Used cots in the UK typically sell for £40 to £200 (about $54 to $270). Cots sell well because they are bulky to buy new and used only briefly, but buyers check one thing first: whether every fixing and instruction is present so they can rebuild it safely.
What cots are worth in the UK
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £200 | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £170 | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £130 | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £90 | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £50 | 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
- Current safety standard labels intact
- All fittings, bolts and instructions present
What pulls it down
- Bite marks and splintering along the top rails
- Older cots not meeting current spacing standards
Selling a cot 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.
The UK has the deepest second-hand habit of any of our markets — charity shops, car boot sales and online resale have been mainstream here for decades, so buyers arrive already comfortable with used goods and already know roughly what things are worth.
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.
Working out what yours is worth
- Bag every bolt and fitting with the cot when dismantling
- Check the bar spacing and safety label
Getting it ready
- Find or download the assembly instructions, and gather every bolt, allen key and fixing. A cot missing fixings is close to unsellable.
- Measure the mattress size it takes, since buyers need to know whether their existing mattress fits.
Photograph
- The cot assembled, from the side
- The mattress base and slats from above
- Any chew marks on the rails, which are extremely common and should be shown rather than hidden
Put in the description
- Cot or cot bed, and the mattress size in centimetres
- Whether a mattress is included, and its age and condition
- Whether all fixings and the instructions are present
Type and mattress size: “Solid Pine Cot Bed with Mattress, 140x70cm”. A cot bed converts to a toddler bed and is worth more than a plain cot, so make the distinction clear. State whether a mattress is included, because that is a significant part of the value.
Dismantle it before collection if you can, and keep the fixings in a labelled bag taped to a rail. That single step makes the handover smooth and is the sort of thing buyers remember when they rate you.
It costs nothing to list
There is no listing fee, no selling fee and no commission, so the £200 a buyer pays is the £200 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 cots.
Common questions
Where can I sell a cot 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 teeth marks on the rails?
Photograph them. They are almost universal on used cots, buyers expect them, and showing them makes the rest of your listing more believable.
Is it safe to buy a second-hand cot?
Generally yes, provided it meets current standards, has all its fittings and the structure is sound. Check the bar spacing and the safety label.
Are drop-side cots worth selling?
They are no longer recommended and many buyers avoid them. Be upfront about the design if yours is one.
More: how to sell a cot, what cots are worth, or Baby & Kids across the United Kingdom.