How To Sell Clothes Online And Make Money Fast! (2023)

Ready to make some serious cash? 21 best places to sell your clothes online, plus top tips to make real money.

What if I told you that you could find $500 in your closet? Or even $1,000?

Yep!

How many jumpers and shoes do you have that you no longer wear? Let me guess…plenty!

A recent study found that the average American does not wear an astonishing 82% of the clothes they own.

How about finding them a new home and getting some extra cash instead?

If you are willing to put in some work and sell your old unwanted clothes online, you could be sitting on a gold mine. It’s never been easier to sell anything and everything from the comfort of home, and fashionable clothes are always in high demand.

Selling second-hand clothes is one of my favorite ways to make money for many reasons: 

• Decluttering: with fewer clothes in your closet, your mornings will be less stressful. It’s your first step to a more organized life!
• Sustainability: in a society where most people throw away stuff that has been barely used, selling second-hand clothes can help to reduce waste.
• Extra money: if you are trying to save money for your next vacation or build an emergency fund, making some extra money will help you get there faster.

With the fashion resale market growing globally by 24% last year, and expected to reach $218 billion by 2026, it looks like second-hand stores (both physical and online) are becoming much more desirable, and the thrill of the hunt for gently used fashion is only becoming more and more enticing.

Let’s see how you can get in on the action.

20 Best Places to sell clothes online

Well, it depends on what you are trying to sell. Sites online are becoming more specialized, and in this list, you’ll find many options that will help you find the perfect fit for your style. 

Here is the most up-to-date list of the best places to sell clothes today.

1. ThredUP

ThredUP is revolutionizing the way you can sell clothes online. Simply order a clean-out kit from their site, fill the cute bright turquoise polka dot bag with your clothes, and send it back for free.

The site accepts gently used or high-quality clothes for women and children (sorry, guys). Once thredUP receives your bag, their second-hand experts will sort through all your items and decide what they can sell and what they’ll recycle for you.

It usually takes 1-3 weeks for thredUP to let you know how much your clothes are worth. You can then decide to spend the money on their site, get a PayPal payment, or donate it to charity.

ThredUP is great if you want an easy way to sell your clothes without worrying about taking pictures and negotiating.

But this advantage comes at a price: you might get $20-$25 for a bag full of clothes. Still, better than $0 for pretty much no effort!

And if you want to get back your unsold items, you can ask them to return them for a small fee.

Please note that Clean Out Kit orders are limited as ThredUp processing times are very high, approximately 10-20 weeks once received. You can check kit availability from the clean-out page here to see how long the waiting list is.

2. Poshmark

Poshmark is insanely easy to use and one of the best places to sell clothes online.

Download the app, start taking photos of your clothes, and then share it across the network (as well as your own social profiles).

Getting started is easy, and the company helps you with no-hassle shipping. You’ll get a priority box from USPS with a prepaid shipping label, and they’ll take a 20% fee.

It’s a very social platform. You need to build a following and share other people’s posts to generate interest if you want to sell.

People on Poshmark are looking for deals. The average sale is around $15, so be prepared to negotiate your prices. However, if you’re great at selling, you’ll find it really easy to make some quick cash.

3. Depop

Depop is a bit of a hybrid between eBay and Instagram. It’s mainly aimed at teens and 20-somethings looking for vintage treasure finds.

Excellent photos and good descriptions are the keys to success here, and you need to make sure you add relevant brand hashtags for a better chance of being found.

It’s almost like opening up your own clothing shop on the app, and you’ll need to handle the negotiation with your potential buyers.

Depop charges a 10% fee on everything you sell, and you’ll get paid through PayPal.

4. eBay

The great thing about eBay is that you can potentially sell your clothes for more money and higher profit. Their fees are much cheaper than other apps, but the site is a bit old-fashioned and clunkier to use.

You can sell your items at auction or give your items a fixed price. I prefer going for a fixed price, as you can also provide the buyers with an option to submit their best offer.

With eBay, you need to be at the top of your game, make sure your listings look professional, have great descriptions, and are correctly keyworded.

People on this platform are looking for specific stuff. They’re not just browsing to find something nice. That’s why you are much better off selling sought-after items to make the most of them.

5. Tradesy

If you’re seriously trying to make some cash, you will likely have way more than just clothes to sell. Tradesy is perfect if you have many accessories or other high-end fashion items like handbags.

You can sell any item in your closet that’s in good condition.

