Let’s cut to the chase: if you’re a cheerleading program coach, a team parent, or even a brand-new squad captain, you’ve almost certainly stared at a stack of uniform costs and thought, Can I skip the brand-new price tag and go secondhand? As a cheerleading uniform supplier who’s worked with youth teams, high school squads, and college competitive programs for 12 years, I’ve fielded this question more times than I can count. The short answer is: yes, but it’s not as simple as grabbing a used hoodie from a team Facebook group. There are critical caveats, hidden wins, and ways to make secondhand uniforms work without sacrificing safety, performance, or your team’s vibe. Cheerleading Uniforms
First, let’s talk about why secondhand uniforms make sense for so many teams. Youth cheerleading programs often have tight budgets—we’re talking hundreds of dollars for a full uniform (top, skirt, bloomers, maybe a warm-up jacket) per kid, multiplied by 15 to 20 team members. That’s $3,000 or more for a single season, money that could go to travel fees, competition entry, or new stunting mats. High school squads? Budgets get a little bigger, but they’re still navigating tight district allocations, plus they have team turnover every year—rookies join, seniors graduate, so you’re buying half-new uniforms annually anyway. Even college all-star programs, which are often funded by team dues, will hunt for secondhand to cut costs for high-performance gear (and, let’s be real, the sequins and spandex on competition uniforms are way less forgiving when you’re tumbling 20 feet in the air).
But before you go scrolling through Instagram’s #CheerUniformSwap tag, let’s address the elephant in the room: safety. Cheerleading is a high-impact sport—stunts, tumbling, pyramid work, even sideline cheers mean uniforms take a beating. A used uniform that’s frayed at the seams, has stretched spandex (which can rip mid-twist), or has peeling adhesive sequins isn’t just unflattering—it’s a safety hazard. I once had a coach reach out to me last year whose team used a secondhand skirt from a local swap; the elastic waistband had stretched so far it fell mid-pyramid, and a flyer sprained her wrist when she lost her grip. That’s the kind of story that makes me cringe, because it’s preventable.
That’s where my perspective as a supplier comes in. We don’t just sell new uniforms—we work with teams every season to refurbish gently used ones that come back from previous clients, because we know not every program can swing brand-new. Refurbished isn’t the same as “thrift store used,” though. When we take in a return (teams sometimes order a size up for growth and return unworn ones, or a uniform from a team that disbanded mid-season), we do a full inspection: stretch test every seam, check for fabric degradation (spandex breaks down over time with sun exposure or repeated washings), replace loose sequins, re-glue any peeling elastic, and even re-hemming skirts if needed. We also track every uniform’s age—spandex is designed to last about 5 years with proper care, so anything older than that doesn’t get refurbished, no exceptions.
If you’re hunting for secondhand uniforms on your own (not through a supplier), there are rules to follow to keep your team safe. First, check the fabric tag. If it’s 100% polyester or spandex with a stretch percentage lower than 10%, pass—those fabrics break down quickly. Look for uniforms from the last 3 seasons (2021 to now), because anything older will have stretched too much for stunting. Next, do a hands-on inspection: pull the seams gently to see if they give unevenly, stretch the fabric across the chest and waist to test for wear, run your fingers along the hem of skirts or sleeves to see if there’s fraying, and check for stains that won’t come out (bleach spots weaken fabric, and oil from hair products can break down spandex). For youth squads, this is non-negotiable—kids grow fast, but a uniform that’s falling apart mid-cheer is a distraction at best, dangerous at worst.
Now, where to find legitimate secondhand uniforms? I’ll be honest, most of the random swaps on social media are hit or miss. Let’s break down the reliable options:
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Team-specific alumni swaps: A lot of high school and college squads have Facebook groups where seniors sell their uniforms before graduation. These uniforms are usually gently used (if the team didn’t make finals, or if the senior only wore it for pep rallies) and come from programs that care about their gear. Pro tip: Reach out to the current team coach first—they often have access to uniform swaps through the cheerleading booster club, and can vet sellers so you don’t get a uniform that’s been sitting in a garage for 2 years.
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Local cheer gyms: Many all-star gyms have a “uniform closet” for alumni or teams that left early, and they’ll sell gently used uniforms at a fraction of the cost. Some even let you trade in old team uniforms for credit toward new or refurbished ones. Last year, a small middle school in Ohio came to us after their local gym couldn’t fit their team—they bought 8 refurbished uniforms from a nearby all-star gym for $40 each, instead of the $120 new price, and they worked perfectly for their competition season.
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Specialty uniform suppliers’ secondhand programs: This is where I come in. As a supplier, we started our pre-owned program 7 years ago because so many teams were asking for affordable options. We keep inventory of sizes from youth XS to adult XL, and every uniform goes through a 10-point safety check before it hits our shelves. We also offer custom alterations—if you need to tweak a skirt length or adjust a waistband, we can do that for a small fee, so it fits your team exactly, not just the random size someone is selling on Instagram.
