Are you in possession of old clothes that you no longer wear? Instead of discarding them or donating them, you can try selling them to a secondhand store such as Plato’s Closet. This thrift store is popular among teenagers and young adults. However, you may be wondering how much Plato’s closet pays for clothes. I recently brought in a big bag of my old fast fashion pieces to see what they would pay. After testing things out, I have all the details on what brands, styles, and conditions of clothing make the most money at Plato’s Closet. Keep reading to find out!

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What Types of Clothes Does Plato’s Closet Accept?

Before getting into exact payouts, it helps to understand what kinds of clothing Plato’s Closet accepts in the first place.

They focus exclusively on contemporary brands for teens and 20-somethings. Some examples are:

Trendy Mall Brands

Abercrombie
Hollister
American Eagle
Forever 21
H&M
Zara
Urban Outfitters

Athletic Brands

Nike
Adidas
lululemon
Under Armour

Higher-End Contemporary Labels

Free People
Anthropologie
J. Crew

Since the store caters to young shoppers, they aren’t likely to accept clothes from mature brands like Chico’s or Talbots. They also aren’t seeking out luxury designers either. So save your Gucci and Prada for consignment stores instead!

In addition to accepting contemporary brands for teens and 20-somethings, Plato’s Closet has some other requirement before they’ll buy your clothes:

Gently Used Condition

Items must be clean and in great shape. Any stains, holes, pilling, excessive wear or anything wrong means automatic rejection.

On-Trend Styles

The store buys clothing reflecting current fads and fashion. More classic pieces or outdated trends usually get denied.

Seasonally Appropriate

Plato’s Closet stocks clothes suited for the current season and weather. Think tanks and shorts for summer, boots and coats for winter. Off-season items typically don’t make the cut.

Now that you know what kinds of clothes to bring to Plato’s Closet, let’s get into the details everyone really wants to know – exactly how much money can you get paid?

Plato’s Closet Payout Amounts Based on Category

There’s no fixed payout chart showing exactly what every single item will sell for at Plato’s Closet. The buyer considers multiple factors like brand, style, condition and their current inventory needs. Items from the same brand may sell for different prices depending on these variables.

But we can break their payouts down into broader categories to give you an idea of the earning potential for different types of clothes.

Women’s Tops

This category includes t-shirts, tanks, blouses, sweaters and other like items. Payouts typically range from:

Basic Tee or Tank: $2 to $8
Nice Blouse: $5 to $12
Branded Graphic Tee: $8 to $15
Quality Sweater: $8 to $20

The brand, graphics, embroidery and fabric make a difference here. For example, a plain Target tee nets you a few dollars. But a trendy cropped crewneck from Madewell easily fetches over $15.

Unique graphics or embellishments also boost value for otherwise basics tops. A basic tee with a cool graphic print or metallic accents has a better shot at getting bought.

Women’s Bottoms

This encompasses pants, shorts, skirts and anything else waist down. Expect anywhere from:

Plain Leggings: $3 to $10
Basic Skinny Jeans: $8 to $15
Designer Denim Shorts: $15 to $30
Branded Athleisure Leggings: $10 to $25

With bottoms, denim and athleisure styles tend to earn over generic leggings or pants. Big factors include the brand and if the cut flatters the current fashion trends. For example, 501s aren’t on-trend but stylish paperbag waist jeans might earn top dollar.

Women’s Dresses

For dress payouts, expect approximately:

Basic Sundress: $8 to $15
Going Out Bodycon Dress: $15 to $35
Premium LBD: $25 to $60

The style matters more than the brand here in most cases. While a name brand little black dress likely earns near the top end, an on-trend Zara bodycon also brings a nice payout. The type of dress and look drives the potential profit.

Women’s Outerwear

This covers jackets, coats, hoodies, flannels and related items. Selling prices often reach:

Standard Hoodie: $8 to $20
Designer Jean Jacket: $25 to $60
North Face Puffer Coat: $30 to $75

Outerwear sells for more than other categories since it retails higher to begin with. Expect to earn about 25-30% of the jacket’s original price on average. Make sure coats are suited for the current weather though – a parka sells better in January than July!

Women’s Swim & Intimates

This niche category includes bathing suits, cover ups and undergarments. While Plato’s Closet does buy intimates and swimwear, payouts tend to be lower and maximums are enforced. Think:

Used Bikini: $5 average
Victoria’s Secret Bra: $3 to $7 max

The category is small since the items aren’t sought after pre-owned. Better to try selling quality lingerie pieces via Poshmark or Mercari instead.

Women’s Shoes & Accessories

Finally, let’s look at payout potentials for women’s accessories:

Sandals or Flats: $5 to $15
Branded Sneakers: $10 to $30
Tall Leather Boots: $25 to $75
Designer Sunglasses: $10 to $25
Popular Purses: $10 to $50

Footwear taller than flats along with handbags and sunglasses resell the best. Trending sneaker styles like Converse or Vans will also get snapped up quickly by the store.

