60 things to sell to make money, from what you already own to flips, handmade items and digital products, with where each sells best, what each site keeps and real sellers' results.
This is a list of 60 things to sell to make money, from what's already in your closet to things you can make and digital products.
I've sold digital products online since 2014, starting with the passes for my first virtual summit, and today I sell through Creator Store, a store I built myself with the help of AI. Selling things is the fastest way to turn what you own or know into money. You can read more in my story.
Most lists stop at "sell your old stuff." This one shows where each thing sells best, what that site keeps from each sale, from its own fee page, and a real seller's result where one exists.
In this guide, you'll learn:
- 60 things to sell in four groups: what you own, what you flip, what you make and what's digital
- Where each one sells best, and what each site keeps
- What sells fastest when you need money this week
- What kids and teens can sell, and how
- How to price, photograph and sell safely
Pick the group that matches what you have, and list one thing today.
TL;DRKey takeaways
What sells best right now
Secondhand is no longer a niche. Here's where the money is moving, from ThredUp's 14th annual resale report:
That last number matters for sellers: showing your items on social media, not only on the marketplace, brings buyers to them.
Where to sell what
Each marketplace suits a different kind of thing, and each keeps a different share. Here's what each one charges sellers, from its own fee page:
eBay- Best for
- Almost anything that ships
- What it keeps
- 13.6% plus $0.40 an order in most categories
- Source
- eBay
- Best for
- Furniture, appliances and big items
- What it keeps
- Nothing on local sales, 5% on shipped ones
- Source
- Best for
- Clothes, shoes and bags
- What it keeps
- $2.95 under $15, 20% from $15
- Source
- Poshmark
- Best for
- Vintage and trendy clothes
- What it keeps
- No selling fee in the US, 3.3% plus $0.45 to process
- Source
- Depop
- Best for
- Everyday clothes
- What it keeps
- Nothing, sellers keep 100%
- Source
- Vinted
- Best for
- Mixed items that ship
- What it keeps
- 10% of the item price and shipping
- Source
- Mercari
- Best for
- Cards, collectibles and live sales
- What it keeps
- 8% for standard sellers, plus 2.9% and $0.30
- Source
- Whatnot
- Best for
- Phones and electronics
- What it keeps
- 3% of the sale
- Source
- Swappa
- Best for
- Musical instruments and gear
- What it keeps
- 5%, plus 3.19% and $0.49 to process
- Source
- Reverb
- Best for
- Trading cards
- What it keeps
- 10.75%, plus 2.5% and $0.30
- Source
- TCGplayer
- Best for
- Books and new items
- What it keeps
- $0.99 an item on the Individual plan, plus a 15% referral fee in most categories
- Source
- Amazon
Etsy- Best for
- Handmade, vintage and digital
- What it keeps
- $0.20 to list, 6.5% of each sale, plus processing
- Source
- Etsy
- Best for
- Digital products
- What it keeps
- 10% plus $0.50 on sales you bring in
- Source
- Gumroad
Work out what you keep on any sale with the profit margin calculator.
The 60 things come in four groups:
Things you already own
These 19 are already in your home, so everything you sell is profit.
Things to buy and flip
These 16 buy low at thrift stores, yard sales and Marketplace, and sell higher.
Things you can make
These 12 turn a craft or a kitchen into a small shop.
Digital things
These 13 are made once and sold again and again.
Things to sell that you already own
These 19 are already in your home, so the fastest money in this guide is here, with nothing to buy first.
1. Clothes
What you keep: the sale price, minus the site's share. Vinted sellers keep 100% (Vinted), Depop charges US sellers no selling fee, only 3.3% plus $0.45 to process (Depop), and Poshmark keeps $2.95 on sales under $15 and 20% above (Poshmark).
Brand-name clothes in good condition sell fastest, especially jeans, jackets, workout clothes and anything in season. Price by what similar items actually sold for, not what they're listed at.
Example: Jasmeen made close to $100 in her first week selling her old clothes on Vinted, in May 2026.
Watch: Jasmeen on selling old clothes on Vinted, starting with close to $100 in the first week.
Tools: sell on Vinted, Depop or Poshmark, and clean up photos with the product photo background remover.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Hiding stains or holes leads to returns, so photograph every flaw.
- Listing everything at once on one app buries your best pieces, so list a few a day.
Start: free · Ships: yes · Sells best on: Vinted, Depop and Poshmark
2. Sneakers
What you keep: on eBay, sneakers that sell for $150 or more pay an 8% fee with no per-order fee, and pairs under $150 pay 13.6% (eBay).
Popular brands and limited releases hold their value best, and the box, the laces and clean soles all raise the price. Worn pairs still sell, priced honestly for their condition.
Tools: list on eBay, and photograph on a plain background with the product photo background remover.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Selling fakes, even by accident, gets accounts banned, so check that a pair is authentic.
- Skipping sole photos makes buyers wary, so show every angle.
Start: free · Ships: yes · Sells best on: eBay
3. Phones and electronics
What you keep: Swappa charges sellers 3% of the sale (Swappa), and eBay keeps 13.6% plus $0.40 an order in most categories (eBay).
Recent phones, tablets, laptops and headphones sell well, and an unlocked phone sells for more. Condition, storage size and battery health set most of the price.
Tools: sell phones on Swappa and other electronics on eBay.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Selling without a factory reset leaves your data on the device, so wipe it first.
- Skipping the carrier lock check leads to returns, so say whether it's unlocked.
Start: free · Ships: yes · Sells best on: Swappa and eBay
4. Video games and consoles
What you keep: eBay keeps 13.6% plus $0.40 an order in most categories (eBay), and a local sale on Facebook Marketplace costs nothing.
Recent consoles, controllers and popular games sell quickly, and older Nintendo games can sell for more than they cost new. Bundles of a console with games often sell faster than parts.
Example: 502 Frank bought a Nintendo Switch with games for $110 on Facebook Marketplace and sold it on eBay for $200, keeping about $165 after fees, in February 2026.
