Thrifter's guide to the best second hand furniture in Boston

Find the best places for second-hand furniture in Boston, from vintage dressers and chairs to affordable couches and tables.

Ivandzhelin

5 minute read

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20 Jun 2024

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Living

Moving to Boston can be expensive, so why not save money and furnish your home with used furniture? With a sea of excellent shops, finding the perfect second hand furniture in Boston can be tricky. Whether you’re looking for a vintage couch or an affordable dresser, our guide will help you discover Boston's best used furniture spots. Let’s start thrifting!

Cost-effective furniture, decor, and household appliances

In ReStore, you can find second-hand furniture items like mirrors, ovens, tables, and chests of drawers at a 50% to 70% lower cost than retail. Located in West Roxbury, one of the family-friendliest neighborhoods in Boston, ReStore is owned by Habitat for Humanity Greater Boston. Helping with Habitat for Humanity's mission, ReStore’s proceeds go towards building homes for the local community.

• Opening hours:
  • Monday to Saturday from 9:30 AM to 5 PM
  • Sunday from 11 AM to 5 AM
• Location:
  • 1580 VFW Parkway, West Roxbury, MA, 02132

A diverse selection of budget-friendly furniture and decor

Boomerangs is a chain of used furniture stores in Boston. They have several locations in Boston: Jamaica Plain, South End, and Central Square (in Cambridge). Boomerangs has an online store, too, but its second hand furniture is only available in the stores. Its prices are affordable, and all of its proceeds go towards funding AIDS Action, which provides HIV prevention and wellness throughout New England.

• Opening hours:
  • Tuesday to Saturday between 11 AM and 6 PM (Central Square store opens at 10 AM)
• Location:
  • Jamaica Plain: 716 Centre St., Jamaica Plain, MA 02130 (we recommend this one)
  • Central Square: 563 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02139
  • South End: 1407 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02118

• Furnishing your house for free*

As the name suggests, you don’t throw away your items but give them away for free on Trash Nothing. You can find anything you need, from chairs to washing machines. All you need to do is register, join Boston Free or another group, and message locals whenever you see something you like.

Keep in mind that the owners choose who gets the items; it’s not on a first-come, first-served basis. You can then pick up the item from the owner, either at their house or at a location you both agree.

Affordable furniture for students.

Run by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology's Women's League, the MIT Furniture Exchange offers affordable and quality furniture for university students. Purchases are limited to students of Boston universities, including MIT, Boston University, Harvard University, Emerson University, Tufts University, and Suffolk University. Browse tables, chairs, and couches in good condition and help the Women’s League raise funds for MIT scholarships. Make sure to check their Facebook and Instagram for the latest selection.

• Opening hours:
  • Tuesday and Thursday from 10 AM to 4 PM
  • First Saturday of the month from 10 AM to 1 PM
• Location:
  • 350 Brookline St., Building WW15-182, Cambridge, MA 0213

Online marketplace for free furniture and decor

Freecycle is an online platform where people can give away items for free. Working in more than 5,000 cities, including Boston and nearby towns, Freecycle works by posting items in local groups found on the platform. Upon signup, you select local groups you want to participate in, like the Boston used furniture one, and look for the items you need. You can directly message the owner to tell them you’re interested in a piece and arrange to pick up.

Eclectic and expansive, offering a unique shopping experience

Found in Cambridge, one of the best places to live in Boston, the Cambridge Antique Market (CAM) isn’t what you would imagine when considering a market. Unlike traditional street markets, CAM's 5 floors house over 150 antique dealers showcasing various vintage and antique items, including homeware, lighting, decor, art, books, and glassware. While prices are higher, the market has a treasure trove of one-of-a-kind pieces, making it an ideal destination for furnishing your new home with distinctive charm.

• Opening hours:
  • Tuesday to Sunday from 11 AM to 6 PM
• Location:
  • 201 Msgr. O'Brien Highway, Cambridge, MA 02141

Curated selection of used furniture, decor, and lighting

Chairish is an online marketplace that delivers second hand furniture to Boston. It offers a curated mix of contemporary and vintage furniture, lighting, and decor listed by private sellers. The platform verifies selections, ensuring accurate orders. While on the pricier side, Chairish offers high-quality pieces that you can invest in and use for years to come.

Community-focused store with an extensive array of affordable items

Goodwill provides an extensive range of donated goods, including budget-friendly furniture. The funds generated from each sale support professional training and financial education initiatives, ultimately aiding local community members in securing employment.

There are 15 stores offering used furniture in Greater Boston, and most sell household items. You can use their website to see which one is closest to you. If it’s not far from your home, we recommend checking out the Allston/Brighton store selection on 965 Commonwealth Avenue.

• Opening hours:
  • Hours vary, but most stores are open Monday and Saturday between 9 AM and 6 PM
• Location:
  • Various locations

A wide range of products, from everyday items to unique finds

Another classic place to look for second hand furniture in Boston. Facebook Marketplace is quite popular in Boston, so you can find some really good items at low prices or even for free! All you need to do is open your Facebook app, click on Marketplace, and assign Boston as your location. You’re ready to explore furniture! Keep in mind that you’ll probably need to arrange the delivery of the furniture yourself.

Used furniture heaven and discounts capital

Savers is an affordable second hand store in Boston. They offer an array of homeware items like chairs, tables, and glassware. Unlike other thrift stores, Savers has running discounts. You can donate and get 20% off your next purchase or become a member of the Super Savers Club. Similarly to ReStore, Savers has a mission to help the local community. All the money you spend buying furniture in Savers Boston will go towards the Epilepsy Foundation of New England.

There are a few locations in Greater Boston, but the best homeware selections are in West Roxbury and Norwood.

• Opening hours:
  • Monday to Saturday from 9 AM to 9 PM
  • Sunday from 10 AM to 7 PM
• Location:
  • Savers West Roxbury: 1230 VFW Pkwy, West Roxbury, MA 02132
  • Savers Norwood: 560 Boston Providence Highway, Norwood, MA 02062

Restored wooden furniture at reasonable prices

Restoration Project is a used furniture store in Boston where people donate their used wooden furniture to be restored and resold. What makes Restoration Project different is that the store’s mission is to help people with cognitive impairments and PTSD become self-assured and build strong work ethics. All proceeds from the store are donated towards funding the program so you can get a unique piece of furniture and help the local community.

• Opening hours:
  • Monday—Saturday from 10 AM to 5 PM
  • Sundays from 11 AM to 5 PM
• Location:
  • 332 Pleasant St, Belmont, MA 02478

• Consignment stores in Boston: are shops that sell second-hand items on behalf of people, with the store earning a commission from the sale. Their prices are affordable, and the items are in good condition. There are many great consignment stores in Boston, like Furniture Consignment Gallery, Belmont Consignment Furniture, and Buy & Consign.
• Craigslist: A true classic for used furniture, Craigslist is one of those websites where you can find anything. When it comes to furniture, however, there is truly a well of items on Craigslist.
• The sidewalk: The cheapest place you can find second hand furniture in Boston is on the sidewalk. People routinely leave furniture in wonderful condition. Our advice is to go for smaller streets, not main roads. We recommend checking Cambridge's streets the nights before trash days. The best months to shop from the sidewalk are May, June, August, and September.

There you have them, the best places you can find second hand furniture in Boston. Whether you're still exploring homes for rent in Boston or have yet to decide on a place to live, take a look at these stores to find the perfect pieces for your new space.