9 Best Places to Sell Shoes & Why They Made Our List

If your shoe collection has outgrown your closet or if you're considering starting a shoe business, then you'd want to stick around. 

Selling footwear online is one of the easiest revenue streams to have, but only if you learn the basics.

The first and most important factor to consider is where to advertise them.

In this article, we've rounded up the best places to sell shoes to help you get off to a great start!

The Best Places to Sell Shoes (Overview)

1. eBay – Best for Selling All Types of Shoes
2. Poshmark – Best for Listing Fashionable Footwear
3. OfferUp – Best for Selling Shoes Locally
4. Vestiaire Collective – Best for Marketing Luxury Goods
5. Kixify – Best for Selling Sneakers
6. thredUP – Best for Closet Cleanouts
7. Mercari – Best for Listing Pre-owned Footwear
8. Grailed – Best for Selling Streetwear
9. Zazzle – Best for Promoting Footwear Designs

An Overview of the Best Places to Sell Shoes

Before delving deeper into our recommendations, let's give you a quick overview of the business of selling shoes on online platforms.

What Are the Different Types of Shoe-Selling Platforms?

You'll find lots of places to sell shoes with various specializations, such as those that sell luxury brands, those that sell sneakers or heels, and so on.

All of these options fall into one of two categories: online retail platforms or online local marketplaces. 

Comparing selling on eBay with Craigslist is a simple way to see the difference. 

On eBay, you're exposed to a larger customer base, subject to several selling policies, and charged a commission fee.

On Craigslist, you'll be exposed to local buyers and won't be charged any additional fees by the platform, everything's between you and the buyer.

Is Selling Shoes Worthwhile?

Whether you want to sell new shoes as a side hustle or just sell an old pair, it's a path worth exploring! With so many platforms to help, it's now easier than ever.

Besides, the footwear market is a multibillion-dollar industry in the U.S., and 79% of Americans now buy shoes online.

You have a good chance of turning this into a profitable source of income. 

The Best Place to Sell Shoes at a Glance

Selling shoes online is a lucrative hustle, but your success starts with answering a key question:

What Is the Best Place to Sell Shoes?

eBay is the best place to sell shoes. 

It has an extensive customer base, with 147 million active buyers recorded in 2021.

It also enables sellers to list both new and used footwear.

Lastly, the different account types it offers make it an excellent choice for both beginners and business owners, as we'll explain in more detail below.

Things to Consider When Looking for Places to Sell Shoes

Before you sell shoes online, you should take into account several aspects.

Some will serve as a shortcut to determining which platform will work for you and which won't, while others will be your entry point to a selling a product successfully.

Here are five of the most important factors you'll need to consider:

1. Product Condition

The product's condition is the primary factor in dictating where you can sell it. 

Several selling platforms, such as Amazon, won’t allow you to sell used footwear. 

Other marketplaces accept old shoes, but they may have specific requirements regarding their state, appearance, or brand. 

You’ll also find platforms that don't impose any restrictions on the condition.

2. Visibility and Traffic

After you've narrowed down your options based on the product's condition, it's time to evaluate the platform's customer base and traffic.

You can discover this by researching online or through reviews.

Most importantly, check to see if these websites have high visibility to your target audience.

Don't advertise your sneakers on a generic or irrelevant website that rarely appears for shoe buyers.

List them on specialized platforms like Kixify. 

3. Selling Fees and Policies

You have to carefully examine selling rates and policies because they're the turning point in any selling process. 

You might find a website that charges high seller fees, which will eventually make your experience unprofitable, especially if you're not selling your product for a high price. 

You should also consider looking into their seller guidelines to ensure your eligibility, as well as their shipping policies.

Some platforms delegate shipping to sellers, while others handle it for a fee; in either case, you'll need to account for these expenses when calculating your profit.

4. Pricing

You don't just wing it when it comes to pricing your product.

You'll need to do some research on the offerings listed by the competition.

If you want to boost your selling odds, you should sell your shoes at competitive prices rather than aiming for the stars.

You should also be aware that the shoe's condition has a significant impact on the selling price.

If it's pre-owned, the cost you paid for it will be greatly reduced.

5. Presentation

Always take high-quality photos of the shoes, as image resolution has been shown to influence product sales.

If the shoes are used, a good cleaning (and repair, if necessary) will go a long way! 

It would help if you also concentrated on writing detailed, effective product descriptions that'll draw in potential buyers.

Best Places to Sell Shoes: Our Top 3 Options [Ranked & Reviewed]

Here are the top three picks for selling shoes online, along with each option's benefits and drawbacks.

eBay - Our Pick

eBay is a global auction and trading online marketplace where people can buy and sell items.

It enables both individual sellers and small businesses to promote their products on the platform and offers two account types tailored to each context. 