Tools: sell on eBay for shipping, or Facebook Marketplace for local cash.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Listing a console without testing it leads to returns, so test it first.
- Selling rare games in a cheap bundle loses money, so check sold prices one by one.
Start: free · Ships: yes · Sells best on: eBay and Facebook Marketplace
5. Books and textbooks
What you keep: on Amazon's Individual plan, you pay $0.99 an item, a 15% referral fee in most categories and a $1.80 closing fee on books and other media (Amazon). eBay keeps 15.3% on books (eBay).
Recent textbooks, test prep books and collectible first editions are worth listing, while most used paperbacks sell for very little. Scan the barcode before you list, so you know if a book is worth the time.
Tools: sell on Amazon or eBay.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Listing every book wastes hours, so list only the ones worth more than a few dollars.
- Missing the edition number sells the wrong book, so check it against the listing.
Start: free · Ships: yes · Sells best on: Amazon and eBay
6. Furniture
What you keep: Facebook Marketplace charges no fee when the buyer pays you in person (Facebook), and OfferUp now only supports local, in-person sales (OfferUp).
Solid wood pieces, dressers, desks, dining sets and anything mid-century sell best. Furniture is bulky, so local buyers who pick it up are the easiest sale.
Tools: list on Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Leaving out measurements wastes trips, so list the width, depth and height.
- Accepting checks or payment app requests from strangers invites scams, so take cash in person.
Start: free · Ships: no · Sells best on: Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp
7. LEGO and toys
What you keep: eBay keeps 13.6% plus $0.40 an order in most categories (eBay), or nothing on a local Facebook Marketplace sale.
Complete LEGO sets with the box and instructions sell best, and retired sets can sell for more than their original price. Loose LEGO sells by the pound, for much less.
Tools: sell on eBay or Facebook Marketplace.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Calling a set complete when pieces are missing leads to returns, so check the inventory.
- Selling retired sets for loose-brick prices loses money, so check each set number.
Start: free · Ships: yes · Sells best on: eBay
8. Baby gear
What you keep: nothing goes to Facebook Marketplace on a local sale (Facebook), and Mercari keeps 10% on shipped sales (Mercari).
Strollers, carriers, bouncers and kids' clothes sell fast, because babies outgrow them in months. Safety comes first: it's illegal to sell a recalled product, and it's your job to check before you sell (CPSC).
Example: Mama On A Mission took 114 pieces of kids' clothing to Once Upon a Child, and the store bought 48 of them for $60.60, about $1.26 each, in May 2026. A similar piece has sold for about $20 on eBay, so the best pieces are worth listing online first.
Watch: Mama On A Mission on what Once Upon a Child took from 114 pieces of kids' clothing, and what it paid.
Tools: sell on Facebook Marketplace or Mercari.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Selling a used car seat with an unknown history is risky, since you can't prove it hasn't been in a crash, so skip car seats.
- Selling cribs made before June 2011 is likely illegal under federal crib standards, so don't resell old cribs.
Start: free · Ships: some · Sells best on: Facebook Marketplace
9. Sports and fitness gear
What you keep: nothing on a local Facebook Marketplace sale, which suits heavy gear (Facebook).
Weights, dumbbells, bikes, golf clubs and rowing machines sell well, especially in January when people start new routines. Heavy gear sells locally, so buyers come to you.
Tools: list on Facebook Marketplace and OfferUp.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Listing weights without the exact pounds wastes questions, so list each weight.
- Shipping heavy gear eats your profit, so sell it locally.
Start: free · Ships: no · Sells best on: Facebook Marketplace
10. Gift cards you won't use
What you keep: a share of the card's balance. CardCash offers up to 92% of a card's value and pays by check, ACH or PayPal (CardCash).
Gift cards to big stores sell for the most, and cards to small restaurants for less. Selling one you won't use beats letting the balance sit.
Tools: get a quote from CardCash.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Selling a gift card to a stranger online invites fraud, so use a gift card exchange.
- Giving out a card's code before you're paid lets a buyer drain it, so don't share it until you're paid.
Start: free · Ships: no · Sells best on: gift card exchanges
11. Jewelry and gold
What you keep: a jeweler or gold buyer pays you by weight and purity, and eBay keeps 13.6% plus $0.40 an order in most categories (eBay).
Broken gold chains, single earrings and old rings still have value for their metal, while designer pieces sell for more as jewelry. Know the karat and the weight before anyone makes you an offer.
Tools: use a small kitchen scale for the weight, and sell designer pieces on eBay.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Taking the first offer can leave money on the table, so get several quotes.
- Selling designer pieces as scrap gold loses their brand value, so sell those as jewelry.
Start: free · Ships: some · Sells best on: local jewelers and eBay
12. Cameras and lenses
What you keep: eBay keeps 13.6% plus $0.40 an order in most categories (eBay), or nothing on a local sale.
Lenses often hold their value better than camera bodies, and film cameras have a following of their own. The shutter count and the condition of the glass set most of the price.
Tools: sell on eBay or Facebook Marketplace.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Hiding scratches or fungus on a lens leads to returns, so photograph the glass up close.
- Selling a body without its battery and charger lowers the price, so include them.
Start: free · Ships: yes · Sells best on: eBay
13. Musical instruments
What you keep: Reverb charges a 5% selling fee, with a $500 maximum, plus 3.19% and $0.49 to process each payment in the US (Reverb).
Guitars, amps, pedals, keyboards and brass instruments sell well to musicians who know what they want. Reverb is built for gear, so buyers there pay fair prices for good instruments.
Tools: sell on Reverb.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Shipping a guitar without loosening the strings and padding the neck can break it, so pack it like a pro.
- Leaving out the model and year makes buyers guess, so list both.
Start: free · Ships: yes · Sells best on: Reverb
14. Tools
What you keep: nothing on a local Facebook Marketplace sale (Facebook), and 13.6% plus $0.40 an order on eBay (eBay).