List the items on the site, and when you make a sale, they will give you a prepaid package to send to the buyer or print a shipping label from home. It’s the perfect combination of profit and convenience.

Tradesy’s commission is $7.50 per piece under $50, and they charge 19.8% for anything over $50.

6. Vinted

Vinted is an excellent resource for both buyers and sellers because it’s so easy to use.

Create an account, list the items for free, and then wait for customers to come to you. Vinted does offer postage, but you still have to pay for it, depending on the package’s size.

Some great features on this site include bundling (for customers buying more than one item from you) and price adjustments.

Offering discounts or bonuses for shoppers can help set you apart from the competition, and it’s effortless to do.

7. Facebook Marketplace

Facebook Marketplace is a great place to sell used clothing online. You can simply tap on the Marketplace icon at the bottom of your Facebook app and start listing your items by clicking Sell Something. 

Facebook Marketplace is free, so you can keep more of the profits.

Overall, the marketplace works like a classified section – you list the item, buyers contact you through Facebook, and you directly connect with them.

Once you’ve met with your buyer in a public place to make the exchange, mark the item as sold, and it will stop appearing in the search.

It’s a great place to sell everyday clothing in your local area!

8. Instagram

Yes, Instagram is an excellent place to sell clothes!

Obviously, it’s not going to be as simple as some of the other sites we’ve looked at so far, but it’s the perfect social media platform if you have the drive and creativity.

There are no fees for listing your images, and you can completely control your price and marketing strategy. 

You should set up a separate Instagram account, take beautiful flat-lay pictures of the items you want to sell, and use relevant hashtags like #shopmycloset, #instacloset, #instasale, and #clothesforsale, which will help people find your profile.

The preferred payment method on Instagram is PayPal, so be sure to set up an account before you start.

9. Mercari

Mercari is an app designed to sell anything and everything.

It’s pretty easy to use, and your shipping fees will be low if you use their prepaid labels. You can also decide if you will pay for the shipping or if the buyer will.

The buyer has only three days to return an item, so you don’t have to worry about it getting returned after that.

Their fees are also pretty cheap (10%) compared to similar user-friendly apps. 

I’ve heard some people complaining about annoying buyers. To avoid this, only sell to buyers with a good rating (yes, sellers can rate buyers, too!).

This usually avoids having to deal with some painful people.

10. Craigslist

If you want to take a more old-fashioned route, Craigslist is always an option.

While not as flashy or as trendy as the other sites we’ve looked at so far, it’s a reliable tool that connects you with buyers on your own terms. It’s free to list and sell. You just meet up with the buyer to make the swap.

Look for the clothing and accessories section on your local board and post any item you want to sell.

This option can be great for non-designer clothing other sites don’t accept. And as your listing is free, your profit potential is higher too!

11. Rebag

Selling clothes is one thing, but if you have designer handbags, Rebag is your best bet to turn them into cash.

That being said, the site is only interested in high-end luxury bags, so anything that doesn’t have a brand name on it probably won’t be considered.

Submit photos of your bag through their online app, or you can visit one of their stores if you’re nearby.

They will assess your bag and either accept it or not.

They are pretty strict with their guidelines, so check them to avoid wasting time. If approved, you’ll get a quote, and you can go from there.

Overall, they offer reasonable prices, but you probably won’t get as much as you would if you sold directly to the customer, so keep that in mind.

12. LePrix

LePrix used to be called Snob Swap. The company works with over 500 second-hand stores and uses machine learning technology to make the shopping and selling experience much better.

Request a consignment kit, and go through the vetting process. LePrix wants clothes in excellent condition, so keep that in mind.

Save your used hand-me-downs for other sites (unless they’re really chic). Also, if one of the boutiques is close to you, you can go in person instead of mailing the clothes.

13. The Real Real

As with LePrix, The Real Real offers white-glove service when picking up your clothes.

This site only works with brands like Gucci, Prada, Chanel, Louis Vuitton, etc.; you can make between 55% to 70% of the sale price (depending on how much you sell with them each year).

Commission rates are not quite as lucrative as eBay, but The Real Real takes the pressure of selling off your plate: all you have to do is to consign your items for free (using their pick up-service, a pre-paid label, or by going to one of their consignment offices).

They’ll then authenticate, photograph, price, and sell your items for you.

14. Grailed

For the most part, online clothes stores are aimed at women.

