Can you sell picture frames 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 picture frames
These are the flaws that move picture frames down the grades, and the ones a buyer will check first:
- Cracked or missing glass
- Chipped gesso on gilt frames
- Non-standard sizes
- Broken hanging fixings
Grading it honestly
Fair covers something heavily used, or with a described fault or missing part: around £2 to £14. For Parts covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen: roughly £1 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:
- Measure the aperture, not the outer frame
- Check the glass for cracks and chips
- Bundle small frames rather than listing singly
Photographing the flaw
Photograph the damage directly and in focus — it is the evidence that the rest of the description is honest:
- The frame face on, whole
- The back, showing clips, backing board and hanging fixings
- A corner close up, showing the joint
- The glass in raking light, plus any chip, scratch or separation
What to state in the listing
Alongside the flaw itself, buyers of damaged picture frames want these confirmed:
- Aperture size and external dimensions
- Frame material and finish
- Whether glazed with glass or acrylic, and whether a mount is included
- Whether the backing, clips and hanging fixings are present
Aperture size and material: “Set of 3 Oak Picture Frames, A4 Aperture, Free Standing”. The picture size the frame takes is the search. Say whether it has glass or acrylic, and whether it hangs portrait, landscape or both.
What buyers will ask
Answer these in the listing rather than waiting to be asked:
Give the aperture, not the outside measurement. Buyers are matching a specific print or photograph and the external size tells them nothing useful.
Look across it in raking light and photograph it. Glass scratches are invisible face on and obvious once hung.
Check and say. Frames turn up without backing and clips constantly, and replacing them for an unusual size is fiddly.
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:
- Period and gilt frames with original gesso
- Standard sizes that fit common prints
- Complete with backing and glass
- Bundles sold together
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 year round with a lift before Christmas and in spring. Sets of matching frames sell far better than singles.
Getting it to the buyer
Glass makes these awkward to post — use corner protectors and a rigid box, or sell locally. Acrylic-glazed frames post much more safely and it is worth saying which yours has.
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 picture frames selling guide if yours turns out to be sound.
Frequently asked questions
Can you sell damaged picture frames?
Yes. Damaged picture frames typically are worth £1 to £8 against £4 to £30 undamaged, and there is a real market in repair, restoration and craft stock. Cracked or missing glass
Is it worth repairing first?
Only where the repair is cheap and visibly done well. What buyers pay for is period and gilt frames with original gesso — 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. Give the aperture, not the outside measurement. Buyers are matching a specific print or photograph and the external size tells them nothing useful. Vague wording is what produces the message asking for a refund.
See also: what picture frames are worth by condition · how to sell picture frames · condition grades explained · all broken & damaged guides · all selling guides.