Power tools from known brands, tool sets and garden tools sell well, especially with batteries and chargers. Contractors and DIY fans buy used tools all year.
Tools: list on Facebook Marketplace or eBay.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Selling a tool without its battery cuts the price, so include it or say it's tool-only.
- Listing without the model number hides its value, so add it.
Start: free · Ships: some · Sells best on: Facebook Marketplace
15. Watches
What you keep: eBay's fee depends on the category and price, so check the watches category before you list (eBay).
Known brands, vintage watches and smartwatches all have buyers, and the box and papers raise the price. Have a valuable watch checked for authenticity first.
Tools: sell on eBay.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Selling a valuable watch without an appraisal can undersell it, so get one first.
- Leaving out flaws leads to returns, so show the scratches.
Start: free · Ships: yes · Sells best on: eBay
16. Kitchen appliances
What you keep: nothing on a local Facebook Marketplace sale (Facebook).
Stand mixers, espresso machines, air fryers and blenders sell well when they're clean and complete. Most kitchen appliances are heavy, so local sales work best.
Tools: list on Facebook Marketplace or OfferUp.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Selling an appliance with missing parts lowers the price, so gather every attachment.
- Skipping the cleaning makes buyers pass, so clean it first.
Start: free · Ships: no · Sells best on: Facebook Marketplace
17. Camping and outdoor gear
What you keep: eBay keeps 13.6% plus $0.40 an order in most categories (eBay), and local sales cost nothing.
Tents, sleeping bags, backpacks and coolers from known brands sell well before spring and summer. Outdoor gear lasts, so buyers look for quality brands used.
Tools: sell on eBay or Facebook Marketplace.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Packing gear away wet leaves mildew, so dry it before storage or sale.
- Leaving out the size or weight frustrates buyers, so list both.
Start: free · Ships: some · Sells best on: eBay and Facebook Marketplace
18. Seasonal decorations
What you keep: nothing on a local Facebook Marketplace sale (Facebook).
Christmas, Halloween and other holiday decorations sell best a few weeks before the holiday, not after. Inflatables, lights and themed sets move fastest.
Tools: list on Facebook Marketplace.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Listing after the holiday means waiting a year, so list early.
- Selling lights that don't work gets bad reviews, so test them.
Start: free · Ships: no · Sells best on: Facebook Marketplace
19. Wedding decor after the day
What you keep: nothing on a local Facebook Marketplace sale (Facebook), and Poshmark keeps 20% on sales of $15 or more, like a dress (Poshmark).
Signs, centerpieces, vases, lights and dresses sell to couples planning their own weddings. Selling right after your wedding gets the best prices, while the style is current.
Tools: list decor on Facebook Marketplace and the dress on Poshmark.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Waiting a few years dates the style, so sell soon after the day.
- Skipping the photos from the wedding hides how good it looks, so include them.
Start: free · Ships: some · Sells best on: Facebook Marketplace
Things to buy and flip
These 16 turn thrift stores, yard sales and Marketplace into a side hustle: buy low, fix or clean, and sell higher.
20. Thrift store and storage unit finds
What you keep: the sale price, minus the site's fee and what you paid. eBay keeps 13.6% plus $0.40 an order in most categories (eBay).
Thrift stores, estate sales and storage unit auctions are full of items worth more online than on the shelf, from brand-name clothes to electronics. The skill is knowing what sells, which you learn by checking sold listings.
Example: Michael Haskell started reselling items from abandoned storage units in 2024, and by 18 his business brought in $97,434 from eBay and $37,500 from an auction house in 2025 (CNBC Make It).
Watch: CNBC Make It follows Michael Haskell, 18, who resells items from abandoned storage units on eBay and at auction.
Tools: sell on eBay, and clean up photos with the product photo background remover.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Buying everything that looks valuable fills your home with stock, so buy only what you've checked.
- Forgetting fees and shipping in your math hides losses, so count them before you buy.
Start: a little money · Ships: yes · Sells best on: eBay
21. Vintage clothing
What you keep: Depop charges US sellers no selling fee, only 3.3% plus $0.45 to process (Depop), and eBay keeps 13.6% plus $0.40 an order in most categories (eBay).
Band tees, vintage denim, old sportswear and designer pieces from past decades sell for well above thrift prices. Buyers pay for the era and the condition, so learn the labels.
Example: Rick Senko started reselling when he doubled his money flipping one phone on eBay in 2008, and his used clothing business now brings in $6.5 million a year (CNBC Make It).
Watch: CNBC Make It follows Rick Senko, who started reselling with one phone on eBay in 2008 and now brings in $6.5 million a year selling used clothes.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Calling new clothes vintage misleads buyers, so describe the era honestly.
- Skipping measurements causes returns, since vintage sizes run differently, so list them.
Start: a little money · Ships: yes · Sells best on: Depop and eBay
22. Pokémon and sports cards
What you keep: TCGplayer keeps 10.75%, plus 2.5% and $0.30 per order, from standard sellers (TCGplayer), and eBay keeps 13.25% on trading cards (eBay).
Graded cards, rare pulls and full sets sell for the most, and condition decides the price. Live selling on Whatnot works well for cards, since buyers like opening packs on stream.
Tools: sell on TCGplayer, eBay or Whatnot.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Grading every card wastes money, so grade only the ones a high grade makes worth more.
- Shipping cards in plain envelopes damages them, so use sleeves and top loaders.
Start: a little money · Ships: yes · Sells best on: TCGplayer, eBay and Whatnot
23. Retro video games
What you keep: eBay keeps 13.6% plus $0.40 an order in most categories (eBay).
Older Nintendo, Sega and PlayStation games and consoles have collectors who pay more for complete copies with the box and manual. Yard sales and thrift stores still turn them up cheap.
Tools: sell on eBay.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Selling reproduction cartridges as originals breaks eBay's rules, so check what's real.
- Selling a rare game in a lot hides its value, so check each one.
