The 40 best places to sell stuff online

My parents have a bit of a problem throwing things out. They aren’t hoarders per se, but our basement is perpetually full of things that my mother swears she will sell in a garage sale one day. That garage sale is never happening, and the state of our basement is dire. Thank goodness for the internet, where you can sell pretty much anything, and where I’m going to unload everything. 

Sure, there are plenty of places to sell your stuff online, but it can be pretty overwhelming. And when you have a variety of things to sell, like my parents do, it can be hard to keep track of which items you should post on a particular site. So we broke it down by category, from clothes to electronics to furniture and more, with some of the most user friendly and profitable websites for finding a potential buyer and getting rid of your goods. Happy selling!

Where to sell your phone

With new phones coming out every couple of months, it’s understandable that you might have a collection of old devices you just don’t need anymore. 

Selling an unlocked phone is your best bet at attracting a larger buying base, since it can then be used with any network. Be sure to know whether your old phone is factory unlocked (purchased unlocked directly from the company, like Apple or Samsung) or network unlocked (purchased from a carrier and later unlocked by the carrier), as some selling sites will only accept one or the other. And always be up front about any cosmetic or system damages your old phones may have; it’s better to let your buyers know at the outset then deal with complaints after they purchase. 

1. Swappa 

Swappa is an online marketplace with free listings. You must factory reset your phone to sell it on Swappa, but if a buyer purchases an unlocked phone that ends up being incompatible with their network, you aren’t responsible for any returns. 

2. Gazelle 

Gazelle sells all types of phones, from iPhones to Samsung to Google phones. As more of a buyback program, sellers send in their phone, answer some questions about their device on the website and receive an offer directly from Gazelle. 

3. Buyback Boss 

This is another online buyback program (obviously), but this one gives you the added bonus of selling gently used and broken iPhones, Samsungs, or Google Pixels. Similar to Gazelle, you send your phone in with free shipping for an instant quote. Buyback Boss also will price match any competitors’ offers you may have.

4. Decluttr 

Decluttr is a popular phone selling site, and takes a large variety of phones, accepting all of the usual iPhones and Samsungs plus HTCs, Sony, OnePlus, and Motorola. They claim to offer 33 percent more for your device than other buybacks, and will help you to remove your personal data from any phone you sell with them.

5. Letgo 

For a reselling app that’s not solely dedicated to phones, but users have reported pleasant experiences using the app for parting with their mobile devices, try Letgo. The app is meant for local sales only, so you must meet in person, there’s no free shipping options, and you choose your own payment method (cash recommended). It does integrate messaging right into its interface, so users don’t have to give out personal contact information for selling meetups, and is super useful for managing your listings while on the go. 

Where to sell your clothes

When selling clothes, the trendier, the better. Recognizable brands sell best across the board, and if you can get a real person to model the clothes you want to sell, that always makes your listings more appealing and useful to potential buyers. (And if you can’t sell them, you can always donate your clothes.)

1. Poshmark 

Poshmark is one of the most well-known apps for reselling clothes. It’s organized a little bit like a social media site, which means to gain traction, you must be active by sharing and liking your listings. Poshmark takes a flat fee from listings that profit less than $15, and a 20 percent commission from any profits more than $20. 

2. thredUP 

ThredUP calls itself “the largest online consignment and thrift store,” and its selling model … kinda measures up to the thrift experience? Most thrift stores have a ragtag collection of styles, but thredUP is much more curated, so make sure when you’re trying to sell your items that they are in season and come from a recognizable brand. It costs $10 to receive one of their “Clean Out Kits,” which includes a prepaid shipping pouch, instructions, and tips to maximize your payouts, which differ in amount depending on the price thredUP decides to sell your items for. 

3. eBay 

The OG online selling site, and you can sell pretty much anything here, but there is a remarkable market for clothes, specifically. As of January 2020, eBay has 182 million active users, so your products will have a vast audience, but plenty of competition, too. To outshine your competition, make sure to take plenty of photos and use the “Buy It Now” method rather than auctioning to get full value for any designer items. 

4. Depop 

The selling app for teen fashion icons and their wannabes. Built like a social media platform, sellers have to make sure their photos are impeccable. And I mean could be in a catalog, perfectly modeled, ideally taken during golden hour, impeccable. When you create a profile, you must upload at least four items, but the more items posted, the better the chance of selling, especially when paired with relevant hashtags. Depop takes a 10 percent fee from each item sold and doesn’t charge any listing fees, so it’s a pretty risk-free way to try and sell your clothes. 

5. Instagram 

Instagram is increasingly becoming a go-to app for shopping. Although we’re used to Insta as a place of interacting with the accounts and people we follow, plenty of people have turned its platform into the opportunity for a side hustle, especially if they already have big followings. Sell your clothes on Instagram by creating an account solely dedicated to the clothes, and promote that account with your normal one. While it can be lucrative, Instagram doesn’t have built-in selling features for personal accounts, so be prepared to organize communication, payment, and shipping all on your own. 

