I still remember my first Depop sale. It was a pair of vintage Levi’s 501s that I had thrifted for $8. I listed them, took a terrible photo on my bedroom floor, and waited. Three weeks later, my phone buzzed. Someone actually bought them for $45. The dopamine hit was instant—until I realized I had no idea how to ship them, I had undercharged for postage, and my PayPal account was on hold.
I ended up making about $12 profit on that sale after all my mistakes. It was a humble start, but it hooked me. Since then, I’ve sold thousands of items, navigated the platform’s massive shift away from PayPal, and learned exactly what makes the Depop algorithm tick.
If you are staring at a pile of clothes you want to turn into cash, you’ve picked the right time. Depop has removed selling fees for US and UK sellers (mostly), making it one of the most profitable places to flip fashion. But the learning curve is steeper than it looks.
The Setup: Banking, Age, and the "PayPal" Question
Before you list a single sock, you need to get your house in order. The biggest confusion for new sellers in 2025 is how they actually get paid.
The PayPal Breakup
If you are Googling how do i connect paypal to depop, stop. For sellers in the US and UK, that ship has sailed. Depop has moved exclusively to Depop Payments (powered by Stripe).
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The Reality: You must link a valid bank account and verify your identity with a photo ID (driver’s license or passport).
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The Constraint: This means you cannot just use a "wallet" app. You need a real checking account to receive funds.
How Old to Sell on Depop?
This is a common hurdle. How old to sell on depop? Technically, you must be at least 13 years old to use the app. However, because Depop Payments requires identity verification and a bank account, the financial side usually requires you to be 18.
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The Workaround: If you are under 18, you will likely need a parent or guardian to set up the payment info with their ID and bank account. If you try to use your own ID and you are 16, Stripe will often flag the account and freeze your funds. I’ve seen it happen to dozens of young sellers on Reddit; don't risk it.
Listing Strategy: How to Sell Clothes on Depop Fast
Depop is Instagram for selling. It is visual, it is trendy, and it is fast-paced. A listing that would sell on eBay in 2 minutes might sit on Depop for months if the "vibe" is wrong.
1. Photography: The "Vibe" Check
On eBay, a photo of a shirt on a white background works best. On Depop, that looks like a stock photo, and buyers ignore it.
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Flat Lays: Clean background, good lighting. Arrange the item neatly.
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Modeled Shots: These perform 2x better in my experience. You don't need to show your face. Just show how the item fits on a human body.
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The Mirror Selfie: Totally acceptable on Depop, provided your mirror is clean. (Please, clean your mirror. Windex is cheaper than a lost sale.)
2. The Description SEO
Depop’s search engine is keyword-driven.
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Bad Description: "Cute blue shirt."
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Good Description: "Vintage 90s baby tee, navy blue ribbed cotton, fairycore grunge style. Fits like a XS."
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Hashtags: Use all 5 allowed tags. Focus on aesthetics:
#y2k,#streetwear,#vintage,#gorpcore.
Here’s where it gets interesting... the "brand" tag. If you are selling a generic vintage item, do NOT tag it as "Brandy Melville" or "Urban Outfitters" just for exposure. Depop is cracking down on "spam tagging." If you do this, your item might get removed, or your account suspended. Be honest.
Pricing and Shipping: Don't Lose Money
The most painful part of learning how to make money on depop is realizing you lost money on shipping.
The "Ship with Depop" Option
I strongly recommend this for beginners.
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How it works: Depop generates a USPS (or Evri in UK) label for you. The buyer usually pays for it.
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The Trap: You have to guess the weight.
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Extra Small: under 4oz (Jewelry)
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Small: under 8oz (T-shirts)
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Medium: under 1lb (Jeans, light sweaters)
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Large: under 2lb (Boots, heavy jackets)
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My Honest Failure: I sold a leather jacket and guessed it was "Medium" (under 1lb). At the post office, it weighed 2lbs 4oz. The clerk made me pay the difference—$11 out of my own pocket.
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The Fix: Buy a $15 kitchen scale on Amazon. Weigh everything with the packaging before you list.
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Pricing for Profit
Since Depop removed selling fees (in US/UK), your main cost is the Payment Processing Fee (approx 3.3% + $0.45).
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Item Price: $20
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Processing Fee: ~$1.10
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Net Profit: $18.90
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(Compare this to Poshmark, where they take $4.00 flat on a $20 sale).
Depop is currently the cheapest platform to sell on, provided you don't boost every listing.