Start: a little money · Ships: yes · Sells best on: eBay
24. Vinyl records
What you keep: eBay keeps 13.6% plus $0.40 an order on vinyl, which sits outside its higher 15.3% music rate (eBay).
Original pressings, rare albums and classic rock and jazz sell best, and the condition of the record and the sleeve sets the price. Most records sell for a few dollars, so the money is in finding the good ones.
Tools: sell on eBay.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Overgrading a record's condition leads to returns, so grade it strictly.
- Shipping records in a thin box breaks them, so use stiff record mailers.
Start: a little money · Ships: yes · Sells best on: eBay
25. Furniture you refinish
What you keep: nothing on a local Facebook Marketplace sale (Facebook), so your margin is the sale price minus what you paid and spent on paint and hardware.
Solid wood pieces with good bones, like dressers and nightstands, are worth the most after sanding, paint or new hardware. The work adds the value, so price in your time.
Example: Tyler and Lindsey Dobson started upcycling furniture they found on the curb in 2020, and the side hustle grew into flipping homes, where they've made over $1 million (CNBC Make It).
Watch: CNBC Make It follows Tyler and Lindsey Dobson, who started by upcycling furniture they found on the curb in 2020.
Tools: list on Facebook Marketplace, and check your margin with the profit margin calculator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Refinishing cheap particleboard rarely pays off, so pick solid wood.
- Forgetting your hours makes a flip look profitable when it isn't, so count your time.
Start: a little money · Ships: no · Sells best on: Facebook Marketplace
26. Lawnmowers
What you keep: nothing on a local Facebook Marketplace sale (Facebook).
Mowers that need a small fix, like a new spark plug or a carburetor cleaning, are often given away or sold cheap, and sell for much more running. Spring is the busy season.
Tools: list on Facebook Marketplace.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Buying mowers with cracked decks or engine damage loses money, so check before you buy.
- Storing gas in a mower over winter gums it up, so drain it.
Start: a little money · Ships: no · Sells best on: Facebook Marketplace
27. Used iPhones
What you keep: Swappa charges sellers 3% of the sale (Swappa).
People sell older iPhones cheaply when they upgrade, and recent models resell for more online. Storage, battery health and whether the phone is unlocked set the price.
Tools: sell on Swappa or eBay.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Buying a phone still locked to someone's iCloud makes it unusable, so check it's signed out first.
- Buying a stolen phone can get it blacklisted, so check the IMEI before you pay.
Start: some money · Ships: yes · Sells best on: Swappa
28. Designer bags, authenticated
What you keep: eBay keeps 15% on women's bags and handbags up to $2,000, and 9% above that (eBay), and Poshmark keeps 20% on sales of $15 or more (Poshmark).
Known luxury brands hold their value, and the bag's condition, its dust bag and its receipt raise the price. Authentication protects you and the buyer.
Example: Andy's Luxury Den put about £4,000 into preloved designer bags, and the side hustle turned over £50,000 in its first year, in May 2026.
Watch: Andy's Luxury Den on turning £4,000 of preloved designer bags into a side hustle that turned over £50,000 in its first year.
Tools: sell on eBay or Poshmark.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Selling a fake, even by accident, can cost you your account, so authenticate every bag.
- Hiding wear on the corners or handles leads to returns, so photograph them.
Start: some money · Ships: yes · Sells best on: eBay and Poshmark
29. Bikes
What you keep: nothing on a local Facebook Marketplace sale (Facebook).
Bikes that need a tune-up, new tires or a chain sell for much more once they ride well. Kids' bikes move fast, since children outgrow them every year or two.
Example: LFG Cycling sold 32 bikes in one month, with profits from about $15 to $200 a bike, in June 2026.
Watch: LFG Cycling sells 32 bikes in a month and breaks down what each one made.
Tools: list on Facebook Marketplace.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Buying bikes with bent frames loses money, so check the frame first.
- Selling a bike that isn't safe to ride puts buyers at risk, so test the brakes.
Start: a little money · Ships: no · Sells best on: Facebook Marketplace
30. Books through Amazon FBA
What you keep: on Amazon, a 15% referral fee in most categories and a $1.80 closing fee on books, plus fulfillment fees when Amazon stores and ships them (Amazon).
With Fulfillment by Amazon, you send books to Amazon's warehouse and it handles the shipping. Textbooks and niche nonfiction often sell for far more than they cost at a thrift store or library sale.
Tools: sell through Amazon.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Sending low-value books loses money to fees, so check what you'd keep first.
- Leaving books in storage for months adds fees, so send what sells.
Start: a little money · Ships: yes · Sells best on: Amazon
31. Comic books
What you keep: eBay keeps 13.25% on comic books (eBay).
Key issues, first appearances and graded comics sell for the most, and condition is everything. Most comics are worth little, so the money is in the key issues.
Example: Crafty Stax has been paid over $100,000 in sales flipping comic books, which he notes isn't the same as profit, in October 2025.
Tools: sell on eBay or Whatnot.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Handling comics without care lowers their grade, so bag and board them.
- Overpaying for hype issues can leave you holding stock, so buy below sold prices.
Start: a little money · Ships: yes · Sells best on: eBay
32. Board games
What you keep: eBay keeps 13.6% plus $0.40 an order in most categories (eBay).
Complete board games, especially popular modern ones and out-of-print titles, sell well online. Thrift stores often price them low, without checking whether pieces are missing.
Tools: sell on eBay.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Selling a game as complete with pieces missing leads to returns, so count them.
- Shipping heavy games without checking the cost eats profit, so weigh them first.
Start: a little money · Ships: yes · Sells best on: eBay
33. Coins
What you keep: eBay keeps 13.25% on coins and paper money (eBay), and Whatnot charges a reduced commission on coins (Whatnot).
Silver and gold coins have a floor set by their metal, and rare dates and mint marks sell for more to collectors. Condition matters, so don't clean them.
Tools: sell on eBay or Whatnot.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Cleaning old coins lowers their value, so leave them as they are.