However, men can declutter their wardrobe too, which is where Grailed comes in. Grailed specializes in clothing and accessories for men, so if you’re a guy or your boyfriend has some great clothes, this is the best place to sell them.

There are four marketplaces you can sell to, and here’s a quick breakdown:

• Grails: for high-end designers.
• Hype: for highly anticipated new releases.
• Sartorial: for high-end classic menswear.
• Core: for mainstream brands like Uniqlo, Levi’s, H&M, Zara, etc.

You need to add at least three quality photos to your listing. There is a 6% commission (plus applicable PayPal fees: 2.9% + 30 cents for domestic) when an item sells, so the total charge can be around 9-11% of the total sale price.

15. VarageSale

VarageSale is perfect for selling all kinds of items, including clothes and other accessories.

Best of all, you’ll be trading in your local area rather than potentially having to ship to other states or internationally. You just need to sign up, find your local community by selecting your location, and get verified.

This app works like any other: you list an item with pictures and a description. Once a buyer is interested in your item, you can arrange a meetup for the exchange. 

And because VarageSale checks both buyers’ and sellers’ identities, it’s much safer than other websites like Craiglist. Plus, it’s free to use.

Feeling Entrepreneurial? Start Your Own Business

Cleaning out your closet can even turn out as a way of starting your own small business!

Don’t believe me? Check out the amazing story of Olivia Hillier. She began selling clothes she found at thrift stores in her spare time while attending medical school – her first sale was a shirt she bought for $5 and sold for $20 – and in her first year, she made $85,000!

If you’re thinking of opening your own second-hand store online, here are the best places to get started.

16. Shopify Store

If you want to turn your passion for selling second-hand clothing into a business, you should think about launching an online clothing store.

You can buy used clothing for cheap in places like Goodwill outlets and resell them online for a higher price. You need to have an eye for fashion and know what brands are worth more.

Start practicing with apps like Poshmark, then move to eBay, and once you are ready for the jump, open up your own shop.

And if you want the flexibility to customize your e-shop with one of the best eCommerce systems out there, Shopify is the way to go.

They have a wide range of themes and an impressive app store to add more tools to your online store and simplify your setup, even if you are not a computer expert.

Try out Shopify for free for 14 days.

17. Etsy

Etsy is one of the biggest online marketplaces, mainly designed for crafty people who make unique products, so if you have some brand-name clothes lying around, you can’t simply sell them here.

Whatever you sell here must be handmade or vintage (over 20 years old). There is a $0.20 listing fee, a standard payment processing fee, and a small commission to pay when an item sells.

Overall, it’s like running your own small business, so it’ll be a little more work than selling through an app like Poshmark. If you are interested in finding out more, you can check my guide to opening an Etsy shop and making money.

18. Storenvy

Building a custom online storefront with Storenvy only takes 5 minutes, and with over 5 million visitors a month, you get access to an extensive network of shoppers. 

Storenvy makes it easy to get started: you don’t have to be tech-savvy to set up a store here, but customization options are pretty limited. Uploading up to 1000 products is free, and they charge a 10% fee on all items you sell. 

It’s the perfect option if you want an easy setup to check if opening an online clothing store is for you.

19. CafePress

If you’re a graphic designer in the making or you take beautiful pictures, then CafePress is an excellent way to create customized clothing for resale. Make all kinds of fun and quirky t-shirts and other clothing like sweaters and kid’s stuff.

There are no upfront fees for starting out, and you do not have to create your own inventory.

Just create the graphics, set up your store, and pick the products you want your design to go on to. You can select over 250 products!

If your designs sell, CafePress will look after all the billing, shipping, and general customer care for you, and you’ll receive a commission (usually 5-10% of the sale price).

20. RedBubble

RedBubble is perfect if you’re an artist looking to make money off your work. The site is similar to CafePress but more geared toward artwork than selling products.

As an artist, you upload your pieces to your profile, and then shoppers can take your digital artwork and put it on any of the products RedBubble offers.

You get a commission on each piece sold, and your designs will live on forever.

8 Best Tips for Selling Clothes Online Successfully

Are you checking the clothes in your closet to see what you can sell right now? You should!

But before you go too far, follow these top tips to make the most out of your second-hand clothes.

Some of these websites and apps are getting crowded. You need to know the perfect ways to stand out and get ahead of the competition! 

1. Is it worth selling?

Make sure you set your selling price right. While it may be nice to believe that you could sell your clothes for close to what you paid, it’s probably not going to happen.

