Junk Diaries

second hand garden furniture buyer's guide hero

Second Hand Garden Furniture Buyer’s Guide

2 August 2023

Buying Used Garden Furniture

Are you on the hunt for second hand garden furniture but aren’t sure where to start? You’re in the right place! This guide covers the process from start to finish, so finding great second hand garden furniture is easy:

  1. Where to find second hand garden furniture
    1. Websites
    2. Retail stores
  2. How much to pay
  3. Quality check
  4. Getting it home
  5. Staying safe
  6. Why go second hand?

 

1. Where to buy second hand garden furniture

There are loads of ways to find used garden furniture both online and in store. Here are the best ways, plus some tips on shopping.

 

Best places to look online

Site How to use it
Freecycle, Freegle & Trashnothing Find free garden furniture – great if you’re on a strict budget. You can also post Wanted listings.
Gumtree The main site has garden furniture for sale. Find free items in the ‘Freebies’ section.
Facebook marketplace (and forums) Search the ‘For Sale’ and ‘For Free’ sections. Watch out for listings that say they’re free and then have a price in the description! It’s also worth searching for local buy & sell forums on Facebook.
eBay There’s a huge range of listings on eBay so use your filters wisely!
Shpock Lots of filters to use. Check descriptions carefully!
Preloved Measurements are usually already in the listing description. Agree to the offered price or propose a counteroffer.
LoveJunk Find used and second hand garden furniture for free and for sale. Message the seller easily without having to share any details. Make an offer after asking any questions.

 

 

Retail stores that sell 2nd hand garden furniture

Prefer browsing in person? The best places to try are charity shops that sell furniture. Find a list of the main ones below, with links to find your nearest furniture store:

There will be lots of independent or regional charities also selling furniture near you. A good place to find recommendations is in your council’s bulky waste collection pages. You might find community reuse shops as well.

 

2. How much to pay for second hand garden furniture

You can find used garden furniture for free, all the way to £100. The price varies a lot, usually depending on how urgently the owner wants to get rid and how nice the garden furniture is.

Thousands of garden furniture items (and more) are given away for free on sites like like LoveJunk and Freecyle, or donated to charities who then sell for a profit. In both cases, you usually collect yourself. 

See some examples of second hand garden furniture sales below.

 

second hand garden table and 4 chairs set for sale

Table & 4 chairs, £20

second hand garden sofa and cushions for sale

Rattan sofa with cushions, £22

used garden recliner chairs for sale

2 patio chairs, £25

second hand garden dining set for sale

Outdoor table & chairs set, £35

garden table and 6 chairs used garden furniture for sale

Glass top table & 6 chairs, £35

used garden sofa and table for sale

Garden sofa and table, £45

 

3. Quality check before buying

So you’ve found a garden furniture set that you love, what next? Double check a few things before you pay. If there aren’t already a few photos (or even better, a video) ask for more to hopefully catch any:

  • Serious rust
  • Large cracks in wood
  • Wobbles or missing nails

rusty metal garden furniture

Does the garden furniture have faults? Your next steps depend on how much effort you want to put in to restoring it. It’s easy to clean or add some new paint. If wood is snapped or fully cracked, not so much.

Of course, the best option is being able to assess in person whether the outdoor furniture is in genuinely good condition. If that’s not possible, make sure you’re happy with the description.

 

4. Logistics – getting it home

If you’ve found a great item online, the next question is probably how to get it home. Weigh up your pick up and drop off options.

 

Pick it up yourself

If it’s not too far a drive and the items aren’t too big, you could go and pick up yourself with a car. It’s a pretty cheap option and you can create some space by putting the back seats down. This might work for a small garden table, or some plastic chairs you can stack and lie on their sides. Otherwise, you could consider hiring a van to pick up anything bigger.

 

Drop off

The seller could be very kind and offer to drop the items off. Although this might seem convenient, it makes it harder to say no if this is the first time you see the item in person and decide you don’t want it. Maybe the pictures weren’t accurate or dimensions wrong. You’re well within your rights to say no, but it can be awkward if they’ve come a long way!

 

Alternatively, you could hire a courier service to transport your garden furniture to your door. Some second hand sites help you arrange delivery if you use their platforms to buy. Have a look at companies like AnyVan or Shiply to see their prices.

 

5. Last pieces of advice – stay safe!

Some final tips for staying safe and not ending up with an item you don’t like.

  • If possible, pick up – you can avoid giving out your home address this way. It’s also easier to say no to an item if you’re the one travelling.
  • Have a friend with you to pick up. Or somebody at home if you’re expecting a delivery – not just for safety but for any heavy lifting!
  • Don’t feel pressured if it’s not right! Finding the right second hand garden furniture set might take some patience and time. Good luck!

 

Further reading

 

Related Posts

  • Categories