You can start an eBay business without an official company by creating a personal account. 

Whereas, if you have a legally registered business, you can open a business account and take advantage of its advanced features. 

Key Characteristics

• Broad Market Reach: eBay is one of the world's largest e-commerce platforms, with millions of users spread across 190 different markets.
• Diverse Product Categories: It doesn’t restrict you to specific footwear categories; you can list any type or brand you own. It also accepts secondhand shoe listings. 
• User-Friendly Interface: As a seller, navigating your account, listing items, and managing orders is a breeze on eBay. A user-friendly platform also allows customers to have a smooth purchasing experience, which increases the likelihood of them returning for another purchase.
• Various Payment Methods: This platform provides multiple payment options for sellers to collect their fees. Among them are PayPal, Apple Pay, credit or debit card, and Google Pay.
• Seller Protection: eBay has policies in place to protect sellers in several situations, including dealing with abusive buyers.

Seller fees

eBay charges sellers mainly two types of fees:

• Insertion Fees: You get 250 free listings per month (or more if you have an eBay store). If you exceed this limit, you'll be charged an insertion fee per listing, which varies depending on the product category but is $0.35 for shoes.
• Final Value Fees: After the sale is completed, eBay charges you final value fees, which are composed of two parts. The first is a percentage of the total sale price that varies depending on the product category and value; for shoes, it ranges from 8-15%. The second is a fixed $0.30 per purchase.

Pros

• Flexible Listing Formats: eBay has a special treat for sellers where they can list their products either in an auction style, which is great if you want to sell shoes quickly, or at a fixed price if you have a specific cost in mind. 
• Fixed Seller Fees: Since it's a well-established platform, they're transparent about all of the fees they charge sellers, so you shouldn't worry about being duped.
• Advanced Selling Tools: You'll find a wide range of selling tools available to help you optimize your listings, attract potential buyers, and track and manage your performance. This will be especially useful if you intend to expand your business. 

Cons

• High Competition: Due to its extreme popularity, eBay is a highly competitive marketplace, which may affect your chances of selling and lower the prices you list for your products.
• Policies Restrictions: There are many restrictions in eBay's seller policies that you might find limiting, such as not having control over returns and customer service. 
• Associated Selling Expenses: It’s not a free selling marketplace; you'll be charged multiple seller fees, which some may consider excessive compared to other platforms. Not to mention packaging and shipping costs, whether you handle it yourself or delegate it to eBay.

Our Take

We find eBay to be a reliable option for both beginners and business owners to consider.

It has low start-up costs, allows you to advertise any type of footwear (new or used), and offers multiple payment methods.

All of this sets it apart from the competition!

However, before you begin listing, we strongly advise you to thoroughly check their seller fees, shipping methods, and associated expenses.

After doing these calculations, it's possible that you may discover that it's not quite profitable for you.

Poshmark - Runner-Up

Poshmark is one of the largest fashion online platforms, with 7.8 million active buyers recorded in 2022.

It specializes in selling new and used shoes, clothing, and accessories, which makes it an efficient way to reach your target audience. 

Selling on Poshmark is quite easy.

You take a picture of the shoe, post it with an offer, and if it sells, they handle the shipping; it's as simple as that!

Key Characteristics 

• Highly Targeted Audience: This platform serves the exact niche you're searching for, as all customers who visit this platform are looking specifically for fashionwear.
• Easy-To-Use App/Website: Poshmark is known for its user-friendliness, whether you're using their website or mobile app. It's designed to make managing sales on the go as simple as possible. In fact, it was initially released only as an iPhone app.
• Community-Driven Platform: This marketplace is distinguished by its unique community-centered approach. It allows sellers to communicate with one another and host fun virtual parties. It also enables sellers to chat with customers to create a genuinely positive experience. 
• Sales and Inventory Reports: Poshmark gives sellers access to sales and inventory reports, providing insightful data that'll help you better track and manage your listings.
• Social Media Integration: Poshmark has cleverly integrated with social media platforms to boost your listings' visibility. You can promote your products on Instagram, Twitter, Pinterest, and more.

Seller Fees

The seller fees on Poshmark are straightforward:

• $2.95 Flat Fee: For sales under $15
• 20% Commission: For sales of $15 or more

Pros 

• Free Setup and Listings: Creating an account on Poshmark is free of charge, and so are the listings. You're not charged any fees unless you get a successful purchase.
• Hassle-Free Shipping: You won't have to worry about shipping your products! When someone buys your shoes, you'll receive an email with a prepaid shipping label to attach to your package. Then, you can either drop it off at a USPS mailbox near you or schedule a free in-home pickup.
• Seller-Centered Return Policy: Poshmark has a return and refund policy that effectively protects sellers. You see, buyers can only request a return/refund if the item didn't arrive or if it didn't match the description, not if it doesn't fit or if they no longer want it.

