Used knife sets in the UK typically sell for £15 to £100 (about $20 to $135). Knives sell well and carry real legal weight: it is an offence to sell a bladed article to anyone under 18, and most carriers restrict or refuse them, so read your carrier’s rules before you promise postage.
What knife sets are worth in the UK
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £100 | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £85 | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £65 | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £45 | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £25 | 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
- Forged, full-tang construction
- Recognised knife makers
What pulls it down
- Loose handles and exposed tangs
- Rust pitting on carbon steel
Selling a knife set 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
- Look at the bolster and spine for forged construction
- Check every edge for chips under light
Getting it ready
- Check each blade for chips along the edge and for rust or pitting near the bolster.
- Wash and dry them fully. Do not sharpen aggressively before selling; a clumsy re-grind takes value off a good knife.
Photograph
- The whole set laid out together, blades visible, on a plain surface
- One blade close up along its edge, showing sharpness and any chip
- The maker’s stamp on the blade or tang, plus any rust, chip or loose handle
Put in the description
- Maker, model or range, and how many pieces
- Blade lengths, and steel type if marked
- Whether the block, case or sharpening steel is included
Maker and piece count: “Global 5 Piece Knife Set with Block” or “Japanese Damascus Chef Knife Set, 3 Pieces”. Named makers are the search here and carry most of the value; steel type and full tang construction are worth stating when true.
If you post, use a carrier that permits bladed articles, sheath or card-wrap every edge, and use a signed service. For local handover, sell only to an adult — that is a legal requirement, not a preference.
It costs nothing to list
There is no listing fee, no selling fee and no commission, so the £100 a buyer pays is the £100 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 knife sets.
Common questions
Where can I sell a knife set 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.
Will you post them?
Check your carrier’s rules first. Several services restrict or refuse bladed articles, and the ones that accept them require specific packaging and adult signature on delivery.
What makes a knife set valuable?
Forged full-tang construction from a recognised maker. Stamped budget knives sell for very little whatever the set size.
Should I sharpen before selling?
A light sharpening helps, but avoid heavy regrinding — it changes the profile and buyers notice.
More: how to sell a knife set, what knife sets are worth, or Kitchen & Appliances across the United Kingdom.