sweaters aren’t just fall-and-winter essentials—they’re core wardrobe pieces for the office, weekends, travel, and early spring transitions.
But the price range varies wildly—anywhere from $20 to $200+.
The smartest approach isn’t chasing the lowest number, but using the smallest budget to buy sweaters that are high-quality, durable, versatile, and timeless.
The guide below shows you the best places to shop and how to tell whether a “cheap but not cheaply made” sweater is worth it.
Discount Department Stores
Discount department stores are the first stop for buying affordable sweaters in the U.S., and they offer several advantages:
Low prices: usually $15–$30
Good quality: many are past-season pieces from well-known brands
Wide variety: from basics to trend-forward styles
They’re inexpensive because they mostly sell last season’s stock, slight overproduction, or brand clear-outs—not damaged goods.
The downside is that inventory is unpredictable, so it takes a bit of “treasure-hunting patience.”
How to Buy Cheap Sweaters Online
If you prefer online shopping, these tips will help you save steadily—not by relying on brand names, but by using the right methods:
Search low-price keywords
Typing these phrases often leads to cheaper sweaters:
“sweater under $100”
“clearance sweater”
“women’s knitwear sale”
Be flexible with colors
Classic shades (black, beige, gray) have higher demand, so discounts are usually smaller; meanwhile green, burgundy, orange, purple, and other “seasonal” hues often end up with deeper markdowns due to surplus.
Professional insight: In apparel retail, color is a major factor in inventory turnover. Non-neutral shades have unpredictable sales volume, so brands tend to clear them quickly during seasonal transitions, resulting in larger discounts.
Choose synthetic blends
The most affordable yet durable sweater blend is: 50%–70% acrylic + 30% polyester
Why: it’s lightweight, warm, resistant to stretching, and the lowest in cost. While it’s not as natural as wool, it’s perfectly sufficient for daily wear and very easy to wash.
Cicy Bell Women’s Burgundy Button-Up Cardigan Sweater is worth considering — the burgundy color is elegant without being flashy, and the button-up design works both as a layering piece and as a standalone top. It transitions smoothly between work, casual outings, and weekend wear. The mid-weight knit keeps you warm without adding bulk, and it pairs effortlessly with jeans, skirts, or trousers. At only $59.99, it’s a practical and stylish essential for fall and winter.
Outlet Stores
Outlet sweaters are often more consistent in quality than discount department stores because many brands produce “outlet-exclusive” lines.
Benefits include:
- Quality often higher than typical low-price retailers
- Price tags look high, but constant discounts bring them down to $30–$50
- Ideal for budget-conscious shoppers who still value texture and construction
Outlet sweaters aren’t always “old stock”—many are simplified versions of regular collections, but they remain durable.
Thrift Stores & Resale Platforms
More American women are turning to secondhand shopping due to three big advantages:
- Lowest prices: $8–$20 can buy wool or cashmere
- Surprisingly good quality
- Eco-friendly—extending the garment’s life cycle
Especially in thrift stores located in middle-class neighborhoods, you can often find nearly new sweaters, sometimes even with tags. If you’re willing to spend a few minutes browsing, this is one of the easiest ways to score high-quality sweaters for very little money.
End-of-Season Clearance
The two times of the year when sweaters are truly cheap in the U.S.:
Late December (post-Christmas sales)
February (full winter clearance)
During these periods, 50%–70% off is very common.
Benefits:
You can get in-season designs for one-third of the price
Why: retailers must clear space for spring inventory, so discounts become aggressive.
Downside: popular sizes disappear fast—but if you wear M, L, or XL, you’ll almost always find excellent value.
How to Tell Whether a Cheap Sweater Is “Worth Buying”
Wherever you shop, remember this:
Cheap doesn’t mean bad. Bad sweaters aren’t worth buying.
Here’s how to evaluate them:
1. Touch to see if it feels scratchy
Hand-feel is the most direct quality indicator. Many inexpensive sweaters feel scratchy because:
- The fibers are too coarse (coarse wool, low-grade synthetics)
- The yarn wasn’t properly processed (insufficient cleaning or softening)
- Harsh dyeing or finishing stiffened the fibers
If it irritates your neck or arms, you’ll probably never wear it.
2. Check stitch density
Gently stretch the fabric and look between the stitches:
- Many gaps and loose construction = likely to sag, lose shape, or bag out at elbows
- Tight, dense knitting = more durable structure and better long-term appearance
3. Inspect the seams
Crooked seams lead to odd wrinkles, twisting, and faster distortion after washing.
4. Look at the fiber content
If you find a blend with a small amount of wool (5%–15%) plus acrylic, it’s a great value:
It increases warmth without significantly increasing cost.
Conclusion
Buying inexpensive sweaters doesn’t mean settling—it means spending smarter.
As long as you know where to shop, when to shop, and how to evaluate quality, you can build a warm, stylish, durable, and practical winter wardrobe on a modest budget.
The key isn’t the price—it’s the strategy. That’s what truly makes a sweater “worth it.”
