How to Sell Used Clothing

Co-authored by Alice Wu

Last Updated: September 15, 2021 References Approved

If your closet is seeming a little too full, you might feel the need to get rid of a few things. Wouldn’t it be nice to not only expand a little on your closet space, but also make some extra cash? Fortunately, there are many ways both online and offline that you can successfully sell your old clothes.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Selling Clothes Online

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Make money through websites and apps specific to clothing sale.^{[1]
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Expert Source

Alice Wu
Image Consultant
Expert Interview. 12 June 2020.} There are many different websites and apps out there that have each developed their own unique way of buying and selling used clothing. Some of these have you take photos of your clothing while others have you ship them your clothes.
- Generally, these websites keep a portion of your sales and pay you by either sending you a check, giving you a gift card, or through an online payment company like PayPal.
- Some of these websites include: thredUP, Poshmark, Tradesy, TheRealReal, and refashioned.^{[2]
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  Alice Wu
  Image Consultant
  Expert Interview. 12 June 2020.}
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Post on a general sale app or website. Selling on one of these sites is a little different because it is a bit more DIY. Typically, you post of photo of the clothing item you want to sell, choose a price you want to sell it for, and write a description of it. Another difference is that this way is a bit more independent, so you usually get to keep every cent of what purchasers buy for.
- Remember to include item, size, price and condition in your post to improve your chances of sale.^{[3]
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- Craigslist, eBay, and Let go are all websites and apps you can use to sell clothes, shoes, and much more.
- Using this method, you are in direct communication with potential buyers and can arrange to meet up with them to exchange money and merchandise or ship the item to them.^{[4]
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Sell on social media. This is nearly identical to selling on a general sale website, except you sell to a more limited group of people. If you have a lot friends on social media, you might be more successful using this method.
- Many people sell clothes on Instagram simply by using the “#shop my closet” hashtag. People make their bids in comments below the photo.^{[5]
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- You can also sell your clothes on Facebook by joining different groups. To find these groups, just search keywords, such as brands, in the search bar at the top of the page. Each group has an administrator and rules specific to the group, so make sure to read those before buying and selling.^{[6]
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Take high-quality photos of your clothing.^{[7]
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Expert Source

Alice Wu
Image Consultant
Expert Interview. 12 June 2020.} Including several well-lit photos of your item will increase your chances of selling it.
- Take photos from different angles and include some close-up shots as well.

Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Selling Clothes Offline

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Sell to a local second hand store. Do some research online and make a list of second hand stores in your area that will purchase gently used clothing. Then, contact the stores and learn about their policies, rates, and what particular clothing items they currently need. There are many places that will sort through your clothes during an appointment and give you immediate cash for whatever items they want.^{[8]
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Earn commission through consignment. Take your clothes to a local consignment store. They’ll choose which of your clothing items to sell, and if your items get purchased, the store will reimburse you for your percentage of the sale price.
- On average, stores will charge you between 25% and 60% commission.^{[9]
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Hold a yard sale. Holding a sale at your home is a good option if you have more than just clothes to sell. Other items, such as sporting goods and electronics, are typically more popular at yard sales, but you can still make a little bit of cash from selling your clothes this way.^{[10]
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Donate for a tax break. If you don’t want the drama of seeing sales through, handling shipping, or driving around town from store to store, you can donate your clothes. Donating to stores like Goodwill will at least get you a tax break if the sum total of your donation is worth enough.^{[11]
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Preparing Your Used Clothes for Sale

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Make any necessary repairs. Stains, holes, missing buttons, and rips will not get your items sold regardless of how fantastic they are. Buyers look for clothing in new and like-new condition. Most stores are not interested in selling ripped clothing.
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Clean your clothes. Properly wash, dry, and iron your clothes before you post a photo of them or bring them to a second-hand store. Wrinkled, dirty clothing suggests that you haven’t taken great care of your clothing, and drives down the estimated value.^{[12]
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Hang up your clothes or fold them and put them into bags. Which of these you do depends on how you decide to sell your clothes. Often, second-hand stores that give you cash on the spot will prefer your clothes be nicely folded in a bag, while consignment stores may want them pressed and on a hanger when you bring them in. Call or look on the company’s website to make sure that you’re adhering to their guidelines.

Expert Q&A

Question

How do I start selling clothes online?

Alice Wu
Image Consultant
Alice Wu is an Image Consultant and Personal Stylist based in San Francisco, California. She is the Owner of Styled by Alice, an image consulting service offering private styling services for men and women. Focused on personalizing the styling experience, Alice provides closet edits, personal shopping, wardrobe planning, and other services such as event styling.

Alice Wu

Image Consultant

Expert Answer

Start by creating an account on a website like thredUP or Poshmark. Then, list the item you want to sell and include a few high-quality photos. If you're not sure what price to sell at, Google how much the item is selling for online.
Question

How can I sell my used clothing?

Community Answer

There are a few options for selling your used clothing. You can hold a yard sale or open an online shop through websites such as eBay. You can also sell your clothes to local thrift stores and consignment shops.
Question

How can I get used clothes?

Erin Malfi

Community Answer

You can go to your local thrift store and get used clothes. You can find used clothes on Poshmark or Ebay too. You can also ask your family if they have clothes they don't fit into anymore.