How to Get the Best Offer for Your Used Clothes

There is no single thrift store that pays the most for every item: the best offer depends on the store’s current demand, your clothing’s condition, and whether it buys your brands, sizes, and styles. If you want the highest payout, get quotes from more than one local resale or consignment shop rather than assuming the first offer reflects what your clothes are worth.

Buy-sell-trade stores may offer cash when they accept your clothes, making them a practical choice if you want to sell quickly, though the offer may be lower than what you could earn by selling each piece yourself. Consignment stores typically pay you only after an item sells, so ask about their commission, markdown schedule, and what happens to unsold clothes before leaving anything behind.

Start with freshly cleaned clothes in excellent condition, and inspect collars, cuffs, seams, zippers, and underarms for wear that could reduce an offer or lead to a rejection. Sort your items by season and style, then call ahead to ask what the store is currently buying; a strong winter coat, for example, may be more useful to a shop preparing for cold weather than one focused on summer pieces.

If your priority is the most money rather than the fastest sale, compare local store offers with what similar items actually sell for on peer-to-peer marketplaces, allowing for fees, shipping, and your time. If you are refreshing your wardrobe as well as selling, our guide to thrifting clothes you’ll wear and our Thrift Like a Pro: Hidden Fashion Treasures eBook are places to continue exploring secondhand style.