How Do I Sell on Poshmark? A Brutally Honest Guide to the 20% Fee & The "Social" Grind

I still remember the first item I ever sold on Poshmark. It was a pair of beat-up Dr. Martens boots that I had worn to three different music festivals. They were scuffed, the laces were fraying, and they smelled faintly of mosh pit. I listed them for $40, assuming no one would want them.

Three hours later, my phone buzzed. "Sold."

I scrambled to find a box (I ended up using a recycled cereal box turned inside out—do not recommend), taped the label on, and dropped it in a mailbox. A week later, $32 hit my account. It felt like magic. I had turned closet trash into gas money.

Since that day, I’ve sold thousands of dollars worth of inventory, from J.Crew sweaters to vintage cameras. But the platform has changed. In 2025, Poshmark is no longer just a digital yard sale; it’s a competitive algorithm beast. Between the "Promoted Closet" features and the controversial shipping changes, simply posting a photo isn't enough anymore.

If you are staring at a pile of clothes and asking how do i sell on poshmark without losing your mind (or your profit margin), you need a strategy. This isn't just about taking pictures; it's about understanding how to manipulate the feed to get your items seen.

The Setup: Your Closet is Your Storefront

Before you list, you need to understand the environment. Poshmark is "social commerce." This means it functions more like Instagram than eBay.

The Barrier to Entry

Unlike Amazon or Walmart, there are zero startup costs. You don't need a business license or a monthly subscription.

What you need: A smartphone, a bank account (for payouts), and a printer (for shipping labels).
The Vibe: Your "About" page matters. Upload a profile picture. If you look like a bot, people won't buy from you.

My Honest Failure: When I started, I didn't verify my email or link a bank account for three weeks. I made sales, but I couldn't cash out. I thought Poshmark was holding my money hostage. Turns out, I just hadn't filled out the "Redeemable Balance" settings. Don't be me. Link your bank immediately so you can get paid.

How to Sell Things on Poshmark (The Listing Strategy)

You can have the best inventory in the world, but if your listing looks like it was taken in a dungeon, it won't sell.

1. Photography: The "Square" Rule

Poshmark photos are square (1:1 ratio).

Lighting: Natural light is king. Open a window. Do not use your yellow bedroom lamp; it makes clothes look dirty.
The Cover Shot: This is your clickbait. Use a "flat lay" (clothes arranged neatly on the floor) or hang it against a plain white wall.
Damage Control: If there is a hole, photograph it. If you hide it, the buyer will open a case, and Poshmark will side with them.

2. Titles: SEO is Everything

Stop titling your items "Cute Blue Shirt." No one searches for that. Use this formula: Brand + Style Name + Category + Color + Size + Condition.

Bad: "Nike Shoes"
Good: "Nike Air Max 90 Sneaker White/Pink Size 8 Womens Running Shoes"

3. Pricing: The "Haggle Buffer"

Here’s where it gets interesting... Poshmark buyers expect a discount. If you want $20 for a shirt, list it at $30. This gives you room to:

Accept an offer (buyers love feeling like they won).
Send an "Offer to Likers" (we'll get to this later).
Drop the price later to trigger a notification.

(Parenthetical aside: I once listed a Kate Spade bag for exactly what I wanted—$50. I got ten offers for $40. I refused them all. It sat for six months. Eventually, I relisted it at $75, sent an offer for $60, and it sold instantly. Psychology is weird.)

The Shipping Reality: No More Priority Boxes?

This is the biggest change for 2025. For years, Poshmark used USPS Priority Mail, which meant we could use those free red-and-white boxes from the post office.

The Update: As of late 2025, Poshmark shifted to USPS Ground Advantage to lower shipping costs (currently ~$6.49 for buyers).

The Limitation: You cannot use free USPS Priority Mail boxes anymore. If you ship Ground Advantage in a Priority box, the post office might return it to you or charge the buyer postage due.
The Fix: You need plain brown boxes or poly mailers. Save your Amazon boxes.

Tool Name Drop: I buy my poly mailers in bulk from UPAKNSHIP or Amazon. They cost about 10 cents each. Investing $15 in 100 mailers saves you the stress of hunting for a box every time you make a sale.

Sell on Poshmark Tips: The Social Grind

This is the part nobody tells you about. On eBay, you list it and leave it. On Poshmark, if you don't "Share" your items, they die.

The Algorithm

Poshmark's feed is chronological based on sharing, not listing.

Self-Share: You must go into your closet and click "Share to Followers" on every item, ideally 2-3 times a day. This bumps your item to the top of the search results and newsfeeds.
Party Share: Poshmark hosts virtual "Parties" (e.g., "Best in Jeans Party"). Sharing to these is largely a waste of time unless you have highly specific inventory. Focus on self-sharing.

