Best places to buy used office furniture in the UK

Whether you're fitting out a startup, scaling up, or replacing worn-out kit, buying used office furniture makes sense. You save money, skip the lead times, and keep perfectly good furniture out of landfill.

But not all suppliers are equal. Some sell tat dressed up as "refurbished." Others have limited stock or charge the earth for delivery. Here's a straight breakdown of where to buy used office furniture in the UK, what each supplier does well, and what to watch for.

Specialist Used Office Furniture Dealers

These are dedicated second-hand suppliers. They typically source from corporate clearances and refurbish items before resale.

• Coggin Sustainable Office Solutions – Preston, Lancashire. Nationwide delivery and installation. Three services under one roof: supply refurbished furniture, refurbish what you already own, or clear surplus with certified recycling. 35+ years in the trade, trusted by 1,700+ UK organisations including councils, universities, and corporates. 12-month guarantee on refurbished items. Every order comes with a savings certificate showing exactly what you saved in cost and carbon - useful if you're reporting on ESG. Buyback scheme available if you've got quality surplus to shift. Rated 4.9/5 on Google.

• City Used Office Furniture – Showrooms across the UK including Harlow, Chester, Hull, and Warrington. One of the largest used furniture dealers in the country. Good for bulk orders and nationwide delivery.

• Office Resale – North London. Focuses on designer brands like Herman Miller and Steelcase. Offers a buy-back scheme, which is useful if you're planning ahead.

• Brothers Office Furniture – Reading. Large showroom, walk-in friendly. Claims 99% reuse/recycle rate. Free delivery within 20 miles.

• The Used Office Furniture Company – Emsworth, near Portsmouth. Specialises in branded furniture from corporate clearances. Worth a visit if you're in the south.

• ORS UK – Midlands-based. Wide range from budget to premium. Also offers clearance services if you've got old furniture to shift.

Online Marketplaces

Useful for one-off purchases or if you're comfortable buying without seeing items in person.

• eBay – Hit and miss. You can find bargains, but check seller ratings and photos carefully. Collection-only listings can work well if you're local.
• Facebook Marketplace – Good for local deals. Quality varies wildly. Best for chairs, small desks, and accessories rather than bulk orders.
• Gumtree – Similar to Facebook Marketplace. More common in urban areas. Always inspect before paying.

Auction Houses

Corporate insolvencies and office closures often end up at auction. You can get serious bargains, but you need to know what you're doing.

• John Pye Auctions – Regular office furniture lots. Online bidding available.
• Bidspotter – Aggregates industrial and commercial auctions. Search by category.

The catch with auctions: you're buying as-seen, often without warranty. Factor in collection or delivery costs before bidding.

What to Check Before You Buy

Condition grading matters. "Grade A" should mean minimal wear. "Grade B" may have scratches or marks. Ask for photos if buying online.

• Check the return policy. Most reputable dealers offer at least 14 days. If they don't, question why.
• Delivery and installation. Some suppliers include it, others charge separately. For bulk orders, always get a quote upfront.
• Warranty. Many dealers offer 12 months on refurbished items. If there's no warranty, adjust your expectations accordingly.
• Try before you buy. If you're spending on ergonomic chairs, visiting a showroom is worth your time. Comfort is personal.

Why Buy Used?

Cost savings are obvious. Used furniture typically runs 50-70% cheaper than new. But there's more to it. Lead times on new furniture can stretch to weeks or months. Used stock is available now. And if sustainability matters to your business, buying second-hand keeps functional furniture in circulation. A refurbished task chair saves roughly 70kg of CO2 compared to manufacturing new.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is used office furniture good quality?

- It depends entirely on the source. Furniture from corporate clearances - where items were used for a few years in professional settings - is often excellent quality. Avoid anything that looks like it came from a home office clear-out.

Can I buy used office furniture in bulk?

- Yes. Most specialist dealers handle bulk orders and can offer discounts. Some will source matching items if you need consistency across a large office.

Do used furniture suppliers deliver nationwide?

- Most do, though delivery costs vary. Some offer free delivery within a radius of their warehouse. Always confirm before ordering.

What brands should I look for? Herman Miller, Steelcase, Senator, Orangebox, and Humanscale hold their value and last. Cheaper brands may not be worth buying second-hand.