I still remember the Saturday morning in 2019 when I looked at my closet and felt a wave of genuine anxiety. It wasn't just that it was messy; it was that I saw hundreds of dollars hanging there in the form of jackets I hadn't worn in two years and shoes that pinched my toes. I had just paid a hefty car repair bill, and the irony of being "cash poor but asset rich" (if you count denim as an asset) hit me hard.
I grabbed a laundry basket and filled it with ten items. I told myself I wouldn't stop until they were sold. That weekend kicked off a journey that took me from a confused novice to a seasoned reseller who has moved over $30,000 worth of inventory. I’ve tried every app, every website, and every local consignment shop. I have dealt with lowballers, shipping disasters, and the thrill of waking up to notification that says, "Item Sold: $125."
If you are standing in front of your own overflowing wardrobe wondering where to start, you should know that not all platforms are created equal. The right platform depends entirely on what you are selling and how much patience you have.
Navigating the Landscape of Clothes Resale
When you type best places to sell clothes online into a search engine, you are bombarded with options. Poshmark, Mercari, Depop, eBay, ThredUp, The RealReal. It’s analysis paralysis waiting to happen.
Here is the truth: There is no single "best" site. There is only the best site for your specific item.
I learned this the hard way. In my first month, I tried to sell a pair of beat-up vintage Levi’s on Poshmark. They sat for six months with zero interest. I moved them to Depop, and they sold in 24 hours for double the price. Conversely, I tried to sell a standard J.Crew blazer on Depop, and I was practically laughed off the app. It sold instantly on Poshmark.
Understanding the "personality" of each platform is the secret sauce of clothes resale. You have to match the vibe of the buyer to the vibe of your item.
Poshmark: The Social Hub for Contemporary Fashion
For most people cleaning out a standard closet, Poshmark is the answer. It is user-friendly, the shipping is foolproof, and the audience is massive.
Why it works: Poshmark gamifies the shopping experience. It relies on "sharing" listings and building a following. It is perfect for brands you find in a mall: Lululemon, Nike, Anthropologie, Free People, and Torrid.
My Experience: I listed a pair of Reformation jeans in 2021. I took photos on a clean white rug near a window. I priced them at $90. Within an hour, I had three likes. By the evening, someone offered $80. I accepted. Poshmark emailed me a shipping label, I taped it to a free USPS box, and dropped it in a mailbox. The simplicity is addictive.
However, Poshmark takes a flat 20% fee. That sounds high (and it is), but it covers credit card processing and, crucially, customer service. If a buyer claims your item is fake or damaged, Poshmark mediates.
Opinion Statement: I believe Poshmark’s 20% fee is worth it for the shipping convenience alone. Not having to weigh packages to the ounce or calculate zones saves me hours of mental energy every month.
eBay: The Global Giant for Everything Else
If you are asking where can i sell clothes that are obscure, vintage, or tailored for men, eBay is the king.
eBay is a search engine, not a social network. People go to Poshmark to browse; they go to eBay to find a specific thing. If you have a "1994 Grateful Dead Summer Tour T-Shirt," you put it on eBay. The global reach means you are more likely to find the one weirdo in Germany who collects exactly that shirt.
Now the tricky part... Shipping on eBay is manual. You have to own a scale (I use an Accuteck shipping scale), measure your package, and buy your own label.
My Honest Failure: In 2020, I sold a heavy wool coat on eBay. I guessed the weight was 2 lbs. It was actually 4 lbs. When I got to the post office, the clerk told me I owed an extra $18 in postage. I paid it, which meant I actually lost money on the sale. I paid a stranger to take my coat. I learned to weigh everything—twice—after that.
Depop: Where Can You Sell Used Clothes to Gen Z?
If your closet looks like a time capsule from the year 2002, Depop is your goldmine. This app is Instagram meets eBay. It is driven by aesthetics, streetwear, and vintage.
The Aesthetic Hurdle: You cannot just lay a shirt on your bed and snap a photo. Depop buyers want "vibes." Modeled photos do significantly better here.
I remember finding a NASCAR jacket at a thrift store for $10. On eBay, it was trending for $40. I put it on Depop, modeled it with some cool sunglasses and good lighting, and sold it for $85. The presentation added $45 of value.
However, the demographic is younger. You will deal with more messages like "trade?" or "will u take $10?" You have to have thick skin and patience.
Mercari: The Digital Garage Sale
When people ask me where can you sell used clothes that aren't fancy brands—just normal stuff like Old Navy or Gap—I point them to Mercari.
Mercari is less curated. It feels more like a yard sale. It is great for bundling items. If you have five baby onesies, sell them as a "lot" on Mercari.
I use Closo to automate cross-listing items from Poshmark to Mercari – saves me about 3 hours weekly. Mercari is often where my "stale" inventory goes to find a second life. If something sits on Poshmark for 60 days, I use Closo to push it to Mercari, usually at a slightly lower price, and it often moves within the week.
Comparison: Fees and Features
To visualize where you should start, here is a breakdown of the major players.
Where to Sell Used Clothes for Cash Near Me
Sometimes, you don't want to wait. You don't want to take photos. You just want the stuff gone and cash in your hand. You start searching where to sell used clothes for cash near me.
