I’m always looking for ways to earn a bit of extra money, and I’ve recently been having fun selling items on Facebook Marketplace. My first foray was with an old table I’d had for ages, gathering dust in one of our old barns. I posted it one evening, half expecting it to sit there for weeks, and by the next morning, I had three messages and it was gone.
That’s when I realized how powerful this little online marketplace can be. It isn’t just about getting rid of clutter, but turning the things you no longer need into cash with relatively little effort. And the truth is, some things fly faster than others.
If you’ve ever wondered what really sells in record time, you’re in the right place. These nine items are the ones people scoop up again and again. And who knows, you might already have a few of them sitting around your house right now just waiting to earn you some extra cash.
7 Items Which Sell Fast on Facebook Marketplace
Top tip: lighting makes a huge difference, so take your photos in natural light and try to capture it from every angle. Even a scratch or scuff should be shown. Buyers appreciate honesty, and it helps you sell faster.
No. 1 Furniture
Furniture is hands-down one of the fastest things to move on Facebook Marketplace. We bought a lot of things when we first purchased our property in France, as it was a holiday home before we moved here. I didn’t want to spend a fortune furnishing it, as I knew I’d eventually bring my furniture from the UK over here.
But people buying holiday homes aren’t the only ones. Think about it. First-time buyers often look for second-hand furniture, college kids need things for their rooms that won’t break their budget, and we all want a bargain.
Timing also matters. August is prime time with college students moving in, and April and May are busy with the spring moving season. Dining tables and chairs tend to get snapped up right before Thanksgiving and Christmas, ready for hosting the family.
Here’s what tends to go quickly:
- Coffee tables ($50–250)
- Dining room sets ($100–700)
- Office chairs ($25–150)
- Bookshelves ($30–120)
- Couches and sectionals ($125–500)
- Dressers and nightstands ($75–350)
If your furniture is in good condition, aim to price it at approximately 40–50 percent of what it would cost if it were brand new.
No. 2 Designer Clothes and Bags
Before I moved to France, my closet was packed with designer outfits. I also had more Coach handbags than it was healthy for one woman to have. However, living in rural France doesn’t really lend itself to designer anything. In the summer, I’m in shorts, a T-shirt, and flip-flops, and in winter, it’s jeans, jumpers, and boots. People don’t do designer wear here.
So, I started selling it off on Marketplace, and I couldn’t believe how fast things were snapped up. It never occurred to me that people would want my stuff. All of a sudden, it became quite addictive.
Items That Sell Well
- Gymwear: Lululemon, Alo Yoga, or Gymshark ($25–80)
- Sneakers: Converse, Vans, New Balance, or Yeezy ($40–300)
- Designer denim: 7 For All Mankind, Hudson Jeans, or AG Jeans ($40–120)
- Handbags: Coach, Kate Spade, Tory Burch, or Marc Jacobs ($75–250)
- High-end workwear: Banana Republic, J. Crew, or Theory ($50–150)
- Outdoor gear: The North Face, Columbia, or Arc’teryx ($60–200)
No. 3 Exercise Equipment
Who wants to spend a fortune on gym equipment when, in all honesty, you’ll use it a few times and then never look at it again? It’s human nature, and we’re all guilty of it, so it’s little wonder this type of stuff literally flies off the virtual marketplace shelves.
I’ve found that if I take a photo of it with me on it working out, I seem to get a better price. That’s my experience anyway. January is the sweet spot. After the holidays, everyone’s fired up about getting fit, so if you list your equipment in December or January, you’ll usually get top dollar. You can often bump prices by 20 to 30 percent during this resolution rush.
What Sells Well:
- Exercise bikes ($100-400)
- Elliptical machines ($150-500)
- Treadmills ($150-700)
- Weight sets ($75-300)
- Yoga Accessories ($10-35)
No. 4 Electricals and White Goods
This one surprised me. When we finally made the move to France, I sold all my white goods on Facebook Marketplace, as shipping them wouldn’t have been worth it. Plus, there is the issue of plugs and electricity. They all went fast and for a good price, too.
