What Can You Do With Old Military Uniforms?

Old military uniforms can be donated to charity, repurposed as durable work clothes, upcycled into casual fashion, sold through resale platforms or surplus stores, or handed down to junior enlisted troops still in the ranks. The right option depends on the uniform's condition, whether it was issued or personally purchased, and whether or not it is currently in use. The sections below walk through each option in detail, along with what to consider before choosing one.

Do You Have to Turn In Your Old Military Uniforms When You Leave the Service?

There comes a day when everyone serves their last day in uniform. For some, they were one and done. They served one term, did their duty, and returned to the civilian ranks. For others, they served for several years, and maybe around halfway to retirement they decided to hang up their boots and reintegrate into the civilian sector. And for others, they went the distance, staying in the ranks for 20 or more years, retiring from a life they started long ago.

In most cases, no—separating service members are not required to turn in uniform items, especially if they purchased those items themselves. Make no mistake, though: everyone eventually serves one last day in the ranks, and when they do, they're usually left with a duffel bag issued in basic training that's full of old military uniforms. The local supply non-commissioned officer will typically not require a separating individual to turn them in, even if the items were originally issued.

Sure, the departing service member will have to return issued gear and equipment that falls outside personal uniform items. But ordinarily, many will have a stack of old military uniforms and no further requirement to wear them. What can a person do with old military uniforms? Here are some ideas.

How Can You Donate Old Military Uniforms to Charity?

Old military uniforms can easily be donated to charity, where they'll be put to good use. Most charities sell donated clothing items and use the proceeds to fund their social service programs. Old military uniforms purchased at second-hand shops are often used as Halloween costumes or for outdoor activities like hiking, camping, hunting, and fishing. They're also sought-after by people who work outside, like landscapers, since military uniforms are built to withstand rigorous activity.

Planning to donate old military uniforms to a charity? Just remember to take the patches off uniform shirts first. The last thing anyone wants is individuals using stolen valor to manipulate situations, and while acquiring patches, ranks, and medals is easy in the United States, making it easier for the liars is frowned upon by fellow veterans. Before donating old military uniforms, remove all patches.

Can Old Military Uniforms Be Used as Work Clothes?

Yes—because of their durability, old military uniforms make great work clothes for chores around the house. Consider using them for landscaping, gardening, automotive repairs, household repairs, and just about anything rough and dirty. This doesn't apply to Class A or Class B dress uniforms, which are better suited for the donation or memento routes described elsewhere in this guide.

Old military boots are great for cutting the grass and using lawn maintenance equipment because they're steel-toed and can protect feet from flying rocks, fast-moving string cutters, and blades. Workshop project at the house? Wear the old combat boots.

How Do You Turn Old Military Uniforms Into Fashion?

Old military uniforms can be modified and worn as everyday casual pieces rather than sold or stored away. Remember when Bill Murray's character in the movie Stripes talked about how women were paying top dollar for Army uniforms? He wasn't wrong—a quick scan online reveals that camo cargo shorts sell for more than $45.

For example, old military uniform pants, like OCP pants, make great shorts. Take some scissors to those pants and cut them just below the side cargo pocket, and they'll become extra comfortable cargo shorts. Because they're old military uniforms, they'll already be nicely broken in.

Similarly, old military uniforms can be used for workouts. Former physical training uniforms and t-shirts are great for exercising. Old military uniforms that are sweats can be worn during inclement weather, and old physical training jackets work well in the fall or spring when it's just slightly cool out.

Can You Sell Old Military Uniforms?

Yes, old military uniforms are a popular item on resale platforms, and many buyers use them for the same reasons outlined above. However, it's important to ensure that the property being sold does not belong to the U.S. government. The last thing anyone wants is to be flagged for selling government property online—make sure the old military uniforms being sold are personally owned, not issued items still considered government property.

Army-Navy or military surplus stores, sometimes located near major U.S. military bases, sell old military uniforms and may be interested in purchasing more. Selling old military uniforms to a fellow Soldier, Airman, Sailor, Marine, Guardian, or Coastie at a bargain price not only puts money in a seller's pocket but also helps a fellow cash-strapped service member.

Should You Donate Old Military Uniforms to Junior Enlisted Troops?

This option is often overlooked by people leaving the ranks. If there are people in the unit, squad, or team who are similar in size but junior in rank, they might truly appreciate the donation—especially if the items complement their own supply. For example, donating boots might help a young infantryman who can use the spare pair as field boots. The same goes for uniforms; junior troops can use the extra set as field uniforms intentionally reserved for the rigors of being in the field, getting dirty and tattered.

Maybe a junior troop has been working out or hit a growth spurt and needs new uniforms but can't afford another set. Handing down old military uniforms is a great way for departing service members to keep a part of themselves alive in the ranks. Encourage those receiving the donations to return the favor when they can, so the old military uniforms get used well beyond their original serviceability.

Military Uniform Eras: A Timeline by Service

Old military uniforms often carry historical value tied to the era in which they were issued, which is part of why collectors, charities, and surplus buyers take an interest in them. Here's a general overview of how uniform patterns have evolved across the branches:

• Army: Olive drab wool uniforms defined World War II, giving way to the OG-107 utility uniform through the Vietnam era. The woodland-pattern Battle Dress Uniform (BDU) served from 1981 through the early 2000s, followed by the digital Army Combat Uniform (ACU) starting in 2004, and the current Operational Camouflage Pattern (OCP), widely known as "Scorpion W2," adopted around 2015.
• Navy: Sailors historically wore dungarees and working blues before transitioning to the Navy Working Uniform (NWU), with the blue-digital Type I introduced in the mid-2000s and the desert-toned Type III becoming the standard working uniform in more recent years.
• Air Force: The Air Force used the woodland BDU before adopting the tiger-stripe Airman Battle Uniform (ABU) in 2007. The service transitioned to OCP starting around 2018, aligning its working uniform with the Army's pattern.
• Marine Corps: The Marine Corps was an early adopter of digital camouflage, fielding the MARPAT (Marine Pattern) uniform in woodland and desert variants starting in 2002, a pattern that remains distinctly associated with the Corps today.
• Coast Guard: The Coast Guard has used the Operational Dress Uniform (ODU) for working environments, generally following broader Department of Defense camouflage trends over time.
• Space Force: Since its introduction, the Space Force has used OCP uniforms.

Because uniform patterns are closely tied to specific service eras, old military uniforms can hold sentimental or even collectible value—another reason to think carefully before discarding one.

No matter what fate old military uniforms finally face, it's important not to throw these items away or discard them improperly. It's wasteful, and there's someone out there who can put old military uniforms to good use in some form or fashion.

Remember to keep at least one set, because someday a relative or friend might ask about old military uniforms, and it will be a good thing to have on hand—a memento of military service worth showing off.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it legal to wear old military uniforms as a civilian?
Generally, yes, though laws vary by situation—wearing a uniform to misrepresent military service, rank, or awards you didn't earn (stolen valor) is illegal under federal law. Removing patches, rank insignia, and medals before repurposing or donating a uniform helps avoid any appearance of misrepresentation.

Can you dye or alter old military uniforms for civilian use?
Yes, old military uniforms can be dyed, cut, or modified once patches and insignia are removed, since doing so further distinguishes the item from an active-duty uniform. This is a common approach for people turning uniform pants into shorts or repurposing jackets for casual wear.

Where can you donate old military uniforms besides general charities?
Veteran service organizations, JROTC programs, and theater or costume departments often accept old military uniforms and may have specific requests for sizes or uniform types. Reaching out directly to a local post or program is a good way to confirm current needs before donating.

Updated September 2026.