Depop Selling Tips: The "Boost" and The "Refresh"
You can have the best item in the world, but if no one sees it, you’re broke.
The "Refresh" Is Dead (Sort of)
In the old days (2020), you could "Edit" and "Save" your listing to bump it to the top of the feed. Depop changed the algorithm. This doesn't work like it used to. Now, freshness comes from new listings.
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Strategy: Instead of editing old items, click "Copy Listing" and delete the old one. A brand new listing gets a fresh boost in the algorithm. I do this for any item that hasn't sold in 60 days.
To Boost or Not to Boost?
Depop allows you to "Boost" items for an 8% fee (US).
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My Rule: I only boost unique vintage items priced over $40.
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Why: If I sell a $15 t-shirt and pay an 8% boost fee ($1.20) plus the processing fee, I’m giving away too much margin. But for a $100 jacket, paying $8 to find a buyer quickly is worth it.
Managing Customers: Offers and Messages
Depop buyers are... unique. They are often younger, they love to negotiate, and they will ghost you.
Handling Offers
Depop now has a binding offer button (mostly). If a buyer sends an offer and you accept, it should charge them automatically.
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The Reality: Sometimes the payment fails. Don't get mad; just move on.
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Lowballs: You will get offers for 50% off. Don't take it personally. Counter with your lowest acceptable price. If they decline, they weren't your buyer.
The "Hold" Request
Buyers will message you: "Can you hold this until Friday when I get paid?"
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My Advice: No. Never do holds.
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Why: 90% of people who ask for holds never come back. Mark the item "Reserved" and you lose out on real buyers who might have purchased it today. Tell them politely, "I don't do holds, but it's here if you want it Friday!"
I use Closo to automate checking my inventory across platforms – saves me about 3 hours weekly – because if I sell that item on Poshmark while a Depop buyer is "thinking about it," I need to delist it immediately to avoid a double-sale disaster.
People always ask me...
"Do you have to be 18 to sell on Depop?"
People always ask me this. Technically, the Terms of Service say 13+. But practically, do you have to be 18 to sell on depop to get paid? Yes. Stripe (the payment processor) requires an 18+ ID check. If you are a teen, you need a parent to "own" the financial side of the account. Do not try to fake your birthdate; they will ask for a passport scan eventually.
"How to make money on Depop without inventory?"
You can't really. Dropshipping (selling cheap items from AliExpress) is banned on Depop. They want items you physically possess.
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Start small: Go to your own closet. Sell the stuff you haven't worn in a year. That is free inventory. Once you make $50, take that money to the thrift store (Goodwill bins) and buy 10 more items. Reinvest.
"Is Depop safe for sellers?"
Generally, yes. But watch out for the "Text me" scam.
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The Scam: A buyer messages you: "I love this! Can you text me at 555-0199 so I can ask a question?"
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The Trap: They want to take you off the app to scam you with a fake payment email.
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The Rule: Never, ever communicate outside the Depop app. If you stay in the app, you are protected by Depop's Seller Protection.
Conclusion
Learning how to sell on depop is a journey from cleaning out your closet to running a mini-fashion empire. The platform has its quirks—the AI shipping estimates can be annoying, and the buyers can be flaky—but the volume of traffic is undeniable.
If you are willing to take good photos, measure your items, and ship quickly, you can build a serious side income. Just remember: verify your bank account, buy a scale, and never, ever text a buyer.
Now go list that hoodie you haven't worn since 2019. It’s probably exactly what someone is looking for.
If you are ready to expand beyond Depop, check out our comparison of Poshmark vs. Depop fees. And once your sales start rolling in, you’ll need to master how to package clothes for shipping to keep those 5-star reviews coming.
FAQ
Here's something everyone wants to know: Does Depop charge for listing items? No, listing items on Depop is completely free. You can list as many items as you want without paying a dime. You only pay fees when an item actually sells. This makes it a low-risk platform for beginners to test the waters.
Common question I see: How long does it take to get paid on Depop? For new sellers, the payout process can take about 10 working days after the sale. Once you have established a history of successful sales and shipping, payouts typically speed up and are released 2–3 days after the item is scanned as 'Delivered' by the carrier.
People always ask me: Can I sell things other than clothes on Depop? Yes, but with limits. While Depop is primarily for fashion (clothing, shoes, jewelry), you can also sell vintage home decor, records, cameras, and books. However, electronics and furniture generally perform poorly compared to platforms like eBay or Facebook Marketplace. Stick to items that fit the "aesthetic" culture of the app.