Now that we’ve covered potential payout ranges across women’s categories, let’s look at the men’s side of things.

Men’s Tops

Just like with the women’s, t-shirts and button-ups top the list for men’s categories. Payments often reach:

Graphic Tee: $4 to $10
Basic Button Down: $5 to $15
Quality Polo: $6 to $18
Bomber Jacket: $15 to $35

Menswear focuses heavily on logo tees, sneaker culture apparel, and athleisure essentials which do well at Plato’s Closet. Think Nike, Jordan, Adidas, and big skater brands.

Men’s Bottoms

Denim, joggers, shorts and pants bring in anywhere from:

Cargo Shorts: $6 to $15
Levi’s Jeans: $12 to $25
Nike Joggers: $15 to $30
Chino Pants: $10 to $20

Good fitting, on-trend men’s bottoms sell quickly especially with athletic branding. Make sure any pants or shorts are crease-free and crisp looking for maximum payout potential.

Men’s Outerwear & Shoes

Finally the last key categories for male shoppers:

Nike Hoodie: $12 to $30
North Face Fleece Jacket: $20 to $50
Sneakers in Great Shape: $20 to $100

Hoodies and fleeces make excellent payout pieces, alongside coveted shoe styles. Make sure to clean sneakers thoroughly before bringing them in!

What Increases (or Decreases) the Payout Amount?

While we just covered general payout ranges based on broad categories, you’re probably wondering what makes something price on the higher or lower end of the scale.

There are a few key factors that bump an item’s value up or down by a few dollars:

Brand Matters

Items from recognizable contemporary brands consistently earn more than generic pieces. Some names brands like Abercrombie, TNF, and Adidas automatically start off an item at a higher payout rate.

Logomania Boosts Value

Any visible logos or branding graphics also add desirability for buyers which translates into more cash your pockets. Graphic prints and prominent logos are always a plus!

On-Trend Equals High Demand

Styles reflecting current fashion fads or silhouettes have a better shot at being purchased. A cropped wide-leg athleisure pant will outsell an outdated bootcut yoga pant for example.

Perfect Condition Is a Must

For maximum payout, clothes need to look barely worn. Any flaws like stains, holes, excessive pilling, or fading drastically hurts potential profits. Check thoroughly for damage before going in.

Off-Season Means Offer Declines

Listing tank tops in December or puffer coats in July generally means far lower offers. The current weather and trends really dictate supply-and-demand so keep that in mind.

So if something is from Abercrombie with big logos, on-trend silhouette, and looks brand new – cha-ching! But an irregular Target t-shirt with some loose threads won’t fetch much.

Understanding what makes an item desirable translates directly into more money in your pocket. Now let’s look at extra tips to further maximize your payout.

Insider Tips to Get More Cash For Your Old Clothes

On top of picking valuable items and brands to resell, there are small things you can do before going to the store to significantly increase how much money goes in your pocket:

Give Everything a Thorough Inspection

Check through each item carefully before heading to Plato’s Closet. Ensure there are absolutely no stains, frays, holes, or flaws. Fix buttons, trim loose threads, and remove pilling if needed. The better condition your clothes are in, the better the payout.

Freshen Up Fabrics

If clothes have been boxed up for awhile and smell musty, wash and dry them. Steaming wrinkled pieces helps immensely too. You want fabrics looking and smelling clean, not stale.

Strategically Bundle Basics

If you have multiples of very basic styles with low payout potential – say 5 plain Target tank tops – consider rubber-banding them together as a lot. You likely won’t get full price for each one individually. But pricing them together raises perceived value.

Research Trending Brands & Styles

Knowing what brands and specific styles buyers are looking for means you can better curate what to bring in. Studying up on in-demand labels and of-the-moment trends pays off big time. Check out the Plato’s Closet website and visit your local store to scout first.

Time It Right

Aim to sell winter coats right at the beginning of cold weather, boots when rain starts, and swimsuits as summer nears. Meeting seasonal demand always means bigger payout offers.

Negotiate Respectfully

Remember that the buyers have firm profit goals to hit for their store. But if you feel an offer seems unusually low for an item’s apparent condition, there’s no harm respectfully asking if they could consider $X instead. Worst case the original amount stands; best case they agree to compensate more fairly.

Accept or Opt to Donate

You can accept the final offer amount or pass and request they donate declined items if you’d prefer. Good to have a charity in mind ahead if you want passed over pieces donated – they’ll need the organization name.

Using insider tips like these alongside the payout advice earlier ensures you walk away with the maximum dollars possible for your used clothes at Plato’s Closet.

Now for one final super-important factor when preparing your haul…

How Does Plato’s Closet Determine Payout Offers?

We just covered all the details on maximum payout amounts based on category, quality factors, and insider selling advice. But there’s one last behind-the-scenes piece of the puzzle that determines exactly what money ends up in your pocket.

