Can you sell a suit that is 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 suits
These are the flaws that move a suit down the grades, and the ones a buyer will check first:
- Fused construction that has bubbled at the lapel
- Shine on the seat and elbows from wear
- Moth damage, common on stored wool
- Very dated cuts and lapel widths
Grading it honestly
Fair covers something heavily used, or with a described fault or missing part: around £14 to £68. For Parts covers something not working or incomplete, sold as seen: roughly £8 to £38. 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:
- Pinch the lapel to feel whether there is a floating canvas layer
- Hold it to the light to check for moth holes
- Measure the chest, shoulder and inseam rather than trusting the label
Photographing the flaw
Photograph the damage directly and in focus — it is the evidence that the rest of the description is honest:
- Jacket and trousers laid out together, front
- The inner jacket label with composition and size
- A tape across the trouser waist and the hem showing any alteration
- The lining, plus any shine, pull or stain
What to state in the listing
Alongside the flaw itself, buyers of damaged suits want these confirmed:
- Jacket shoulders, chest, sleeve and length
- Trouser waist, inside leg and rise, and whether hemmed or with turn-up allowance
- Fabric composition and whether it is two or three piece
- Lining condition, and any alterations already made
Fabric, colour and both sizes: “Wool Two Piece Suit, Charcoal, Jacket 40R Trousers W34 L31”. Give both sizes in the title, because a suit that fits the chest but not the leg is no use. Say two-piece or three-piece explicitly.
What buyers will ask
Answer these in the listing rather than waiting to be asked:
Check the hem and waistband for alteration stitching and say. A shortened inside leg cannot be undone beyond the allowance.
Read the composition label. Wool suits sell for several times polyester ones and buyers check at handover.
Say two-piece or three-piece plainly. A three-piece is worth meaningfully more and buyers search for it specifically.
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:
- Canvassed rather than fused construction
- Recognised cloth mills named on the label
- Generous inlay allowing future alteration
- Matching trousers with unworn seat and hems
If the work would cost more than the gap between £38 and what a sound one fetches, sell it as is damaged and let the buyer decide.
When to list it
Lifts around wedding season in spring and summer, interview periods in autumn, and before Christmas. Classic colours sell steadily; fashion cuts date quickly.
Getting it to the buyer
Post in a garment bag or fold carefully with tissue. Suits arrive looking cheap if crushed, and that undermines the price you agreed.
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 it? Free to list, no commission, and neither side pays a buyer-protection fee — create a free account, or read the full suit selling guide if yours turns out to be sound.
Frequently asked questions
Can you sell a damaged suit?
Yes. A damaged suit typically is worth £8 to £38 against £30 to £150 undamaged, and there is a real market in repair, restoration and craft stock. Fused construction that has bubbled at the lapel
Is it worth repairing first?
Only where the repair is cheap and visibly done well. What buyers pay for is canvassed rather than fused construction — 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. Check the hem and waistband for alteration stitching and say. A shortened inside leg cannot be undone beyond the allowance. Vague wording is what produces the message asking for a refund.
See also: what suit is worth by condition · how to sell suit · condition grades explained · all broken & damaged guides · all selling guides.