Cons 

• High Commission Rates: The 20% commission can be relatively high because, when you think about it, if you sell a pair of shoes for $100, you'll be charged $20 that you could've saved by selling it in a garage sale or on a free online marketplace.
• Requires Attentiveness: Poshmark is a highly social platform that requires constant interaction to boost your sales. Attend virtual parties, share and promote listings, respond to comments/questions, and so forth.
• Brand Dependent: Since it's a fashion-focused platform, the competition is fierce! Unless you list designer shoes, your chances of making profitable sales are somewhat reduced.

Our Take

If you want instant exposure to serious potential customers, then Poshmark is a great place to start, especially if you own designer brands.

It's one of the easiest ways to sell your shoes online, with strict return/refund policies that’ll protect you from common unfavorable situations. 

OfferUp - Also Great

OfferUp is one of the best ways to sell items locally, with 20 million active users monthly as of 2023.

Its customer base is primarily concentrated in the U.S., followed by Mexico and Canada. 

Shoes are one of the top-selling items on OfferUp, so you stand a strong chance of turning a profit here.

Key Characteristics

• Virtual Garage Sale: OfferUp connects sellers and buyers in the same geographic area, making the purchasing process a whole lot easier. It's like a giant virtual garage sale! 
• In-App Messaging: This platform provides an in-app communication channel to facilitate chatting and negotiating with buyers, and you can even connect to your Facebook account if you want.
• Promotional Tools: By using OfferUp's paid promotional tools, you can push your listing to the top of the search results, increasing your product's visibility and its chances of selling.
• Shipping Options and Local Meetups: The platform offers to ship products to all states across the U.S. (with a few expectations). If you don't want to pay the shipping price, you can arrange for a local meetup with the buyer. 
• Secure Payments: If you meet the buyer in person, you'll settle your payment with them. If you have the product shipped, OfferUp guarantees secure transactions and will send your earnings via direct deposit.

Seller Fees

You won't pay a dime for starting an account on this platform, and there's no listing fee.

Plus, if you collected payment directly from the buyer, you won't be charged any selling costs. 

Yet, if you want to delegate shipping to OfferUp or use their promotional tools, you'll have to invest some money.

• Order Processing Fee: $1.99 or 12.9% of the item’s final price (excluding shipping charges), whichever is greater
• Promotional Fee:  $19.99 per month

Pros

• Minimal to No Charges: You can list and sell as many shoes as you want for free as long as you meet buyers in person. Even if you had OfferUp ship your products, their fee isn't excessive.
• Verified User Profiles and Ratings: OfferUp verifies users before they open accounts by requesting ID, phone numbers, and other information. Each user also has a rating and review section that you can look at before engaging in a transaction with them.
• Facilitates Localized Selling: This platform offers nearly all the necessary features for improving and ensuring safety when selling locally. 

Cons

• Limited Visibility: The marketplace is efficient for getting rid of old shoes. However, if you want to expand your business, it shouldn't be your only option because it caters to a limited audience. 
• Negotiation Difficulties: OfferUp is essentially a marketplace where buyers can bargain for lower prices. Some people abuse this, and you wind up wasting your time and energy.
• Safety Concerns: If you decide to meet up with the buyer, your safety and payment will be your responsibility, as with any local marketplace. Thus, if something doesn't feel right about a sale, it's better to be safe than sorry!

Our Take

OfferUp may be just what you need to declutter your entire wardrobe, not just your shoe collection, because of its openness to all product categories and conditions. 

The fact that it doesn't charge any selling fees for local meetups makes it a perfect choice for selling low-cost products.

But if you want to expose your footwear to a larger market, this may not be the best option for you. 

Notable Mentions: Other Places for Selling Shoes to Check Out

Our recommendations don't end there.

We still have a few more up our sleeves that'll effectively help you sell shoes for cash! 

Vestiaire Collective - Best for Marketing Luxury Goods

Vestiaire Collective, formerly known as Tradesy, is one of the go-to online consignment stores for selling luxury goods.

Seller Fees

There are no listing fees, but the following selling charges are applied to sellers in the U.S.:

• $12 Flat Fee: Products under $80
• $2,000 Flat Fee: Products above $13,000
• 15% Commission Rate: $80 to $13,000 products
• 3% Processing Fee: On sales of $80 or more, and only $3 for products priced less than that

Why Is It Special?

If you have a valuable shoe collection that you want to sell, Vestiaire Collective is a fantastic choice for that.

It has an established target audience, is completely legit, and offers excellent customer support for sellers. 

Downsides

If you just want to resell shoes online that aren't vintage or designer, this platform won't be much help.

In fact, you can't list anything for less than $18 there.

Besides, as you can see above, their selling fees are quite high.