It comes down to a special system Plato’s Closet uses called GOWNS – Gently Used Items We Need.

Rather than having fixed prices for each item category as we outlined earlier, sellers get offered a percentage of GOWNS value instead. This proprietary software calculates a “price” reflecting what buyers determine customers would reasonably pay for that item in their local store.

Some key factors the GOWNS system uses to set prices include:

Recent Sells: What that item recently sold for in your particular store. If shoppers love Abercrombie jeans for $25 in your location, that becomes the GOWNS benchmark.
Current Retail: Key brands and styles are researched online for current regular retail pricing then discounted down. If Madewell Sweaters retail for $80 new now, that base amount gets adjusted down for resale value.
Pre-Set Formulas: Big box stores have preloaded value calculations. Names like Nike, Adidas, American Eagle and more already have presets programmed in reflecting market retail prices.
National Database: Your store’s sales data gets compared with turnover rates nationally to optimize local GOWNS pricing accuracy. Top selling brands or hot items per location get flagged.
Category Averages: GOWNS further adjusts by specific merchandise categories too reflecting what categories perform best by location. Some shops move far more juniors tops for example.

After processing current sells history, retail rates research, preloaded brand formulas, national data, category norms and more – the GOWNS software ultimately outputs a recommended localized “price” buyers feel aligns well with what that particular item can retail for in-store to hit sales goals.

Of course, the GOWNS price gets bumped up even higher if something is exceptionally trendy, popular or in short supply. Hot ticket Nike Air Force 1’s might retail at $100 but easily sell for $120 at times for example.

Buyers at your location can adjust GOWNS up or down slightly to account for supply-and-demand too. But in general, whatever final GOWNS “price” prints out on the tag sticks firm as the selling benchmark.

And ultimately the payout you’ll be offered is a percentage of that final locked GOWNS rate!

Plato’s Closet Only Pays Out a Percentage

Now here’s the kicker – and what shocked me when I first found out…

Plato’s Closet doesn’t actually pay you the full GOWNS tagged “price” on items as we covered earlier. They only pay a percentage of it.

Typically you’ll get offered approximately 30-35% of an item’s GOWNS value.

That means if something’s algorithmically priced to retail at their store for $20, you’d only personally pocket about $6 to $7 max. The rest covers the brand’s operating costs and ultimate profit margin when reselling.

So factoring in that vital intel into the earlier payout ranges we outlined:

A graphic tee with GOWNS tag of $15 nets roughly $4.50 to $5.25 for you
Super trendy jeans at a $30 GOWNS rate pays about $9 to $10.50 into your hands
A core Nike hoodie priced in their system around $25 equals an offer of $7.50 to $8.75 back
And a designer purse tagged at $60 gets you approximately $18 to $21

It varies a little transaction to transaction, but by and large all payouts flow from 30-35% of wherever GOWNS gets programmed per piece. Not too shabby for old clothes! But definitely less than you might expect at first glance.

Knowing this last piece gives you full insight into exactly how much does platos closet pay for clothes. Now let’s wrap everything up!

In Conclusion

While you won’t get 100% retail value on old items, Plato’s Closet does pay reasonably well for used contemporary fashion pieces compared to alternatives. Just focus on trending styles in flawless shape from popular teen and young adult brands when selecting what to bring in.

Optimizing category, condition, negotiating politely, and timing it right per season all helps maximize profit too. And understanding the backend GOWNS system combined with typical 30-35% payout rates sets expectations accurately upfront on what cash to expect.

Overall selling to Plato’s Closet is an easy way to clear out unwanted clothes for good money compared to just donating. Just use the advice in this article to walk away with the maximum dollars into your pocket!

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Plato’s Closet pay cash on the spot?

Yes, Plato’s Closet pays out cash immediately after they review and value your items onsite. No need to wait for checks or deposits. Just payment directly to you same day! They can process card payments too if preferred.

How long does Plato’s Closet keep items before selling?

Anywhere from a few days up to a couple weeks. They process newly bought inventory quite quickly to keep up with shopper demand and latest styles. Hot ticket items barely hit shelves before flying off while basics may sit bit longer. Clearer out faster near back-to-school season.

What days/times are best to visit Plato’s Closet for payouts?

Aim for weekday mornings typically between 10am to noon when stores are less busy. More associates on hand plus managers approve final amounts so good to go when staffing fuller. Avoid post-work hours or weekends when longer wait times.

Does Plato’s Closet accept all categories and sizes?

Yes they buy a broad range but focus on most popular sizes. For women’s apparel they stick to S/M/L sizing only in both juniors and womens categories. And for men’s, M/L/XL sizes sell fastest so prioritized but all considered. Call ahead if question on a specific category or size acceptability.

If I don’t like the offer, can I take my clothes back?

Yes, if the final total offer amount doesn’t align with expectations on an item or whole bundle, no requirement to complete the transaction.