How To Make Money Selling Stuff You No Longer Want

A practical guide to selling the things you no longer need

Want to clear some space and make money from the things your household no longer uses? The best place to sell depends on what the item is, how quickly you want it gone and how much time you are willing to spend listing, answering messages and shipping.

This guide covers what is worth selling, where to list it in the United States and how to protect your time, money and personal information. If you have a larger decluttering project planned, our garage sale guide has more help for selling locally.

Household items that may be worth selling

Before you donate or recycle something, check whether there is an active market for it. These categories often have resale demand when items are clean, complete and in good condition:

• Cell phones, tablets, laptops and smartwatches
• Video game systems, games and accessories
• Digital cameras, lenses and audio equipment
• Brand-name clothing, shoes, handbags and accessories
• Wedding dresses, formalwear and special-occasion outfits
• Children’s clothing and shoes, especially in small, clearly described bundles
• Toys, building sets and complete board games
• LEGO sets, minifigures and sought-after pieces
• Bicycles, scooters and outdoor play equipment
• Books, textbooks, vinyl records, CDs and DVDs
• Collectibles, trading cards, art and vintage pieces
• Baby equipment, such as strollers and high chairs, after checking the product’s safety history
• Furniture, lamps, rugs and home décor
• Working appliances and small kitchen gadgets
• Power tools, lawn and garden equipment
• Exercise equipment, camping gear and hobby supplies
• Pet crates, carriers and other clean, usable pet equipment

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Condition and demand matter more than the category. A popular brand in excellent condition may sell quickly, while a common item with damage or missing parts may not be worth listing. For more ideas, see our list of things you can sell to make extra money.

Choose the best place to sell each item

You do not need to list everything on the same app. Start by matching the item to the buyer most likely to want it, then check the platform’s current fees, payment process, shipping options and seller protections before you create a listing.

Also read: The best websites to sell stuff, with current US fees and platform comparisons.

For furniture, appliances and bulky items

Local listings are usually the simplest choice for heavy or awkward items that would be expensive to ship. Try Facebook Marketplace or OfferUp, which focuses on local, in-person sales in the US. State clearly whether the buyer must pick it up, whether you can help load the item and what payment methods you will accept.

For a large batch of lower-priced household items, a yard sale can save you from creating dozens of separate listings. Our yard sale tips cover planning, pricing and display.

For a wide range of items, collectibles and hard-to-find pieces

eBay has buyers searching across many categories, from electronics and clothing to toys, books and collectibles. To set a realistic price, search for the same or a similar item and filter for completed or sold listings. eBay explains how to research prices using recent sold listings.

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Remember to include the selling fee, packaging and shipping in your calculation. eBay fees vary by category and listing details, so check its current seller-fee information before pricing.

For smaller shippable household items

Mercari is another US marketplace to consider for toys, home goods, clothing and other shippable items. Its seller fees and shipping terms can change, so review its current fee information before listing.

For clothing, shoes and accessories

Poshmark, Depop and Vinted are options for secondhand fashion in the US. Depop tends to suit vintage, distinctive and trend-focused pieces. Poshmark and Vinted offer other ways to reach shoppers looking for pre-owned clothing and accessories. Each platform has its own audience, shipping process and rules, so compare the current terms before deciding.

Depop says US sellers do not pay a selling fee, though payment-processing and optional promotion fees may apply. Check its current seller-fee page. For Poshmark, see the current fee details. Vinted launched its US marketplace in 2026; its US launch announcement explains the service.

If you would rather send in a bag of eligible clothes than photograph and list each item yourself, look at ThredUp’s Clean Out service. It selects which items it will accept and sell, and your payout depends on what sells and the service terms. Read its current payout information before sending anything.

For used electronics

For a newer phone, tablet or laptop, compare a direct sale with a trade-in or buyback offer. SellCell compares phone-buyback offers, which can give you a quick estimate. Also check recent sold prices for the exact model and storage size on eBay. A buyback service may be more convenient, while a direct sale may take more effort and bring a different price.

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Before handing over or shipping a device, back up anything you want to keep, sign out of your accounts, remove the SIM card and follow the manufacturer’s steps to erase the device and restore factory settings. Do not rely on a buyer’s promise to remove your personal information later.

