Facebook Marketplace reselling UK: what sells, what to skip
Facebook Marketplace works best for items that are too big, too heavy or too cheap to post. Furniture, appliances, bikes and bulk lots sell there because the buyer collects.
For small, high-value items such as trading cards or trainers, other platforms reach more buyers.
TLDR: Use Marketplace for bulky local items and quick sales. Price from sold listings on eBay, not from other Marketplace asking prices. Meet in public, take cash or a bank transfer you can see land, and use a different platform for anything small and valuable.
What sells best on Facebook Marketplace in the UK?
Bulky, collect-only items sell best, because postage kills the margin on them elsewhere.
Good categories:
- Solid wood furniture and storage units
- Garden furniture, planters and tools
- Exercise bikes, weights and treadmills
- Kids' bikes, prams and playroom furniture
- Job lots of LEGO, books or board games
- Small appliances such as air fryers and coffee machines
A pine chest of drawers that costs £25 to collect from a house clearance and sells for £70 is a normal Marketplace flip. The same chest costs £40 or more to courier, so no eBay buyer would pay that price.
Branded, boxed items also do well. A boxed air fryer from a known brand sells quickly when it is priced fairly.
What should you avoid reselling on Marketplace?
Avoid small, high-value items where the buyer needs proof and protection, such as sealed trading cards, limited trainers and electronics.
Buyers on Marketplace expect a bargain. They also expect to see the item first. A sealed Pokémon box has no easy way to prove it is genuine over a message thread, and fake listings of that kind are common.
For those items, eBay and Vinted give both sides protection. Our guide to eBay vs Vinted vs Depop covers which suits what.
How do you price an item on Facebook Marketplace?
Price from what similar items have actually sold for, not from what other sellers are asking.
Asking prices on Marketplace run high, and many listings never sell. Check the sold filter on eBay for the same make and model. Then price Marketplace slightly under the eBay sold price, because the buyer saves postage and fees but takes the risk of collecting.
Add 10% to 15% to your first price. Buyers on Marketplace almost always offer less, and a listing with room to move sells faster than one that has to refuse every offer.
Work out your margin before you buy. Include fuel, any van hire, cleaning supplies and your time. A £40 profit that costs three hours of driving is a poor day.
What fees does Facebook Marketplace charge?
Local sales where you take payment yourself carry no selling fee, which is the main reason resellers use it.
Shipped sales through Facebook's own checkout carry a selling fee. The rate has changed over time and sources disagree, so read Facebook's current fee page before you price a shipped item. Do not rely on a figure from a blog post, including this one.
Compare that with Vinted, where sellers pay no fee, and eBay, where the total fee depends on category. Our eBay fees guide has the current numbers.
How do you avoid scams on Facebook Marketplace?
Meet in a public place, check the money has arrived before you hand over the item, and refuse any request to move the chat or the payment off Facebook.
The common scams:
- Overpayment. The buyer "accidentally" sends too much and asks for a refund. The original payment is later reversed.
- Fake payment screenshots. A screenshot is not a payment. Check your own banking app.
- Courier collection. The buyer says a courier will collect and asks for a fee or a code. Real buyers collect in person or use the platform's labels.
- Deposit requests. Never pay a deposit to a seller you have not met when buying stock.
For high-value items, ask the buyer to bring cash or make a bank transfer while they stand with you. A bank transfer that appears in your app is final. A cheque or a "pending" payment is not.
Do you pay tax on Facebook Marketplace profits?
Yes, if you trade, and the rules do not depend on the platform.
Selling your own unwanted items is not trading. Buying items to sell on for profit can be. Our guides to tax on reselling in the UK and whether reselling is legal explain the difference and the £1,000 trading allowance.
Keep a record of what you pay and what you sell for. The free manual inventory in the Paragn iPhone app does that, and it works for stock from any source, including Marketplace.
Common questions
Is Facebook Marketplace good for reselling?
Yes, for bulky items that buyers collect. For small, valuable items, eBay or Vinted gives you a bigger audience and better buyer protection.
Is it free to sell on Facebook Marketplace?
Local sales that you arrange and take payment for yourself carry no selling fee. Shipped sales through Facebook's checkout do carry a fee. Check Facebook's fee page for the current rate.
What sells fastest on Facebook Marketplace UK?
Furniture, appliances, bikes and kids' items sell fastest when priced slightly under the eBay sold price. Good photos in daylight and a clear collection area help.
How do I find stock to resell on Marketplace?
Search for house clearance, "must go" and moving-house listings, and watch for items listed with poor photos. Our best things to resell guide covers which categories hold their value.
Should I use Marketplace or Vinted?
Use Vinted for clothing and small items you can post. Use Marketplace for anything bulky that a buyer collects. Many resellers use both.