How to Price Secondhand Clothes: A Simple Formula That Works

Pricing is where most secondhand sellers get stuck. Go too high and the item sits for months. Go too low and you've just donated it for $4 with extra steps.

The good news: there's a formula. It's not complicated, and once you run an item through it a couple of times, it becomes instinct.

Start with the Original Retail Price

Before you set a number, find out what the item sold for new. Check the brand's website, Google the label and item name, or search completed listings on eBay (filter by "Sold"). This is your anchor.

The resale value of most secondhand clothing falls between 10% and 50% of original retail, depending on three things: condition, brand recognition, and demand. A Lululemon fleece in excellent condition might fetch 40–50% of retail. A generic fast-fashion top in good condition might get 10–15%.

If you genuinely can't find a retail price — for truly vintage pieces or obscure brands — use sold comps directly from resale platforms (more on that below).

The Condition Discount

Apply a standard markdown based on condition before anything else:

• New with tags (NWT): 40–60% of retail
• Like new / worn once: 30–50% of retail
• Excellent used: 20–35% of retail
• Good used (minor wear): 10–20% of retail
• Fair (visible flaws): Under 10% of retail, or only if the item has strong demand despite the flaws

Be honest about condition. Overgrading items leads to returns, disputes, and bad reviews — all of which hurt your future sales more than a lower price would.

Research Sold Listings, Not Active Ones

This is the most important habit you can build: never price against active listings. Active listings are people's wishes. Sold listings are what the market actually paid.

On eBay, filter by Sold Items. On Depop, sort by Most Recent and look at what's sold recently. On Poshmark, search the item and filter by "Just In" sorted by "Just Sold."

Find 3–5 comparable sold items. Note the price range. Price your item in the middle of that range if it's in average condition, at the top if it's notably better.

If you can't find sold comps, your item may not have strong demand — price lower and expect a slower sale, or consider if listing it is worth your time.

Factor In Platform Fees

Every platform takes a cut. Price accordingly.

Poshmark: Takes 20% on items over $15 (flat $2.95 under $15). To net $20, you need to list at $25. Depop: Takes 10% of the sale price. Vinted: Charges buyers, not sellers — so your listing price is what you receive. eBay: Final value fees vary (roughly 13–15% for clothing). Facebook Marketplace: Free for local pickup; 5% shipping fee.

Build fees into your listing price. A useful mental shortcut: on Poshmark and eBay, add 20% to your target net price. On Depop, add 10%.

Account for Shipping Costs

Shipping is an afterthought for a lot of sellers — until they realise they've eaten their profit margin on a $12 hoodie.

If you're offering free shipping (which tends to improve conversion), weigh the item before listing and check carrier rates. A typical folded hoodie in a padded envelope ships for $5–8; a heavier knitwear piece in a box can cost $12–15.

For a lightweight item, free shipping might be fine. For a heavier piece, either charge for shipping or absorb it into a higher listing price.

Use Parlo to Write the Listing Once You've Got a Price

Pricing is the strategy. Writing the listing is where sellers often lose momentum — spending 20 minutes trying to describe something they can barely articulate.

Once you know your price, use Parlo to generate the title, description, and condition notes from a photo. It takes about 30 seconds and produces copy that's clear, specific, and ready to paste into whichever platform you're listing on.

The Final Sanity Check: Would You Buy It at This Price?

Before you publish, take one step back. If you opened this listing as a buyer — not as the person who knows how much it cost you, or how long you've been trying to sell it — would you think the price was fair?

If yes, list it. If you'd hesitate, either lower the price or write a better listing that justifies it.

Pricing Rules That Actually Work in Practice

A few principles that hold up across thousands of listings:

Start realistic, not high. The "I'll lower it later" strategy sounds logical but fails in practice. Items listed high from the start get less algorithmic visibility and fewer saves. New listings get a surge of attention — price them right from day one.

Bundle to move stuck inventory. If a $6 item isn't selling, bundle it with two others at $15. Buyers love a deal; you move volume you'd otherwise be writing off.

Review sold comps again before relisting. If your item didn't sell and you're relisting, check the market again. Trends shift, seasons change, and what was priced right in March might need recalibrating in June.

Don't price based on what you paid. Sunk cost is irrelevant to the buyer. The market doesn't care that you bought it for $90. Price it at what buyers will pay today.

What to Do When Nothing Sells

If an item has been listed for four weeks with no movement, something's wrong — and it's usually one of three things:

1. The price is too high relative to condition or demand
2. The photos are poor (dark, cluttered background, item not laid flat)
3. The platform is wrong for the item category

Drop the price by 15–20% and relist with new photos. If it still doesn't move after another few weeks, bundle it or donate it. Time has a value; spending mental energy on a $7 item that won't sell isn't worth it.

Pricing gets easier the more you do it. After a few dozen items, you'll know instinctively what a Zara blazer in good condition goes for, or what a vintage Levi's jacket can command on Depop. Until then, run the formula, check your comps, and don't leave fees as an afterthought.