How to Sell Damaged Pyjamas

Damaged pyjamas are still worth selling — typically £2 to £6 at For Parts, against £6 to £25 undamaged.

Can you sell pyjamas 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 pyjamas

These are the flaws that move pyjamas down the grades, and the ones a buyer will check first:

Bobbling and thinning from washing
Perished waistband elastic
Split sets sold as singles
Faded prints

Grading it honestly

Fair covers something heavily used, or with a described fault or missing part: around £3 to £11. For Parts covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen: roughly £2 to £6. 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:

Wash them and say clearly that you have
Check the waistband elastic recovers
Confirm both pieces match

Photographing the flaw

Photograph the damage directly and in focus — it is the evidence that the rest of the description is honest:

The set laid flat together, top and bottoms
The waistband elastic, stretched slightly
The fabric close up, showing pilling or its absence
Labels with size and composition, plus any mark, hole or thinning

What to state in the listing

Alongside the flaw itself, buyers of damaged pyjamas want these confirmed:

Size, with chest and waist measured flat
Fabric composition
Whether it is a matching set or separates
Elastic condition and any pilling, thinning or mark

Brand, type and size: “Cath Kidston Pyjama Set, Size 12, Cotton” or “Fleece Pyjamas, Age 7-8, Bundle of 2”. Fabric matters seasonally — brushed cotton and fleece are winter purchases, lightweight cotton and viscose summer ones.

What buyers will ask

Answer these in the listing rather than waiting to be asked:

“Is the waistband elastic still good?”

Stretch it and say. Perished elastic is the usual reason pyjamas are replaced and it is easily checked.

“Is it a matching set?”

Confirm, and give both sizes if they differ. Sets are worth more than separates and buyers assume a set unless told.

“Have they been washed?”

Say so plainly. For nightwear that reassurance matters more than for almost any other garment.

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:

Natural fabrics like cotton and silk
Recognised sleepwear and heritage labels
Complete matching sets
Unworn or barely worn condition

If the work would cost more than the gap between £6 and what sound ones fetch, sell them as they are damaged and let the buyer decide.

When to list it

Winter fabrics lift from October to December, with a strong Christmas gifting window. Lightweight sets sell in spring and summer.

Getting it to the buyer

Very cheap to post, and bundles cost little more than singles. Fold neatly and mention they have been freshly laundered.

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 pyjamas selling guide if yours turns out to be sound.

Frequently asked questions

Can you sell damaged pyjamas?

Yes. Damaged pyjamas typically are worth £2 to £6 against £6 to £25 undamaged, and there is a real market in repair, restoration and craft stock. Bobbling and thinning from washing

Is it worth repairing first?

Only where the repair is cheap and visibly done well. What buyers pay for is natural fabrics like cotton and silk — 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. Stretch it and say. Perished elastic is the usual reason pyjamas are replaced and it is easily checked. Vague wording is what produces the message asking for a refund.