Planning to join the wave of fashionistas selling clothes online? Whether you’re cleaning out your closet or reselling your vintage finds, we’ve compiled some of the best websites and apps to help get you started.
The second-hand market has grown in popularity in recent years as consumers try to shop sustainably, save money, and hunt for unique pieces. In fact, eBay reported a 20 per cent year-on-year rise in secondhand clothes sold on its site in 2023.
Looking to get involved? Learn more about selling on:
Plus check out our tips for buying wholesale clothing for resale in the UK.
Do you pay tax on selling clothes online?
If you’re selling your own clothes for the same price (or less) than you originally paid for them, you don’t need to pay tax on your earnings.
But if you’re sourcing and selling secondhand clothes to sell online, you’ll be classed as a trader, and will need to pay tax if your profits are more than £1,000 in a year.
Read more: Will your side hustle be taxed?
Top clothes selling apps
If you’re looking to make a side hustle out of selling clothes online, whether that’s second-hand, vintage, or your own designs – here’s nine of the best apps and websites you can try.
1. Vinted
| Cost to list | Free |
| Transaction fee | Free |
| Number of users | 65 million worldwide (16 million in the UK) |
Vinted is simple and free to use if you’re looking to sell men’s, women’s, and children’s clothing. You just need to upload a photo of your clothing, describe it, and your listing is live. If you’re looking for tips on selling pre-loved clothes on Vinted, check out our guide to product photography to learn how to make your listings more visually appealing.
There are no selling fees when you sell on Vinted (these are added to the price for the buyer) and the buyer covers the cost of shipping. You can also offer bundles on items you sell, which may convince buyers to purchase more than one item from you.
2. Depop
| Cost to list | Free |
| Transaction fee | 2.9% + 30p |
| Number of users | 35 million worldwide |
Buying and selling clothes on Depop is a fast-moving trend for Gen Z, with a large number of its users under the age of 25.
The app is free to use and is designed to feel a lot like Instagram. You upload pictures with a description and buyers can curate their homepage by liking pictures. It has a personal feel as it’s common for sellers to model their own clothes and accessories.
Since March 2024, Depop no longer charges sellers a selling fee – but does still charge sellers a transaction fee on each sale. Buyers now pay a marketplace fee of up to 5 per cent.
For more tips, read our full guide to selling on Depop.
3. eBay
| Cost to list | Free (35p after 300 items a month) |
| Transaction fee | Free |
| Number of users | 132 million worldwide |
eBay was the second most visited online marketplace in the UK (coming second only to Amazon), according to Statista. The site made headlines in 2024 when it announced an end to all selling and transaction fees for private sellers. You can list up to 300 items for free each month, after which you’ll pay 35p a listing.
As well as selling clothes on eBay as a private seller, you can also choose to set up an eBay shop as a business.
4. Instagram
| Cost to list | Free |
| Transaction fee | 5% or 23p |
| Number of users | 130 million worldwide |
Selling pre-loved clothes on Instagram is a great choice if you’re an established brand or have a wide range of products to sell. You need to create a shop and then catalogue your products, either using Facebook or another commerce site like Shopify or Big Commerce.
It’s free to use the app as a seller, but you’ll need a good following to reach customers. The selling fee is five per cent per shipment, or a flat fee of 23p for shipments under £7.96. You might also want to pay to promote your posts.
For more, read our guide on how to create your own shop on Instagram.
5. Etsy
| Cost to list | 16p |
| Transaction fee | 6.5% (plus a 4% + 20p processing fee) |
| Number of users | 7.3 million worldwide |
Thinking of selling handmade clothes on Etsy? While it was traditionally a marketplace for everything from art, craft, and homemade candle businesses, now you can use the website to sell second-hand or homemade clothing too.
You’ll need to create your own creative shop to list your items. Charges start with a 16p listing fee, a five per cent transaction fee, and a four per cent plus 20p payment processing fee.
For more tips, read our guide on how to sell on Etsy.
6. ASOS Marketplace
| Cost to list | Free |
| Transaction fee? | 20% |
| Number of users? | 23 million (for ASOS as a whole) |
More established sellers might choose to set up a boutique on ASOS Marketplace, which can be a great home for anything vintage and 90s to your own designs.
You’ll have unlimited listings and access to an account manager. It’s free to list but ASOS takes 20 per cent commission on every saleIt’s worth bearing in mind that sellers need to list a minimum of five items and follow strict photography guidelines. You also need a Business PayPal account.
7. Hardly Ever Worn It
| Cost to list | Free |
| Transaction fee? | 21.6% (with a minimum of £15 an item) |
| Number of users? | 200,000 |
Hardly Ever Worn It (HEWI) is another place where you can buy or sell new and used clothing. It’s designed for luxury fashion so it’s a great option if you’re planning on selling designer clothes.
There’s no charge for registration and listing but you’ll be charged 21.6 per cent of the final sale price (plus VAT on the commission). If you’re already an established business then you might be able to operate as a professional seller with your own boutique, however this is only available by invitation. You can find out more by reading HEWI’s FAQs.
8. Vestiaire Collective
| Cost to list | Free |
| Transaction fee? | 10% (minimum of £10), plus 3% payment processing fee (minimum of £3) |
| Number of users? | 15 million worldwide |
If you’re good at sniffing out designer bargains and want to share your finds with the world, you’ll have a built-in customer base on Vestiaire Collective. Home to second hand designer goods, you can sell your luxury fashion to over 15 million people worldwide.
You can also apply to become a Professional Seller, which comes with lower commission rates and additional catalogue management options.
9. StockX
| Cost to list | Free |
| Transaction fee? | 9%, plus 3% payment processing fee |
| Number of users? | 15 million worldwide |
If your niche is selling pre-loved sneakers, you can find a dedicated customer base at StockX. StockX uses a verification process, which means you’ll ship your item to them for verification after it sells. After your item is verified, they ship it onto the buyer and you get paid.
Another perk of StockX is you don’t have to take your own product photos (the quality of which can affect the likelihood of a sale), as you’re able to use professional photography of the item you’re selling.
Buying wholesale clothing for resale in the UK
Once you’ve decided which shopping platform you want to use, it’s time to find the right stock. If you’re only planning on selling your unwanted items, then you already have this covered. But if you’re looking to sell clothes online as a business opportunity, you’ll need to find stock yourself.
One way to do this is by visiting charity shops and car boot sales and keeping an eye out for hidden gems. This is a great (and sustainable way) of finding unique items to sell. Another option is to buy vintage wholesale clothing online. You can find large wholesale bundles on websites like eBay.
Once your wholesale collection arrives, you can then sell these individually for a profit. By styling these items well, taking great product photography, and writing compelling descriptions, you can start your own clothing resale business.
Consider getting insurance
Even if you’re just starting small and selling clothing from your bedroom, it’s important to protect your business venture from the start. Public liability insurance is designed to protect you if someone is injured or their property is damaged as a result of one of your products. You could also consider stock cover if you’ll be storing a large amount of stock.
Are you thinking of selling clothing online? Let us know in the comments below.
Useful guides for small businesses
- How to register as self-employed
- How to start an online shop
- How to start a clothing business: a nine-step plan
- Is business insurance a legal requirement?
Ready to set up your cover?
As one of the UK’s biggest business insurance providers, we specialise in public liability insurance and protect more trades than anybody else. Why not take a look now and build a quick, tailored quote?
Photo: fizkes/stock.adobe.com
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