Kixify - Best for Selling Sneakers

Kixify is an online marketplace where you can sell sneakers for cash.

Since it specializes in sneakers, it’s ideal for anyone looking to get started in this industry.

Seller Fees

• 10% Commission Rate: On each sale

Why Is It Special?

We like how Kixify gives sellers direct access to the sneakerhead community for a relatively low fee. 

You'll find all types of potential buyers there, whether they're the ones looking for new shoes or collectors.

As a result, your product is more likely to be seen by the right audience.

Downsides

This platform has no major drawbacks.

But, if we have to mention anything, it could be the time you'll spend designing your storefront and establishing your store's policies.

thredUP – Best for Closet Cleanouts

thredUp is by far one of our favorite consignment stores! It not only allows you to sell shoes online, but it also helps you clear out all the unworn items in your wardrobe for extra cash.

Check out this guide to learn more about selling on thredUP.

Seller Fees

You can estimate their selling fee using their "Estimate your payout" calculator, which varies depending on the product.

To give you a sense of scale, their commission rate on $200 and up items is 20%.

Why Is It Special?

thredUp is unique in that they handle the selling process on your behalf.

You just request a clearout bag, fill it with items, and return it to them via FedEx or USPS.

They'll then photograph, list, and market your products for you.

Downsides

thredUp has strict quality standards, so they may not sell everything you send.

They also don't usually prioritize low-profile brands because their processing costs exceed their resale value.

Mercari – Best for Listing Pre-owned Footwear

Mercari is an online platform resembling eBay where you can sell almost anything, but Mercari focuses more on used goods. 

Selling on Mercari is simple and similar to the other websites we mentioned; snap, list, sell, and have your money transferred to your bank account!

Seller Fees

• 10% Commission Rate: On each sale 

There are also payment processing and shipping fees that vary depending on several factors. 

Why Is It Special?

This marketplace draws buyers looking for pre-owned goods, which makes it an excellent way to resell old shoes.

It also has a sizable audience of over 20 million monthly active users recorded in 2022.

Downsides

Mercari has strong policies to protect buyers, and sometimes they come at the expense of the seller's profitability.

For example, sellers have to accept all returns approved by the platform. 

Grailed – Best for Selling Streetwear

Do you have a cool pair of shoes you'd like to sell quickly without much fuss or even a license?

Well, Grailed is an online consignment shop that specializes in selling streetwear, so you'll find your niche scrolling there!

Seller Fees

• 9% Commission Rate: On every sale

Why Is It Special?

Grailed caters to a specific trendy taste that may go unnoticed on other selling platforms.

They also charge a fairly low commission fee when compared to other online consignment shops.

Downsides

We can say that Graild is somewhat inconsistent in the quality of customer service that sellers receive, as we found some praising it and many others despising it. 

We recommend reading their “Onboarding FAQ” and their seller guidelines in general so you understand their selling process and, hopefully, don’t require the assistance of their agents!

Zazzle – Best for Promoting Footwear Designs

Looking at selling shoes from a different angle, you can create footwear designs and monetize them through a website like Zazzle.

If you're creative in that area, or already juggle with freelance design jobs, this could be a fun way to supplement your income.

Seller Fees

There are no fees for selling designs on Zazzle.

Why Is It Special?

We love how this platform allows artists to promote their designs to over 30 million customers for free! You won't even have to deal with any of the challenges associated with selling processes because you'll only be in charge of the design. 

Downsides

There's intense competition on this platform, which may force you to lower your price and reduce your chances of having several sales.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where Can I Sell My Shoes for the Best Price?

There's no definitive answer because the footwear type, condition, brand, and multiple other factors influence the final sale price.

One of the selling tips that can actually boost your chances of having profitable sales is to list your shoes on multiple platforms rather than just one.

Do Pawn Shops Buy Shoes?

It differs from one pawn shop to the next, which is why we suggest checking with your local ones first.

But don't get your hopes up if you plan to sell shoes for cash at a pawn shop.

These stores typically only buy rare or designer shoes in excellent condition, and some don't even accept footwear at all.

Alternative Sources of Income to Explore

Selling shoes isn't the only way you can make quick money online.

Check out the following alternatives to diversify your revenue streams:

• Best Places to Sell Watches: Discover the best platforms for selling watches for extra cash.
• How to Sell Digital Art: Your digital art could be your shortcut to earning passive income. All you need to do is learn the fundamentals of marketing it.

Wrapping Up

By now, you should have a good idea of where you can sell the shoes you own. 

Yet, if there's one website that meets most of the criteria for a successful sale, it has to be eBay.

It's completely legitimate, has unrivaled traffic, and allows you to list all types of shoes.

It's also super user-friendly, where they have short videos and articles guiding you along the way. 

Feel free to drop any questions in the comments section, and we'll be happy to answer them!

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