Thrift stores and estate sales can quietly hide serious profit potential, especially in overlooked glass and vintage collectibles. If you know what to scan for on the shelves, you can turn a few dollars into pieces that resell for hundreds. Use this list as a targeted checklist so your next browse feels more like a curated buying trip than a random hunt.

1) Cambridge Glass Decanters

Cambridge Glass decanters are exactly the kind of elegant, etched glassware that experts flag as worth grabbing when you spot them in a dusty cabinet. Detailed guides to valuable glass items explain that specific makers and patterns from mid-century production can command hundreds on the resale market, and Cambridge fits that profile. Look for crisp etching, substantial weight, and matching stoppers, which signal higher quality and collectible appeal.

Because these decanters often surface in estate barware sets, you might find them mispriced as generic “vintage glass.” That mislabeling is where your margin lives. Resellers who recognize Cambridge’s refined patterns and mid-century styling can market them to buyers decorating cocktail carts or period-inspired dining rooms, where a single decanter or coordinated trio can justify a triple-digit price.

2) Fenton Hobnail Vases

Fenton hobnail vases sit at the intersection of nostalgia and serious collecting, which is why they routinely resell for hundreds when you pick them up cheaply. Collecting guides to antique glass highlight Fenton pieces and specifically call out Custard, Silver, White and Colored hobnail as “worth the hunt,” underscoring how strong the demand is. The raised hobnail texture, ruffled rims, and saturated colors make these vases instantly recognizable once you train your eye.

At thrift stores, hobnail often gets lumped in with generic “milk glass” or “grandma vases,” which keeps sticker prices low. For resellers, the key is confirming the Fenton mark or known shapes, then photographing the texture and color accurately for online buyers. Because decorators use these vases in wedding centerpieces and vintage-inspired interiors, even modest sizes can climb into the hundreds when you assemble sets or rare hues.

3) Depression Era Pattern Glass

Depression era pattern glass is another category where a few dollars at a yard or estate sale can turn into a three-figure flip. Coverage of Depression glass stresses that this machine-made, mass-produced patterned glassware from the late 1920s was originally cheap, but certain patterns and colors have become highly collectible. The trick is separating genuinely scarce designs from the more common pieces that rarely move the needle.

Because Depression glass was produced in huge quantities, you should focus on documented patterns, complete place settings, and unusual colors that collectors chase. When you find intact serving pieces or matching sets at estate sales, the historical appeal and pattern rarity can push resale prices into the hundreds. That upside rewards buyers who study pattern guides instead of treating every pastel plate as equal.

4) Carnival Glass Bowls

Carnival glass bowls, with their unmistakable iridescent sheen, are a textbook example of thrift finds that quietly resell for hundreds. Guides to collectible items you should always buy specifically urge shoppers to scour shelves for iridescent carnival glass, noting that these pieces can be worth hundreds or even thousands when the pattern and maker line up. The oil-slick glow and pressed designs are what catch your eye first.

Resale value hinges on condition and pattern recognition. Bowls with crisp motifs, no chips, and strong color saturation attract serious collectors who display them in china cabinets or open shelving. When you pull a mispriced carnival bowl from a thrift store, you are capitalizing on the gap between casual shoppers who see “old dish” and collectors who see a documented pattern that justifies a premium price.

5) Milk Glass Pitchers

Milk glass pitchers look simple at first glance, but they are one of the most reliable thrift categories for turning small buys into triple-digit sales. Detailed rundowns of white milk glass and other opaque pieces explain that you should scour thrift aisles for everything from planters to serving ware because the right designs can be worth hundreds. Pitchers combine utility with display value, which keeps demand steady among decorators and collectors.

Social posts about mystery boxes “filled with antique milk glass” and resellers noting that a pair of Milk Glass pieces bought for $4 sold for $34 on Ebay show how quickly small investments can multiply. For pitchers, look for embossed patterns, hobnail textures, and intact handles. These details help you market them as both functional kitchenware and vintage décor, widening your buyer pool and supporting higher prices.

6) Bohemian Cut Glass Trays

Bohemian cut glass trays are classic examples of intricate glass collectibles that thrift stores often undervalue. Coverage of estate-sale glass collectibles emphasizes that specific categories of finely cut glass can command hundreds on the secondary market, especially when the craftsmanship is obvious at a glance. Bohemian pieces typically feature deep cuts, starbursts, and heavy bases that sparkle under light.

