Thrift shopping has become a wildly popular trend in recent years, not only for bargain hunters but also for eco-conscious consumers and vintage enthusiasts. And when it comes to thrifting, Santa Ana is a paradise, with thrift stores catering to every style and budget.

From nonprofit charity shops to upscale vintage boutiques, this Orange County city offers endless opportunities for pre-loved fashion and home decor. After extensive research, store visits, and chats with local thrifting aficionados, I’ve rounded up the definitive list of the 12 best thrift stores in Santa Ana.

Whether you’re a seasoned thrifter looking to expand your go-to spots or new to the world of secondhand shopping, you’re sure to find some gems in this guide to Santa Ana’s thrifting scene. So grab your reusable bags, put on your digging shoes, and get ready to explore some of the area’s best-kept secrets for recycled fashion and accessories!

Key Takeaways

How We Selected the Top Santa Ana Thrift Stores

With new thrift stores popping up regularly in Santa Ana, how did we narrow down the options to come up with a list of the top 15? Here are the key criteria we used for evaluating and selecting the very best thrift shops in the city:

• Pricing – Offering great deals is key for any thrift store. We looked for shops with low prices, special discounts, and sales.
• Selection – A wide selection across categories like clothing, shoes, accessories, home goods, and books is always a plus.
• Organization – Well-organized stores make digging for deals easier and more enjoyable.
• Atmosphere – From retro vibes to upscale boutiques, the thrifting experience is about more than just the merch.
• Hidden Gems – We favored spots where thrifters regularly uncover rare vintage pieces and special finds.

We also made sure to include both nonprofit and for-profit thrift stores. To assess the options, we reached out to Santa Ana locals for their insights, reviewed online feedback, and visited numerous thrift shops in person.

After careful consideration, these are the thrift stores that rose to the top for providing outstanding selection, low prices, and an overall excellent thrifting experience. Let’s explore the best of the best!

The Top Nonprofit Thrift Stores in Santa Ana

Nonprofit thrift shops have a special place in the thrifting world. Not only do they provide great bargains on secondhand goods, but purchases also benefit community-focused organizations. Here are some of the top nonprofit thrift stores in Santa Ana for finding deals while giving back:

1. Assistance League of Santa Ana Thrift Shop

With roots going back over 50 years, the Assistance League Thrift Shop is one of the longest running thrift institutions in Santa Ana. Situated in a cozy bungalow on 15th Street, this nonprofit shop oozes small-town charm.

Beyond the adorable exterior, you’ll discover rooms stuffed to the brim with clothing, accessories, cookware, books, toys, and home furnishings. And thanks to an all-volunteer staff, prices stay super affordable. Tees go for just $3-$5, with other clothing under $15.

Special hidden gems regularly pop up here too, like vintage Pyrex and pristine Coach bags. Just be prepared to invest some time sifting through the tightly packed racks and shelves – the hunt is part of the fun!

Location: 2340 N Tustin Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92705

Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-3pm

2. Laguna Thrift Store

Operated by the Assistance League of Laguna Beach, this Santa Ana thrift shop benefits local philanthropic programming. The store occupies a large warehouse space just off the 55 freeway. Inside, you’ll discover room after room of merchandise arranged by color and size.

While selection focuses more on clothing, you can also browse accessories, books, and household items. With most clothing under $10 and a 50% off sale every Wednesday, prices are hard to beat. Staff and volunteers keep the shop in pristine condition too.

Vintage pieces turn up on occasion here as well, though the overall selection skews toward contemporary and trendy styles versus retro finds. Still, it’s a reliably great spot for scoring major discounts on everyday apparel and filling your closet affordably.

Location: 2100 E. McFadden Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92705

Hours: Mon-Sat 10am-5pm, Sun 12pm-4pm

3. Salvation Army Santa Ana Thrift Store

No list of top Santa Ana thrift stores would be complete without the Salvation Army. This location on Grand Avenue delivers classic Salvation Army fare, from clothing to furniture to housewares. However, the sheer volume of merchandise translates to rock-bottom pricing.