This usually leads you to "Buy-Sell-Trade" stores like Plato’s Closet, Buffalo Exchange, or Crossroads Trading.
The Reality Check: Selling here is humbling. You walk in with a bag of clothes you paid $500 for. You wait 45 minutes. They call your name, hand you back 90% of your items, and offer you $22 for the rest.
(Parenthetical aside: I once brought a pristine pair of designer jeans to Plato’s Closet. The buyer passed on them because they were "too distressed," even though that was the style. I sold them on Poshmark the next day for $60. The in-store buyers are human and subjective.)
Sell Clothes Near Me: The Facebook Option For selling locally without the middleman, Facebook Marketplace is an option, but mostly for "lots."
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Success: "Big bag of Boys 2T Clothes - $40."
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Failure: Trying to sell a single t-shirt for $10. No one is driving across town for one shirt.
The "Laziest" Option: Consignment Kits
If reading about shipping labels makes you want to take a nap, there is ThredUp or The RealReal.
You request a "Clean Out Kit" (a big bag), fill it, and mail it back. They do the work. They photograph, list, and ship. The Catch: The payout is tiny. You might make $0.50 on a J.Crew top. Opinion Statement: I view ThredUp not as a way to make money, but as a way to donate clothes responsibly while maybe getting enough credit to buy a coffee. If you want profit, do not use ThredUp. If you want convenience, it is the king.
The Strategy: Cross-Listing for Maximum Exposure
Here's where it gets interesting... The real secret to making consistent money isn't finding one platform; it's being on all of them.
If you list a jacket on Poshmark, you are limiting yourself to Poshmark's audience. If you list that same jacket on eBay and Mercari, you have tripled your potential buyers.
But manually typing the same description three times is soul-crushing. I use Closo to automate the listing process – saves me about 3 hours weekly. It takes my Poshmark listing and clones it to eBay and Depop in seconds. It also helps prevent the nightmare of "double selling" (selling the same item on two platforms at once) by making it easy to delist sold items.
Common Question I See: How Do I Price My Clothes?
People always ask me... isn't my coat worth what I paid for it?
No. This is the hardest pill to swallow. Clothes depreciate faster than cars. As a general rule, expect to get 30-40% of the original retail price if the item is current (sold in stores now). If it is a few years old, expect 10-20%.
The "Sold Listings" Trick: Before I price anything, I search for the item on Poshmark and filter by "Sold." This tells me what people actually paid, not what sellers are dreaming of getting. If I see a dress listed for $50 but sold comps are all $25, I list mine at $30 and accept the first offer of $25.
People Always Ask Me: Is It Worth It?
Common question I see... this sounds like a lot of work for $20.
It depends on your goals. If you are selling a fast-fashion top from Shein, no, it is not worth the time to photograph and ship it. Donate it. But if you have boots, jackets, jeans, or handbags, the hourly rate is surprisingly high.
Let's say it takes me 15 minutes to prep, photograph, and list a pair of boots. They sell for $100. After fees ($20) and cost of goods ($0 if from my closet), I made $80. That is an hourly rate of $320. Even if it takes me an hour total including shipping, making $80 an hour is better than most side hustles.
Honest Limitations and Failures
I want to be transparent. This isn't passive income.
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Storage: My guest room currently has four plastic bins of inventory. If you live in a tiny apartment, this can be annoying.
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Returns: On eBay, buyers can return items. I once had a buyer return a sweater because it "didn't match her eyes." You have to eat the shipping cost.
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Burnout: Photography can be tedious. There are days when I just want to throw everything in a donation bin.
But then I look at my sales dashboard. In 2023, I paid for a two-week vacation to Italy entirely with money made from selling clothes I no longer wore and thrift store finds.
Tools of the Trade
To succeed at the best place to sell clothes online, you need a small toolkit.
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Lighting: A ring light or a bright window.
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Steamer: Wrinkled clothes look cheap. A $20 handheld steamer increases value instantly.
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Lint Roller: Essential.
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Poly Mailers: Buy them in bulk on Amazon. Do not buy them at the post office; you will pay 10x the price.
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Cross-listing Software: Essential for scaling.
I use Closo to ensure my inventory is visible everywhere. The ability to draft a listing once and push it to Poshmark, Depop, and eBay simultaneously is the only reason I can manage 300+ active listings while working a full-time job.
Conclusion
So, what is the best place to sell clothes online? It is the place where you will actually do the work.
If you need simplicity, choose Poshmark. If you have vintage gems, choose Depop or eBay. If you just want it gone, choose Mercari or a local Plato’s Closet.
My advice? Start with Poshmark. Go to your closet right now. Find one jacket you haven't worn in a year. Check the tag. Take three photos. List it. Once you hear that "ka-ching" notification for the first time, you’ll understand why so many of us are hooked on the resale economy.
If you are ready to dive deeper into the specifics of fees to maximize your profit, check out my breakdown of Poshmark Fees and Depop Fees.
And if you want to verify if a platform is right for you before you start listing, take a look at the comprehensive guides in the Seller Hub.
