As a work at home woman with a serious love of clothing, I love finding ways to resell my clothing online because it helps fund my shopping habit and it’s good for the environment. But for folks looking to make a serious side hustle, reselling clothing online can be a lucrative business. I’ve got a cousin who turned her keen eye for nabbing deals on high-end name brands and reselling clothing into a thriving brick-and-mortar boutique a few years back. And many of the best vintage stores get their start as some vintage lover’s fabulous collection.
Whether you’re serious about building your own online secondhand clothing shop or you’re just looking to fund your obsession with pretty, frilly things you’re pretty sure will fit in your already-packed closet, here’s a breakdown of the best places to list used clothing, either online or in person.
Where to Sell Used Clothing Online
1. Couture USA
Ladies who love spendy handbags and other luxury items know just how essential it is to have a hookup on authentic secondhand products in top-notch condition. With a little bit of research, just about anyone can hone the gift of identifying authentic luxury brands in a sea of impostors — a pretty lucrative talent to have at those wealthier estate and garage sales or even the right auction. And when you find those luxury beauties, Couture USA is one of the best places to list them.
Couture USA deals exclusively in pre-owned luxury designer clothing, shoes, handbags, and jewelry. We’re talking Chanel, Fendi, Christian Louboutin, Prada, Louis Vuitton, and Cartier. Depending on the brand, they may pay upfront or take it on consignment.
Seller reviews on PurseForum praised Couture USA’s fair pricing, prompt payment, and excellent communication. Follow their instructions to sign up for an account and request a quote, which you should receive within 48 hours. Once you’ve accepted their offer and they’ve received your item, Couture USA will inspect it for authenticity and then issue payment. Just be wary that they charge a $50 inspection fee if your item turns out to be a fake.
2. Craigslist
You might be surprised to learn that Craigslist is still very much a viable option for buying and selling clothing. But this isn’t your spot to sell individual mid-range or luxury items. Most successful Craigslist sellers say the best way to sell secondhand clothing online with Craigslist is to bundle up lots of clothing for sale in your local community.
Users who sell with this method say it’s a great way to jettison huge lots of clothing if you’re cleaning out your closet or you’ve got leftovers from a garage sale that you’re still hoping to make a few bucks on. The best strategy, they recommend, is to list items by size so buyers get a good value and you’re not stuck haggling over individual items at a yard sale. Just be careful to arrange pickup in a well-lit public place anytime you’re listing items online for sale locally.
3. Crossroads Trading
Selling used clothes on some platforms can be a real waiting game. But that’s not the case with Crossroads Trading, which users say is a great option for folks who go through a lot of clothing and don’t see their purchases as investments. You’re not going to make a ton of money here, but if you’re looking for fast cash in exchange for quality clothing, they’ve got you covered.
Like some other companies that buy clothing outright, Crossroads Trading prefers to purchase trendy, more recent clothing items in good condition. But they’re also one of the few brands that doesn’t necessarily require a super high-end label, with some sellers noting they’ll accept brands like H&M on occasion.
Crossroads Trading accepts clothing in their brick-and-mortar store locations or by mail, and they’ll offer consignment, trade, or cash. Check out more specific guidelines for the categories and brands they’re looking for on the Crossroads Trading website.
4. Depop
Depop is a social shopping platform where users list their own items and connect directly to shoppers. Like other social shopping sites, Depop lets shoppers follow items and sellers they like. If you’re a savvy seller, you can easily leverage this to build up a following of shoppers who appreciate your fabulous taste.
There’s no fee to list items on Depop, which means you only pay if your clothing sells. The only downside is that shipping tends to be a little steep these days, which makes it harder to unload lower price-point items. But Depop is a solid platform with plenty of sellers who make a steady income on that site, and it’s definitely worth checking out.
5. eBay
eBay has been seeing a serious resurgence lately for both shoppers and sellers, especially as online shoppers are starting to tire of the fast-fashion dopamine hit from sites like Shein and Temu. And it makes sense since eBay is one of the easiest sites to make money selling on.
One of my favorite things about selling on eBay is how well-established this platform is. Because it’s been around for literally decades at this point and has hundreds of millions of buyers worldwide, you can usually scope out information about other folks who have sold exactly what you’re selling. Just look up “completed listings” to find out how much a similar item has sold for, and set up your item accordingly.
It’s also nice to have a shopping platform that isn’t so niche. You can list everything you’ve got here, from your kid’s clothing to vintage coats and accessories. And because you’re selling your own items, they don’t have to be pristine as long as you’re up front about the condition. As with Depop, you’ll need to figure in shipping as you’re working out how much you can get for an item.
6. Facebook Marketplace
I have been actively buying and selling on Facebook Marketplace for well over a decade. I have mainly used Facebook to buy items for my kids through the years, everything from giant Squishmallows to huge lots of Littlest Pet Shop toys and a Nintendo DS. And I’ve sold quite a few items as well.
