Across the UK, women are quietly turning that sprawl into a side stream of cash using a handful of sites that actually work. We’ve all had that moment when you open a cupboard and something soft but outsized falls on your head.
Saturday morning in a South London flat, the kettle clicks off and the sunlight finally finds the clothes rail. Two friends take turns with a phone, laughing as they try the “over the shoulder” shot that makes a dress look like it has a life of its own. A ping. Depop sale. Another ping. A Vinted message asking for the pit-to-pit measurement. The toddler is fascinated by the label printer, and the dog is asleep among parcel bags as if this is normal domestic scenery. They stop to compare fees, then keep snapping. The money was hiding in plain sight.
Where UK women actually sell — and what works on each site
Different corners of your home belong to different platforms. Clothes that are mid- to high-street fly on Vinted; trend-led pieces and Y2K energy do well on Depop; wide-audience staples and niche bits move on eBay. Prams, cots, IKEA units and garden bits tend to shift faster on Facebook Marketplace or Gumtree because collection beats postage. Luxury handbags and watches? That’s Vestiaire Collective or HEWI for authentication and trust. Books and DVDs are bulked off to Ziffit or WeBuyBooks; old iPhones and iPads to MusicMagpie or CEX when you want instant money without chat.
Here’s a simple, very British week of selling. Amelia in Leeds listed a Zara blazer on Vinted at £22, accepted £18 after two offers, and printed an Evri label from the app. The next day she posted a bundle of kids’ leggings for £9 to the same buyer, saving everyone postage. On Sunday she snapped her Malm drawers and put them on Facebook Marketplace at £35; a neighbour collected for £30 that evening. One hour of photos, three messages, £57 in and a clear corner. She kept the rail and the hallway, and lost nothing but dust.
Fees change the mood and the maths. Vinted doesn’t charge sellers; the buyer pays a small protection fee and shipping, which keeps sellers happier and prices neat. Depop takes roughly 10% plus payment processing, and it rewards current trends and clean photos. eBay sits around 12–13% plus 30p, with promos that sometimes drop costs if you list during a “£1 selling fee” weekend. Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree feel free, but you pay in time and patience, and you’ll meet more no-shows. Vestiaire takes a chunk for authentication and reach, roughly 12–20% depending on the item tier. Price for the next owner, not your memories.
How to list like a pro without burning out
Batch, light, measure, list. Pull 10–15 items, wipe them, lint-roll, and hang near a window. Two full-length shots, two detail shots, one label shot, and one on-body if you can. Note measurements that matter: pit-to-pit, shoulder to hem, waist flat, rise and inseam for denim, heel height for shoes. Use natural words buyers type: “M&S linen midi dress 12, blue, pockets” beats poetry. Set postage in-app: Vinted labels via Evri are simple, eBay’s Packlink is neat, Royal Mail works for small parcels. Photography sells more than brand.
Think of price as a dial, not a wall. Start at about 60% of RRP for in-season, sought-after pieces, 30–40% for high-street basics, and 70–80% for mint condition premium or limited drops. Sweeten bundles by knocking off the second postage. Never hide flaws; show a close-up and write one plain sentence about it. Watch out for off-platform payment requests on Marketplace; say no and keep it simple. Post when people scroll: Sunday nights, weekday commuters at 7–9pm. Let’s be honest: nobody does this every day.
When it feels like a lot, come back to rhythm. Photograph in daylight, write like you speak, and give it 15 minutes a night for a week. Buyers are just you, on another day, with the same hallway.
“I stopped thinking of it as selling and started thinking of it as matching. This skirt deserves someone’s Friday night,” says Holly, mum of two in Bristol.
- Clothes: Vinted (no seller fees), Depop for trendier stuff, eBay for reach.
- Baby kit and furniture: Facebook Marketplace and Gumtree, collection only.
- Designer bags/shoes: Vestiaire Collective, HEWI, authentication included.
- Books/media: Ziffit, WeBuyBooks for doorstep pick-up bulk clear-outs.
- Tech: MusicMagpie for speed, CEX if you want in-store trade or cash.
What this unlocks — a small income and a lighter home
Your living room looks different once parcels start leaving. The air feels less crowded, the corners are calmer, and there’s a new habit where clutter used to sit. You open Vinted and see a balance that pays for swimming lessons, or a treat shop trip, or the new toaster that won’t burn the crumpets. The numbers aren’t lottery-big; they’re *small, tidy wins* layered week after week. A skirt pays for petrol. A pram pays for a birthday. A bookshelf pays for a night out you actually dress up for.
There’s also the quiet pride of giving things a second round of life. Wardrobes become fluid instead of sticky; you buy better knowing you can resell it later. Friends start trading tips and posting their first listings, and you send a photo of the clear space where the buggy once lived. Maybe you keep one rail and let it rotate with the seasons. Cash in your hallway beats clutter in your wardrobe.
| Key points | Detail | Reader Interest |
|---|---|---|
| Best sites by category | Vinted/Depop for clothes, Facebook Marketplace/Gumtree for bulky items, Vestiaire/HEWI for luxury, Ziffit/WeBuyBooks for books, MusicMagpie/CEX for tech | Quick matching of item to platform saves time and lifts prices |
| Pricing that moves stock | Start at 60% RRP for in-demand, 30–40% for basics, nudge down 10% each week until it sells | Clear rules reduce decision fatigue and avoid stale listings |
| Safety and speed | Use in-app shipping and payments, collection at the door in daylight, no off-platform deals | Confidence to list today, not “someday” |
FAQ :
- What sells fastest in the UK right now?Seasonal staples with a twist: linen and cotton midi dresses, quality denim, neutral trainers, baby bundles, and compact furniture. Branded sportswear and practical prams go quickly locally.
- Which app is cheapest for sellers?Vinted, because sellers don’t pay fees; buyers cover protection and shipping. Depop and eBay take a cut but offer bigger trend and search reach.
- How do I avoid scams on Facebook Marketplace?Stick to collection or cash/Bank Transfer in person, meet at your door or a public spot, and keep messages inside the app. Don’t ship without payment and skip courier “arranged by buyer” stories.
- When is the best time to list?Sunday evenings and weekday evenings between 7–9pm. Refresh listings with small price drops midweek to push them back to the top.
- Should I post or offer collection only?Clothes, shoes and small gadgets post well. Bulky items, prams and furniture move fastest with collection only. Offer both on eBay to widen the net.
