I once stood in the middle of a crowded estate sale in rural Pennsylvania, clutching a strange, translucent green glass bowl that looked like something out of a 1950s sci-fi movie. The tag said $5.00. I had a gut feeling it was worth more, but "feeling" doesn't pay the bills. I pulled out my phone, spent thirty seconds navigating the app, and realized that similar "uranium glass" pieces were consistently selling for over $120. That was the moment I realized that the difference between a hobbyist and a professional reseller isn't luck—it's data. If you aren't checking what people are actually paying, you’re just guessing. And in the world of reselling, guessing is the fastest way to lose money. Since that day in 2021, I’ve used this specific research method to turn a $200 weekly budget into a consistent $1,500 in monthly profit.
Why You Must Understand eBay Sold Items
When you search for something on eBay, the default view shows you what people want to get for their items. This is often a fantasy. I’ve seen people list common Disney VHS tapes for $5,000, but when you look at the ebay sold items, you’ll see they actually sell for about $5.00. If you price your items based on active listings, you’ll likely end up with inventory that sits on your shelf for years.
Here's where it gets interesting: the "sold" data tells you the velocity of a market. If you see 100 active listings for a specific coffee maker but only 2 sold in the last 90 days, that is a "saturated" market. You probably shouldn't buy that item unless you can get it for next to nothing. I remember back in March 2022, I bought ten pairs of a specific brand of trendy sneakers. I saw them listed for $150 everywhere. But I didn't check the solds. It turned out that while people were asking$150, the only ones actually selling were priced at $85. I ended up breaking even after fees, which was a massive waste of my time.
How to Check Sold Items on eBay: Mobile vs. Desktop
Depending on where you are (standing in a thrift store aisle or sitting at your desk), the process for how to check sold items on ebay changes slightly.
On the mobile app, you perform a search, and then tap the "Filter" button in the top right corner. You have to scroll down a bit—past the condition and price filters—to find the "Show More" section. Toggle the "Sold Items" switch. (The "Completed Items" switch will automatically turn on as well). This is my go-to move when I'm out sourcing.
On a desktop, it’s even easier. After you search, look at the left-hand sidebar. Scroll down until you see the "Show only" section and check the "Sold Items" box. Now the tricky part is that some prices will appear in green with a strikethrough. This means the seller accepted a "Best Offer." While eBay doesn't show the exact offer price on the standard results page, I’ll show you how to find that number later using specialized tools.
How to View Sold Items on eBay Using Terapeak
If you want to move beyond the basics, you need to know how to view sold items on ebay using Terapeak. This used to be a paid subscription service, but eBay eventually integrated it for free for anyone with a basic Store subscription (and now it's available to most sellers in the Seller Hub). Terapeak is like the "God Mode" of eBay research.
Unlike the standard search, which only shows you the last 90 days of data, Terapeak allows you to look back up to three years. This is essential for seasonal items. If I find a high-end ski jacket in July, the 90-day sold data might be empty. But with Terapeak, I can see what that exact jacket sold for last January.
I use Terapeak Product Research every single night while I’m drafting my listings. It gives you the average sale price, the highest sale price, and the "sell-through rate." If the sell-through rate is above 50%, I know that item is a winner. If you're looking for more ways to optimize your store, you should check out these eBay selling tips to stay ahead of the curve.
View Sold Items eBay: Spotting the Trends
When you view sold items ebay results, you aren't just looking for a number; you're looking for patterns. Are the items that sell for the highest prices "New With Tags"? Are they offering free shipping?
I once had a collection of vintage 1980s board games. When I checked the solds, I noticed that the games sold for $40 if the box was included, but only $15 if it was just the pieces. However, I also saw that individual "replacement parts" for those same games were selling for $5 to $10 each. By parting out a damaged game, I actually made $70 instead of the $15 I would have gotten for the incomplete set.
What to Look For in Sold Listings:
-
Shipping Cost: Did the buyer pay for shipping, or was it included?
-
Listing Type: Was it an auction or a "Buy It Now"? (Most things sell better as Buy It Now in 2025).
-
Photos: How many photos did the successful seller use? (Usually, more is better).
-
Keywords: What words did they use in the title that I might have missed?
I use Closo to automate my cross-listing to other platforms like Poshmark—it saves me about 3 hours weekly that I used to spend manually re-typing descriptions. This ensures that even if an item doesn't move on eBay, it's getting eyes elsewhere. You can see more about how to sell on Poshmark if you want to diversify your income streams.
How to Sort by Sold on eBay for Quick Research
If you are dealing with a high-volume category, you need to know how to sort by sold on ebay to find the most relevant data quickly. Once you have filtered for "Sold Items," use the "Sort" dropdown menu.
I usually sort by "Ended Recently." This gives me the most current market value. Prices for electronics, in particular, can drop significantly in just a few months. If I’m looking at an iPhone 13, I don't care what it sold for in 2023; I need to know what it sold for yesterday.
