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Last updated: 3 November 2026 · Tax rules checked on GOV.UK for the 2026/27 tax year. I’m not a financial adviser, just someone who has cleared out a garage and checked the rules.
If you need some extra money this month, the quickest place to find it is usually your own home. I’ve put together 35 things to sell for cash in the UK, from outgrown kids’ clothes to old phones and leftover tiles, plus exactly where to sell each one so it actually goes.
When we cleared out our garage, we made £180 in one week on local Facebook groups. We sold our son’s outgrown bike, a mirror and some bedside cabinets, and buyers came to collect. None of it was special. It was just sitting there. That’s really the point of this list: the best things to sell for cash are ordinary things, not rare treasures.
My quick-cash rule: match the item to the right place
The same thing can sit unsold for weeks on one site and go in a day on another. Before you list anything, ask two questions:
- Can it go in a parcel? Clothes, books, phones and small items go on Vinted, eBay or an instant-quote site like musicMagpie or Ziffit.
- Is it big, heavy or fragile? Furniture, bikes, prams and garden things sell best locally, collection only, on Facebook Marketplace, local Facebook selling groups or Gumtree.
If you need money in the next few days, local collection and instant-quote sites are fastest. If you want the best price and can wait a week or two, Vinted and eBay usually pay more.
Clothes and accessories to sell (1 to 8)
Best places: Vinted (no seller fees, buyers pay postage and a protection fee) and eBay (free for UK private sellers in most categories).
1. Children’s clothes, in bundles by age
Kids outgrow clothes before they wear them out. Bundles like “girls’ 4 to 5 years, 10 items” sell far faster than single T-shirts, and you only post one parcel. My step-by-step guide to selling on Vinted shows how to list them.
2. Branded school uniform
Plain polo shirts won’t make much, but school-specific blazers, jumpers and PE kits do, because parents have to buy them. Sell them locally in August and early September when parents are shopping for the new term.
3. Occasion wear: wedding guest, prom and bridesmaid dresses
Dresses worn once are some of the best things to sell. Photograph them on a hanger against a plain door in daylight, and give the exact size and length.
4. Branded trainers
Clean, branded trainers sell even when they’ve been worn. Clean the soles, wash the laces, and show the size label in your photos.
5. Winter coats and jackets
Timing matters here. Coats sell from September to January, so list them now rather than in spring.
6. Handbags, plus the boxes and dust bags
If you have a designer bag you no longer use, keep the box, dust bag and receipt with it, because they help prove it’s genuine. Use a site with buyer and seller protection for anything valuable.
7. Designer sunglasses and glasses frames
Good frames can be resold because buyers can fit their own lenses. Include the case and the model number printed inside the arm.
8. Broken or odd gold and silver jewellery
A single earring or a broken chain can still be worth something for the metal. Look for the hallmark, then get two or three quotes from local jewellers before you accept an offer. Don’t post gold to the first company that advertises.
Baby, kids’ things and toys to sell (9 to 14)
Best places: Facebook Marketplace and local selling groups for big items, Vinted and eBay for smaller ones.
9. Prams and pushchairs
These are expensive new, so second-hand ones sell quickly. Clean the wheels, wash the covers, and include the rain cover and any adaptors.
10. Cots, high chairs, baby monitors and carriers
Baby kit gets used for a few months and then sits in the loft. Sell it as a set if you can (“cot plus mattress protector”) and say if it comes from a smoke-free, pet-free home, as parents often ask.
11. Outgrown bikes and scooters
Our son’s outgrown bike was one of the first things to go in our £180 week. My tip is to sell around the school holidays. Parents are home with the children, so they’re happy to collect in the daytime, and lots are looking for a bigger bike. I wrote up the whole week in how I made £180 selling on local Facebook groups.
12. LEGO
Complete sets with instructions sell best. Mixed LEGO also sells by weight, so even a big tub of loose bricks is worth listing.
13. Complete board games and jigsaws
Count the pieces first and say “complete” in the title. Games make good bundles in October and November, when people are shopping for Christmas.
14. Pokémon and other trading cards
Most cards are worth very little, but a few are worth a lot. Before you sell a binder as a job lot, search the card names on eBay and tick “Sold items” to see what they actually went for, not what people are asking.
Tech, books and media to sell (15 to 22)
Best places: instant-quote sites (musicMagpie, CeX, Ziffit, WeBuyBooks) when you want it gone with no haggling, or eBay when you want a better price.
15. Old mobile phones, even broken ones
Most of us have one or two in a drawer. Compare a couple of instant quotes, then back up your photos, sign out of your Apple or Google account and do a factory reset before you send it.
16. Tablets, laptops and smartwatches
Same rules as phones: sign out, reset, and include the charger. Working laptops usually do better on eBay than on quote sites.
