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Is Nuuly Clothing Rental Worth It? My Honest Travel Wardrobe Review
- 11 hours ago
- 8 min read
Is $90 worth it to rent six pieces of clothing for a month? That’s the question I asked myself before placing my first Nuuly order. I had an upcoming weeklong Alaskan cruise and needed warm layers, cozy sweaters, and cold-weather staples, items I realistically wouldn’t wear again once I returned home.
Buying brand-new pieces for a single trip felt wasteful (and expensive), especially for bulky cold-weather clothing that would sit in my closet the rest of the year. Renting seemed like a smarter option, and Nuuly caught my attention as a flexible, flat-rate clothing rental service that promised trendy brands and practical pieces for one monthly price.
What Is Nuuly?
Nuuly is a clothing rental subscription service where you pay a flat $98 per month to receive six clothing items of your choosing. The brand offers a wide range of sizes from XXS to 3X, including maternity, petite, and tall options. There is no long-term commitment, and you can pause your subscription at any time as long as all rented items have been returned. With thousands of pieces in its catalog, Nuuly carries everything from everyday staples like jeans and sweaters to ski suits, down jackets, and even formal wear for weddings or special occasions.
How Much Does Nuuly Cost?
Nuuly costs $98 per month for six items. Shipping and returns are included in the monthly price, and there are no hidden fees. One of the biggest perks is that normal wear and tear, including stains, spills, and minor snags, is covered in the subscription cost. Unless you choose to purchase an item, you won’t be charged for accidental damage. This makes it easy to actually wear the pieces without worrying about ruining them.
How Does Nuuly Shipping & Returns Work?
Shipping is included in the $98 monthly fee. Your items arrive within about a week of placing your order in a reusable fabric garment bag, with a prepaid return label tucked inside.
When your month is up, simply place the return label on the bag and drop it off at a UPS location. The return process is quick, it typically takes just a couple of minutes to scan the bag and receive a drop-off receipt.
Do You Have to Wash Nuuly Clothes?
If you hate doing laundry, this may be one of the best parts of Nuuly. The company actually encourages renters not to wash items unless absolutely necessary. Instead, you return pieces worn and unwashed so they can be professionally cleaned before being sent to the next customer. This helps prevent damage from improper washing and ensures items are sanitized and refreshed.
Can You Pause or Cancel Nuuly?
There is no limit to how long you can rent your items, but you will continue to be charged $98 per month as long as they remain in your possession. To avoid the next billing cycle, all six items must be returned before your billing date, and you must pause your subscription through the app or website. You can pause for a specific number of months or indefinitely. Even while paused, you can still browse the app and build future closets for upcoming trips or events. I personally pause my subscription between vacations and have had no issues managing everything through the Nuuly app.
Pros of Renting with Nuuly:
Nuuly has a bunch of aspects I really enjoy that make it worth the monthly subscription fee. From multiple sustainability initiatives to the convenience of getting my items shipped directly to my door, here are some of the highlights of renting with Nuuly.
Sustainability:
One of my favorite things about Nuuly is that they do not use plastic when shipping out your rental. They use a reusable fabric shipping container (like a suitcase) and fill it with your rental items. The rental pieces are also not in plastic bags, but instead neatly folded and stacked into the Nuuly bag.
For me renting pieces instead of buying multiple new ones every time we have a trip is also more sustainable. These pieces are getting worn and loved by dozens of people, and are helping to reduce fashion waste. Renting a piece for a specific trip is better than buying and donating, or buying and throwing away. Nuuly also repurposes their worn out pieces into new unique creations also available for rent.
Convenience:
Renting with Nuuly is very convenient, I can make different closets on the app for different occasions, and when I want to rent, I can select from my premade closets. The order comes straight to my door, and only takes a few days to arrive. Returning the Nuuly order is also really convenient, and only takes me a few minutes. To return it you drop it off at any UPS location, and just have to put the pre-printed return label on the package. Super easy, super quick, super convenient.
Budget Friendly:
The reason I chose to rent with Nuuly for the first time was because I was going on an Alaskan cruise, and needed warm weather clothes, but didn’t want to pay the steep prices for winter coats and sweaters. Nuuly has a wide selection of winter clothes, big coats, and cozy sweaters, and I was able to rent 6 winter weather items for $91.20 (they had a first order discount). The price it would have been for me to purchase all six of these items was about $1,200. This saved me a significant amount of money, and room in my closet from clothes I wouldn’t wear often. Nuuly offers high end and middle ground brands that I wouldn’t spend the money on to purchase outright, but get to enjoy on special occasions via the rental service.
Well Known Brands:
Nuuly offers a wide selection of brands you can rent. From brands like Anthropologie, Flat White, Calvin Klein, Free People, Good American, Joes Jeans, Love Shack Fancy, Mac Duggal, Paige, Pilcro, North Face, and Varley. These brands offer quality pieces, and are often very pricy, making the $98 rental fee feel worth it. Some of the items even come brand new with tags, and I’ve received multiple items that were brand new!