- Selling rare coins for their metal value alone loses money, so check the date first.
Start: a little money · Ships: yes · Sells best on: eBay and Whatnot
34. Sports memorabilia
What you keep: eBay keeps 13.25% on sports trading cards and 13.6% plus $0.40 an order in most other categories (eBay).
Signed items, jerseys and game-used gear sell best with proof of authenticity. Local team items sell well where the team is popular.
Tools: sell on eBay.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Selling unverified autographs as real can get you banned, so sell only what you can prove.
- Overpricing local team items for buyers elsewhere slows sales, so check sold prices.
Start: a little money · Ships: yes · Sells best on: eBay
35. Car parts
What you keep: eBay keeps 13.6% plus $0.40 an order on parts and accessories (eBay).
Used parts from cars you're parting out, extra parts after a repair and accessories sell to people fixing their own cars. Part numbers make listings easy to find.
Tools: sell on eBay.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Listing the wrong fitment leads to returns, so double-check which cars it fits.
- Shipping heavy parts without a quote eats your profit, so check the cost first.
Start: free · Ships: yes · Sells best on: eBay
Things you can make and sell
These 12 turn a craft, a kitchen or a 3D printer into a small shop, and the best ones sell again and again.
36. Candles
What you keep: on Etsy, $0.20 to list, 6.5% of each sale and a payment processing fee (Etsy).
Candles sell well around the holidays and as gifts, and a clear theme, like scents for a city or a season, stands out. Safety labels and good packaging matter.
Example: In The Business. interviews a 22-year-old who built a £5,000-a-month candle business, in May 2026.
Tools: sell on Etsy, and design labels in Canva.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Skipping burn tests leads to unsafe candles, so test each batch.
- Leaving off safety warnings puts buyers at risk, so label every candle.
Start: some money · Ships: yes · Sells best on: Etsy and local markets
37. Handmade jewelry
What you keep: on Etsy, $0.20 to list, 6.5% of each sale and a payment processing fee (Etsy).
Simple, wearable pieces in a clear style sell better than one-off experiments. Jewelry ships small, which keeps costs low.
Tools: sell on Etsy, and see what you keep with the Etsy fee calculator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Pricing for materials only leaves your time unpaid, so add your hours to the price.
- Using metals that cause reactions brings returns, so list your materials clearly.
Start: some money · Ships: yes · Sells best on: Etsy
38. Crochet and knitwear
What you keep: on Etsy, $0.20 to list, 6.5% of each sale and a payment processing fee (Etsy).
Crochet toys, bags and clothes sell, and patterns sell too, which pay again and again with no extra work. Finished items take hours, so patterns are where many makers earn more.
Tools: sell on Etsy, and design pattern PDFs in Canva.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Pricing finished pieces by yarn cost only underpays your hours, so count your time.
- Selling another designer's pattern as yours breaks copyright, so sell your own designs.
Start: a little money · Ships: yes · Sells best on: Etsy
39. Baked goods, where your state allows it
What you keep: the price you set for each batch, under your state's cottage food rules.
Cookies, breads, cakes and treats sell at markets, to neighbors and for events. Many states let people sell some homemade foods under cottage food laws, but each state sets its own rules.
Example: Lloyd Ortuoste's banana pudding business, Baonanas, started as a way to pay a surprise college bill, and it now brings in more than $450,000 a year (CNBC Make It).
Watch: CNBC Make It on Lloyd Ortuoste, whose banana pudding business, Baonanas, brings in more than $450,000 a year.
Tools: print labels with ingredients and allergens, and make a price list in Canva.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Skipping allergen labels can make someone sick, so list every ingredient.
- Selling where your state doesn't allow home food can shut you down, so check the rules first.
Start: a little money · Ships: no · Sells best on: local markets and orders
40. Art prints
What you keep: the margin on each print. Employed craft and fine artists in the US earn a median of $55,290 a year (BLS, May 2025).
Prints let you sell the same artwork again and again, and a print-on-demand supplier can print and ship them for you. Prints of local places sell well to locals and tourists.
Tools: sell on Etsy and print with Printful.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Printing without a color check disappoints buyers, so order a sample first.
- Selling art that copies a famous style too closely can break copyright, so sell your own work.
Start: a little money · Ships: yes · Sells best on: Etsy
41. Stickers
What you keep: a share of each sale. On LINE Creators Market, creators get 50% of sticker revenue after the app store's fee (LINE), and on Etsy you keep your price minus $0.20 to list, 6.5% of each sale and processing (Etsy).
Stickers are cheap to make and to ship, so they suit a first shop. Themes with a clear audience, like a hobby or a job, sell better than random designs.
Example: Kaitlyn Jeffries' Etsy sticker shop made $182.73 in sales over a year, kept $124.83 after $58.50 in Etsy fees, before the cost of materials, in February 2026.
Watch: Kaitlyn Jeffries shares a year of real Etsy sticker numbers, fees included.
Tools: design in Canva, and sell on Etsy.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Using characters or logos you don't own gets listings removed, so design your own.
- Pricing single stickers too low leaves nothing after fees, so sell packs.
Start: a little money · Ships: yes · Sells best on: Etsy
42. T-shirts and hoodies, with print on demand
What you keep: the margin on each item sold: your price minus the print cost and the marketplace's fees. On Etsy, that's $0.20 to list an item, 6.5% of each sale and a payment processing fee that depends on your country (Etsy).
You design shirts and hoodies, and a print-on-demand supplier prints and ships each order, so you hold no stock. Designs for a clear group, like a job, a hobby or a city, sell best.
Example: Brenon Dopp's print-on-demand Etsy shop made $40 in its first month and $6,076 in its best month, October, in its first year, in December 2025.
Tools: design in Canva, sell on Etsy, and print with Printful. Check your margin with the print on demand profit calculator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Using trademarked phrases gets listings removed, so check your designs.
- Pricing too close to the print cost leaves nothing after fees, so check the margin first.
