How to Sell Shoes Online Secondhand: Platforms, Photos & Pricing

Shoes are one of the best categories to resell secondhand. They're durable, brand-recognizable, and buyers know exactly what they want. But most sellers leave money on the table by using the wrong platform, skipping key photos, or writing listings that bury what the buyer needs to know.

Here's a practical guide to selling secondhand shoes online — from picking the right marketplace to writing a listing that moves.

Where to Sell Secondhand Shoes Online

The right platform depends on what kind of shoes you're selling.

eBay is still the best all-purpose marketplace for shoes. Almost any style sells here — trainers, boots, dress shoes, heels, vintage, and obscure brands that don't have an obvious niche platform. eBay's fee is around 13.25% for most footwear, and you can auction or set a fixed price. For anything unusual or hard to value, starting an auction at a low opening bid often gets you a better final price than guessing.

Depop works well for vintage, Y2K, and streetwear-adjacent footwear — chunky 90s trainers, platform boots, cowboy boots, anything with an aesthetic. Buyers here skew younger and are specifically hunting for style. Depop charges 10% + payment processing (~13–14% effective).

Poshmark is better for mainstream brand shoes — Nike, Adidas, Steve Madden, Sam Edelman, UGG. Buyers on Poshmark are price-sensitive and brand-driven, not trend-driven. The 20% flat fee on sales over $15 is higher than competitors, but Poshmark handles shipping labels, which simplifies logistics.

StockX and GOAT are for sneakers only — particularly limited releases, Nike SB, Jordan, Yeezy, New Balance collab drops. If you have a pair in this category, these platforms give you authenticated resale pricing and a guaranteed buyer pool. Don't list hyped sneakers on eBay first; check StockX prices and sell there unless fees make it unworkable.

Facebook Marketplace is underrated for local shoe sales, especially bulkier styles like work boots or hiking boots where shipping costs eat margins. Listing locally means no fees and no packaging hassle.

How to Photograph Shoes for Secondhand Listings

Shoes are a tactile product — buyers want to assess condition through photos before committing. Most shoe listings fail because the photos don't show enough.

Take at least six shots:

1. Both shoes together, top-down on a clean surface or white background
2. Side profile of the right shoe (shows silhouette and overall condition)
3. Sole of both shoes — this is where wear shows up most clearly and buyers always check
4. Inside of both shoes (heel lining, insole, sizing label)
5. Close-up of any flaws — scuffs, creasing, sole separation, fading. Show these clearly. Buyers who feel deceived leave bad reviews and return items. A photo of a flaw is protection for both parties.
6. Brand/model tag or box if you have it

Natural light gives the most accurate color representation. Shoes shot on a white background photograph cleanly and stand out in search results.

Writing a Shoe Listing That Converts

A good shoe listing answers three questions before the buyer has to ask: What is it, what condition is it in, and will it fit me?

Title formula: [Brand] [Model] [Color] [UK/EU Size] — [Condition]

Example: "Nike Air Max 90 White/Grey UK 9 — Very Good Condition"

Include the size in the title. Many buyers search by size and won't click a listing that doesn't confirm size upfront.

Condition description: Be specific. "Good condition" means nothing. "Worn around 10 times, slight creasing on toe box, clean soles, no major scuffs" tells the buyer exactly what they're getting. Rate condition honestly:

• New/Unworn: Never worn outside, still with tags or box if possible
• Excellent: Worn fewer than 5 times, minimal signs of wear
• Very Good: Visible light wear, no structural issues, clean overall
• Good: Clear signs of use, some scuffing or creasing, still plenty of life left
• Fair: Heavy wear, describe specifically what's worn

Sizing note: If the shoes run small, large, or narrow, say so. "Fits small — suggest sizing up half a size" saves you from returns.

Measurements: For vintage or unusual sizing, include the insole length in cm. Vintage sizing is notoriously inconsistent, and a measurement resolves disputes.

Parlo can generate your title, condition grade, and full description from a photo — useful when you're listing a batch of shoes and don't want to write each one from scratch.

How to Price Secondhand Shoes

Pricing shoes is easier than pricing clothes because there's usually comp data available.

Search the sold listings on eBay for the exact model, size, and condition. Don't look at asking prices — look at what actually sold (filter "Sold Items"). StockX shows real-time bid/ask data for sneakers and is the best pricing reference for anything in that category.

Condition discounts as a rough guide:

• Excellent: 60–75% of retail
• Very Good: 40–60% of retail
• Good: 25–40% of retail
• Fair: 10–25% of retail

For vintage or discontinued shoes, retail is irrelevant — price off comps only.

Factor in platform fees and shipping before setting your price. If a shoe sells for $50 on Poshmark, you net ~$40 after the 20% fee. If shipping is $12 and you're covering it, your real take is $28. Work backwards from what you want to pocket.

Offer room: On eBay and Poshmark, price 10–15% above your floor to leave room for offers. Buyers in these marketplaces routinely low-ball — a $65 listing that closes at $55 after an offer is better than a $55 listing that closes at $55 with no room to negotiate.

The Mistakes That Kill Shoe Sales

Skipping the sole photo is the most common error. Buyers assume you're hiding something. Include it even when the soles look perfect.

Listing both shoes as one photo without detail shots. Many buyers are assessing whether to resell themselves — they need to see condition on both shoes individually.

Wrong size format: Include both UK and EU sizing if possible (or US). Confusion over sizing leads to returns. When in doubt, photograph the label.

Overpricing off nostalgia: What you paid is irrelevant to the buyer. What similar sold listings are clearing for is the only number that matters. Sentimental value doesn't translate to resale value.

Ignoring the box: Original boxes add 10–30% to value on eBay and StockX for collectable sneakers. If you have the box, say so in the listing title and show it in the photos.

Getting Your Listing Live Fast

The biggest blocker for most casual sellers is time — photographing, describing, and pricing one pair of shoes takes 10–15 minutes if you're doing it properly. For a clearout of 10+ pairs, that adds up fast.

The approach that works: batch your photos in one session (good light, clean background), then process the listings with whatever helps you write quickly. The faster you can get accurate listings live, the less time shoes sit unphotographed in a corner and the faster you turn them into cash.