Men’s ThredUp is the quiet cousin of the women’s juggernaut. It’s smaller, thinner, sometimes better priced, and occasionally exactly the right place to shop.
I’ve bought 14 men’s items from ThredUp over two years of regular shopping. Some were incredible deals. A few were predictable disappointments. None were outright disasters. Here’s what I’ve learned about mens ThredUp shopping — where it works, where it doesn’t, and how it stacks against the alternatives. The Brand Guides hub has the full resale platform comparison. For the supply-side question of whether ThredUp even stocks men’s, Does Thredup Have Men’s Clothes covers the inventory reality.
What men’s ThredUp actually looks like
A rough snapshot on any given day:
- 80,000 to 120,000 active men’s listings (compared to ~1 million+ on the women’s side)
- Strong representation from mid-market contemporary brands: J.Crew, Banana Republic, Gap, Uniqlo
- Healthy outdoor/technical wear from Patagonia, The North Face, Columbia
- Occasional higher-end menswear (Brooks Brothers, Barbour, Filson, Buck Mason)
- Thin on designer menswear, Japanese brands, or menswear-enthusiast niches
- Sizing heavily weighted toward common sizes (M shirt, 32-34 waist, 32 inseam)
Where men’s ThredUp wins
Casual basics at throwaway prices. J.Crew oxfords, Banana Republic chinos, Gap jeans, Uniqlo tees — all of these show up constantly and rarely cost more than $12-18 in good condition. If you’re replacing basics that wear out regularly, the price math is excellent.
Outerwear in season transitions. Late-summer and late-winter are when outerwear gets aggressively marked down. I bought a Patagonia Better Sweater in late February for $28 that retails at $150. The condition was honestly excellent.
Trying brands you haven’t committed to. I’d been curious about Buck Mason for years but wasn’t going to drop $90 on a tee. Found one on ThredUp for $16, decided the fabric was fine but not exceptional, moved on without regret. That’s a cheaper brand test than any retail return process.
The return window. Unlike peer-to-peer where return policies vary, ThredUp’s 14-day return on eligible items makes experimentation safer. Three of my 14 buys I initially liked, then returned within the window after trying them at home.
Where men’s ThredUp loses
Tailored clothing. The flat-lay photography doesn’t show shoulder fit, jacket length, or body drape. I’ve returned two blazers that looked fine in listings but had clearly been altered to fit someone else.
Shoes. Men’s shoes are a thinner inventory than women’s on ThredUp, and the fit risks on secondhand footwear are real regardless of platform. See Thredup Shoes for the broader shoe problem.
Designer and enthusiast menswear. Drake’s, Todd Snyder, Alden, Japanese brands — largely absent. ThredUp’s women’s-heavy supply model doesn’t produce this inventory in volume.
Sizes above 17 neck and 36 waist. Supply thins fast at the ends of the size range.
Vintage menswear. Not ThredUp’s strength. eBay and Grailed dominate this category.
The 14 items I’ve bought: honest breakdown
Strong wins (7 items):
- J.Crew oxford x2, $9 each. Wore them into the ground.
- Patagonia Better Sweater, $28. Still in rotation.
- Banana Republic wool trousers, $22. Altered slightly; good structured piece.
- Levi’s 511, $14. Washed once and wore.
- Uniqlo merino crewneck, $16. Better than expected.
- Barbour Bedale jacket, $68. Best single deal I’ve ever made on the platform.
Acceptable (4 items):
- Brooks Brothers dress shirt, $12. Fine but slightly worn at the cuffs — probably should have skipped.
- Gap chinos, $11. Fine, not memorable.
- Nike running tee, $8. Synthetic fabric had absorbed previous owner’s scent more than I’d like.
- Buck Mason tee, $16. Fabric quality didn’t match the hype.
Returns (3 items):
- Sam Edelman loafers, $24. Previous owner’s foot had stretched them.
- Ralph Lauren blazer, $38. Shoulder clearly altered to fit someone else.
- Unknown-brand sport coat, $18. Flat-lay photos hid a weird back vent issue.
How men’s ThredUp compares to alternatives
Grailed has deeper menswear enthusiast selection, better photography on average, and menswear-literate sellers. More expensive per item. Use for designer menswear, Japanese brands, or anything niche.
eBay has the deepest catalog for men’s vintage, any size range, and auction pricing. Interface is rough; inventory sorting requires patience.
Poshmark men’s section is growing but smaller than ThredUp’s. Negotiation can beat ThredUp on price.
Vinted men’s inventory in the US is still thin but prices are competitive when items exist.
For the dedicated men’s-online thrift comparison, Online Thrift Store for Men covers each platform’s men’s strengths in detail. For men’s-specific alternatives, Men’s Online Thrift has the focused view.
How to actually shop men’s ThredUp effectively
Save searches for specific brand/size combinations. Don’t browse the men’s section broadly — it’s too noisy. Set up a saved search for “J.Crew oxford size M Excellent condition” and let the notifications surface inventory.
Sort by newest first. Good men’s inventory moves fast. The default sort buries new listings.
Zoom in on every listing before buying. ThredUp’s flat-lay photography hides some flaws. Zoom on cuffs, collars, underarms, and seams.
Skip anything below Excellent condition for menswear. The condition grade difference matters more on men’s items where styling is less forgiving of visible wear.
Stack sale codes during clearance windows. See Thredup Sale for how the discount math works.
Men’s Clean Out Kits: selling to ThredUp
I’ve sent one men’s kit and the math was underwhelming. 32 items in, 13 accepted, $33 total payout. Does Thredup Take Men’s Clothes covers this in detail. Short version: men’s Clean Out Kits work if you value time over payout; if you have valuable individual pieces, list them on eBay or Grailed directly.
The verdict
Men’s ThredUp is a legitimate stop for contemporary casualwear basics and outerwear at absurdly good prices. It’s not a stop for designer menswear, tailored clothing requiring precise fit, or anything in unusual sizes. If you’re a typical M-L shirt, 32-34 waist guy who wears J.Crew, Patagonia, and similar mid-market brands, ThredUp will save you money on your replaceable wardrobe. If you’re hunting niche menswear, look elsewhere. Two tools make the experience better: a Fabric Shaver Defuzzer on Amazon“>fabric shaver for reviving pilled knits and a Garment Steamer on Amazon“>garment steamer for resetting anything that’s been folded in a warehouse bin for months. For the broader thrift hub view, Thrift and Resale Fashion has the context.
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FAQ
Is men’s ThredUp cheaper than women’s ThredUp?
Per-item prices are roughly comparable by brand and condition. The value differs by brand — menswear tends to have higher retail prices, so secondhand discounts feel larger in absolute dollar terms.
What’s the biggest men’s brand on ThredUp?
J.Crew by listing volume, based on what I see week to week. Banana Republic, Gap, and Levi’s also show up constantly.
Does ThredUp have men’s big and tall sizes?
Some, but thin. Above XL or 36 waist, selection gets noticeably limited. Grailed and eBay have deeper size ranges for men’s.
Are men’s ThredUp items worth buying?
For common sizes and mainstream brands, yes — the price math beats retail significantly. For niche, designer, or unusual sizes, the savings don’t offset the smaller catalog.
