The short version: Yes. In a ThredUp survey of 2,123 US adults, 62% said they plan to buy secondhand gifts this season and 84% said they would like a gift as much or more after learning it was pre-owned. What decides whether it feels special is not that it’s secondhand, but whether it’s chosen well.
The old worry was that a pre-owned present looks like you didn’t want to spend money. The numbers say that worry is fading fast. ThredUp’s 2026 holiday resale report, based on a GlobalData survey fielded from 4 to 18 September and published on 28 October, found that 55% of respondents would rather receive a one-of-a-kind, vintage or hard-to-find secondhand gift in excellent condition than a new, mass-produced one. Planned secondhand buyers expect to spend an average of 37% of their gift budget on resale, rising to 45% among millennials.
James Reinhart, ThredUp’s co-founder and chief executive, put the shift plainly: “Now it’s the thoughtful one.” A survey commissioned by a resale company will naturally favour resale, so treat the exact percentages with some care. The direction matches what the resale platforms are reporting in their own sales, though: ThredUp says the holiday items it sold rose 37% between 2023 and 2025, against 22% growth across the full year.
So the question is no longer whether you can give secondhand. It is how to do it well.
Is it rude to give a secondhand gift?
It is not rude to give a secondhand gift; it is rude to give a careless one. The same rule applies to anything new. A tired, pilled jumper wrapped in nice paper reads as an afterthought. A 1990s wool coat in perfect condition, cleaned and pressed, with a note about where it came from, reads as the opposite.
There are two honest exceptions. Some people simply prefer new things, often for reasons of hygiene or habit, and you probably know who they are. And some occasions carry expectations — a wedding list, a christening — where it is kinder to buy what was asked for. For everyone else, the 84% figure is the useful one: once people love a gift, learning it was pre-owned rarely changes their mind.
Which secondhand gifts work best?
The safest secondhand gifts are pieces that age well and don’t depend on an exact fit. Think in terms of materials and construction rather than labels.
One. Jewellery. Gold, silver and stones don’t wear out, and vintage pieces often have more character than new ones at the same price. Check clasps, settings and hallmarks.
Two. Bags and small leather goods. A well-made leather bag, wallet or card holder can look better after a few years of use. Structured bags from houses with strong resale values are the most dependable; see our step-by-step guide to checking a designer bag before buying secondhand.
Three. Scarves, gloves and hats. Silk scarves and wool or cashmere accessories are forgiving on size and easy to clean.
Four. Knitwear in good fibres. A cashmere or lambswool jumper from a good mill is one of the best value buys in resale. Learn what to look for in our guide to cashmere grades before you choose.
Five. Outerwear, for people whose size you know. A coat is a big gift and a big risk. If you know the shoulder and length that suit them, vintage outerwear is where the best construction is often hiding.
The ones to think twice about: shoes (they mould to the first owner’s foot), anything worn next to the skin, and secondhand fast fashion, which was rarely made to last the first time round.
What should you check before buying a secondhand gift?
Check five things before you pay, and walk away if the seller can’t answer them.
One. Condition, described specifically. “Good condition” means nothing. Ask about pilling, stains, odours, worn corners, broken hardware and lining tears, and ask for close-up photographs of the areas that wear first: cuffs, collars, armpits, bag corners and handles.
Two. Measurements, not sizes. Vintage sizing has drifted over the decades and varies by country. Ask for chest, shoulder, length and sleeve in centimetres and compare them with something the person already wears.
Three. The composition label. It is the most honest fact on any garment. A wool coat with a high share of synthetic fibre, or a “cashmere blend” that is mostly something else, will not hold up. Here is how to read one.
Four. Authentication, for anything branded and expensive. Buy from a platform or dealer that authenticates and stands behind it, and keep the paperwork. Remember that a certificate proves a piece is genuine, not that it is in good shape.
Five. Returns. Check the return policy before you buy, and note the deadline. Many resale sellers allow fewer returns than ordinary shops, and a gift may not be opened until weeks later.
How do you make a pre-owned gift feel new?
Presentation is where a secondhand gift is won or lost. Clean it properly — dry clean tailoring and coats, hand wash knitwear, condition leather. Steam out creases. Replace a missing button with a good one rather than a near-match. Remove price stickers and any resale tags.
Then tell the story. Where did it come from? Which decade, which maker, why this piece for this person? A short handwritten card that says “This is a 1970s Scottish lambswool jumper, and I thought of you” does more than any box. Don’t hide that it’s secondhand; the provenance is part of the gift.
Where should you buy secondhand gifts?
Buy from sellers who know what they are selling. There are four channels worth your time.
Vintage and estate dealers. Specialist dealers and estate sales are where the best-made older pieces turn up, often at prices well below new equivalents. A good dealer will know the maker and the period.
Independent designers and craft workshops. Not secondhand, but often the natural partner to it. Many small labels sell sample pieces, archive stock or one-offs, and the gift comes with a maker’s story.
Accessible-luxury labels, bought pre-owned. Brands that keep tight, well-made lines tend to resell well and arrive in better shape.
Selective mainstream luxury. For a classic bag or piece of jewellery, buying secondhand from an authenticated platform is often the only way the price makes sense. Our look at which designer bags hold their value is a useful filter.
What to skip: the mid-tier mass market, new or secondhand. It is too expensive to be disposable and too thinly made to be worth keeping.
Should you sell clothes to pay for gifts?
Selling what you don’t wear is a sensible way to fund what you give, and a lot of people plan to. In the ThredUp survey, 53% said they had sold or expected to sell items to help pay for the holidays, rising to 66% of Gen Z and 69% of millennials. Seventy-four percent said they made at least one trade-off last season, most often going without something for themselves.
The practical rule: sell the things that will fetch a fair price — good outerwear, branded bags, quality knitwear — early, before December, when demand is highest. Donate or recycle the rest rather than spending hours listing items worth a few pounds each. If you sell regularly in the UK, check the rules on getting clothes altered before you sell pieces that only need a tailor to fit again.
Frequently asked questions
Should I tell someone their gift is secondhand?
Yes. Most people react well when they know where a piece came from, and the story usually adds to it. Hiding it risks awkwardness later if the recipient spots a wear mark or tries to return it to a shop.
Is it OK to give a vintage gift to a partner or parent?
For most people, yes, provided it is in excellent condition and clearly chosen for them. Vintage jewellery, a good watch or a classic bag are traditional gifts for exactly these relationships. If you suspect they prefer new things, ask a friend or sibling first.
How much should I spend on a secondhand gift?
Spend what you would on a new gift of the same kind, and use the saving to buy better rather than to buy more. Secondhand lets you afford a better-made object at the same budget; that is the point.
What secondhand items should never be given as gifts?
Avoid underwear, swimwear, worn-in shoes and anything with stains, smells or damage you would have to explain. Avoid secondhand fast fashion too: it was rarely built for a second owner.
Can I return a secondhand gift?
Sometimes, but often under stricter terms than a normal shop. Check the seller’s return policy before buying, ask whether a gift receipt or exchange is possible, and keep proof of purchase.
Where this leaves you
A secondhand gift says you paid attention. Choose something made to last, check it properly, clean it, and tell the story of where it came from. Done that way, pre-owned is not the budget option. It is the considered one.
The next move is yours.
Sources: FashionUnited on ThredUp’s 2026 holiday resale report · Just Style