There are plenty of people out there who don’t want to pay full price for their electronics. A prime example of this is anything related to gaming and mobile phones. I found that grandparents who want to get things for their grandchildren to have at their house tend to opt for secondhand items rather than new ones.
Which Items Sell Best:
- Laptop computers ($150-600)
- Smart TVs ($100-700)
- American Fridges ($150-600)
- Smartphones ($100-500)
- Gaming consoles ($100-300)
- Tablets ($60-250)
Don’t take risks with electronics. Scammers sometimes ask to test items and then disappear. Stick to public places, and when possible, use police station trading zones with cameras for extra protection.
No. 5 Baby Items
I’ve bought numerous baby items from Marketplace now. I have a granddaughter, so all of a sudden, I need baby things again. Literally everything from cots to highchairs and strollers, it was a Godsend for when she comes to visit. It would have cost me a fortune to get it all brand new.
I’m not the only one, either. Plenty of my friends of a similar age have done exactly the same thing.
If you think of the rate at which babies grow and the things they need, you can see why people go secondhand rather than new every time. Especially if things are only going to last for six months or so.
Best Selling Items
- Car Seats ($50-180)
- High chairs ($20-80)
- Strollers ($30-180)
- Cribs and toddler beds ($50-250)
- Baby clothes sold in collections ($25-50)
- Toys and games ($10-4s0)
Ensure baby gear is clean and spotless before listing it. Parents pay close attention, and safety is non-negotiable. Check recalls on car seats and cribs, and never sell an expired car seat since it’s unsafe and illegal in many places.
Baby items sell best before the holidays, at back-to-school time, and during spring cleaning. Group clothes by size and season, and sell them in bundles. Parents love grabbing 10 pieces at a time instead of hunting through singles.
No. 6 Books
I’m a bookworm and will often have three on the go at any time, so I’m always on the lookout for something new to read. Plus, living in France, going to a bookshop isn’t an option. You can find some great deals on sets of books on Marketplace, and they tend to sell well.
Then, of course, there’s the start of the new school year when students are looking for textbooks.
Books That Sell Well:
- Fiction sets ($10-50)
- Cookbooks ($10-40)
- College textbooks ($20-150)
- Children’s book sets ($10-60)
- Coffee table books ($10-50)
No. 7 Tools
Here’s one for the boys, although I’ve bought quite a few tools for the garden myself. If you’re doing any kind of DIY, you’ll often need tools that you might only ever use once and don’t want to shell out a fortune on something brand new. This definitely applied to us when we were renovating our barns here in France. A few of the tools we’ve never used again.
However, tradesmen often want backups in case things go wrong. My husband has sold a few of his tools on there and always got a good price for them. He also recently got a great deal on an air compressor.
Tools That Sell Like Hot Cakes
- Smaller Electronic Garden Tools ($40-150)
- Lawn mowers ($100-300)
- Air compressors ($75-250)
- Circular saws ($50-170)
- Power drills ($30-120)
Top tip: Contractor-grade tools can command higher prices, although the pool of buyers is smaller. Whereas homeowner-grade tools reach a wider audience, you’ll need to price them lower.
Tools from brands like Makita, DeWalt, and Milwaukee move the fastest. Ensure batteries are fully charged before buyers arrive to inspect. Always keep safety guards in place, since buyers won’t touch tools that look risky.
Disclaimer: The content in this article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as financial, investment, or tax advice. Always consult a qualified financial advisor or tax professional before making decisions about your money, investments, or retirement planning.
Kylie Lang is a nationally syndicated travel journalist with bylines on the Associated Press Wire & more, a lifestyle writer, and the founder and editor of Your Lifestyle Library (yourlifestylelibrary.com). She holds a BA (Honours) in History from the University of Kent and is a member of the British Guild of Travel Writers.