Start: a little money · Ships: yes · Sells best on: Etsy
43. Plants, flowers and cuttings
What you keep: nothing on a local Facebook Marketplace sale (Facebook), and Etsy's listing, transaction and processing fees on plants you ship (Etsy).
Houseplant cuttings, rare plants and fresh flowers sell to plant lovers, and cuttings cost nothing once you own the plant. Local sales avoid shipping live plants.
Example: Vienna Hintze sells flowers from a pickup truck in Los Angeles, and the business brings in up to $16,000 a month (CNBC Make It).
Watch: CNBC Make It on Vienna Hintze, who sells flowers from a pickup truck in Los Angeles and brings in up to $16,000 a month.
Tools: list on Facebook Marketplace or Etsy.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Shipping plants to states with plant quarantine rules can break those rules, so check before you ship.
- Selling cuttings before they root leads to dead plants, so wait until roots show.
Start: free · Ships: some · Sells best on: Facebook Marketplace
44. Soap and bath products
What you keep: on Etsy, $0.20 to list, 6.5% of each sale and a payment processing fee (Etsy).
Handmade soap, bath bombs and scrubs sell as gifts, at markets and online. Clear labels, good scents and simple packaging make them easy gifts.
Tools: sell on Etsy, and design labels in Canva.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Claiming a soap treats skin conditions can make it a regulated product, so describe it simply.
- Skipping ingredient labels risks reactions, so list every ingredient.
Start: some money · Ships: yes · Sells best on: Etsy and local markets
45. 3D printed products
What you keep: the margin on each piece. If you design models for others instead, 3D modelers on Upwork typically charge $17 to $30 an hour, and the median is $25 (Upwork).
A 3D printer makes organizers, phone stands, toys, parts and custom gifts, and a good design can sell hundreds of times. Useful items sell better than decorations.
Tools: sell on Etsy.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Selling prints of models whose license forbids it breaks the designer's terms, so check each license.
- Ignoring print time in your price underpays you, so count the hours the printer runs.
Start: some money · Ships: yes · Sells best on: Etsy
46. Woodwork
What you keep: on Etsy, $0.20 to list, 6.5% of each sale and a payment processing fee (Etsy), or nothing on a local sale.
Cutting boards, shelves, signs and small furniture sell, but woodwork takes hours, so the profit is thinner than many videos claim.
Watch: Dieter Schneider looks at what woodworkers really make on Etsy, past the big claims.
Tools: list on Etsy or Facebook Marketplace.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Believing big profit claims without seeing the numbers sets you up for a letdown, so count your own costs.
- Making one-off pieces takes too long to pay, so batch the items that sell.
Start: some money · Ships: some · Sells best on: local sales and Etsy
47. Resin art
What you keep: on Etsy, $0.20 to list, 6.5% of each sale and a payment processing fee (Etsy).
Resin coasters, trays, jewelry and keychains sell as gifts, and custom pieces, like flowers from a wedding, sell for more. Resin needs ventilation and safety gear.
Tools: sell on Etsy.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Working with resin without gloves and ventilation is unsafe, so protect yourself.
- Underpricing custom work underpays your hours, so charge more for it.
Start: some money · Ships: yes · Sells best on: Etsy
Digital things you can sell
These 13 are made once and sold again and again, with nothing to pack or ship. They start slower than selling what you own, but the same file can sell for years.
48. Printables and planners
What you keep: a price per download that you set, minus Etsy's $0.20 listing fee, 6.5% of each sale and payment processing (Etsy).
Planners, checklists, worksheets and wall art sell as downloads buyers print at home. Shops that pick one buyer, like teachers or new parents, sell more than general ones.
Example: Cam Finance tested an AI printables shop on Etsy from $0: two sales for $9 in the first week, then $187 in total sales by the end of week two, after cutting prices from $12 to $7, in 2026.
Tools: design in Canva, and sell on Etsy. See what you keep with the Etsy fee calculator.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Copying another shop's designs gets listings removed, so make your own.
- Listing one product and waiting gives buyers little to find, so list 10 or more in one niche.
Start: free · Ships: no · Sells best on: Etsy
49. Notion templates
What you keep: a price per template that you set. Gumroad keeps 10% plus $0.50 of each sale you bring in yourself (Gumroad).
Templates for planning, studying, budgeting or running a business sell to people who want a system without building it. The best ones solve one problem cleanly.
Tools: build in Notion, and sell on Gumroad or Lemon Squeezy.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Selling a template you don't use yourself shows in the details, so start from your own system.
- Skipping the walkthrough leaves buyers confused, so show how it works.
Start: free · Ships: no · Sells best on: Gumroad
50. Canva templates
What you keep: a price per template that you set, minus Etsy's $0.20 listing fee, 6.5% of each sale and payment processing (Etsy).
Social post templates, presentations, resumes and brand kits sell to small businesses and creators who want to look polished. Bundles sell better than single templates.
Tools: design in Canva, and sell on Etsy or Gumroad.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Using Canva Pro elements a buyer can't access breaks their copy, so test on a free account.
- Listing single templates competes with thousands, so sell themed bundles.
Start: free · Ships: no · Sells best on: Etsy
51. Ebooks and guides
What you keep: one-time sales on your site or a marketplace. Gumroad keeps 10% plus $0.50 of each sale you bring in yourself, and 30% of sales from its own marketplace (Gumroad).
A short guide that solves one problem, like a meal plan, a travel itinerary or a how-to for a skill, can sell for years. Your own experience is what makes it worth buying.
Example: Maria Wendt makes about $1 million a month from her digital products, in 2026.
Tools: I sell through Creator Store, an AI-powered store I built myself with the help of AI, and Gumroad and Lemon Squeezy work from day one. Read my guide to the best places to sell digital products.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Writing for everyone makes a guide forgettable, so write for one reader.
- Selling AI text without your own experience gives buyers nothing new, so put your results in it.
