10 Thrift Store Items That Could Be Worth A Ton Of Money

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Thrift stores are a popular way to find everything from stylish clothes to rare household items, all while saving money. According to a study by Capital One Shopping, this was the primary motive for 88% of frequent shoppers of previously owned goods. That same study also revealed that, aside from budget and eco-friendliness, about 25% of shoppers hope to find high-end items at low prices. There's another great excuse to hit up the local thrift place: you just might come across a few items that could be worth a lot of money.

People love to share stories of purchasing a seemingly inexpensive item that, upon proper appraisal, proves to be much more valuable than expected. For instance, a Redditor named NoLight claimed to have bought a stylish Hermes silk scarf for about $1; they sold it for $450. In that same discussion, Reddit user Tacobrown said they purchased a "$7 junk jar of bottle openers, toys, etc." that contained "a rare silver medal on the bottom." This lucky find reportedly led to a $5,000 sale. The possibility of stumbling across a hidden treasure is always exciting. Still, the odds of doing so increase dramatically once you have an idea of what you should be looking for the next time you go shopping. Keep an eye out for any of these ten items, as they could be worth anywhere from hundreds to millions of dollars.

Tracking down a pair of designer jeans is more than just a way to add style to your closet. Depending on the brand, you could also be adding dollars to your wallet. Thrift store experts strongly advise paying attention to denim jeans from the iconic Levi's brand. According to Gear Patrol, the two best collections to look for belong to the 501 and 505, as "these are the most abundant and thus the least likely to be scammed on." 

To identify Levi's 501s, which were made in the early 1970s, Gear Patrol suggests looking for the care tag with the "Little E Red Tab logo." These were added to their jeans in 1971. Levi's produced this particular style of 501s until 1984. As for the vintage 505s, these 1967 items were the first zip-fly jeans created by Levi's, making them a part of fashion history. If you're buying vintage jeans to make a profit, it's best to pay no more than $250. Gear Patrol also suggests walking away from price gouging. "There will be another pair." 

That said, if there's one pair of jeans you should never walk away from, it's any Levi's products verified as made between 1949 and 1954. Vintage Levi's from this era have reportedly been valued at $33,000. These rare finds can be distinguished by the tag, during which the company identified itself as "Levi Strauss & Co." Another tiny but essential detail: These tags featured the "Big E" in the logo to emphasize the Levi's brand.

Depending on the age and style of the picture frame, you might have a valuable item on your hands. Unfortunately, it's not always easy to know if a picture frame found at the local thrift shop is worth a lot of money. That's why some collectors prefer to go through verified dealers with stellar reputations. Even so, there is something romantic about happening across an old frame that ends up being very valuable. Of course, you don't always have to leave it to chance, and there are a few details shared by the Victorian Frame Company to help you identify a potentially collection-worthy item. The site recommends paying careful attention to natural signs of aging.

Moreover, you should check for any labels or markings that indicate the exact year the picture frame was made; anything older than 100 years can be considered an antique. Another indicator of good quality and age is the weight of the item. Lastly, you should also be mindful of the era during which the picture frame was made, as, depending on the time period, they could be extra valuable in the eyes of collectors. The Victorian Frame Company suggests looking out for Renaissance cassetta, Baroque-, Victorian-, Rococo-, and Neoclassical-style picture frames.

If you're lucky or sharp enough to come across frames that fit these details, you could find that these thrift store items are worth anywhere between a few hundred and several thousand dollars. Occasionally, some such frames have been auctioned through websites like First Dibs for over $1 million. It often comes down to timing and spotting the correct details.

When it comes to letters, autographs, or documents, there could be any combination of factors that make them extremely valuable. For example, Christie's successfully auctioned an old letter for $6 million, written and signed by Francis Crick. While his name might not be familiar to the average American, the letter described the groundbreaking discovery he and his partner, James Watson, had made about DNA.

While some thrift store shoppers might be hoping to find a rare but obvious document, such as a copy of the Declaration of Independence, sometimes, you may read a letter and find it contains crucial, history-making information that makes it worth a lot of money, even if penned by people you have never personally heard of. So while it's good to check signatures and names, you should also try to glean the document for any information to could either be important to the public or even just extremely interesting to those in a specific niche or industry.

While it's often expected that valuable letters or other documents are going to be very old, that's always the case. The letter penned by Crick wasn't even 60 years old at the time of auction. Sometimes it really is the words on the page rather than the age, that will significantly boost the item's overall value.

When it comes to designer jackets and other fashion items, sometimes timing isn't enough; location matters too. Longtime fashionistas and those hoping to flip rare fashion finds tend to have better luck shopping at thrift stores near wealthier neighborhoods and in large cities like Los Angeles or New York. Aside from timing and location, there are specific brand names you'll want to look out for, as they could be pretty valuable if you find them in-store.

One such brand is Fendi, whose leather and designer jackets are very popular, even when previously owned. If genuine, these designer jackets could be sold for anywhere between $200 and $7,200 on eBay. It's a similar story with other luxury brands. Sometimes verifying authenticity requires identifying details like the jacket's material and even the label; while some knock-offs use cheaply made labels, some luxury brands use special materials or other methods to distinguish themselves. The designer item might even come with a note or card that identifies crucial details, such as where it was made and sold.

It's always a good idea to pay attention to glassware, including any stained-glass items. While it's not always a guarantee, taking a chance on these types of items could lead to a hefty payday later on. In one instance, a Redditor excitedly shared that they successfully purchased old-fashioned Tiffany and Co. drinking glasses for 89 cents each. Another commenter revealed that the items, which had long since been discontinued, were likely worth $150 to $200 each. 