For LEGO, rare books and specialist collections

Complete sets, rare minifigures and individual parts may attract different buyers. Check recent sold prices on eBay and compare them with listings on BrickLink, a marketplace for LEGO parts, sets and minifigures. For signed or collectible books, research the exact edition, condition and recent sale prices before choosing a selling platform. A high asking price is not evidence that an item has sold for that amount.

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Tips for making the most money from selling your stuff

1. Check recent sold prices. Search for the exact brand, model, size or edition, then compare completed sales rather than relying on active asking prices.
2. Choose the marketplace that fits the item. A local listing may make sense for furniture or appliances, while clothing, collectibles and electronics may reach more buyers on a specialist or nationwide marketplace.
3. Work out your likely take-home amount. Subtract selling and payment fees, shipping, packing supplies, discounts and other costs from the expected sale price.
4. Set a minimum that makes the work worthwhile. Allow for the time it takes to clean, photograph, list, answer messages, pack or arrange pickup. If the likely return is too small, donate or give the item away.
5. Research valuable or unusual items carefully. For art, antiques, signed pieces or collectibles, compare exact editions and recent sales. If the value could be significant, consider a reputable specialist appraiser and check their credentials before paying for an appraisal.
6. Bundle lower-priced items thoughtfully. Group children’s clothes by size and season, books by topic or series, and toys by set. Keep bundles manageable and show everything included so buyers know what they are getting.
7. Be clear about shipping or pickup. Say who pays for shipping, measure and weigh packages before setting a price, and state any pickup arrangements in the listing. Check the platform’s process before agreeing to a buyer’s request.
8. Calculate before offering free shipping. Buyers may like it, but include the postage and packaging in your price so the cost does not erase your earnings.
9. List seasonal items at the right time. Coats and cold-weather gear may attract more buyers ahead of fall and winter. Patio, garden and camping items are often easier to sell as people plan for warmer weather. List holiday items before shoppers need them.
10. Use a yard sale for lots of lower-priced items. It can save the time of listing each piece separately. Price items to sell, display them clearly and plan how buyers will pay and collect larger purchases.

Make a listing buyers can trust

• Clean the item and photograph it in good light from several angles.
• Show flaws, wear, labels, model numbers and accessories clearly.
• Write an original description that accurately states the condition, size, measurements and what is included.
• Use the platform’s messaging and payment system, and read its shipping and seller-protection rules before accepting an offer.
• For shipped items, weigh and measure the package before setting a shipping price. Keep the tracking and drop-off receipt.
• For local pickup, state the general area, collection arrangements and payment terms in the listing.
• Check what the platform allows before listing restricted items. Never list a recalled product.

Take extra care with baby and children’s products

Before listing a used product, check its brand, model and date of manufacture against the US Consumer Product Safety Commission’s recall database. The CPSC says it is illegal to sell recalled products and advises resellers to inspect used products for safety issues. Its reseller safety guidance is especially useful for baby equipment, toys, furniture and other products used by children.

Protect yourself from marketplace scams

Be cautious if a buyer asks you to move the conversation off the platform, sends a payment screenshot instead of a confirmed payment, offers more than your asking price or asks you to share a verification code. Do not refund an alleged overpayment or pay a fee to receive money. Check your account directly and follow the platform’s instructions.

The Federal Trade Commission’s advice for online sellers covers fake payment alerts, overpayment checks and requests for verification codes. For local sales, arrange pickup in a way that feels safe, tell someone about the plan and do not share unnecessary personal information.

Keep a record of what you sell

Keep basic records of what you sold, when you sold it, what you originally paid and any selling or shipping fees. The IRS explains that a personal item sold for less than you paid for it is treated differently from one sold at a profit. Whether or not you receive a Form 1099-K, you may still need to report taxable income. Read the IRS guidance on what to do with Form 1099-K and ask a qualified tax professional about your circumstances.

When selling is not worth the effort

Some items are better donated, recycled or given away. If the likely sale price is low, the item is difficult to ship or you would need to spend more time listing it than you want to, choose the option that makes the decluttering project easier. Our guide to the benefits of decluttering has more ideas for letting things go.

If you’re interested in buying secondhand items to resell, read our guide to reselling thrift store finds.

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