Where to sell your furniture

Furniture is shockingly expensive, so it’s not surprising that the furniture resale market is often popping off. Coordinating local pickups for furniture sales works best for sellers and buyers, as shipping big, bulky pieces is more of a headache than it’s often worth. 

1. Craigslist

An original online seller, Craigslist is the place to find anything from niche baseball cards to apartments for rent. When it comes to furniture, a lot of the same selling rules apply: post lots of photos, be honest about any wear and tear or flaws, and make sure to include contact information you feel comfortable sharing. 

2. AptDeco 

AptDeco is an online furniture resale site specifically for the New York City metro area. While it’s geographically limited, the site takes care of a lot of the annoying parts of selling furniture, especially for New Yorkers, through an opt-in flat rate pickup program. Listing is free and you decide your price, while AptDeco will take between 33 to 38 percent commission of your sales. 

3. Facebook Marketplace 

Facebook Marketplace is a good platform to sell furniture within your neighborhood. Intuitive to use for people who have been on Facebook forever, it connects you with interested buyers through Messenger and has no fees to post or sell if listing for local pickup. If you want to use their shipping features, Facebook charges a 5 percent selling fee while the buyer pays for shipping. 

4. Shopify 

The hosting site specializes in selling products, and could be your best option if you’re someone who makes furniture and wants to monetize it. Creating your own shop hosted by Shopify gives you total control over your marketing, shipping, and how often you post new products, but it also makes you responsible for typical business charges (like credit card fees) and a hosting fee that starts at $29/month. 

5. Chairish 

Charish is an upscale furniture seller, so make sure to check out their guidelines to see if any of your antique or unique pieces fit their curated collection. Chairish will keep 30 percent of your profits, unless you sell 10+ items, which will reduce the commission to 20 percent. While that’s a bit high, if your furniture fits this collection, it’s more likely to reach an audience that will pay top dollar for it. 

Where to sell your art

If you’re trying to turn your artsy hobby into a side gig, you’re in luck. Plenty of sites cater to selling handmade crafts and goods, and some build a sense of community among the artists themselves. Depending on what kind of art you’re selling, you may find other artists to compare techniques and styles with while you’re selling your own. 

1. Etsy

Ask any art seller where to get started, and they’ll probably say Etsy. Catered to handmade goods and art sales, the interface is buyer-friendly and encompasses tons of categories. Trendy, pop culture-based art like Harry Potter decor or Avatar character plushies tend to do well here, which you should make sure to tag your art with so it will pop up when buyers are searching for their favorite fan art. 

2. Society6 

Society6 is another online marketplace dedicated to handmade art. It’s a fairly simple system, where you list your products and wait for a sale, which is paid out through PayPal. You also have the option to join their affiliate program to earn 10 percent commission on sales you refer.

3. Saatchi Art 

Saatchi Art has its own dedicated following of art sellers and buyers and charges no listing or shipping fees. They take 35 percent commission from each sale, and they have a non-exclusive policy that allows you to post your art elsewhere, too.

4. Redbubble 

Redbubble is another trendy art selling and buying platform, especially among college students. Designers and illustrators like the site for selling quick-to-make stickers and art prints. Once you start making money, you can only cash out if you make more than $20 for that pay cycle.

5. Artfire 

Artfire lets you set up your own business, but with the backing of the company. Ranging from $4.95/month to $40/month, your membership lets you sell handmade goods, vintage, or craft supplies with the marketing help of the Artfire team. 

Where to sell your electronics

Beyond phones, it’s quite easy to collect old miscellaneous electronics like iPads, keyboards, and headphones, too. When selling multiple electronics online, make sure to check your state’s e-waste recycling laws to see if you have to register the devices as an electronics seller. If selling across state borders, make sure to check the destination state’s laws as well. 

1. Decluttr 

Decluttr isn’t only a phone buyback program; it accepts plenty of other electronics, too. Their free personal info wiping service can also be useful for laptops and other personal devices.

2. TradeMore 

TradeMore accepts smartphones, smartwatches, and tablets for resale. Before sending an item in, buyers fill out a questionnaire that tells TradeMore what condition the device is in for a quote. Once the condition is confirmed upon receipt, you receive payment via virtual Mastercard gift card or Paypal. Easy peasy!

3. Gazelle 

Gazelle also takes in more than just phones, including iPads, iPods, and MacBooks. Their process works the same way with electronic devices as it does for phones, and you get paid via Amazon gift card, check or Paypal. 

4. Amazon 

It’s the world’s biggest marketplace, and hosts sellers of all kinds, so selling your electronics here is a good way to make sure to get an audience. While it offers familiarity and marketability, Amazon also has many regulations for electronic commerce, including being unable to sell unlocked phones. The company will take $0.99 per item sold, plus a referral fee of eight to 15 percent. 

5.

Buyback programs are prevalent for electronics, and BuyBack World takes in the biggest variety of devices across the board, including camera, headphones and gaming consoles. For certain items, you can get an instant quote, no photos or descriptions needed. 

