Best Thrift Stores In LA: Where Thrifters Pay $30 For $600 Outfits

If you're a thrifter, you know that Los Angeles is a goldmine for finding amazing deals on name-brand clothing. But as a thrifter, there are a lot of thrift stores to choose from. It can be overwhelming. And while one store may have great finds, it might not be cheap. A LuLulemon shirt can be $8 at one thrift store and $29 at another. But don't worry! As an avid thrifter, I've gone in person to thrift stores all around the LA area and found the best ones.

The thrift shops listed below are ones I've personally thrifted at. These are my go-to thrifting spots that I'll shop at multiple times a month, and I've scored high-quality basic t-shirts, sneakers, coats, jackets, and pants all for a fraction of the retail cost.

We're talking about brands like LuLuLemon, Vince, Rag and Bone, Theory, Thousand Fell, Comme Des Garcons, John Varvatos, Adriano Goldschmied, Everlane, Bonobos, and more. These are typically the brands I love to look for as a guy shopping at the thrift store, but my girlfriend has found plenty of amazing brands too.

In my humble opinion, these are the best thrift stores in LA if you're looking for the best selection of high-tier brands for cheap.

Everyone knows that the best thrift stores are in LA. But with so many incredible thrift stores to choose from in LA, it's hard to know unless you visit a few in person.

As an avid thrifter based in Los Angeles, I've visited dozens of thrift stores so you don't have to.

In this list, I share the best thrift stores in LA for finding clothing. Whether it's vintage clothes, trendy brands, or high-end clothing, these thrift stores were chosen based on getting the biggest bang for your buck.

In my personal experience, clothes and accessories at these six locations are always on trend, and the prices are unbeatable.

1. The Council Thrift Stores (Westwood, Sawtelle, Mar Vista)

Best For High Quality Basics & Shoes

11801 Santa Monica Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90025

There are three Council thrift stores in LA. I've been to all three of the Council thrift stores and I can honestly say that they're all amazing. Each one has a different vibe, but if you're looking for second-hand goods in all their glory, you can't go wrong with any of these locations.

I've found some great deals on clothes and accessories at all of them—everything from designer pieces to everyday essentials. There's always something new to find, which is what makes it so exciting! The prices are also incredibly reasonable, especially considering the quality of the items.

The Council is a hidden gem that charges a fixed price for clothes. For example, long-sleeve t-shirts, pants and shoes (if not marked with a price) all cost $7.99 an item. Everything is pretty neatly organized into sections, with one section usually carrying more high-end designer brands like your Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and other brands of that same caliber.

At this Council thrift store, I've found long-sleeve LuLulemon shirts, Theory pants, Thousand Fell sneakers, Allbirds (so many Allbirds), and much more. While there aren't a ton of vintage clothes that I've found here, this is a great spot to find high-quality basics, especially for men's clothing. Basics by solid-tier brands like Buck Mason, Optimism, Oliver Spencer, and more can be found here. There are also a lot of mid-tier priced brands that come brand new or in great pre-owned condition, like Banana Republic-level, which can be found here for cheap too.

Also, this is a great LA thrift store for furniture shopping. There's an entire side of the section for furniture, including chairs, desks, lamps, and dressers. Home goods are laid out neatly on tables, where you can find neat little home decor additions to your living space.

With that said, the amazing finds still make this one of the best thrift stores in LA.

2. Goodwill Outlet Store

Best For Re-Sellers and Vintage Lovers

3150 N San Fernando Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90065

The Goodwill Outlet is priced so that you buy by the pound. Whether it's a brand name item or not, it will cost less than $2.99/lb.

Goodwill Outlets used to be a hidden gem, but now that they're being shared on TikTok and YouTube, they've become the talk of the town. Everything you shop for at a Goodwill outlet is by the pound, which means you can find incredible thrift hauls for the biggest bang for your buck, especially if you're a reseller who wants to flip your items for profit.

But it can get competitive, so if you're looking for items to flip for profit, I would suggest going early in the morning, during weekdays, or late at night when there aren't many other people around.

Goodwill outlets are a great place to shop if you're looking for a deal on designer clothing and accessories—you never know what you might find. You can find everything from designer brands like Louis Vuitton to vintage clothing from the 70s or 80s.

If you've been thinking about giving Goodwill another try after hearing all these amazing stories about people finding amazing treasures there, now is definitely the time.

3. Crossroads Trading Co (Silverlake)

Best For Brand Names & Vintage

2656 Griffith Park Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90039

The Crossroads Trading Co is the only thrift store on this list that doubles as a consignment store. This means you can bring your used clothes when you visit and Crossroads will cherry-pick the items that are trending (that they can re-sell), then pay you in cash or store credit.

