Selling secondhand items online is one of the most accessible ways to generate extra cash because it requires no skill beyond what you already have and the inventory is already sitting in your house. The main variables are choosing the right platform for what you are selling and presenting items in a way that attracts buyers and justifies a decent price.
Match the platform to the item
Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist are best for large items that are awkward to ship: furniture, appliances, exercise equipment, and tools. Local pickup means no shipping hassle and no fees on Facebook Marketplace. eBay reaches a national audience and works well for electronics, collectibles, brand-name items, and anything with a specific model number that buyers are actively searching for. Poshmark, ThredUp, and Depop are built for clothing and accessories. Mercari sits in the middle and handles a wide range of categories with reasonable shipping integrations.
Photos matter more than you think
Listings with clear, well-lit photos against a neutral background sell significantly faster and for higher prices than listings with dark, cluttered, or blurry photos. You do not need special equipment — a phone camera and natural daylight are enough. Show the item from multiple angles, include any flaws honestly, and photograph any relevant serial numbers, model information, or included accessories. Buyers are more confident, and therefore more likely to pay quickly and not haggle, when they can see exactly what they are getting.
Price based on what similar items actually sold for
On eBay, you can filter completed listings to see what specific items actually sold for, not just what they are listed at. Listed prices are often aspirational; sold prices reflect reality. For Facebook Marketplace, searching your area for the same item gives you a sense of local demand. Pricing slightly below comparable sold prices tends to produce faster sales with less back-and-forth negotiation.
Bundle lower-value items
Items worth less than $10 or $15 individually are often not worth listing separately when you account for the time to photograph, list, and ship them. Bundling related low-value items into a single listing at a combined price makes the transaction worthwhile for both you and the buyer. A box of assorted kitchen gadgets, a set of children's books, or a collection of craft supplies often sells faster as a bundle than as individual items.
Know what platforms take from each sale
Platform fees vary and affect your actual take-home. eBay charges a percentage of the final sale price including shipping, typically around 13 percent for most categories. Poshmark takes 20 percent on sales over $15. Mercari charges around 10 percent plus a payment processing fee. Facebook Marketplace charges no fee for local pickup listings and around 5 percent for shipped items. Factor these into your pricing so you are not surprised by the net amount when the money arrives.