Start: free · Ships: no · Sells best on: your own store or Gumroad
52. Presets and LUTs
What you keep: a price per pack that you set. Gumroad keeps 10% plus $0.50 of each sale you bring in yourself (Gumroad).
Photo presets and video LUTs give buyers your editing look in one click. They sell best when your own photos already show the style.
Tools: build presets in Adobe Lightroom, and sell them on Gumroad.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Showing only your best photos oversells the preset, so show it on ordinary shots too.
- Selling presets with no audience is slow, so grow your following first.
Start: free · Ships: no · Sells best on: Gumroad
53. Fonts
What you keep: Creative Market shops earn 50% of the list price by default (Creative Market), and Gumroad keeps 10% plus $0.50 on sales you bring in yourself (Gumroad).
Handwritten, display and brand fonts sell to designers, crafters and small businesses. A font can take 40 hours to make, so it pays over time, not on day one.
Example: Font designer Jordyn Alison says buyers need to be truly wowed to pay over $10 for a font, even though one can take 40 hours to make, in November 2025.
Tools: sell on Creative Market or Gumroad.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Skipping a license file leaves buyers unsure how to use it, so include clear terms.
- Making a font with missing characters frustrates buyers, so include the full alphabet, numbers and punctuation.
Start: free · Ships: no · Sells best on: Creative Market
54. Beats and sound packs
What you keep: streaming royalties, licensing fees and sales. On Upwork, music producers typically charge $30 to $65 an hour, and the median is $35 (Upwork). Employed musicians and singers in the US earn a median of $47.80 an hour (BLS, May 2025).
Producers sell beats, loops and sample packs to artists and creators, either as licenses or as packs. Leasing the same beat to many artists keeps paying, while exclusive rights pay once.
Tools: sketch ideas with Suno, and sell packs on Gumroad.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Using uncleared samples can get an artist's song taken down, so clear every sample.
- Selling exclusive rights cheaply ends a beat's income, so lease most of them.
Start: some money · Ships: no · Sells best on: beat marketplaces and your own store
55. Stock photos and videos
What you keep: a share of each license sold. Shutterstock pays 15% to 40% of each license, by six earnings levels that reset every January 1 (Shutterstock), and pays monthly, by the 15th (Shutterstock).
Photos and clips of people at work, places and everyday moments license again and again on stock sites. The money is in a large library, so it builds slowly.
Example: Trace made $3,289 from 3,729 downloads on Adobe Stock in 2025, and shares the year's numbers, in January 2026.
Tools: upload to Adobe Stock and Shutterstock, and edit in Adobe Lightroom.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Uploading photos of people without model releases gets them rejected, so get releases.
- Expecting fast income disappoints, since stock builds over years.
Start: free · Ships: no · Sells best on: Adobe Stock and Shutterstock
56. Online courses
What you keep: course sales, bundles and payment plans.
A course packages what you know into lessons people buy once. My course, Virtual Summit Mastery, made $60,000+ on its first launch, from a list of only 1,500 people, and well over $1 million over the years before I sold it to Jan Koch.
Example: Justin Welsh has made $6.75 million from his courses and products since 2019 (his breakdown).
Tools: I sold mine through ThriveCart, which also hosts courses in ThriveCart Learn. Read my guide on how to create an online course.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Building the course before anyone buys risks months of work, so presell it first.
- Launching without an email list makes the first sale hard, so build the list first.
Start: a little money · Ships: no · Sells best on: your own store
57. Prompt packs
What you keep: a price per pack that you set. Gumroad keeps 10% plus $0.50 of each sale you bring in yourself (Gumroad).
Prompt packs bundle tested prompts for one job, like writing listings or planning content. Free prompts are everywhere, so a pack sells only when it saves real time for one kind of buyer.
Tools: test prompts in Claude and ChatGPT, and sell on Gumroad.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Selling generic prompts anyone can find free leads to refunds, so sell specialist ones.
- Skipping examples hides the value, so show what each prompt produces.
Start: free · Ships: no · Sells best on: Gumroad
58. Website templates
What you keep: Envato authors pay a 50% fee on their item price when it sells (Envato), and your own store keeps more.
Website templates for site builders sell to small businesses and freelancers who want a head start. Templates for one industry, like restaurants or coaches, stand out.
Example: A template seller told Vince Rieck he had his first $1,800 day 10 days after launching his website templates, in October 2025.
Tools: build in Framer or Webflow, and sell on Envato or your own store.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Selling a template that breaks on phones gets refunds, so test it on mobile.
- Skipping a setup guide floods you with questions, so include one.
Start: free · Ships: no · Sells best on: marketplaces and your own store
59. Apps and small software
What you keep: subscriptions or one-time sales of what you build, or the visitors and email sign-ups a free tool brings in. Across more than 115,000 subscription apps, the median new app made about $72 a month a year after launch, the top 10% made $2,500 or more, and 17.3% reached $1,000 a month within two years (RevenueCat).
A small app or tool that solves one problem can sell by subscription or one-time sale. AI makes building fast, so the hard part now is finding people who want it.
Example: The 700+ free tools on this site are my own builds, vibe coded with Claude Code and Codex. Pieter Levels vibe coded fly.pieter.com, a flight game that runs in the browser, in February 2025, and he says it reached $1 million in annual recurring revenue in 17 days (levels.io).
Tools: I build with Claude Code and Codex, and take payments with Stripe. Read what vibe coding is if you're new to it.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Building for months before anyone uses it wastes the time, so ship a small version first.
- Pricing too low leaves you supporting users for little, so charge from the start or keep it free on purpose.
Start: a little money · Ships: no · Sells best on: your own site
60. Procreate brushes
What you keep: Creative Market shops earn 50% of the list price by default (Creative Market), and Gumroad keeps 10% plus $0.50 on your own sales (Gumroad).
Brush sets for digital artists sell when they give a look people want, like watercolor, ink or texture. Showing artwork made with the brushes sells them.
Tools: sell on Creative Market or Gumroad.