Adult shirts are just $2.99 on Mondays and $1.99 on Wednesdays. Other days you’ll find tops for $3.99-5.99. Kids clothing goes for as low as $1.50. Beyond apparel, keep an eye out for collectibles, vintage Pyrex, and unique home decor hiding among the jumble.

The chaotic layout can be overwhelming. But with a little dedication and some ruthless focus, thrifters routinely uncover amazing scores here for mere dollars. Don’t let the crowds on weekends deter you – just arrive early and be prepared to dig!

Location: 1400 E. Grand Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92701

Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-6pm, Sun 10am-6pm

4. Goodwill of Orange County Santa Ana Store

Rounding out the top nonprofit spots is this sizeable Goodwill outpost. Goodwill always promises variety, and this location delivers. You’ll uncover sought-after brands like Lululemon and Anthropologie on the clothing racks. The shoe selection impresses too with major labels like Nike and Converse.

Beyond fashion, expansive housewares and furniture sections hold hidden treasures. Pricing follows standard Goodwill guidelines with most clothing under $10. Blue-tagged items get marked down each week, so time your visit right to score 50% off deals.

While the selection isn’t curated or vintage-focused, the sheer volume makes finding overlooked gems likely. And you can’t beat the prices for replenishing a family’s wardrobe or dorm room on a budget.

Location: 2222 S. Main St., Santa Ana, CA 92707

Hours: Mon-Sat 9am-9pm, Sun 10am-7pm

The Top For-Profit Thrift Stores in Santa Ana

In recent years, Santa Ana has seen an influx of upscale for-profit thrift shops blending vintage finds with trendy fashions. These boutique-style thrift stores offer a more curated selection in an elevated shopping environment. Let’s explore some of the top spots:

5. Value Village Thrift Store

The Value Village chain has multiple Orange County locations, but the Santa Ana thrift store stands above the rest. You’ll find an extra large offering of boutique women’s clothing here, skewing stylish and contemporary. Lots of juniors styles abound along with a nice selection of shoes and handbags.

Pricing stays affordable with most adult tops $5-10 and dresses $10-15. Kids clothing goes for $2-5. Special discounts run regularly too, especially around holidays. The overall vibe is airy and modern. And thrifters compliment the neatly organized racks and monthly donations of new inventory.

For trendy fast fashion and mall brands at unbeatable prices, Value Village delivers. Fans say it’s one of the best stocked and cleanest options in Santa Ana.

Location: 1219 E. 17th St, Santa Ana, CA 92701

Hours: Mon-Sun 9am-9pm

6. Savers Thrift Store

Another chain thrift spot, Savers distinguishes itself through its immense selection covering all categories. The Santa Ana location fills over 20,000 square feet of merchandise. That translates to tons of clothing, including an entire room for children’s apparel alone.

But you’ll also uncover furniture, sporting goods, electronics, books, CDs, DVDs, and pretty much anything else you can imagine. Most Saturdays feature 50% off sales if you join the rewards program. Already-low prices drop even more, with adult tops as low as $2-5.

While not curated or vintage-focused, the selection still impresses considering the store’s size. Prepare to invest time sifting through the categories that interest you most. With some dedicated digging, thrifters regularly score amazing deals across all departments.

Location: 2647 W 1st St, Santa Ana, CA 92703

Hours: Mon-Sun 9am-9pm

7. Bargain Box Thrift Store

Tucked into an aging strip mall on 1st Street, Bargain Box’s exterior doesn’t inspire much confidence. But inside this unassuming storefront lies one of Santa Ana’s best thrift secrets. While small in size, the inventory turns over incredibly quickly. So every visit uncovers fresh racks of stylish clothing and unique housewares.

Pricing stays at thrift store levels with most adult clothing $5-15. But the brands impress, with lots of Madewell, Anthropologie, and Free People. Shoes and accessories also shine with major labels like Coach and Frye. The hipster vibe continues in cool home decor accents like vintage magazines and retro dishware.