17. Games consoles, controllers and games
CeX will give you a price in store or online, which is handy if you want money the same day. eBay usually pays more for complete boxed consoles.
18. Books
Book-buying apps let you scan the barcode with your phone for an instant price, and postage is usually free. Many books are worth pennies, but textbooks and recent non-fiction can be worth more.
19. DVDs, Blu-rays and CDs
Be realistic: most discs are worth very little each. The appeal is that you scan, box and post them in one go, with no listings to write.
20. Cameras and lenses
Old digital and film cameras have a following. Show the lens with no scratches and say how many shots the camera has taken if you know.
21. Official chargers, cables and phone boxes
Spare official chargers and cables sell as small extras. Empty boxes for some phones and tablets also sell to people who want to resell their own device boxed.
22. Broken electricals “for spares or repair”
Someone who fixes things may want yours for parts. Be completely honest in the description about what doesn’t work, and only sell it as not working.
A broken device can still have working parts inside. When my laptop broke, the memory (RAM) was still fine, so I took out the two 8GB sticks and sold them on eBay for £10 each, posted. That was £20 from a laptop I thought was only fit for recycling. If you’re not confident opening a laptop, sell the whole thing “for spares or repair” instead.
Home and garden things to sell (23 to 32)
Best places: Facebook Marketplace, local selling groups and Gumtree, collection only. Facebook doesn’t charge for local sales where you sort out payment and collection yourself.
23. Furniture
Mirrors, bedside cabinets, chests of drawers and bookcases sell well locally. Our mirror and bedside cabinets went in the same week as the bike. Buyers came to us and checked them before paying, which suited everyone.
24. Kitchen gadgets you never use
Air fryers, bread makers, slow cookers and coffee machines are easy sells. Show it plugged in and working in one photo.
25. Good cookware
Cast iron pans and good-quality casserole dishes keep their value even when they look used.
26. Unopened gift sets and toiletries
Unopened, sealed gift sets sell, especially from October to December. Don’t sell anything opened (see the “don’t sell” list below).
27. Leftover DIY materials
Boxes of tiles, flooring packs, unopened paint and spare tools are worth money to someone doing the same job. Put the brand, colour name and how many square metres in the title.
28. Garden tools, lawnmowers and garden furniture
List garden furniture and mowers in spring for the best price, but tools sell all year.
29. Christmas decorations
Sell them from October to early December. A lit-up photo of a tree or garland makes a big difference.
30. Fitness kit
Exercise bikes, weights and yoga mats bought with good intentions sell well in January. If you’re clearing out now, list them now and renew in the new year.
31. Musical instruments
Children’s keyboards, guitars and violins often get a few months of use before interest moves on. Include the case and any books.
32. Houseplants and cuttings
If you have a plant that grows like mad, pot up cuttings and sell them locally for a few pounds each. Small, but it adds up and costs nothing.
Surprising things people buy (33 to 35)
33. Vinyl records, cassettes and some VHS tapes
Most will be worth little, but some records and tapes have real collectors. Check the eBay sold listings before selling a box as a job lot.
34. Old video game boxes, manuals and toys still in their packets
Retro games are worth more with the original box and manual, so collectors buy the empty boxes too. Toys still sealed in their packets can also sell as nostalgia bundles.
35. Scrap metal
Copper pipe, brass fittings and old car batteries can go to a licensed scrap metal dealer. By law in England and Wales, dealers can’t pay you in cash for scrap metal; they pay by bank transfer or cheque (GOV.UK: buying scrap metal for cash), so take your bank details and photo ID.
Where to sell things for quick cash: a comparison
| Where | Best for | Speed | Fees for you (private seller) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Facebook Marketplace and local groups | Furniture, bikes, prams, garden and DIY | Often same day to a week | None for local collection you arrange yourself |
| Gumtree | Big items, collection only | Days to weeks | Free basic listings |
| Vinted | Clothes, shoes, kids’ things, small homeware | Days to weeks | No seller fees; the buyer pays postage and a protection fee |
| eBay | Collectables, tech, spares, anything niche | About a week (auction) or when it sells | Free for UK private sellers except vehicles; buyers pay a protection fee (eBay) |
| musicMagpie, CeX, Ziffit, WeBuyBooks | Phones, tablets, games, books, discs | Fastest: instant quote, paid after they check it | None, but quotes are lower than selling yourself |
Fees checked 3 November 2026. Platforms change them, so check before you list.
Posting parcels? Read my guide to Vinted parcel sizes and shipping. A few things make it easier if you sell regularly: a pack of grey mailing bags (ad), a small digital parcel scale (ad) so you never pick the wrong size, and a handheld clothes steamer (ad) so clothes look fresh in photos. You don’t need any of these to start.
5 tips to sell your things faster
- Check sold prices, not asking prices. On eBay, search the item and tick “Sold items”. That’s what people actually pay.