Now the tricky part... this is incredibly boring. Manually sharing a closet of 200 items takes 20 minutes. Doing that three times a day is an hour of unpaid labor.

I use Closo to automate sharing my closet – saves me about 3 hours weekly – because clicking a "Share" button 600 times a day is a recipe for carpal tunnel, not financial freedom.

How to Successfully Sell on Poshmark (Closing the Deal)

Listing gets eyes; specific tools get sales.

The "Offer to Likers" (OTL)

When someone "Likes" your item, they are interested but hesitant.

The Move: Go to the item, hit "Offer / Price Drop," and select "Offer to Likers."
The Rule: You must lower the price by at least 10% and offer a shipping discount (which comes out of your pocket).
My Stat: About 40% of my sales come from OTLs sent within 15 minutes of a buyer liking an item. Strike while the iron is hot.

Bundles

If a buyer likes three things in your closet, Poshmark groups them into a "Bundle."

The Strategy: Go to the bundle and send a private offer. I usually offer 20% off for bundles of 2+ items. It encourages them to clear out your inventory to save on shipping.

Is Selling on Poshmark Worth It? (The Fees)

Let’s talk money. How to make money on poshmark requires understanding the "Posh Tax."

After the brief "fee experiment" of 2024 (where they tried to lower seller fees but added buyer fees), Poshmark reverted to its classic model in late 2024/2025.

The Breakdown:

Sales under $15: Poshmark takes a flat $2.95.
- Math: Sell a shirt for $10 -> Fee is $2.95 -> You keep $7.05. (That's a 30% fee!)
Sales over $15: Poshmark takes 20%.
- Math: Sell a dress for $100 -> Fee is $20 -> You keep $80.

Opinion Statement: The 20% fee is steep. eBay is usually around 13%. Mercari is roughly 10-13% depending on the month. However, Poshmark handles the sales tax remittance and provides the shipping label instantly. You are paying for convenience and a very specific audience of fashion buyers. For clothing, it is often still the best place to get top dollar, despite the fee.

People always ask me...

"How do I contact a seller on Poshmark?"

Common question I see. Poshmark does not have a direct private message (DM) system for general chatting.

To ask a question: Comment publicly on the listing.
To negotiate privately: Add the item to a "Bundle." Once in a bundle, you can comment privately between you and the seller. This is the only way to haggle without the whole world seeing your offer.

"How do I get paid?"

Here's something everyone wants to know. Poshmark holds your money until the buyer accepts the item.

You ship.
Item scans as delivered.
Buyer has 3 days to accept.
If they accept (or 3 days pass), the funds are released to your "Redeemable Balance."
You then transfer to your bank (takes 1-3 days).

Note: You do not get paid instantly. It is a slow cash flow cycle.

"Can I sell things other than clothes?"

Yes, but stay in your lane. Poshmark allows Home Goods, Electronics, Pets, and Beauty (unused). However, it is primarily a fashion app. My vintage Pyrex bowls sat on Poshmark for months; they sold on eBay in a week. Stick to what the platform is known for: Clothing, Shoes, and Accessories.

Conclusion

So, how do i sell on poshmark? You treat it like a game. You take bright photos, you price high to allow for offers, and you share your closet until your thumb hurts (or you get a bot to do it for you).

Is it perfect? No. The 20% fee stings, and the shift away from Priority Mail supplies is a logistic annoyance. But for clearing out a wardrobe or flipping thrift store finds, it remains the most user-friendly platform with the most engaged audience.

Just remember: Poshmark is a volume game. One listing is a hobby; 100 listings is a side hustle. Go list five things today. You’ll be surprised how fast that first notification pops up.

If you are looking to source more inventory to scale up, check out our guide on where to source inventory for Poshmark. And if you are tired of the sharing grind, read our comparison of Poshmark automation tools to reclaim your time.

FAQ Page Schema

Here's something everyone wants to know: Does Poshmark pay for shipping?

Technically, the buyer pays for shipping (currently a flat rate of ~$6.49). However, Poshmark facilitates the process by emailing you a prepaid label. You, the seller, do not pay for shipping unless you offer a "Shipping Discount" to entice a buyer, in which case the discount amount ($1.50 or Free) is deducted from your earnings.

Common question I see: Can I return items on Poshmark?

As a seller, you are generally protected from returns for "fit" or "change of mind." Poshmark only approves returns if the item is undisclosed damage or not as described. If you listed a sweater as "Red" and it arrives "Pink," they will approve the return. If the buyer just doesn't like how it looks on them, the return is denied, and you keep your money.

People always ask me: How do I increase sales on Poshmark?

The three pillars of Poshmark success are List Daily, Share Daily, and Send Offers. The algorithm favors active accounts. Listing 1 item every day is better than listing 10 items once a week. Sharing your closet keeps your items at the top of search results. Sending offers to likers converts window shoppers into buyers.