For elevated thrift finds without the boutique markup, Bargain Box delivers. Just arrive early since the tiny store fills up fast on weekends. But you’ll be rewarded with surprisingly chic merch at true thrift prices.

Location: 2129 N Tustin Ave, Santa Ana, CA 92705

Hours: Mon-Sun 10am-6pm

8. Hidden Treasures Thrift Store

Tucked behind a nondescript facade in an Old Town strip mall, Hidden Treasures’ exterior belies the treasures within. Step inside to discover room after room stuffed with well-curated finds. The boutique layout provides a more upscale thrifting experience than warehouse counterparts.

While offering a little bit of everything, Hidden Treasures really shines for fashion. Lots of contemporary brands like Anthropologie, J. Crew, and Banana Republic fill the racks. Prices hover from $12-20 for most clothing pieces. But specialty vintage and designer items reach upwards of $80.

Beyond apparel, cool mid-century décor, kitschy barware, and unique books await discovery. Just be willing to invest some elbow grease sifting through the dense displays. With new inventory arriving constantly, repeat visits deliver fresh finds every time.

Location: 1232 E 1st St b, Santa Ana, CA 92701

Hours: Mon-Sun 10am-6pm

More Notable Thrift Stores in Santa Ana

While not in the top 15, Santa Ana offers additional reliable thrifting spots for bargain shoppers. Here are a few more stores worth checking out:

9. Assistance League Thrift Shop

The Assistance League operates another tiny thrift outpost, tucked away in southwest Santa Ana. Prices stay insanely cheap, with most adult clothing $3-5. Expect a leaner selection than the larger Assistance League shop but still plenty of deals on everyday apparel and household items.

Location: 2720 S Fairview St, Santa Ana, CA 92704

10. Salvation Army Family Thrift Store

A second Santa Ana Salvation Army location brings all the classic offerings – clothing, furniture, housewares – at famously low Salvation Army pricing. worth checking for good deals on everyday essentials.

Location: 601 W. Warner Avenue, Santa Ana, CA 92707

11. Savers on 1st Street

Yet another sizable, Savers sits right down the street from the top 15 locations. Find a similar selection through newer donations with decent clothing prices.

Location: 120 E. 1st Street, Santa Ana, CA 92701

12. Goodwill Boutique

This small Goodwill shop offers a more curated selection of clothing and accessories at slightly elevated prices compared to traditional Goodwill fare. Still worth a look though for name brands and trendier styles.

Location: 918 W. 1st Street, Santa Ana, CA 92703

Tips for Shopping at Santa Ana Thrift Stores

To make the most of your thrifting adventures in Santa Ana, keep these pro tips in mind:

• Bring cash – most thrift stores offer better deals for cash payments.
• Ask about student, senior, and military discounts.
• Learn the color-coded tagging systems for markdowns and discounts.
• Shop early for the best selection – new inventory comes out in the morning.
• Be willing to take time and dig – the best finds are often buried in packed racks.
• Chat with employees to learn about upcoming sales or when new shipments arrive.
• Follow stores on social media for special discount days.
• Sign up for loyalty programs and email lists to get deals.
• Check out all areas like shoes, purses, accessories, books, home goods.
• Bring reusable bags to limit plastic use and make carrying purchases easier.

Looking for More Thrifting Near Santa Ana?

If you exhaust all the top shops in Santa Ana, plenty more thrifting opportunities abound in nearby OC cities like:

• Costa Mesa – Eclectic selection from chic boutiques to huge warehouses.
• Huntington Beach – Surf and beach vibes with great thrifts along Pacific Coast Highway.
• Throughout Orange County – From Fountain Valley to Anaheim, OC offers bountiful thrifting.

No matter where your local thrifting adventures take you, enjoy exploring the endless pre-loved treasures that Santa Ana has to offer. Happy thrifting!