Where to sell your jewelry 

While you might think of pawn shops when it comes time to part with some of your old jewelry, that might not be the best option for all jewelry types. These online sites allow for more variety of accessory resale than the vintage, high-end jewelry pawn shops usually take, and setting your own price could avoid any lowballing you might encounter otherwise. 

1. Etsy 

As the hub for all handmade crafts, so it makes sense that jewelry can find a home here, too. Even if your pieces aren’t handmade, jewelry sellers can find success on Etsy when selling unique or vintage pieces. 

2. Ruby Lane 

Ruby Lane is an upper end, artisan jewelry resale site that requires you to keep at least 10 items in your shop at all times, so make sure you have enough pieces that fit the bill before setting up here. It doesn’t charge listing fees, but collects what it calls a “maintenance fee” for $54/month and takes a 6.7 percent fee on each order total. 

3. Amazon Handmade 

Did you know there is a specific hub within the Amazon marketplace for crafts, jewelry, and other handcrafted items? Yep. To get on it, sellers must go through an application and audit process and register for a professional selling plan (the fee is waived for Handmade accounts). Amazon takes a 15 percent referral fee on each sale. 

4. TheRealReal 

The RealReal is a popular designer consignment store well known for its designer clothing items, but also offers a lot to jewelry resellers. Provided your items fit their designer criteria, TheRealReal will price and list your item after you send it in and you receive 55 to 70 percent of the total sale price that it decides. 

5. I Do Now I Don’t 

I Do Now I Don’t combines a buyback program and an online marketplace, giving you the option between selling methods all in one place. Sending your piece in gives you an immediate direct offer, while listing your own price on their marketplace allows the company to take 10 to 20 percent commission on your sale. 

Where to sell your car

Maybe your car is on its last legs, or maybe you just want to upgrade. Either way, selling your car doesn’t mean you have to take a trip to the dealership anymore. Listing your car online means you have to pay advertising fees, but gives you the ability to set your own price or let a company deal with it. The freedom might be worth the listing prices.

1. Cars.com 

This is the place to go for a quick and easy car listing process, where sellers can choose a selling package starting at $4.99 per listing for an online ad with 10 photos. You can also choose to upgrade with a Carfax review, which Cars.com claims will increase your chances of making the sale. 

2. eBay Motors 

eBay Motors requires the same process as any other eBay process, but make sure to select motors as your selling category when setting up the listing. eBay Motors recommends that sellers require a 10 to 20 percent deposit on their car sale listings to avoid scams. 

3. Hemmings

If you’re hoping to sell your classic car only to collectors, Hemmings is the place for you. You’ll have to submit your car for review to determine if it fits its current inventory, but once approved, you can enjoy 100 percent of the list price; commission fees are paid by the buyer. You also must figure out transportation costs between you and the buyer, but Hemmings offers pickup and delivery at an additional cost.

4. Carvana 

The service advertises itself as “one of the quickest ways to get rid of your car.” To simplify the process, you’re asked to fill in a quick survey about your car’s mileage and features in order to receive an offer by email. Once accepted, Carvana representatives pick up your car and write you the check, so you never have to deal with a customer yourself. 

5. Autotrader 

Autotrader offers the benefit of listing your car in two places at once; selling here also gets you an ad in Kelley Blue Book. The listing prices range from $25 to $90 per ad, and you can pay for upgrades that will circulate your listing to more people. 

Where to sell your books

You can only reread your books so many times, and that’s even more true when we’re talking college textbooks. Make sure you know your books’ ISBN numbers and editions (both found on the copyright page) in order to accurately list them, and try to limit any highlighting or margin note taking in order to fetch the highest price.

1. Amazon 

Amazon’s trade-in program is often used for electronics, but there’s a market for books on the mega-seller, too. If your titles are listed as in-demand, you can trade in your books for Amazon credit, which you can use to … buy more books. Feed that reading addiction.

2. Bookscouter 

A useful tool not only for selling your books directly, but also for price comparison, try Bookscouter. When you list your gently used books on the site, it compares itself to 38 vendors at once via ISBN in order to give you the best offer. You get to choose what vendor you ultimately want to sell with, and you’ll get payment via check or Paypal.

3. BooksRun 

BooksRun is a program most often used for textbooks and claims it will offer much better prices than your campus bookstore. It will also take academic supplemental materials like access codes and workbooks. You must send your book in within five days of the offer. You’ll be provided with a free shipping label.

4. eCampus 

This is a dual program accepting all textbooks, novels, nonfiction books, and more. You can choose to use the buyback service or marketplace, where a 15 percent commission from your sale provides you with shipping credit and no annual fees.

5. Campus Books 

Yet another comparison and selling tool where you can list your book and compare across dozens of similar sites. The benefit to Campus Books’ vendors is the difference in payment method, which allows you to choose your payout to be in the form of cash, check, Paypal or store credit from the vendor.