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Are your fits mostly from H&M and Gap, or are we talking LV and Gucci? If you're ready to sell, do you want to simply send off a bag of clothes and let someone else deal with it, or list and ship each piece yourself?
Top sites offer nuanced approaches and charge varied fees.
Best places to sell clothes online
1. ThredUp
Good for: Unloading multiple pieces of women’s and kid’s clothes at once.
Effort needed: Minimal (you send stuff; the site gives you money).
ThredUp is an online consignment shop just for women’s and children’s clothing (sorry, fellas). The company’s concept takes the grunt work out of selling loads of clothes, but may not net as much as listing items piece by piece.
ThredUp stands out because it accepts all brands, but clothes must be clean and in good condition. Start the process by ordering a prelabeled bag to fill and sending it back. You can also request and print a shipping label for your own box.
The company receives, inspects, lists and ships your items. You can expect your stuff to start selling four to six weeks after sending your bag, according to the website.
You earn a percentage of what sells. For example: You get 60% to 80% for clothes that sell for $100 to $199.99, but only 3% to 15% for those that sell for $5 to $19.99.
The reseller works with a third-party partner to recycle the clothes it won’t accept, or you can reclaim your unsold items for a $5.99 fee.
2. Poshmark
Good for: Listing a variety of everyday clothes, personal care products and select home goods, piece by piece.
Effort needed: Moderate (you list items, set prices and ship).
Poshmark is a peer-to-peer marketplace where you can post all sorts of women’s, men’s and kid's clothing, plus accessories and more for resale.
Unlike with ThredUP, you post and price each item yourself on Poshmark. When you make a sale, Poshmark emails a prepaid shipping label so you can pack and ship the item(s).
Poshmark takes $2.95 on sales under $15 and 20% of the price for sales of $15 or more. After the buyer receives the item, you get your share within three days.
The app also hosts “Posh Parties” a few times per day. During these events, you can submit items that fit into the designated fashion theme.
3. The RealReal
Good for: Selling your high-end pieces in a low-effort manner.
Effort needed: Minimal (you send stuff; the site gives you money).
The RealReal is like ThredUp, but for designer items — think Gucci, Chanel or Louis Vuitton. According to its website, you first print out a free, prepaid shipping label to attach to your package of goods. Or, depending on where you live, you may be able to drop off your items at one of The RealReal’s locations.
The RealReal prices your items based on market trends, condition and other factors.
Unlike other online consignment stores, you won’t get paid per clothing item. Instead, you’ll receive a commission for everything sold over a calendar month, starting at 20% for sales of $99 or less.
Commission percentages increase with higher sales. Selling $5,000 or more will net you 70% of the proceeds, for example.
4. Vestiaire Collective
Good for: Listing fancy clothes yourself.
Effort needed: Moderate (you provide photos, set prices and handle shipping).
Vestiaire Collective is a peer-to-peer marketplace specializing in luxury brands. Like with Poshmark, you're responsible for listing, pricing and shipping items. However, the company is keen on authentication and says it carefully reviews each item listed before publishing.
Once an item sells, you print a label, pack and ship it in your own package.
Vestiaire Collective takes 12% of an item’s selling price if it is between $83 and $16,667. For sales less than $83, a $10 fee applies. For items $16,668 and up, Vestiaire has a fixed fee of $2,000. It charges a payment processing fee of 3%, too.
5. Depop
Good for: Quickly listing stylish pieces in a format that gives off social media vibes.
Effort needed: Moderate (you shoot, list and ship, but the app's UI makes it fairly simple).
Depop isn’t drastically different from other reselling sites, but it has a trendy feel that focuses on style and ease of use. The selling point for sellers is its simplified AI-powered listing process that takes some of the tedium out of posting a piece.
Then, when you sell something, you can use “Depop Shipping,” or arrange to do so yourself. Go with Depop and you can show a QR code to USPS or tape a prepaid label on your package. You can also decide whether you or the buyer covers the shipping cost.
Then, when you sell something, you can use “Depop Shipping,” or arrange to do so yourself. Go with Depop and you can show a QR code to USPS or tape a prepaid label on your package. You can also decide whether you or the buyer covers the shipping cost.
Depop doesn’t have selling fees here in the U.S., but there is a payment processing fee of 3.3% + $0.45 through Depop Payments or PayPal.
Other ways to sell clothes online
Community-based marketplaces. If you’d rather sell clothes nearby to avoid shipping, try listing locally through sites and apps such as OfferUp and Facebook Marketplace. These sites don’t operate like consignment stores. You post your own listings and work directly with the buyer.
Broader resale sites. You can also explore websites that cover a wider range of products, such as Etsy and eBay. Both sites allow sellers to list clothing, shoes, accessories and other items.
Best practices for selling clothes online
Take a little time up front to get top dollar for your clothes.
Freshen up your merchandise
Wash or dry-clean your items before putting them on the market. Polish hardware on shoes and handbags and buff the scuffs.
Carefully package items so they’re less likely to get wrinkled or damaged in transit.
Take clear photos if listing items yourself
Bright, clear pictures will help your items stand out in a sea of dimly lit cell phone shots. Place your piece on a flat, plain surface and angle a lamp at it to reduce shadows. Take a picture of the tag, to show authenticity.
Don’t have a plain surface? A solid-colored bedspread or blanket will work in a pinch.
Write an honest description
Give basic information on size, brand and condition, as well as more nuanced details in the description. Does a pair of jeans sit low on the hips? Is the fabric heavy or stretchy? Put it in the description.
Is there a tiny red dot on that white cashmere sweater? Presenting any defects upfront will preserve your reputation and seller rating, which are everything in some consignment circles.
Price clothes to sell
A little competitive research will help you find the sweet spot — not too high, not too low — when pricing your merchandise. If your piece doesn’t move, try dropping the price. Not ready to mark down your item? Revamp your photo and description.
