ThredUP: The Largest Online Consignment & Thrift Store

What ThredUP Actually Is

ThredUP is an online consignment and thrift store that marries treasure hunting with clean, searchable, already-photographed listings. Over 55,000 brands—from Gap to Gucci—are centralized in one marketplace. They handle inspection, photography, pricing, and shipping, so you’re not guessing about quality. It feels like the best parts of thrifting plus the convenience of an organized online thrift store.

My first order? Madewell jeans in “like new” for $32 (retail $128), a Free People sweater, and a Lululemon tank. Total: $87. Retail: $300+. Everything arrived clean in their polka-dot box. That’s when I realized this wasn’t just “online thrifting”; it was a faster, cleaner version of the hunt I actually enjoyed.

The Scale (It's Wild)

ThredUP adds about 60,000 new arrivals daily. The inventory is so vast that searching “Patagonia fleece, size S” yields dozens of options. They’ve processed over 100 million items, spanning women’s, kids’, shoes, bags—if you can wear it, it’s probably there. Traditional thrifting relies on luck; this relies on volume and filters built into their platform.

How Buying Works

The website and app let you filter by brand, size, color, condition, price, and style. Each item has multiple photos, measurements, and a condition rating (“Like New,” “Gently Used,” “Good”). I stick to “Like New” or “Gently Used” for investment pieces and haven’t been burned yet—especially when I double-check measurements right on ThredUP.

Why the Filters Matter

The pricing feels data-driven: a J.Crew sweater “Gently Used” might be $18, while a Theory blazer “Like New” could be $75—both fair relative to original price. Shipping is free over $89 (easier to hit than you’d think), and returns are straightforward within 14 days, with return shipping deducted. Not flawless, but reasonable for secondhand.

What Selling Looks Like

Six months in, I tried the Clean Out Kit. You get a prepaid bag, fill it with clothes, send it back, and ThredUP handles inspection, photography, listings, customer service, and payouts. It’s the least effort way I’ve found to turn closet space into store credit.

The Catch (and Why I Still Do It)

They accept about half of what you send; payouts are low (roughly 5–30% of sale price). I’ve earned about $180 in store credit across three kits—not life-changing, but it funded new-to-me pieces and cleared space without me photographing or shipping a thing.

Why Sustainability Matters

Fashion drives up to 10% of global carbon emissions, and ~85% of textiles hit landfills annually. Buying secondhand extends a garment’s life, dodging the water, energy, and carbon of making new. ThredUP uses recyclable packaging and centralized operations—it’s not perfect, but it’s dramatically better than feeding fast fashion. Every cart I check out on ThredUP feels like a tiny vote for circular fashion.

Designer Finds on a Budget

The LUXE section is where it gets fun: authenticated designer goods at steep discounts. I’ve scored a Tory Burch bag for $98 (retail $398) and Burberry boots for $120 (retail $450). Each luxury item is authenticated by specialists, so you’re not rolling the dice on fakes when you shop LUXE on ThredUP.

Quality Without Full Retail

For regular-budget shoppers who appreciate design, LUXE is transformative. These pieces elevate your wardrobe for less than fast-fashion hauls that fall apart in a year.

The Real Downsides

Let’s be honest: sizing is inconsistent across brands; popular items vanish fast; browsing can be overwhelming; payouts for selling are low; occasional orders get canceled or mismeasured. This isn’t Amazon-level frictionless. Patience and filters are your friends.

My Actual ThredUP Strategy

• Check often, buy in batches to hit free shipping.
• Filter hard: size, condition, price, brands.
• Read measurements, not just tagged sizes.
• Use Clean Out Kits to fund buys with credit.
• Return fast if it doesn’t fit—don’t let clutter creep back.

The bottom line: ThredUP isn’t perfect, but it’s made my wardrobe better, cheaper, and lighter on the planet. The treasure-hunt dopamine hit is real—finding a Madewell jacket for $35 on ThredUP beats any full-retail checkout high.