Most recently, I picked up a pair of pristine condition vintage JNCO Tribal jeans for a shocking $5 from someone unloading a denim collection at a yard sale. When my teenage son didn’t appreciate the style the way his Gen-X parents did, we flipped them on Facebook Marketplace for $80 from a guy who would have bought more if we’d had them.
While you can ship on Facebook Marketplace, most of the serious buyers are local, so, as with Craigslist, be safe when you’re meeting strangers. And don’t let the inbox full of looky-loos or the occasional scammer turn you off. Because if you’ve got a name-brand clothing item at a reasonable price, there’s almost certainly somebody local who wants to buy it from you.
7. Mercari
Mercari is another one of those sites that’s a bit like Depop, where you’ll upload your photos and sell your items directly to shoppers. My husband has had pretty good luck selling on Mercari, and I’ve heard good Mercari reviews from other sellers.
Mercari is one of those massive online marketplaces where you can sell just about anything you’ve got lying around, from Beanie Babies to clothing. It’s super easy to get started, and the platform simplifies the listing process by suggesting categories as you list.
Based on my personal experience with Mercari, my best advice is to make sure your images really stand out and spend some time researching good keywords to add to your listing. And don’t forget to figure a little cushion in the pricing to account for shipping.
8. Poshmark
I have been obsessed with Poshmark for years. It works a lot like Depop and other direct-to-shopper marketplaces, but there’s just something about the platform that I’ve always felt makes it super easy to navigate, both as a buyer and seller. There’s just a ton of clothing for every size, style, and era on this site, and as with Depop, there are quite a few sellers who have turned their profiles into boutiques with avid followers.
One of my favorite things about Poshmark is that buyers can easily make offers to shoppers who are following their items. You get to unload your item, the buyer gets a great deal, and everybody’s happy.
9. Rebag
Rebag is another luxury designer reseller like Couture USA. They offer three selling methods: consignment, trade, or sell outright. The brand uses an AI-enabled process to determine an item’s value and make an upfront offer before inspection. Once you’ve accepted their offer, they’ll authenticate, list, and sell your luxury item before issuing your payout.
Like similar luxury brand resellers, Rebag has a list of the brands and items they’re looking for to make things easier for you. Buyout sellers on Reddit say the payouts can be slower and tend to come in about a month.
10. The RealReal
The RealReal is similar to other high-end luxury resellers, with a buyout option, but with a much wider range of inventory. That’s because The RealReal sells men’s and women’s clothing, kids’ clothing, housewares, and all sorts of items as long as they’re luxury. The other notable difference is that they actively feature vintage luxury, so if you’re a collector, this will be one of your better options.
The RealReal is a consignment shop, but they offer a handful of ways to get started, including at-home appointments with an expert who can help you choose what to sell if you’re just drowning in luxury items. They can also schedule pick-ups, drop-offs, or in-store valuations. Or you can do things the old-fashioned way and just drop it in the mail with a pre-paid shipping label.
11. ThredUp
ThredUp might look superficially like Poshmark or Mercari, but there’s truly nothing like it in the second-chance clothing game. A core part of this company’s mission is the desire to keep clothing in circulation, and they’re serious about it.
After sellers with ThredUp fill up and send in a “clean-out bag,” the ThredUp team inspects, photographs, and lists each item inside a massive clothing storage warehouse that truly functions as a marvel of modern technology.
ThredUp is constantly changing its selling process, but right now, you can get a standard clean-out bag for $7.49 or a premium clean-out bag for $34.99. Then, for each item sold, you’ll earn a percentage of the sale price. The listing window for each item is 30-90, depending on various factors, and unsold items are donated or returned to the seller if the seller chooses the premium option.
12. Vestiaire Collection
Vestiaire Collection is a high-quality preloved clothing platform that’s designed to make selling clothing straightforward, simple, and transparent. They offer a set fee structure based on an item’s selling price, and they accept both vintage and newer luxury items.
13. VarageSale
VarageSale is kind of a cool concept for selling the types of garage sale items you might otherwise list on sites like Facebook Marketplace or Craigslist, but without all the excitement of meeting up with a totally unvetted stranger for a handshake deal in a parking lot. It’s based on community-level selling, and your identity is confirmed with your Facebook account, which can help reduce some of the risks associated with other meet-in-person sites.
14. Vinted
Vinted is an online marketplace similar to Depop, Mercari, and Poshmark. Here, you can find (and list) a pretty broad range of clothing items for men, women, and kids, from luxury to off-label. Fans of this site appreciate how easy the interface and platform are to navigate. And once you’re through listing clothing, you can go crazy listing all your other secondhand items since Vinted sells just about everything from Louis Vuitton to electronics.