User Interface:
The Nuuly app is easy to use, and has the ability to filter what you see, so you only see options that are in your size. I love being able to filter out things that don’t come in my size, so I don’t get my hopes up about a piece just for it to not come in my size. You can also filter your search by items that are currently available for rent, so you can only see items you can actively rent. I also really enjoy that you can create closets, and save clothes to them. This is helpful to curate outfits, and pieces for events and upcoming trips.
Cons of Renting with Nuuly:
Although Nuuly has a bunch of pros, there are also some cons to be aware of before deciding if renting with them is right for you. From the occasional damaged item, to certain pieces always being unavailable, here’s what you need to know before you rent with Nuuly.
Clothing Damage:
One issue everyone who uses Nuuly is bound to run into at one point or another is receiving a piece of clothing that has signs of wear. That is just part of the process of renting clothes that other people have also worn, not everything is going to be brand new. Most of the clothes I have received in my rentals have been in great condition, with limited signs of wear. But, certain items, like sweaters, the wear is always more evident. Some items have small snags in them, and one item I rented even had a large stain on the sleeve.
Order Errors:
Out of multiple Nuuly rentals I have only had one issue with my order, I received one item in a size smaller than I ordered. This was unfortunate, and I was only able to wear 5 of the 6 items I had rented. Reading reviews on the platform I have also seen two of the following issues come up; items being so damaged they are unwearable, and two piece items missing one piece. While I have not encountered these problems with my own orders, I have read multiple reviews mentioning these issues.
Unavailable Items:
Since there are a bunch of users, items you want to rent can oftentimes be unavailable since someone else has them. This has happened to me on multiple occasions, but it's often only one or two pieces of the six that I am looking to rent. To counter this, I normally have a few back up options saved as well, and have always been able to find six that I want to rent. This is more of a prominent problem for seasonal items, like ski gear during the peak winter season, or tropical dresses during spring break and summer.
Who Nuuly Is a Good Fit For:
Nuuly is a great fit for anyone looking to explore their personal style with minimal commitment. It’s perfect for people who love experimenting with trends but don’t want to fully invest in pieces they may only wear a few times. It’s also ideal for frequent travelers, working professionals looking to refresh their wardrobe, people with upcoming formal events like weddings or work parties, or anyone who simply enjoys rotating their closet regularly without overspending. If you love the idea of “trying before buying,” Nuuly makes that easy and low-risk.
Personally, I love using Nuuly for travel. It allows me to pick out six fun, themed pieces for a trip without spending a ton of money buying items I might only wear once. Whether it’s beachy vacation outfits, city-chic looks, or cozy fall layers, it’s such a fun way to build a mini capsule wardrobe for a specific destination. I also think it’s an amazing service when you need specific clothing pieces you know you won’t wear again, like statement dresses or bold prints. I will definitely be using Nuuly again when wedding season comes around! It’s such a practical way to have something new and special without committing to a permanent addition to your closet.
Who Nuuly May Not Be a Good Fit For:
Nuuly may not be the best fit for anyone who needs extended sizing beyond a 3X, as that is currently their maximum size offering. Sizing can also be inconsistent across brands, which is something to keep in mind. Those who wear plus sizes may want to rent with caution, as some brands tend to run smaller than others. I personally try to rent a size up just to be saf, and sometimes I still get humbled by the sizing! Reading reviews and checking garment measurements can definitely help, but there is still a bit of trial and error involved.
If you have a very unique or alternative fashion sense, you might find the selection a little repetitive. Most of the items available are trendy, current pieces and closet staples, think elevated mall brands and wearable fashion. There are a few standout or more eclectic pieces, but overall, the selection leans mainstream. If you’re looking for super funky, avant-garde, or high-fashion editorial-style clothing, Nuuly may feel limited.
Additionally, if your main goal is to rent high-end designer or luxury fashion, Nuuly likely won’t meet your expectations. While they carry quality and recognizable brands, they do not offer true luxury or high-end designer pieces. If you’re specifically wanting to rent couture, runway, or premium designer labels, this probably isn’t the service for you.
Is Nuuly Worth It? Our Final Review
For me, the answer is yes, Nuuly is worth it, especially for travel and special occasions.
Nuuly offers access to high-quality brands and well-made pieces for less than $100 per month, with six items delivered directly to your door. If you need clothing for a specific trip, event, or season, without committing to purchasing expensive pieces you may only wear once, the value is clear. I personally use Nuuly primarily for travel. Renting allows me to pack destination-specific outfits (like winter coats for an Alaskan cruise) without permanently adding bulky or rarely worn items to my closet. It’s an easy way to refresh my wardrobe temporarily without overspending.
That said, Nuuly isn’t something I rely on for everyday basics. For me, it works best as a flexible, occasion-based clothing rental service rather than a year-round wardrobe replacement. The ability to pause my subscription between trips makes it even more practical, since I only pay when I actually need it.
If you’re considering Nuuly for travel or special events, I think it’s absolutely worth trying, especially for higher-end brands you wouldn’t typically purchase at full price.