Because these trays can be mistaken for generic crystal, they sometimes get priced alongside mass-market serving pieces. When you recognize the weight, clarity, and complexity of the cuts, you can confidently pay a bit more, knowing that collectors of European glass and high-end barware will pay a premium. The stakes are highest at estate sales, where entire sets of Bohemian cut glass may surface, giving you multiple high-value listings from a single buy.

7) Murano Art Glass Figurines

Murano art glass figurines, especially animals and abstract forms, are some of the most lucrative hand-blown pieces you can pull from a thrift shelf. Guides to valuable thrift glass note that specific art glass categories from known regions can resell for hundreds, and Murano’s reputation for color and technique puts it at the top of that list. Look for controlled bubbles, vibrant swirls, and polished pontil marks that signal studio work.

Estate sales are particularly rich hunting grounds, since Murano figurines were popular souvenirs and gifts. When you authenticate a piece through labels, signatures, or documented shapes, you can market it to art glass collectors who treat these as small sculptures rather than knickknacks. That shift in perception is what turns a few dollars at a local sale into a high-margin listing in the art and design category.

8) Anchor Hocking Fire-King Mugs

Anchor Hocking Fire-King mugs are a staple of vintage kitchenware collecting, and complete sets can easily climb into the hundreds. Coverage of glass items at thrift stores points out that durable, branded kitchen glass like Fire-King has strong resale potential, especially in popular colors and advertising designs. The thick glass, stackable shapes, and retro logos make these mugs both practical and display-worthy.

Resellers should prioritize matching sets, rare colors, and promotional graphics, since buyers often pay a premium to complete existing collections. Because Fire-King was produced for diners and home kitchens, mugs frequently show up in Goodwill housewares aisles alongside plain coffee cups. Spotting the Fire-King mark on the base and recognizing sought-after patterns lets you pull high-value pieces from an otherwise ordinary mug rack.

9) Rare Antique Silverplate

Rare antique silverplate is a nuanced category, but when you identify the right pieces, the resale payoff can be substantial. Guides to antiques that are not valuable warn that a lot of silver-colored thrift finds are nearly worthless, yet they also note that genuinely rare or early silverplate can still bring in hundreds. The difference lies in maker marks, pattern scarcity, and overall craftsmanship.

Instead of grabbing every tarnished tray, focus on heavy pieces with clear hallmarks and ornate designs that match documented patterns. Flatware sets, tea services, and serving pieces from respected manufacturers are more likely to attract serious buyers. For resellers, the stakes are about time as much as money: learning to distinguish common, low-value silverplate from rare variants keeps you from wasting effort on items that will never move.

10) Vintage Pyrex Dishes

Vintage Pyrex dishes, especially patterned mixing bowls and casserole sets, have a cult following that translates directly into three-figure resale prices. Coverage of thrifted antiques that disappoint points out that many kitchen items are duds, but it also highlights how select Pyrex patterns buck that trend and remain highly sought after. Collectors chase specific colorways and series, turning everyday cookware into display pieces.

When you find complete nesting sets, lids in good condition, or rare promotional patterns, you are looking at some of the most liquid inventory in the vintage kitchen niche. Online communities track prices and pattern names closely, which helps you research quickly before buying. For flippers, the key is avoiding damaged or heavily faded pieces and focusing on examples that can photograph well, since visual appeal drives much of Pyrex’s premium.

11) Hummel-Like Porcelain Figures

Hummel-like porcelain figures occupy a tricky space where most examples are nearly worthless, but rare variants can still resell for hundreds. Guides to thrift store antiques caution that mass-produced figurines often disappoint, yet they also acknowledge that authenticated, scarce designs in the Hummel style remain collectible. That means you need to be selective rather than dismissing the entire category.

Look for clear maker marks, early production runs, and figures that match documented limited editions. Condition is critical, since chips or repairs can erase most of the value. For resellers, the upside lies in recognizing when a figurine is more than a generic “grandma shelf” piece and instead belongs to a narrower, documented line that dedicated collectors still track and pay for.

12) Old Book First Editions

Old book first editions are one of the few paper-based thrift finds that can rival glassware in resale value. Coverage of items that only look valuable notes that many old books are essentially decorative, but it also underscores how true first editions of notable works can still sell for hundreds. The distinction between a first printing and a later reprint is where the money is.

When scanning thrift shelves, prioritize dust jackets, copyright pages that indicate first printings, and recognizable authors. Literary collectors pay premiums for early states, signed copies, and intact jackets, especially in genres like mystery, science fiction, and classic literature. For resellers, learning to decode publisher notations and print lines turns a casual browse through the book section into a targeted search for high-value firsts hiding in plain sight.