News & Trending Money News

13 Tips for Spotting Valuable Glassware at the Thrift Store

Things like pontil marks, weight, and thickness can help determine if glassware has resale value.

electronics at flea market store
Updated Aug. 24, 2024
Fact checked

We receive compensation from the products and services mentioned in this story, but the opinions are the author's own. Compensation may impact where offers appear. We have not included all available products or offers. Learn more about how we make money and our editorial policies.

Many people who get into thrifting as a means to make extra money think reselling vintage clothing is the only way to go, but there are many valuable items you can pick up at your local thrift store and resell for a profit — including glassware.

Not all glassware you find while thrifting will be worth much — but these 13 tips can help you separate what’s valuable and what you should probably leave on the shelf.

Get paid up to $225 a month while watching viral videos

Instead of sitting around watching viral videos on YouTube, you could be getting paid actual cash taking surveys for InboxDollars instead.

It's simple. You sign up here and confirm your email. Then you watch videos and take surveys. Then you earn cash (yes, actual cash … not "points"). Log in during your spare time and see how you can earn up to an extra $225 every month.

BONUS: Free $5 when you sign up, confirm your email and phone.

Sign up and start getting paid today

Feel its weight

igishevamaria/Adobe Embossed colored wine champagne drink glasses

When perusing the glassware aisle, pick up the items and feel how heavy they are. Valuable pieces of glassware, like crystal, will be heavier than other items.

You may be able to resell a nice crystal bowl or some glasses for upward of $40 on eBay. A vintage crystal champagne flute is even listed for nearly $100 currently.

Look for branding

jamurka/Adobe vintage wine champagne glasses on table

You may be able to gauge the value of a piece by looking up the brand, as some popular glassmakers tend to make more than others on the resale market.

For example, look for the markings of early 20th-century giants like Fenton Art Glass Company. Several of its vases, bowls, and decorative items are listed for upward of $100 on eBay.

Check the glass in the light

Kryuchka Yaroslav/Adobe decanter jug vase at garage sale

A quality piece of crystal will also look different than other glass items when held up to light.

While browsing, hold the glassware up to the light to check for a rainbow prism. Using this technique, you should also be able to tell if the glass has any cloudiness (crystal is extremely clear).

Stop overpaying when you shop online

Shopping online has its perks. It's super convenient, but it can be time consuming to find the best deals. Instead of hunting for coupon codes (that don't always work!) and opening tons of browser tabs comparing prices, you can try Capital One Shopping.

Capital One Shopping makes saving money effortless. Just add the browser extension and when you check out, it'll scour the internet for coupon codes to help you save cash. And before you check out at 25+ major retailers, Capital One Shopping will notify you with a friendly pop-up if the item you're buying is available cheaper somewhere else.

Capital One Shopping is free to use and won't show you ads. Add it today and stop overpaying!1

Get Capital One Shopping now

Look for flaws

igishevamaria/Adobe Colored Vintage Goblets on white background

Flaws in glassware, like bubbles and visible seams, may actually make it more valuable (though you should not find these in crystal).

Many collectors look to buy Depression glass, colorful glassware produced during the Depression, when many families could no longer afford fine china. Some Depression glass may have tiny bubbles or seams since these products were mass-produced.

Do a tap test

Janet Wall/Adobe glassware at resale store

Another way to determine if a piece you’re eyeing is crystal is a “tap test.”

Crystal and standard glass make different sounds when you give them a tap with your finger. Crystal pieces will make more of a reverberated ringing sound, while glass will sound duller.

Look for colorful glassware

HollyHarry/Adobe glass collectables in charity shop

We already mentioned that Depression glass can be valuable if you find the right collectors, but other colored glassware could help you make a profit.

Jadeite pieces, which have a mint green hue, and other colorful, vintage glass bottles, are often sought after by collectors.

Look for intricate patterns

Meg Raines/Adobe Assorted vintage tableware

Another valuable type of glassware is known as “milk glass.” These products, including vases, bowls, candle holders, and more, are typically white and can be somewhat translucent.

If you find translucent milk glass, that may indicate it’s older — and worth more. Milk glass with intricate patterns also tends to go for more on resale sites like eBay.

Look for numbers

junpinzon/Adobe lamps at Dapitan Arcade Manila Philippines

In addition to brand names, glassware sometimes has numbers on the bottom. Older pieces may also have a few clues about when they were made, including numbers and symbols that correspond with a specific manufacturer.

Your best bet is to look for identifying marks and look them up to see if you have a valuable piece.

Gauge thickness

Concept Photo Studio/Adobe glass bottles in metal basket

How thick a glass is may also give you some clues about its value. Crystal glass can be made thinner than other types and, due to its lead content, is still very sturdy.

Try to compare the thickness of a piece you are considering to others in the shop. A thin, well-designed piece could be vintage crystal and worth a pretty penny.

Resolve $10,000 or more of your debt

Credit card debt is suffocating. It constantly weighs on your mind and controls every choice you make. You can end up emotionally and even physically drained from it. And even though you make regular payments, it feels like you can never make any progress because of the interest.

National Debt Relief could help you resolve your credit card debt with an affordable plan that works for you. Just tell them your situation, then find out your debt relief options.

How to get National Debt Relief to help you resolve your debt: Sign up for a free debt assessment here. (Do not skip this step!) By signing up for a free assessment, National Debt Relief can assist you in settling your debt, but only if you schedule the assessment.

Try it

Search for larger pieces

Vitezslav Halamka/Adobe decorative objects flea market

Of course, there is the rare lucky thrifter who finds a beautiful set of vintage wine glasses and can resell them for a lot, but for the rest of us, it may be wiser to aim for larger pieces.

For example, glassware experts report that milk glass is quite common in thrift stores — but you can get more if you manage to find bigger pieces, like serving dishes and large bowls.

See if it glows in the dark

Matthew Benoit/Adobe green beer mug

Some vintage Jadeite will actually glow in the dark (yes, really) and collectors may be more willing to shell out cash for these fascinating pieces.

This may be a bit difficult to test in the thrift store (unless you happen to walk around with a black light on you), but it’s something to keep in mind.

Look for pontil marks

ALF photo/Adobe decorative glass vases at flea market

A pontil mark, or a circular mark found on the bottom of a piece of glassware, may indicate that the piece is more valuable as it means it was hand-blown (rather than made with a mold). A pontil mark may also indicate that the piece is older.

Be aware of recognizable names

scandamerican/Adobe Used glass crystal in thrift store

While you browse, keep an eye out for any names you recognize among the shelves of glassware. If you find the right antique Coca-Cola bottle, for example, you just may be able to resell it for a few hundred bucks on eBay.

Bottom line

David Gales/Adobe Vintage glass bowl on white background

Not all the glassware you find at your local thrift store will be worth much — in fact, much of it won’t. 

But if you look for in-demand collectors’ items, such as popular early 20th-century brands, Depression-era pieces, and handmade items, you could have a lucrative side hustle.

SurveyJunkie Benefits

  • Over $55,000 paid to members daily
  • Earn up to $130 a month taking 4 or more surveys daily
  • $76 million paid out to date
  • 20M+ lifetime members and BBB accreditation


Author Details

Laura Gesualdi-Gilmore

Laura Gesualdi-Gilmore is a seasoned freelance writer who also teaches writing courses at Rutgers University. She's based in Jersey City and enjoys travel, live music and, of course, spending quality time with her pup.