But here is an honest failure: In November 2023, I sorted by "Highest Price First" for a specific type of vintage watch. I saw one that sold for $1,200 and got excited. I bought one for $600, thinking I was doubling my money. I didn't realize that the $1,200 sale was an outlier—a rare "mismarked" version that collectors crave. The "normal" version of that watch consistently sold for $450. I ended up losing $150 after fees. (Always look at the average, not just the peak).
Most Sold Items on eBay: What’s Moving in 2025?
If you’re wondering what the most sold items on ebay are right now, the data points to three main categories: replacement parts, nostalgia-driven collectibles, and "pre-owned" luxury.
People are increasingly DIY-minded. I’ve found that the plastic drawers from old refrigerators or the remote controls for discontinued soundbars sell incredibly well. Why? Because you can't buy them at retail anymore.
And then there's the "Price Tracker for eBay" factor. Serious buyers use tools like CheckMates or WorthPoint(especially for antiques) to track price fluctuations over time. If you price your item significantly above the historical average, these savvy buyers will simply wait you out. I’m honestly a bit uncertain if the "hype-beast" sneaker market will ever fully recover to its 2021 peaks, but for now, "comfort brands" like Hoka and Birkenstock are dominating the most-sold lists.
Using a Price Tracker for eBay to Beat the Competition
While eBay’s internal tools are great, using an external price tracker for ebay can give you an edge. Tools like Keepa(mostly for Amazon but useful for cross-referencing) or FatFingered (which finds listings with typos) can help you find deals.
But for selling, I recommend using CheckAFlip. It’s a simple website where you type in an item, and it shows you a side-by-side comparison of "Live" vs. "Sold" listings. It even calculates the average price for you.
I remember a specific instance in January 2024 when I was trying to sell a rare Lego set. The eBay solds were all over the place—anywhere from $200 to $450. By using a price tracker, I could see that the $450 sales only happened in December during the Christmas rush. By waiting until the following November to list mine, I secured a $425 sale instead of settling for the $225 "off-season" price. Patience, backed by data, is a superpower.
Common question I see: Why can't I see the "Best Offer" price?
This is something people always ask me. When an item sells via Best Offer, eBay shows the original price in green with a line through it. They don't explicitly tell you if it sold for $1.00 less or $100 less.
The workaround? You can use the Terapeak tool I mentioned earlier. Terapeak does show the actual accepted price. Another "old school" trick (that I’m uncertain will work forever) is to go to the item's "Original Listing" and view the page source code, but that’s far too technical for most. Stick to Terapeak; it’s accurate and much faster. Understanding these nuances is part of learning how to sell items on Poshmark as well, as every platform has its own way of hiding or showing data.
Comparison of Research Tools
I use Closo to automate my daily sharing and refreshing—it saves me about 3 hours weekly that I would otherwise spend clicking buttons on my phone. This allows me to spend that time at more estate sales, using the research methods we’ve discussed.
People always ask me: Does the "Sold" date really matter?
Yes, absolutely. A "Sold" from three months ago might as well be from ten years ago if the item is a trending toy or a piece of tech. I always look at the most recent 3-5 sales to set my price. If the prices are trending downward, I’ll price mine $5 lower than the last sold to ensure a quick flip. If prices are rising, I’ll "long-tail" it and price it at the top of the market.
I once held onto a specific graphic calculator for too long. I saw a sold for $80 in August. I listed mine for $80 in October. But in October, the "Back to School" rush was over. The new solds were only $45. I ended up keeping that calculator for a whole year just to get my $80 again the following August. (Storage space has a cost too!).
Conclusion: Data is Your Best Friend
At the end of the day, knowing how to see sold items on ebay is the difference between running a business and having a cluttered garage. It takes the emotion out of the equation. You might love that vintage lamp, but if the solds say it’s only worth $10, then it’s a $10 lamp.
My journey from that green glass bowl to a full-time reselling business was built on the back of these research tools. Is it foolproof? No. Market crashes happen, and sometimes a buyer will just overpay for something on a whim. But if you follow the averages, you’ll win much more than you lose. Start by checking five items in your house right now—you might be surprised at what the "solds" have to tell you.
FAQ Schema (Integrated Content)
How do I see sold items on the eBay app? To see sold items on the eBay app, perform a search for your item, then tap the "Filter" button in the top right. Scroll down to the "Show More" section and toggle on the "Sold Items" switch. This will refresh your results to show only items that have successfully sold and been paid for.
Is there a way to see eBay sold prices from a year ago? Yes, you can use the Terapeak Product Research tool located within the eBay Seller Hub. Terapeak allows you to search for sold items and their final prices going back as far as three years, which is much more extensive than the 90-day window provided by the standard search filters.
