Can you sell leggings that are damaged?
Yes. Damaged stock has its own buyers: people who repair and restore, people who want the material rather than the object, and people who want a cheaper one and do not mind a flaw. Nobody should be surprised when it arrives.
The damage buyers look for on leggings
These are the flaws that move leggings down the grades, and the ones a buyer will check first:
- Fabric gone sheer when stretched
- Pilling between the thighs
- Slack waistbands that roll down
- Unbranded leggings, worth very little
Grading it honestly
Fair covers something heavily used, or with a described fault or missing part: around £4 to £14. For Parts covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen: roughly £2 to £8. Grades are seller-declared and nobody inspects them for you, so grading up does not raise what you get — it produces a buyer who arrives expecting something else. All five grades explained.
Working out what you actually have
Establish the flaw properly rather than guessing at it:
- Stretch the fabric over your hand against the light
- Check the inner thigh area closely
- Stretch the waistband and see whether it recovers
Photographing the flaw
Photograph the damage directly and in focus — it is the evidence that the rest of the description is honest:
- Laid flat, front, whole leg in frame
- The waistband, showing width and elasticity
- The fabric stretched over a hand, showing opacity
- The inner thigh and gusset, plus the size tag
What to state in the listing
Alongside the flaw itself, buyers of damaged leggings want these confirmed:
- Brand, style name, size and inseam length
- Fabric composition and whether they are squat-proof or sheer when stretched
- Waistband height and whether it has pockets
- Pilling on the inner thigh, and gusset seam condition
Brand, style and size: “Lululemon Align Leggings, 25 inch, Size 8, Black”. Named styles from activewear brands are searched exactly. State the inseam length, since the same style comes in several.
What buyers will ask
Answer these in the listing rather than waiting to be asked:
Test it over your hand and photograph the result. This is the defining question for used leggings and honesty here sells the pair.
Look closely and photograph. It is where leggings always wear and buyers know to check.
Read the tag or measure it. Activewear brands sell the same style in several lengths and buyers pick deliberately.
Is it worth repairing first?
Only where it is cheap and visibly well done — a clumsy repair costs more than the flaw it hides. What lifts the price:
- Recognised activewear brands with a following
- Fabric that stays opaque when stretched
- Waistbands with full elastic recovery
- No pilling on the inner thigh
If the work would cost more than the gap between £8 and what sound ones fetch, sell them as they are damaged and let the buyer decide.
When to list it
Steady all year with a January lift. Recognised activewear brands sell within days; high-street leggings sell slowly.
Getting it to the buyer
Very light and cheap to post.
WishThrift does not process payments, arrange delivery or hold funds. Confirm the money has cleared before the item leaves your hands, and keep the conversation on the site so there is a record of what was agreed.
Ready to list them? Free to list, no commission, and neither side pays a buyer-protection fee — create a free account, or read the full leggings selling guide if yours turns out to be sound.
Frequently asked questions
Can you sell damaged leggings?
Yes. Damaged leggings typically are worth £2 to £8 against £8 to £30 undamaged, and there is a real market in repair, restoration and craft stock. Fabric gone sheer when stretched
Is it worth repairing first?
Only where the repair is cheap and visibly done well. What buyers pay for is recognised activewear brands with a following — a repair that draws attention to the flaw can leave you worse off.
How should I describe the damage?
Precisely, with a photograph of the flaw itself. Test it over your hand and photograph the result. This is the defining question for used leggings and honesty here sells the pair. Vague wording is what produces the message asking for a refund.
See also: what leggings are worth by condition · how to sell leggings · condition grades explained · all broken & damaged guides · all selling guides.