The Pre-Move Purge: Where to Sell Clothes for Cash Online

One of the best parts about moving is taking an inventory of everything that you own and getting rid of the things that you no longer want. Doesn’t sound that exciting? What if we told you that you could take some of those unwanted items and turn them into cash? There are a lot of items that you can sell before moving—furniture, appliances, books, old electronics… and of course: clothes. In fact, there are plenty of great sites that allow you to sell clothes for cash online and turn your least favorite garments into something more productive (money).

Selling clothes is a great way to lighten your packing load and give old clothes the opportunity at a new life (though if you’d rather donate them, we also have a list on where to donate clothes when you’re moving). Online resale shops operate just like their brick-and-mortar counterparts, with some giving you cash up front for your goods and others paying you a portion of the proceeds once they’ve sold your item. And they’re burgeoning businesses: resale shops are expected to double in growth in the next five years, driven by a push for sustainable fashion, as well as clothes shoppers who enjoy the thrill of a good hunt.

If you’re interested in getting in on the resale trend but you’re short on time because of your move, then the internet is the place to go. Here are six places you can sell clothes for cash online and get a little bit of payback for cleaning out your closet.

thredUP

Poshmark

Tradesy

eBay

Crossroads

Swap.com

Making sure your clothes sell

If you want to sell clothes for cash online, be prepared to put in a little bit of work. The most successful sellers are those who send in new clothes or clothes in extremely good condition, as well as those who take high quality pictures of their items for sale (and plenty of them) and get as detailed as possible when it comes to descriptors like brand, fabric, measurements, and the year or season the garment is from.

As for pricing, if you’re using a platform where you’re responsible for pricing your own item, go with the one-third rule: set a price that’s a third of the original purchase price for pre-worn items, and increase that price slightly if the item is unworn or in otherwise excellent condition.

Do it right, and you won’t just have a lighter load to pack, but you’ll also have some extra dough you can put toward your truck rental or movers. That’s a win-win in our book!