Mistakes to avoid:
- Showing only the brush strokes undersells them, so show finished art.
- Skipping install instructions frustrates buyers, so include a short guide.
Start: free · Ships: no · Sells best on: Creative Market and Gumroad
Things to sell to make money fast
When you need money this week, sell locally for cash. Here's what tends to sell fastest, and where:
- Where
- Swappa or a local sale
- Why it's fast
- Buyers look for them all year, and prices are easy to check
- Where
- Facebook Marketplace
- Why it's fast
- No fees on local sales, and buyers pick it up
- Where
- A gift card exchange
- Why it's fast
- You get a quote right away
- Where
- Facebook Marketplace
- Why it's fast
- Parents need it now and buy secondhand
- Where
- Facebook Marketplace
- Why it's fast
- Steady demand, especially in January
The fastest sales are local, priced a little below similar listings, with clear photos. Facebook Marketplace charges no fee when a buyer pays you in person (Facebook).
Things to sell at school and as a kid
Kids and teens can sell too, with a parent's help on the accounts. Etsy lets 13 to 17 year olds sell through a parent's account (Etsy), and eBay's agreement bars anyone under 18 (eBay), so a parent owns the account.
Good things for kids to sell are crafts, stickers, baked goods where allowed, outgrown toys and games, and clothes. At school, follow your school's rules on selling, since some schools don't allow it. My guide on how to make money as a teen covers 40 ways by age.
Things to sell for Christmas and the holidays
The weeks before the holidays are the best time to sell gifts, decorations and handmade items. Candles, ornaments, jewelry, prints and gift baskets sell well, and services sell too.
Gift wrapping is one example: Michelle Hensley's business brought in over $466,000 in a year, and her gift wrapping starts at $180 an hour (CNBC). List seasonal items a few weeks early, since buyers shop ahead.
How to price and photograph what you sell
Pricing and photos decide whether something sells in a day or sits for months:
Clean up photos with the product photo background remover, and check your margin with the profit margin calculator.
Selling safely
Most sales go fine, but a few habits keep you safe:
- Take cash for local sales: OfferUp calls cash the safest way to get paid, and warns against checks, gift cards, wire transfers and crypto (OfferUp).
- Meet in a public place, like a police station's safe exchange spot, and bring someone with you.
- Don't accept a check for more than the price and send back the difference, which the FTC warns is a scam (FTC).
- Keep shipped sales on the platform, so its protection covers you.
Taxes when you sell things
The IRS counts personal items sold at a gain, like clothing or furniture, as payments you may need to report (IRS). Payment apps and marketplaces send a Form 1099-K once your payments top $20,000 in more than 200 transactions.
Selling your own things for less than you paid usually means no gain, while flipping for profit is income. I'm not a tax advisor, so keep your receipts and check with an accountant as sales add up.
FAQs about things to sell to make money
Answers to the questions people ask most about what to sell to make money.
The best thing to sell first is what you already own, like clothes, electronics and furniture, because every sale is profit.
After that, flipping thrift finds and making things like candles or prints turn selling into a side hustle.
Digital products, like templates and guides, can sell again and again once they're made.
Sell locally for cash: phones, furniture, baby gear and fitness gear sell fastest on Facebook Marketplace, which charges no fee on local sales.
Gift cards you won't use sell right away on gift card exchanges.
Price a little below similar sold listings to sell within a day or two.
Brand-name clothes, sneakers, electronics, trading cards and collectibles sell well online, where buyers search for exact items.
Digital products, like printables and templates, sell well because there's nothing to ship.
Check sold listings to see what's selling right now.
You can sell your own things, flips from thrift stores and handmade items from home, and ship them through eBay, Etsy or Poshmark.
Digital products, like templates, presets and guides, sell from home with nothing to pack.
Local sales still need a safe meeting place for the handoff.
Kids can sell crafts, stickers, outgrown toys and clothes, and baked goods where their state allows it.
Etsy lets 13 to 17 year olds sell through a parent's account.
A parent should handle payments and meetups.
Check your school's rules first, since some schools don't allow selling.
Where it's allowed, small handmade items like stickers, bracelets and art sell well to classmates.
Selling online with a parent's help avoids the school rules entirely.
Candles, jewelry, crochet, stickers, prints, soap, plants and 3D printed items all sell, mostly on Etsy and at local markets.
Print on demand lets you sell shirts and hoodies without holding stock.
Price in your time, not only your materials.
Printables, templates, guides, presets and online courses sell best, when they solve one problem for one kind of buyer.
Etsy works well for printables and Canva templates, and Gumroad for guides, presets and Notion templates.
Free versions of the same thing compete with you, so make yours clearly better.
Facebook Marketplace is best for big, local items, since it charges no fee on local sales.
eBay is best for almost anything that ships, and keeps 13.6% plus $0.40 an order in most categories.
Clothes sell best on Vinted, Depop and Poshmark, and phones on Swappa.
Selling your own things for less than you paid usually means no gain, while items sold at a gain, and flips, count as income.
Marketplaces send a Form 1099-K once your payments top $20,000 in more than 200 transactions.
Keep your receipts, and check with an accountant as your sales add up.
Final thoughts on things to sell to make money
The best thing to sell is what you already own, because every sale is profit and you can start today. Once that's sold, flipping and making things turn selling into a side hustle, and digital products let one thing sell again and again.
List one thing today, price it from sold listings, and see how fast it goes. That's how I'd start.
Keep reading:
- The best places to sell digital products
- 38 ways to make money fast
- 40 ways to make money as a teen
- 70 side hustle ideas
- 50 ways to make money from home
Your next step: find three things in your home you haven't used in a year, check what they sold for, and list them today. And if this guide helped, DM me on X or Instagram and tell me what you sold.
Navid Moazzez
AI business strategist & AI OS builder
Navid Moazzez helps creators and founders master AI and build their own AI Operating System (AI OS) to automate their business and life.
Navid.me is reader-supported. When you buy through links on this site, I may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more.
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