Poshmark is strong for clothing and accessories, eBay has the widest buyer base for most other items, and Facebook Marketplace suits large items collected locally. Choosing the right platform for what you are selling makes a significant difference to how quickly items sell and at what price.
Poshmark — best for clothing and accessories
Poshmark is one of the largest resale platforms for secondhand fashion in the US. Listing is free; the seller pays a fee when an item sells — a flat fee on low-value sales and a percentage on higher-value ones. Poshmark provides a prepaid shipping label once an item sells, which removes most of the shipping hassle. The community element matters: sharing listings and accepting reasonable offers meaningfully affects how fast items move.
- Best for: clothing, shoes, handbags, accessories, children's clothes
- Fees: seller fee deducted at sale — check Poshmark's current fee schedule
- Shipping: prepaid label provided, with a weight limit per package
- Tips: clear photos against a plain background, accurate measurements, share your listings, respond to offers quickly
eBay — best for electronics, collectibles and most other items
eBay has the largest buyer base in the US and suits almost any item. Most sellers get an allowance of zero-insertion-fee listings each month; beyond that a small insertion fee applies. eBay charges a final value fee on the total amount of the sale, which is roughly 13.25% in many categories but varies by category and listing type. You can list as an auction or at a fixed price.
- Best for: electronics, gaming, books, collectibles, brand-name goods, tools, auto parts
- Fees: insertion fee beyond your monthly allowance, plus a final value fee — check the current fee schedule by category
- Shipping: you arrange it, though eBay labels are usually cheaper than retail rates. Use tracked shipping for anything over $20
- Tips: put brand and model number in the title, check sold listings to price realistically, offer combined shipping on multiple items
Facebook Marketplace — best for local, large or heavy items
Facebook Marketplace is free to list on for local sales. Buyers collect in person, which makes it ideal for furniture, appliances and anything too bulky or heavy to ship economically. Shipping is available on some items. Craigslist and OfferUp fill a similar role, with OfferUp's app-based format making it easy to handle inquiries on the move.
- Best for: furniture, large appliances, bicycles, exercise equipment, local pickup items
- Fees: free for local sales
- Meeting buyers: use a police department safe exchange zone where available, or a busy public place in daylight
- Tips: respond quickly — competition is high and buyers move on fast
General guidance only — not regulated financial advice.
A realistic view of what you can make
A typical household clear-out turns up clothing in good condition, books, old electronics, kitchen appliances used once, and children's toys. Clothing and books sell for modest amounts each; working electronics and brand-name items are where most of the value sits. One afternoon of photographing and listing commonly produces a few hundred dollars, though it depends entirely on what you own. Bear in mind the platform fee and shipping cost come out of the sale price — check the fee schedule before pricing.
Writing listings that sell quickly
The most common reason items do not sell is poor photos or incomplete descriptions. Good photos: taken in natural light against a plain background, showing the front, back and any defects honestly. Good descriptions: brand, size, accurate condition, measurements for clothing, and model numbers for anything electronic. On Poshmark, accurate measurements and honest condition notes reduce returns and disputes. On eBay, brand and model number in the title is what makes an item findable at all.
Staying safe when selling online
- For local sales, meet at a police department safe exchange zone where one exists, or a busy public place in daylight — and bring someone with you for high-value items
- Never share bank account or card details — use the platform's own payment system
- Be wary of buyers who want to move the conversation off-platform, overpay and ask for a refund of the difference, or send a "verification code" — these are well-documented scam patterns
- For high-value shipped items, use tracked and signature-required shipping and keep proof
- Do not accept a check or a screenshot of a payment as proof — confirm funds have actually cleared before handing anything over