Thrift stores in Singapore

Singapore's second-hand scene is smaller than London's or Tokyo's, and it is concentrated in a handful of places worth knowing. Here is where to go, what each is actually good at, and the honest answer to when a trip is worth it and when it is not.

Last updated 15 September 2026 · written by the Tela team in Singapore

The one rule: go early. Stock is put out through the morning and the good pieces are gone by lunch. That single fact separates a good thrifting trip from an afternoon of rummaging through things nobody else wanted either.

Where to go

2nd Street

Japanese reuse chain

Where.: 313@Somerset, Tiong Bahru Plaza, Paya Lebar Quarter
Good for.: Consistent stock, properly sized and sorted. The easiest place to shop quickly.
Worth knowing.: It also buys: walk in with items, no appointment, and staff appraise on the spot for cash or store credit.

2nd Street's own site

Salvation Army Praisehaven

Charity thrift store

Where.: 500 Upper Bukit Timah Road
Good for.: Cheapest prices and the widest range of everything, including homeware and books. The most genuinely random.
Worth knowing.: Donations only, not purchases. There is a 24-hour donation drop-off at the same address.

Salvation Army Praisehaven's own site

Refash

Consignment chain

Where.: Multiple mall locations
Good for.: Curated high-street pieces, checked before they go out. Closer to a normal shop than a thrift store.
Worth knowing.: Sells on behalf of individuals and takes a share, so prices sit above peer-to-peer.

Refash's own site

Haji Lane, Bugis and Chinatown

Independent vintage

Where.: Walkable clusters rather than single shops
Good for.: The most curated and the most interesting. Vintage denim, band tees, one-off pieces.
Worth knowing.: Prices reflect the curation. Treat it as shopping, not bargain hunting.

Store locations and opening details are as published by each business and checked in September 2026. Follow the links before making a trip.

What thrifting is bad at

Finding one specific thing. A rail is whatever happened to be donated that week, so if you want a black wool coat in a UK 12, a shop is close to the worst tool for the job. You will spend an afternoon and probably come home with something else, which is charming once and frustrating the fourth time.

Online second-hand inverts that. You can search a brand, filter a size, and see the thing before you commit. What you lose is the touching and the trying on, which is why the honest answer is that most people should do both: shops for the browse, online for the hunt.

Buying online without the risk

The usual worry with buying second-hand online is paying a stranger and hoping. On Tela that is handled structurally: every seller verifies their identity with Singpass before they can list, your payment is held in escrow and only released 48 hours after delivery or when you confirm the item is as described, and the price on the listing already includes Buyer Protection, so nothing is added at checkout.

Browse what is listed right now or read the full comparison of ways to buy pre-loved in Singapore.

Questions

Where are the thrift stores in Singapore?

They cluster in three kinds of place. Mall-based reuse chains such as 2nd Street, which has stores including 313@Somerset, Tiong Bahru Plaza and Paya Lebar Quarter. Charity shops, the best known being the Salvation Army’s Praisehaven Mega Family Store at 500 Upper Bukit Timah Road. And independent vintage shops, concentrated around Haji Lane, Bugis and parts of Chinatown.

Which thrift store is best for clothes?

It depends what you want. Reuse chains carry the most consistent stock and label everything by size, so they are the easiest to shop quickly. Charity shops are cheapest and the most random, which is the appeal. Independent vintage shops curate hardest and price accordingly. None of them will reliably have one specific item in your size, which is the thing thrifting is worst at.

Can I sell my clothes to a thrift store in Singapore?

Some buy, some only take donations. 2nd Street appraises items on the spot and pays cash or store credit for what it accepts, with no appointment. Charity shops take donations rather than buying. Consignment stores sell on your behalf and pay you a share after it sells.

Is thrifting cheaper than buying online second-hand?

Usually per item, yes, because a shop is clearing stock it bought in bulk or was given. But a shop has to cover rent and staff out of the price, and it takes an afternoon to find anything. Buying peer-to-peer online is often cheaper for a specific piece, because you are paying an individual rather than a shop.

What should I check before buying second-hand clothes?

Underarms and collars for staining, seams and zips for wear, the hem for alterations, and the care label, because a missing one usually means the garment has been through a lot. Try it on if you can. If you are buying online, look for photos of the flaws rather than photos that avoid them.

When is the best time to go?

Early, and on a weekday if you can. Stock is put out through the morning and the good pieces go first, which is the single biggest difference between a good thrifting trip and a wasted one.

Clearing out rather than shopping? Donate, recycle or sell covers what to do with the clothes you no longer wear.