While some shoppers might not recognize the value of random drinking glasses, Tiffany's iconic stained-glass products are more likely to stand out. While a piece of their stained-glass work could fetch $600 to $45,000 at auction, their signature lamps are valued even higher, selling for $4,000 to $1 million.

You might not know at first glance, but there are a few key factors that can help identify whether a piece of glassware is valuable. The Outer Banks Candle Company suggests considering crucial details such as the item's weight, distinct patterns, color, and overall quality. You'll also want to distinguish average glass from crystal, which is going to be more valuable. There are a few ways to tell the difference, such as checking for a prism effect or listening for a bell sound if you lightly tap the item. If the object is cut to perfection, that is also a strong indicator that it is a well-made and potentially valuable piece.

For those who love all things handbags, it's not always about buying them brand new. There is actually a dedicated market for purchasing luxury bags that are almost new or gently used. As such, if you can find a well-cared-for yet genuine designer bag at a very low price, it's possible you'll have gotten your hands on something that could still be worth hundreds, or even several thousand dollars, if not more.

One designer bag that continues to hold its value, whether new or used, is the classic Gucci Jackie 1961 handbag. Originally called the Constance bag, it was eventually renamed out of love and respect for the late first lady Jackie Kennedy Onassis', as it was reportedly her favorite bag and eventually became closely associated with her. According to Vogue, these are "hobo-style bags" and while there may be different patterns available, they'll usually share this particular structure. Even when purchased used, the Gucci Jackie 1961 handbag may be worth between $670 and $3,500, if not more. Factors affecting resale value include things like authenticity, age, and the bag's overall condition.

When browsing art at the thrift shop, it's always thrilling to think you come across an obscure find that's worth a lot of money, especially as this has happened. As reported by Newsweek, a woman named Sarah Parry was browsing the aisles of her local Goodwill when she came across an $8 oil painting by an artist named Brummett Echohawk. Per Newsweek, Echohawk was "a celebrated Pawnee artist, author, World War II hero, and a member of the Pawnee Indian tribe," whose artwork sold for decent money.

If you hope to experience similar good fortune, art experts have a few useful tips that could improve your chances. You should, for instance, look for age indicators such as hardware, paper, or tape that can tell you how and when a piece of art was produced. Even the type of nails used could be a big clue, as they might indicate that a painting is centuries old. Likewise, take careful note of the signature, as even if the artist isn't world-famous like Rembrandt or Monet, their work could still be valuable to interested art fans and collectors and potentially worth many hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Before you get too excited, remember that people often give away reproductions of famous works. When striving to tell the difference, remember that original works  frequently have a rough or uneven surface where as reproduced art items tend to be very flat, even and uniform.

A mitch-matched collection of vintage China and other antique dishware might not seem like a potential treasure trove at first glance. Yet, some shoppers have found true value hidden in the odd grouping of old tea cups and plates. In an article for Business Insider, Alcynna Lloyd revealed that she successfully "thrifted" a collection of china dishes for $65. " Lloyd would soon learn that those Oxford stamps belonged to a Lenox Corporation division of the same name, responsible for producing "fine china from the late 1920s to the early 1990s." Eventually, she would determine that the china she purchased was worth just shy of $1,000.

As this story reveals, specific details matter when determining whether a random collection of old china is actually worth a lot of money. In this case, it was the maker's mark that gave it away, but there are other indicatiors, such as the design of the piece. Some discontinued items have patterns that make them especially desirable to collectors. Even if the china is older, you'll want it to be in very good condition.

While there is a case for purchasing brand-new furniture from a popular retail chain, grabbing pre-owned pieces at a thrift shop may also have its benefits, not just in terms of savings but also in the possibility of adding stylish vintage pieces to your home. In some instances, the furniture you buy could actually be more valuable than brand-new items. 

Should you suspect you've found a furniture item that might be worth a good amount more than the price tag, there are a couple of ways to know for sure. First, consider the era of the design in question. Antique collectors who prize midcentury-modern furniture may be willing to pay between $750 and $4,000 for a single piece. Other factors that impact value include the type of furniture, the designer or company that created it, and its condition at purchase. Be mindful that some pieces can grow or decrease in value with the market, so it may be a good idea to re-check the valuation from time to time, especially if you're not planning to sell a piece immediately after an appraisal.

Lastly, you may come across an old piece of furniture that could be very valuable but is clearly worn. The decision to restore antique furniture can be stressful, especially when it isn't always clear whether doing so will, ironically, negatively impact resale value. One thing that is for certain, you should never attempt to do so yourself. Get at least one expert opinion. There are a few reasons to refinish your thrifted furniture, such as if it was previously restored or if the original finish is almost completely gone. Even then, you will want to work with a professional who will handle the item with care.  

Even if you only want to add antique pottery to your home as decoration, a few thrift store finds might add more than creativity to your space. Depending on the item, you could have added a unique purchase worth thousands of dollars. At the moment, some of the most desirable pottery was created between the 1930s and 1980s. When examining your thrift store find, you'll want to be on the lookout for signatures or marks that indicate the artist's identity; the maker behind a piece of pottery could drastically raise its overall value. For example, a 20th-century London artist named John Ward produced pieces that later sold at auction for between $500 and $16,000.

Experts also advise shoppers to use the acronym "RADAR" to determine a piece's value. That is, look at its "rarity, aesthetics, desirability, authenticity," and, lastly, if it's in "really good condition." While most of the things mentioned here can be determined in person, it's entirely likely that you won't know how authentic or even desirable a thrift store find is at first glance. It may be a good idea to do some research beforehand, especially if you are deliberately on the lookout for valuable ceramics. Otherwise, if you decide to snag a piece of pottery on a whim, do what research you can on your own, but don't be afraid to reach out to a local art expert.