included
Fibre, style and size: “Lambswool Button Through Cardigan, Navy, Size 12”. Fibre is the price driver and belongs first. Say whether it is chunky, fine knit or a longline, since those suit different buyers.
Light and cheap to post. Fold rather than hang so the shoulders do not stretch, and use a waterproof bag for natural fibres — wool and cashmere absorb any damp in transit and arrive smelling musty, which buyers notice immediately.
It costs nothing to list
There is no listing fee, no selling fee and no commission, so the £40 a buyer pays is the £40 you keep. You and the buyer settle up and arrange the handover between yourselves; WishThrift does not hold the money or ship the item.
Where in the UK
The United Kingdom is a big place and what sells well moves with it. These are the parts of the United Kingdom with their own page for cardigans.
Common questions
Where can I sell a cardigan in the UK?
List it free on WishThrift and deal with the buyer direct. There is no selling fee, so the whole amount stays with you. 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.
Are there any moth holes?
Hold natural fibres up to a window and check. Small holes are normal on wool and accepted when disclosed.
What do buyers check on a cardigan?
The buttons and the button band. Missing buttons and gaping bands are the most common faults and both are very visible.
Does fibre content matter?
Considerably. Wool and cashmere hold value; thin acrylic knits sell for very little whatever the label.
More: how to sell a cardigan, what cardigans are worth, or Clothing across the United Kingdom.