- Take photos in daylight against a plain wall or door. Show any marks honestly.
- Put the brand, size and condition in the title. That’s what buyers search for.
- Bundle small things. One parcel or one collection is less work for you and better value for the buyer.
- Keep yourself safe. Never accept “pay outside the app” or overpayment offers, and for local collections have someone else at home. My guide to Vinted scams covers the common tricks.
Do you pay tax when you sell your own things?
This is the question I’m asked most. For the 2026/27 tax year, here’s what GOV.UK says, in plain English:
- Selling your own unwanted things is unlikely to be taxable. HMRC says selling personal items from your home, like things from the loft or garage, is unlikely to be taxable (GOV.UK: selling goods or services on a digital platform).
- Buying things to resell, or making things to sell, is trading. If your trading income is more than £1,000 in a tax year (before expenses), you may need to register for Self Assessment. If it is £1,000 or less, the trading allowance means you usually don’t need to tell HMRC (GOV.UK: trading allowance). My side hustle tax guide explains it step by step.
- Platforms share seller details with HMRC. Sites like Vinted and eBay send HMRC details of sellers who make 30 or more sales, or receive about £1,700 (€2,000) or more, in a calendar year. HMRC is clear that “there is no new tax for online selling”: the report alone doesn’t mean you owe anything (GOV.UK: information for online sellers). More on this in do you pay tax on Vinted?
- One rare exception: very valuable single items. If you sell one personal possession for more than £6,000 (think jewellery, antiques or art), Capital Gains Tax can apply if you made a gain. There’s a yearly tax-free allowance of £3,000 for gains (GOV.UK: Capital Gains Tax allowances).
Things you shouldn’t sell
- Used child car seats. The road safety charity RoSPA advises against using a second-hand car seat unless you know its full history, because damage from a crash may not be visible (RoSPA Child Car Seats). Recycle it instead.
- Opened make-up, skincare and toiletries. It’s a hygiene risk, and most sites don’t allow it.
- Electricals that have been recalled or have damaged cables or plugs.
- Anything you’re not sure is safe, like old cot mattresses or toys with loose small parts.
- Knives, alcohol, medicines and fake branded goods. They’re banned on the main platforms.
What to do with the money
Quick cash is most useful when it has a job. When we made our £180, it was a good reminder that money sitting in the garage could do something more useful. A few ideas:
- Start (or top up) your emergency fund. Here’s how to build your first £1,000 buffer.
- Give it a place in your budget with the 50/30/20 rule, or try one of my free UK money calculators.
- If you enjoy selling, it can grow into a side income. See my honest side hustle ideas for the UK and how to sell on Etsy if you make things.
- When you buy things, earn a bit back too with the best cashback sites and apps.
If you’d like the whole process in one place, my book Good Salary, Extra Cash walks through clearing out and selling safely on Facebook Marketplace, with a free Clear Out, Cash In toolkit on the book’s resource page.
FAQ: things to sell for cash
What are the best things to sell for cash fast in the UK?
The fastest sellers are things people need now: kids’ clothes and bikes, prams, furniture, phones and kitchen gadgets. For speed, sell big items locally on Facebook Marketplace for collection, and use instant-quote sites like musicMagpie or CeX for tech and books.
What sells best on Vinted?
Children’s clothes in bundles, branded trainers, coats in autumn and winter, and occasion dresses. See my Vinted selling guide for listing tips.
Do I have to pay tax if I sell my old things on Vinted or eBay?
Usually not. Selling your own unwanted things is unlikely to be taxable. Tax becomes a question if you buy or make things to sell and your trading income goes over £1,000 in a tax year. Platforms report sellers with 30 or more sales or about £1,700 a year to HMRC, but that doesn’t create a new tax.
Is it better to sell on Facebook Marketplace or eBay?
Facebook Marketplace is best for big, heavy things that buyers collect, and it’s free for local sales. eBay is better for smaller, niche or collectable items where you want buyers from across the UK.
How much can I make from decluttering?
It depends completely on what you have. We made £180 in a week from a bike, a mirror and bedside cabinets, and gave a few larger things away. Start with the biggest and newest items, as they make most of the money.
Summary: 35 things to sell for cash
When it comes to things to sell for cash, the quickest money is usually in ordinary things: outgrown kids’ clothes and bikes, furniture, prams, old phones, books, kitchen gadgets and leftover DIY materials. Match each one to the right place (local collection for big things, Vinted or eBay for parcels, instant-quote sites when you want no fuss), price from sold listings, and keep yourself safe. Selling your own unwanted things is unlikely to be taxable, so you can clear out with peace of mind.
Start with one cupboard this week, and I’d love to hear how you get on. Which of these things to sell for cash is sitting in your house right now?