Used militaria in the UK typically sells for £20 to £400 (about $27 to $540). Militaria carries real legal restrictions that vary by country and by item, and getting them wrong is not a pricing mistake — check what you have before you list it.
What militaria is worth in the UK
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £400 | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £340 | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £260 | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £180 | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £100 | 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
- Documented items with unit or campaign attribution
- Original medals with correct naming and ribbons
What pulls it down
- Renamed or re-ribboned medals
- Items restricted by law in the buyer’s country
Selling militaria 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
- Photograph any naming, stamps or maker marks
- Confirm the item may lawfully be sold and posted
Getting it ready
- Identify exactly what the item is. Deactivated firearms, edged weapons, ordnance and certain insignia are all regulated differently and some cannot be sold or posted at all.
- Do not clean, polish or re-blue anything. Original finish and honest patina are most of the value to a collector.
Photograph
- The item whole, on a plain background, in even light
- Any deactivation certificate or paperwork
- Every dent, repair, replacement part or area of wear
Put in the description
- What the item is, its nation of origin and period
- All markings, transcribed and photographed
- Whether original, a period reproduction, or a modern copy
Item, nation, period and markings: “WWI British Officer’s Compass, Marked 1917”. Collectors search by nation, conflict and unit. State plainly if a piece is a reproduction; the reproduction market is legitimate and honest labelling is what keeps it that way.
Check the legal position before agreeing any carriage, and sell only to adults where age restrictions apply. For anything restricted, a documented in-person handover to an eligible buyer is the safer route.
It costs nothing to list
There is no listing fee, no selling fee and no commission, so the £400 a buyer pays is the £400 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 militaria.
- Selling militaria in London
- Selling militaria in Birmingham
- Selling militaria in Leeds
- Selling militaria in Glasgow
- Selling militaria in Sheffield
- Selling militaria in Manchester
- Selling militaria in Edinburgh
- Selling militaria in Liverpool
- Selling militaria in Bristol
Common questions
Where can I sell militaria 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.
Has it been cleaned?
Say so if it has, by you or a previous owner. Over-cleaning is a serious value fault in militaria and collectors identify it immediately.
Is militaria legal to sell?
Much of it is, but rules vary by country and some categories are restricted or prohibited. Check before listing, and never post anything restricted.
How do I value militaria?
By pattern, period and provenance. An item linked to a named individual is worth considerably more than a generic example.
More: how to sell militaria, what militaria is worth, or Art & Collectables across the United Kingdom.