How to Sell Furniture Online

Used furniture sells well online, but bulky items bring their own challenges: pricing, measurements, pickup and heavy lifting. Local marketplaces such as Facebook Marketplace are usually the fastest route for everyday pieces, while designer and vintage furniture can fetch more on curated resale sites. Clean the piece, measure it, photograph it in good light, price it from comparable local listings and arrange a safe pickup.

Where to sell

For platform-specific advice, read selling on Facebook Marketplace.

Price it right

• Research similar local listings, and look for sold items where possible.
• Consider brand and material. Solid wood and well-known brands hold value; flat-pack furniture usually doesn’t.
• Factor in condition and size. Large, heavy pieces sell more slowly because fewer buyers can move them.
• Watch the season. Demand rises around moving season and the start of the school year.

A common rule of thumb is that everyday used furniture in good condition sells for roughly 20 to 50% of its retail price, while quality vintage and designer pieces can sell for more. Our guide to pricing used items explains the research step by step.

Prepare the piece

• Clean thoroughly, including drawers, shelves and underneath.
• Tighten screws and fix wobbly legs or sticking drawers.
• Touch up small scratches with a furniture marker if appropriate.
• Remove odors by airing it out; smoke and pet smells put buyers off.
• Empty drawers of any personal items.
• Bag and label hardware if you disassemble anything, and tape it to the piece.

Photos that sell

• Use daylight from a window, with overhead lights on to fill shadows.
• Clear the space around the piece.
• Shoot straight on and at a 45-degree angle from about chest height.
• Include details: joints, labels, hardware, fabric texture and any damage.
• Show it in context so buyers can picture it in their home.

Our guide to product photos with your phone has more techniques.

Measurements and details

Furniture listings live or die on measurements. Include:

• Width, depth and height, plus seat height for chairs and sofas
• Extended length for tables with leaves
• Brand, model, material and age
• Condition and flaws, each with a photo
• Whether it disassembles, which helps buyers with small vehicles or narrow stairs
• Pet-free and smoke-free, if true

Our guide to writing listings that sell includes a template.

Pickup and delivery

• State that the buyer collects and needs a suitable vehicle and helpers.
• Offer delivery for a fee only if you have the vehicle, time and help.
• Move the item to a garage or porch before pickup so buyers don’t need to come inside.
• Set a pickup deadline and confirm the time in writing.
• Hold items only with a firm plan. First to arrive with payment is a fair default.

Handling negotiations

Buyers of big items almost always negotiate. Decide your minimum before you list and price a little above it. When someone offers less, a counter-offer, such as meeting halfway, usually works better than a flat no. If a piece hasn’t sold after two weeks, refresh the lead photo and drop the price once, meaningfully. Selling several pieces? Offer a bundle price, because buyers furnishing a new home often want a matching set.

Stay safe

• Have another adult with you at pickup.
• Don’t share when you’ll be away from home.
• Confirm payment has arrived before the item leaves.
• Refuse overpayments and checks, including “my mover will collect it and I’ll send a check” offers.

Our Facebook Marketplace safety guide explains these scams.

Check product safety first

It’s illegal to sell recalled products in the US, so check the CPSC recall database before listing cribs, dressers, high chairs and other children’s furniture. Cribs must meet current federal safety standards to be sold, and older drop-side cribs don’t. Dressers and bookcases can tip over; encourage buyers to anchor them to the wall, as the CPSC’s Anchor It campaign recommends.

What’s hard to sell

• Mattresses and upholstered bedding, which many buyers avoid and some states regulate
• Heavy particleboard furniture with damage
• Stained or torn upholstery

Donate what you can, use your local bulk-pickup service for the rest, and recycle metal and wood where possible.

Frequently asked questions

What furniture sells best online?

Solid wood pieces, well-known brands, mid-century and vintage furniture, and practical items such as dressers, bookcases, desks and dining sets tend to sell quickly.

How do I price used furniture?

Look at similar local listings and sold items, then adjust for brand, material, condition and size. Everyday pieces in good condition often sell for 20 to 50% of retail.

Should I offer delivery?

Offering delivery can widen your market, but only if you have the vehicle and help to do it safely. Charge enough to cover your time and fuel.