Forget your emotional attachment.

Look at similar items and prices according to what people will pay, not what you want to make. 

Don’t sell items that are too cheap. It might not be worth your time. There is still significant work involved in taking pictures and writing a successful listing.

Decide the minimum price you want to sell an item for, and don’t go below that threshold. For example, I don’t sell anything below $10.

2. Prepare your clothes

If you sell it, you probably haven’t used it in a long time. Get your iron out and give your garment a makeover. You need to make it look in the best condition possible.

3. Prep the stage

We buy using our eyes, and a picture is worth a lot more than words. Make sure you use a clear, uncluttered background. You can hang your items from the back of a door or lay them flat on your bed or a table for an Instagram look.

Always use natural light. No matter what you are doing, 10:00 pm is not the time to do a photoshoot.

You can also use an editing program to brighten up the picture and crop it to make it as pleasing to the eye as possible but make sure the colors look exactly like in real life to avoid returns.

4. Photos that sell

If you were to buy second-hand clothes online, which one would you pick? An item with several pictures that give you a clear idea of what you will get or an item with just one picture?

Go above and beyond everyone else and make your clothes stand out by taking multiple photos.

Make sure you take at least one picture of:

• Front.
• Back.
• Close-Up.
• Any flaws the item has.

And if you can:

• Upload extra pictures.
• Add a close-up of the label.
• Add any additional details that make it unique.
• Possibly include even a stock photo of the item from the original brand (but do not use this as the main image, or potential buyers could think the item is new and be disappointed).

4. A description that works

The second most important thing after photos is a brilliant description if you want to sell your items. And a brilliant description is made of 2 things:

• Title: your title is the key to being found. You need to use the right keywords and add all the essential information buyers are looking for, like brand and size.

Bad title: Hollister Jeans XS
Good title: Hollister Advanced Stretch Low-Rise Jean Leggings 25 XS Dark Wash

• Accurate description: start by googling your item and find descriptions from retailers. And then add your own personal touch by giving your opinion on the item, when you bought you, how much you used it and why you’re selling it. Put yourself in the buyer’s shoes and think about what you would like to know: What is the exact color? How does it fit? What material is it made of? What’s the condition? Are there any faults? Where did you buy it? How much did you pay for it?

5. Is it the right time?

There’s not much point in trying to sell a bikini in the middle of winter when it’s freezing outside or a cashmere jumper if it’s 100 degrees! Make sure you sell your items at the right time to stay on trend and get the most out of your sales.

6. Responsiveness

Once customers decide your clothes are too hot to ignore, you should be ready to respond to any questions or interests ASAP. As soon as you receive a notification, reply straight away.

People get bored quite quickly online, and buyers are likely to move on to the next seller unless you are selling a rare item.

6. Don’t ignore shipping costs

If you’ve never sold anything online, you might not know how much postage can impact your bottom line. I once sold a jacket for $30, and the shipping costs were $15. Not a great profit!

Don’t make the same mistake, and get a proper estimate of your shipping costs before putting an item up for sale.

You need to weigh the item and all the packaging (for a nice touch and to get good reviews from your buyers, you can wrap the items in some nice colorful tissue paper).

Then use a shipping calculator cost like this one on eBay.

7. Fees

Each app or website has its own fees. And these fees can have a big impact on your profits. Make sure you take that into account when you price up your items.

You don’t want to end up doing all this work and end up with not much money in your bank account. 

8. Batching

Some people complain that selling clothes online is not worth the trouble and it’s too time-consuming. That’s because they go about it the wrong way!

Once you decide to do it, you should wait until you have multiple items to list. Set aside a few hours to take pictures of everything at the same time so that you can set up your stage once.

Then write all your titles and descriptions and upload the items on your favorite platform on that day.

You can also save your best descriptions and just change a few details here and there about the color and the brand to make the process even faster. The more you sell, the quicker you’ll get.

Don’t be discouraged! The first sales are the hardest.

Once you know the process and have a system in place, you’ll be able to make money in no time.

Ready to sell your clothes for cash?

Selling clothes online is fun and rewarding, which is why so many people do it. As long as you have the right mindset (and an eye for fashion), it can be the fastest and easiest way to make extra cash.

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• How To Sell on Etsy And Actually Make Money
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• How to Make An Extra $1,000 a Month 
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• How To Start Your Online Store