Wait, but what about custom designs? I hear that a lot—teams worry that secondhand uniforms will have someone else’s logo, sequin pattern, or color scheme, so they can’t use them for competitions or school events. That’s a fair point, and it’s where working with a supplier is a game-changer. We can add school logos, team names, or even change sequin colors to match your program’s colors for a small customization fee. A high school in Texas did this last year: they bought 12 gently used navy and white uniforms, added their school’s mascot logo to the chest, and replaced the white sequin trim with navy, so they looked brand-new for their regional competition. Total cost was $1,800, compared to $3,200 for all new uniforms—they put the savings toward new tumbling mats, which made a way bigger impact on their team’s performance.
Another common misconception: secondhand uniforms are lower quality. That’s only if you’re buying random thrift store clothing labeled as a cheer uniform. Brand-new uniforms from reputable suppliers (like ours) are made with high-performance spandex, reinforced stitching, and sequins that are designed to stay put through hours of practice and competition. Refurbished ones go through the same reinforcement process—we replace frayed threads, add double stitching to stress points (like under the arms, where tumblers grab), and even re-coat sequin adhesive so they don’t peel off mid-twist. We once had a team that used our refurbished uniforms for 3 seasons straight, and they still looked good enough to be passed down to a middle school squad—way longer than the average thrift store uniform would last.
But let’s be clear: secondhand uniforms aren’t for every team. If you’re a competitive all-star team that does Nationals or Worlds, you might want brand-new for consistency—uniforms are part of your team’s brand, and you don’t want to deal with last-minute repairs if a used one rips before a big competition. If you’re a small youth team that only does local pep rallies, or a high school squad with a tight budget, secondhand is a no-brainer. And if you’re somewhere in between, we can help you mix and match: buy a few new core uniforms for your frontline stunters, and secondhand ones for the backline, so you get the best of both worlds.
Now, if you’re still on the fence, let’s talk about real numbers. A new youth cheer uniform (top, skirt, bloomers) from a standard supplier is about $100–$150. A refurbished one from our program is $40–$60. That’s a $60–$90 savings per kid. For a team of 20, that’s $1,200–$1,800 that can go to travel, competition entry fees, or even snacks for practice. Last season, a 16-team youth program in Michigan used our refurbished uniforms and saved enough to attend their first out-of-state competition—something they’d never been able to afford before. That’s the impact secondhand uniforms can have, beyond just saving money.
I’ll also throw in a tip for teams that want to build a uniform closet of their own: every year, when your seniors or graduating members turn in their old uniforms, don’t throw them away. Have them cleaned, inspected, and stored in a climate-controlled space (sun and humidity break down spandex) so you can refurbish them for new rookies the next season. That’s a sustainable way to build a team uniform closet that only gets better over time, and it cuts your annual uniform costs by half. We’ve had several high schools do this, and it’s become a tradition—seniors love that their uniform is getting used by the next generation, and new kids love that they’re getting a uniform that’s been cared for by the team.
So, back to the original question: Can I find second-hand cheerleading uniforms? Absolutely. But it’s not just about buying something cheap—it’s about buying something safe, functional, and that fits your team’s needs. You can scroll through social media swaps and cross your fingers, or you can work with a supplier who’s been doing this for years, knows the ins and outs of cheer uniform safety, and can help you find or refurbish uniforms that fit your program, your budget, and your goals.
If you’re ready to stop wondering and start finding uniforms that work for your team, don’t hesitate to reach out for a personalized consult. We can walk you through our pre-owned inventory, answer any safety questions you have, and work with you on customization to make the uniforms feel like yours, not someone else’s. Whether you’re a 8-person youth squad or a 30-person college all-star team, we’re here to help you make cheerleading accessible for every kid who wants to be on the mat.
Gymnastics Accessories References
- American Association of Cheerleading Coaches and Administrators (AACCA). (2022). Safety Guidelines for Cheerleading Uniforms and Equipment. Retrieved from professional sport safety resources for competitive and recreational cheer programs.
- Cheer Industry Association. (2023). 2023 Cheer Uniform Cost Analysis: New vs. Refurbished Options for Youth, High School, and College Programs. Industry report on budget-friendly uniform solutions for squads of all sizes.
- International Cheer Union (ICU). (2021). Performance Fabric Standards for Competitive Cheer Uniforms. Guidelines on material durability and safety for high-impact cheer activities.
AcEiffel Art Culture Co., Ltd.
AcEiffel Art Culture Co., Ltd. is one of the most professional cheerleading uniforms manufacturers and suppliers in China, supplying the best customized service. Feel free to wholesale bulk cheerleading uniforms at competitive price from our factory.
Address: 9#, Renxian Street, High-tech Zone, Dalian, China
E-mail: info@aceiffel.com
WebSite: https://www.aceiffel.com/