15. Yoogi’s Closet
If you’re looking for a low-effort luxury site to offload your formerly favorite Manolos onto, Yoogi’s Closet is the place. They offer direct buyouts for items on their wish list, or you can consign your luxury items. What makes Yoogi’s special is its stringent authentication process, which fans say makes the platform one of the most reputable in the biz.
Selling Clothing In Person
16. Buffalo Exchange
Mostly a Texas secondhand company, Buffalo Exchange is a growing brand with locations in New Orleans, Nashville, Chicago, and Minneapolis. They buy a wide range of good-condition clothing for men and women. Just show up anytime with your ID and the clothes you want to sell, no appointment required.
17. Preloved
Based on a Finnish model of thrifting, Preloved is truly like no other option on this list. Simply use the app to book a booth at one of the brand’s locations, pick up a tagging kit, set up your items, and then let Preloved’s team manage your booth so you get the experience of a garage sale but don’t actually have to talk to any lookie-loos or hagglers. It’s genius, really. Locations can be found in Idaho, Illinois, Oklahoma, Texas, and Utah.
18. Once Upon a Child
As a mom who once had three young kids in diapers at once, I have often marveled at how much clothing my children could go through in a year. That’s the beauty of Once Upon a Child, the clothing store that buys gently used kids’ clothing in good condition. Similar to Buffalo Exchange, Once Upon a Child pays cash for clothes without an appointment, and they’ve got a really nice breakdown of the kinds of things they’re looking for on their website.
19. Plato’s Closet
Operating under the same model and parent company as Once Upon a Child but with a focus on younger men’s and women’s styles, Plato’s Closet can be a great place if you’re looking to sell branded staples in excellent used condition. Like Once Upon a Child, they can get pretty busy, so if you show up with three huge bags of clothing as I did, you might want to call ahead.
20. Uptown Cheapskate
Uptown Cheapskate operates under a similar model to Plato’s Closet, but in my experience, they tend to accept a wider range of styles. The pricing is fair, but it will still be much lower than what you might get selling online. For example, I recently sold a gorgeous sequin Torrid dress in excellent condition for $6 at Uptown Cheapskate.
Why I Love Selling Used Clothing
Selling used clothing online is truly a win-win for everyone involved. By participating in secondhand clothing resale, I’m helping to put at least one more step between consumer culture and the landfill. Some other fantastic, fashion-forward femme fatale is getting the fabulous frocks that served me so well at a fraction of the original price tag.
Meanwhile, I get to rest my head easy knowing the embroidered Free People dress that saw me through two weddings and a handful of holiday parties is getting a new life with someone who appreciates its fabulosity.
I’ve also had plenty of times where something dreamy caught my eye, and I had to have it, even if I was fooling exactly no one about whether it would fit me, or I’ve found a treasure I just knew would turn a pretty profit on the web and still be a steal for the buyer. And as a certifiable clothes horse, I love it when like-minded ladies salvage secondhand lovelies from thrift stores, garage sales, and the like to help them make their way to my welcoming closet.
Tips for Making the Most Money
In my years of experience selling used clothing both online and in person, I’ve learned that you do tend to make a lot more money selling online than in person. In-person options are great if you’re trying to unload some merch fast and pick up a little gas money or if you’ve got a garage full of, say, boutique baby clothing. But these stores tend to be incredibly picky, and the payout is much higher online because you’re generally connecting to someone who wants exactly what you’ve got rather than a store that may or may not sell your item.
But whether you’re selling online or in person, you should take the time to inspect your clothing thoroughly. If you’re listing online with a marketplace like Poshmark, just be upfront about what you’ve got going on. Some of us are more than happy to break out the sewing kit if it means getting a great deal on a gorgeous dress.
Take the time to iron and lint-roll your items, and make sure you’ve got a good lighting setup. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve passed on what was maybe a good-looking pair of Frye boots because someone couldn’t be bothered to invest in a decent light bulb.
Supplies You May Need
If you’re planning to make a business of clothing reselling, you should invest in the following:
- A mannequin or a hanging torso form for each gender you’re selling items to
- A ring light
- A white backdrop
- A high-quality lint roller
- Some packing tape
- Shipping envelopes
- Label printer
And if you don’t already know how to do so, learn to use a spreadsheet proficiently so you can track your inventory, expenses, and profits. Being a reseller means you’re self-employed, so be sure you understand your tax responsibilities.
Best Places to Sell Used Clothes Online?
The best place to sell used clothing online really depends on what you’re selling, how much money you’re looking to make, and how fast you need to make that cash. If you’ve got a decent social media following, you may even have some luck selling directly to your local community from your personal social pages.
At the same time, not every platform or payout system is a one-size-fits-all situation. I love Poshmark, but other sellers may find it too busy to navigate. My best advice? Just get out there and experiment until you find what works best for you.
Drop your favorite place to sell used clothing in the comments, and happy selling, friends!
