UK consumers are leading the global shift towards secondhand shopping, with almost nine in 10 Brits purchasing pre-loved products over the past year, new eBay research has found.
The marketplace’s 2026 Recommerce Report revealed 87 per cent of UK shoppers had bought secondhand goods in the last 12 months, compared with 76 per cent globally.
Secondhand shopping is also becoming an increasingly regular habit, with 59 per cent of UK consumers now purchasing pre-loved goods at least once a month, up from 46 per cent last year.
Younger consumers are driving much of the growth, as 76 per cent of UK shoppers aged between 18 and 29 buy secondhand at least monthly, compared with 56 per cent of those aged 30 and above.
Almost half of younger shoppers are also open to giving secondhand products as gifts, with 47 per cent of 18 to 29-year-olds saying they would consider gifting a pre-loved item, compared with 20 per cent of consumers aged 45 and over.
Value remains the biggest factor pushing shoppers towards resale, with half of UK consumers ranking saving money as their number one reason for buying secondhand.
However, environmental concerns are also shaping purchasing decisions, with 89 per cent of UK shoppers believing recommerce delivers genuine sustainability benefits.
Among eBay sellers, 85 per cent pointed to reducing waste as one of the most important environmental benefits of resale, while 68 per cent highlighted extending the life of products.
Retailers including M&S are expanding into resale and platforms such as eBay and Vinted are competing for consumers looking for lower prices and more sustainable ways to shop.
Yet trust remains one of the biggest factors determining whether shoppers return to secondhand sellers.
More than half of UK buyers, at 53 per cent, said consistent product quality and accurate descriptions were the most important reasons for purchasing from the same seller again.
Customer service was cited by 42 per cent, followed by fast delivery at 40 per cent and competitive prices and perks at 39 per cent.
Among consumers who have yet to embrace secondhand shopping, 54 per cent said concerns around product condition, quality or authenticity were holding them back.
Greater authenticity guarantees and stronger buyer protection could persuade 44 per cent to start buying secondhand, while 43 per cent said more accurate product listings would help increase their confidence.
eBay Europe general manager of fashion and luxury Kirsty Keoghan said: “Pre-loved shopping is now firmly mainstream in the UK.”
She added that the next stage of growth would be making pre-loved and refurbished products a default choice across categories including fashion, luxury and electronics, with guarantees, warranties and buyer protection playing a key role in building consumer confidence.
The research surveyed more than 10,500 consumers across 10 markets alongside more than 1,700 eBay sellers.
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