What Nuuly Is and How the Rental Model Works

Nuuly is a clothing rental subscription run by Anthropologie's parent company Urban Outfitters. You pay a monthly fee, receive a box of six items, wear them for as long as you want, and send them back when you're ready. Then you order six new pieces. There's no deadline to return items — you can keep a dress for three months or three weeks.

The service ships to you, you wear the clothes, and you mail them back in a prepaid envelope. Once Nuuly receives your return, you can order your next box. Most subscribers report a two- to four-week turnaround between sending items back and receiving new ones, though this varies by season and how busy the warehouse is.

You own nothing at the end of the month. The clothes stay Nuuly's property. If you damage an item beyond normal wear, Nuuly charges a damage fee — typically $15 to $25 per piece, depending on the damage. Normal wear like fading or small pilling does not trigger a charge.

Key Takeaways

  • Nuuly costs $88 per month and sends you six clothing items at a time with no return deadline.
  • You pay shipping to return items, which costs around $5 to $8 depending on your location, though some subscribers report Nuuly occasionally covers return shipping.
  • Damage fees range from $15 to $25 per item if you stain, tear, or significantly damage clothing beyond normal wear.
  • The inventory includes brands like Anthropologie, Free People, and Urban Outfitters, plus some third-party brands, but selection is limited compared to buying new.
  • You can pause your subscription month-to-month without penalty, making it easy to stop if the cost or selection doesn't work for you.

Monthly Cost and What's Included

The base subscription is $88 per month. This covers the six items in your box and the prepaid return envelope. You do not pay extra to ship your items back — the return label is included.

However, you do pay for return shipping out of pocket in most cases. The prepaid label covers the cost to ship back to Nuuly, but you have to drop the package at a post office or UPS location yourself. Return shipping typically costs $5 to $8 depending on package weight and your location. Some subscribers report that Nuuly occasionally covers return shipping during promotions, but this is not standard.

If you damage an item, Nuuly charges you separately. A stain, tear, or broken zipper usually costs $15 to $25 to repair or replace. Nuuly inspects items when they arrive back at the warehouse, so damage charges appear on your account after your return is processed.

What Inventory Is Available and How Selection Works

Nuuly stocks clothing from Anthropologie, Free People, Urban Outfitters, and some third-party brands. Sizes typically range from XS to XL, though not every style comes in every size. The inventory rotates — new items arrive weekly, and popular pieces sell out quickly.

When you order, you browse available items online and add six pieces to your box. You can see photos, read descriptions, and check the size chart. Nuuly does not curate boxes for you; you choose everything yourself. If an item sells out before your box ships, Nuuly notifies you and you pick a replacement.

The selection skews toward casual and work wear — dresses, tops, jeans, cardigans, jackets. Formal wear and activewear are less common. Shoes and accessories are available but limited. If you have a specific style in mind, you may not find it in Nuuly's current inventory.

How Damage Fees Work and What Counts as Normal Wear

Nuuly considers normal wear to be fading, light pilling, and minor creasing — things that happen to clothes you actually wear. You will not be charged for these. Damage fees apply when you cause visible harm: a stain that doesn't come out, a tear, a broken seam, a missing button, or a broken zipper.

The fee depends on the item's original price and the severity of the damage. A small stain on a $40 blouse might cost $15 to repair; a torn seam on a $120 dress might cost $25. Nuuly's warehouse staff inspects every returned item and photographs damage before charging you. If you disagree with a charge, you can contact customer service to dispute it.

To avoid damage fees, treat rental items like you would clothes you own but plan to return to a store. Wash according to care labels, avoid rough surfaces, and don't wear items to events where spills are likely. If you do damage something, report it when you return the box — some subscribers say Nuuly is more lenient if you disclose damage upfront.

Pausing and Canceling Your Subscription

You can pause your Nuuly subscription for one month at a time without losing your account or paying a fee. Pausing is useful if you have enough clothes to wear, want to save money for a month, or are traveling. You can pause as many times as you want and resume whenever you're ready.

To pause, log into your Nuuly account, go to your subscription settings, and select pause. Your next box will not ship, and you won't be charged. When you're ready to resume, you log back in and reactivate. There's no penalty or waiting period.

Canceling is also free and has no penalty. You can cancel anytime, and your subscription ends immediately. If you have items out on rental, you still need to return them — canceling doesn't mean you keep the clothes. After you cancel, you can rejoin later if you change your mind.

Comparing Nuuly to Other Clothing Rental Services

Other rental subscriptions exist at different price points and with different inventories. Rent the Runway costs $89 to $139 per month depending on how many items you can have out at once; it focuses on occasion wear and designer brands. Nuuly is cheaper and emphasizes everyday casual and work clothes. Nuuly also has no limit on how long you keep items, while Rent the Runway has a return window.

Gwynnie Bee, another rental service, costs $65 to $99 per month and specializes in plus-size clothing. If you wear sizes 12 and up, Gwynnie Bee may have better selection than Nuuly. For standard sizes, Nuuly and Rent the Runway are the most common choices.

Buying secondhand through Poshmark or ThredUP is cheaper month-to-month but requires you to own the items. Renting makes sense if you like variety, don't want to store clothes, or want to try brands before buying. Buying makes sense if you wear the same styles repeatedly or want to build a permanent wardrobe.

Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if I keep an item for six months?

You can keep it as long as you want. There's no deadline. However, you won't be able to order new items until you return something — Nuuly limits you to six items out at a time. If you want fresh pieces, you need to send back what you have.

Do I have to return items in the same box they came in?

No. Nuuly includes a prepaid return label in every box. You can use any box or padded mailer, put the label on it, and drop it off. You don't need to use the original packaging.

What if an item arrives damaged or doesn't fit?

Contact Nuuly customer service within a few days of receiving your box. If the damage is Nuuly's fault or the size is wrong, they'll send a replacement or let you swap it for something else. You don't pay for replacements due to warehouse error.

Can I buy an item I rented instead of returning it?

Nuuly does not currently offer a purchase option for rental items. You can only rent or return. If you love something, you would need to buy it separately from Anthropologie or Urban Outfitters.

Is there a discount if I pay for multiple months upfront?

Nuuly does not offer annual prepay discounts. You pay month-to-month at $88 per month. Occasionally Nuuly runs promotions for new subscribers — discounts like $20 off your first month — but these are not permanent and vary by season.