Kids grow out of clothes long before they wear them out, so there's a steady supply of barely-worn stock, and plenty of parents happy to buy it. In a 2025 Post Office survey, 93% of UK parents said they buy second hand for their children, and 43% buy second hand kids' clothes. Vinted was their top place to shop, used by 52% (Post Office).
Kids' clothing works a lot like adult clothing, but with a few extra things to watch: sizes, stains, and some safety rules most resellers have never heard of.
How kids' clothing is sold
You'll usually see it sold three ways:
- Pre-loved bundles and kilo bags: second hand clothes sorted by grade, sold by the bag, the kilo or a set number of pieces.
- Ex-retail stock: new clothes from high street shops that didn't sell, often listed as "ex-" followed by the shop name.
- Single new lines: packs of tights, socks or baby bodysuits, sold by the pack.
If you're new to buying by the kilo, our used clothing wholesale guide explains bales, kilo prices and pieces per kilo. Kids' clothes are lighter, so you'll get more pieces per kilo than with adult clothing.
Grades: what matters with kids' clothes
Grades work the same as adult clothing: Grade A is good condition and ready to sell, Grade B is worn, and anything damaged isn't worth reselling. But with kids' clothes, a few things decide whether a piece sells:
- Stains. Food and grass marks on the front are the most common reason kids' clothes don't sell.
- Bobbling and fading, especially on leggings, school jumpers and fleeces.
- Missing poppers and buttons on babygrows and cardigans.
- Knees and cuffs on trousers, which wear through fastest.
Before you buy, ask the seller what their Grade A means, what age range is in the bag, and whether it's mostly one season.
The safety rules most resellers don't know
UK product safety law covers second hand goods as well as new ones (Business Companion, Trading Standards). Most kids' clothes are no problem, but check these before you list:
Drawstrings and cords. The safety standard for children's clothing, BS EN 14682, bans drawstrings and cords around the hood and neck on clothes for young children, up to about age 7 (BSI; ProductIP). They can catch on play equipment and doors. If a young child's hoodie or coat has a neck or hood drawstring, take it out before you sell it.
Nightwear and fire labels. New children's nightwear has to meet fire safety rules and carry a fire label, such as "Keep away from fire". The rules for new nightwear don't apply to second hand nightwear, but general safety law still does (Business Companion). The safe move: don't sell kids' nightdresses or dressing gowns that have lost their fire label.
Buttons, poppers and bits that come off. Check that buttons, toggles and decorations on baby and toddler clothes are firmly attached. Small loose parts are a choking risk for under-3s.
If you're not sure something is safe, leave it out of the bundle.
What should you pay per piece?
A search for "kids clothing" on Vault Pro tonight found 19 live listings from UK suppliers. Here's the kind of thing on offer:
| Type | What we saw |
|---|---|
| Graded bundles | 100-piece Grade A children's clearance mix, 30-piece branded kids mix, 20-piece mixed kids bundle |
| Ex-high street stock | Mixed kids' clothing from well-known UK high street shops |
| Seasonal selections | Spring/summer and autumn/winter kids' bundles |
| Single new lines | Kids' tights from 41p a pair, sock packs, baby bodysuits |
These are examples, not recommendations. Prices move fast, so always check a supplier yourself before you pay.
A simple rule: aim to sell each piece for at least 3 to 4 times what you paid, so there's room for fees, postage and duds. Kids' clothes usually sell for less than adult pieces, so that rule matters even more. If a kids' coat will sell for £12, try not to pay more than £3 to £4 for it.
Count the duds. If a 30-piece bundle has 5 stained or worn pieces, work out your price per piece on the 25 you can actually sell.
What sells
- Sell in size bundles. Parents shop by age, so "girls 2 to 3 years, 10 pieces" sells faster than single items. Group by age and season.
- Sell the season that's coming. List coats and jumpers from late summer, and shorts and summer dresses from early spring.
- Back to school. Plain school trousers, skirts, polo shirts and jumpers sell well in July and August.
- Baby clothes go fast. Newborn to 12 months is only worn for a few weeks per size, so a lot of it is like new.
- Brands help. Known brands and high street names are easier to sell than unbranded pieces, and worth calling out in the title.
Red flags
Walk away if you see:
- "Grade A" at a price that seems too good to be true.
- Stock photos only, or a seller who won't send photos of the actual bag.
- No age range, sizes or season listed.
- "Designer kids" bundles at high street prices. Fake branded kidswear is common.
- No company number, no address, or just a Gmail address.
- Pressure to pay by bank transfer, or a fee to "reserve" a bag.
Before you pay:
- Look the company up on Companies House and check how long they've been trading.
- Ask for photos or a video of the actual bag, laid out.
- Pay by card or PayPal Goods & Services, so you're covered if it goes wrong.
- Start with one small bundle and check every piece before you list it.
- Ask in the Whatnot UK Sellers group whether anyone has bought from them.
Find kids' stock quicker
- Take The Lot: kids' clothing bundles posted by UK resellers, often with collection.
- Free supplier directory: UK pre-loved and second hand suppliers, each with their Companies House details.
- Vault Pro: type what you want, like "Grade A kids bundle age 2 to 3", and it searches live stock from UK suppliers for you. £4.99 for your first month.
FAQ
Where can I buy children's clothing wholesale in the UK? From UK bundle sellers, ex-retail stock sellers and other resellers clearing stock. Our free directory lists pre-loved suppliers you can filter by town.
Can I resell second hand kids' clothes? Yes. Second hand clothes still have to be safe, so check for drawstrings on young children's hoods and necks, and loose buttons on baby clothes.
Can I sell kids' hoodies with drawstrings? Not for young children. The safety standard bans hood and neck drawstrings on clothes for children up to about age 7, so take them out first.
Can I sell second hand children's nightwear? Yes, but only if it's safe. Leave out nightdresses and dressing gowns that have lost their fire label.
What kids' clothes sell best? Bundles grouped by age and season, school uniform before September, and baby clothes that are barely worn.
How much should I pay per piece? Aim to sell each piece for at least 3 to 4 times what you paid. Kids' clothes sell for less than adult clothes, so keep your buying price low.
Sources
- Post Office: Parents pocketing hundreds each year through preloved purchases (September 2025)
- Business Companion (Chartered Trading Standards Institute): New nightwear (June 2024)
- BSI: BS EN 14682, Safety of children's clothing, cords and drawstrings
- ProductIP: Dangerous drawstrings and cords
- Vault Pro live search for "kids clothing" (checked 3 November 2026)
- Google Trends, UK, past 12 months (checked 3 November 2026)