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Thrift Stores Canada

What Can (and Can't) You Donate to a Thrift Store?

Here's what most Canadian thrift stores want when you drop off a donation, what they'll turn away, and what condition to aim for.

Last reviewed: September 19, 2026

1. Generally Accepted

Policies vary by store, but most Canadian thrift stores accept these categories in clean, working condition:

  • Clothing, shoes, and accessories for adults and children
  • Bedding, towels, and curtains
  • Books, DVDs, and board games
  • Kitchenware, dishes, and small appliances that power on
  • Furniture in stable, undamaged condition
  • Toys with no missing or broken parts
  • Decor, art, and picture frames
  • Jewellery and handbags

2. Usually Rejected

These items are commonly turned away — either for safety reasons, because regulations restrict resale, or because they're rarely resellable in practice:

  • Used mattresses and box springs (many provinces restrict or prohibit resale)
  • Recalled products, and car seats or helmets past their expiry date
  • Stained, torn, or heavily worn clothing and linens
  • Damaged or non-functioning electronics and appliances
  • Items with strong odours (smoke, pet, mildew)
  • Hazardous materials — paint, propane tanks, pesticides, batteries
  • Large exercise equipment or built-in appliances (check with your local store first)

For regulated safety items like car seats and helmets, follow Health Canada's product safety guidance — expired or recalled units generally can't be resold or safely reused.

3. Condition Standards

A simple test: if you'd be comfortable buying the item secondhand yourself, it's probably donation-ready. Wash clothing and linens first, check that battery-powered and electric items turn on, and make sure furniture and toys have all their pieces.

Donations that don't meet a store's condition standard often can't be put on the sales floor and get discarded at the store's expense — so when in doubt about an item's condition, it's worth calling ahead or checking the store's own donation guidelines rather than assuming.

4. Before You Go