As far as the quality, price, and variety of clothing you can find at this thrift store, it's among the top-rated options overall for second-hand clothing items.

As someone who thrifts regularly, I could always rely on finding quality brands in good condition at The Crossroads. This specific location in Silverlake, CA, is larger than other Crossroads thrift stores that I've visited and had an incredible men's and women's section.

My favorite personal finds at this exact store are a pair of brand new Rothy's white sneakers (paid $40, retails for $180), a couple of basic shirts by Vince, and a couple of jumpsuits for my girlfriend.

What makes this thrift store one of the best thrift stores in LA, in my opinion, is the selection for the price. Crossroads Trading Co isn't known to be the cheapest thrift store. But this store, compared to several other Crossroads Trading stores I've gone thrifting at, has reasonable prices and racks full of hidden treasures. Not to mention, the men's clothing section had multiple racks of clothes and was fully stocked. That, by itself, makes it superior for thrifters who are looking for men's clothing specifically.

Because it doubles as a consignment store, they are selective with the brands they buy, which also means they are selective with what they sell. If skinny jeans are phasing out, they're keen on that fashion trend immediately. It's what makes their merchandise so good – it's all hand-selected. With that said, if you plan to donate your clothes as you would at Goodwill, don't be surprised if they reject most of your clothing. The due diligence they go through also means that trendy clothes that are in poor condition or are stained may also be rejected.

If you're planning on making a visit, I recommend bringing a small bag of clothes that are nice, but that you don't wear anymore. Sell them in exchange for store credit, then shop around for 'new' second-hand items to add to your wardrobe.

4. American Cancer Society Discovery Shop

Best For Clean, Comfortable Thrifting Experience

2460 Overland Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90064

Another hidden treasure of LA's best thrift stores has to be the American Cancer Society Discovery Shop, or what I refer to as the "Discovery Shop." Everything in this thrift store has such clean vibes and the clothes are always neatly organized throughout the thrift store.

While it's not the largest store, it does offer both men's and women's clothing (more women's clothing) and has an incredible cause. Based on the name, you probably can figure it out. This resale store takes 80% of its sales and reinvests it into cancer research, advocacy, and patient support. By shopping here, you're doing good – for your wallet, your wardrobe, and those lives that have been affected by cancer.

But if I were judging this thrift store purely based on merchandise, it would still make the list as one of the best thrift stores in LA.

If you've never been to a Discovery Shop, it's without a doubt a smaller thrift store compared to the other ones on this list. In LA, there are several Discovery Shops, but this location is my favorite. Parking is challenging at times because it's in the middle of a busy road right off the freeway, but it's well worth the visit.

During my visits to this exact Discovery shop, I've picked up a pair of John Varvatos jeans (paid $13, Retails for $200 to $300) and a basic Pima cotton shirt by Robert Barakett (paid $8, retails for $70). The women's section is larger than the men's section, but there are some seriously good finds hidden in the clothing racks. From that same visit, I spotted Patagonia shirts, LuLuLemon, J. Crew pants, and several pieces of wool clothing that were made in Italy. A few brands I searched up were high-end brands I never heard of that retailed for a minimum of $300 for a shirt or sweater.

But this store doesn't just sell clothes. Scattered around the store, you can find jewelry, electronics, video games, and stuffed animals, to name a few. If you're a re-seller, you can actually get lucky finding sealed electronics for cheap. But it's not common.

While this store is definitely one of my favorite thrift shops in LA, the other Discovery Shops in LA don't make the cut. Not because of the poor selection of merchandise, but because most other locations are more of a resale boutique, where you'll find very high-end brand names like Burberry coats, that are priced at $200.

Overall, if you're looking for a really comfortable, clean thrifting experience, this is the best place to thrift on this list (and maybe LA).

Why Goodwill Retail Stores Aren't On This List

The reason Goodwill retail stores are not the best thrift store in LA comes down to a few reasons:

• Prices have increased significantly in recent years
• Better items are often cherry-picked and priced higher
• The Goodwill Outlet offers much better value buying by the pound

If you're a re-seller or someone looking to start re-selling online, you will want to visit the Goodwill Outlet located at 3150 N San Fernando Rd, Los Angeles, CA 90065. Not only is this the only thrift store that charges by weight, meaning it's a fixed price for all the goodies you find, but it's the best place to stumble on vintage tees, name brands, college merchandise, and other clothing categories that sell very well online.

Ready to start thrifting? Use our Goodwill Outlets directory to find more locations near you.