Students heading to university this autumn could save almost £1,850 by buying their bedroom, kitchen and study essentials second-hand, according to new Gumtree analysis.
A 13-item university starter kit, including a laptop, bike, desk, office chair, headphones, mini fridge, cookware, textbook and bedroom decorations, would cost approximately £563 based on average advertised prices on Gumtree.
The same product categories would cost around £2,413 using sampled high-street prices, meaning students and their families could potentially cut the cost of getting university-ready by 77% by choosing pre-loved alternatives.
The entire second-hand set-up costs less than the sampled £570 price of one new bike.
Some of the biggest potential savings include:
- Laptop: £152 second-hand, compared with £1,057 new – a potential saving of £905
- Bike: £149, compared with £570 – a saving of £421
- Desk: £42, compared with £164 – a saving of £122
- Office chair: £35, compared with £139 – a saving of £104
- Headphones: £46, compared with £148 – a saving of £102
The £563 university set-up:
| University essential | Average advertised price on Gumtree | Indicative high-street price | Potential saving |
| Laptop | £152.42 | £1,057 | £904.58 |
| Bike | £148.75 | £570 | £421.25 |
| Desk | £42.08 | £164 | £121.92 |
| Office chair | £34.58 | £139 | £105.00 |
| Headphones | £45.67 | £148 | £102.33 |
| Mini fridge | £45.00 | £93 | £48.00 |
| Textbooks | £8.83 | £55 | £46.17 |
| Kitchenware | £14.46 | £48 | £33.54 |
| Pots and pans | £22.25 | £54 | £32.00 |
| Power bank | £15.33 | £31 | £15.67 |
| Fairy lights | £9.46 | £17 | £7.54 |
| Small plants | £12.33 | £20 | £7.67 |
| Photo frames | £12.33 | £17 | £4.67 |
| TOTAL | £563.49 | £2,413 | £1,849.51 |
The freshers’ shopping rush
Gumtree search data suggests students begin searching for affordable furniture, electronics and bedroom accessories before the start of term.
Comparing August 2025 with July 2026 – the August and July data points available within Gumtree’s latest 12-month dataset search levels were:
- 52% higher for desks
- 49% higher for office chairs
- 32% higher for laptops
- 29% higher for headphones
- 22% higher for bikes
- 75% higher for fairy lights
Demand for some products continued after students arrived on campus. Between August and September 2025, searches for fairy lights increased by a further 87%, while textbook searches rose by 21% and headphone searches increased by 12%.
Among the 20 university cities analysed, August desk-search levels were 180% higher than July in Brighton, followed by Bath at 132%, Edinburgh at 115%, Bristol at 88% and London at 79%.
The figures suggest students are prioritising both practical study equipment and affordable ways to make unfamiliar accommodation feel more like home.
But how do you get a desk to university?
Finding a second-hand bargain is only part of the challenge, particularly for students without access to a car or van.
Gumtree and delivery partner, AnyVan are rolling out indicative delivery pricing across eligible listings and search journeys.
The new functionality aims to help people understand the potential cost of transporting bulky purchases such as desks, chairs and mini fridges earlier in their search, allowing them to consider products located beyond their immediate university town.
Delivery prices will depend on factors including the size and weight of the items, mileage, when the item needs to be collected and delivered, and how flexible the customer can be. Students who plan ahead and can offer more flexible timings may be able to access better-value options.
Nav Dhillon, CEO at Gumtree, said: “Starting university can feel like furnishing an entire home in one go. Students need everything from a laptop and desk to kitchen equipment and the smaller items that make a new room feel like home.
Our analysis suggests students do not need to spend more than £2,400 to get set up. Buying the same categories second-hand could reduce the bill to around £563, leaving almost £1,850 for rent, food, travel and other university costs.
Finding a bargain is only half the challenge when it comes to larger items – you also need to get them through the door. Our work with AnyVan is designed to help students understand potential delivery costs earlier and consider items beyond their immediate area.
Students should check what their accommodation already provides, agree shared purchases with housemates and start searching before demand gathers pace.”
Angus Elphinstone, founder of AnyVan, said: “Students that are savvy enough to buy on Gumtree are going to be thinking about the potential overall cost before they buy. Now they’ll be able to see an indicative delivery price right where they are browsing so they can make quicker, more informed choices about what they’re buying, and how far afield they can look. If they can be flexible on collection and delivery timings, they can often land a better price too.”
Five ways to save when shopping for university essentials on Gumtree
1. Check what you need before searching
Review your accommodation inventory first, as halls or private rentals may already provide items such as a desk, chair, kettle or microwave. Creating a checklist can help focus your Gumtree searches and avoid unnecessary purchases.
2. Coordinate searches with housemates
Agree who will look for shared items such as cookware, appliances and communal furniture. This can prevent several people buying the same thing and allow housemates to split the cost of larger purchases.
3. Look for bundles from departing students
Search for university, kitchen or bedroom bundles, as graduates and departing tenants may list several related items together. Buying cookware, textbooks or desk accessories as a package can reduce both the cost and the number of collections required.
4. Message sellers before committing
Ask about an item’s condition, age and measurements, and whether all parts or accessories are included. For electronics, confirm the make, model, charger and working condition, and request additional photographs where needed.
5. Factor in collection or delivery
Check where an item is located and calculate the complete cost before agreeing to buy. For bulky purchases such as desks, chairs and mini fridges, consider whether the item can be dismantled and explore available delivery options, including AnyVan services through eligible Gumtree listings where available.
