The 10 best items to sell on eBay in the new year

The start of a new year is a great time to clear out all the old stuff in your home which you no longer want or need - and to make some handy extra money while you do.

Not only that, but by selling items on, rather than just throwing them away, it reduces waste and helps many of us with our new year's resolution to try and be 'greener' in 2024.

Ege Yilmaz, Head of Consumer Selling at eBay UK, says: “After a busy festive period, many of us head into the new year feeling strapped for cash. However, selling unused items from around your home on eBay can give you a much needed financial boost. Whether it’s unwanted gifts or duplicate presents you’ve received, January is a prime time to get listing items that may be of interest to someone else.

"No matter how weird and wonderful, there’s a market for everything on eBay. As well as being a great way to make extra money, it’s also helping to keep items out of landfill and in circulation for longer – it’s a win-win situation.”

Secondhand marketplace eBay is one of the most popular places online to turn old items into cash, with Brits making almost 300 million visits every month to the site.

From women’s clothes, to game consoles and toys, it is easy to make money from re-selling items and give your savings a boost. eBay's own research shows that people think they have an average of 11 clothes items and nine toys that they could sell to make money.

Clothes (49%), shoes (29%), toys (22%) and homewares (17%) are the top items people have to sell, followed by games consoles and unused kitchen appliances which are taking up space in homes across the country.

Here's some top tips to make sure you are ahead of the pack when it comes to making that sale.

Top tips for selling on eBay

Here's what eBay UK's Head of Consumer Selling advises to make your listings stand out:

Give it your best shot

High-quality images are key to showing your listings in their best light, as people won’t bid on items they cannot see. For best results, particularly in winter, take photos in good light and be sure to highlight flaws rather than hide them, sharing photos from as many angles as you can to gain buyer confidence.

Create a clear listing with lots of detail

Make sure your listing heading is clear and concise and don’t skimp on detail. Be clear about the condition of the item, describing any imperfections, and if you’re selling clothes, note the fit and feel of them.

Titles are key

Take the time to get your keywords right and bidders will come. It’s crucial to write your listing using the terms people are searching for, especially brand, product names and sizes.

Is the price and time right?

Think to yourself: 'How much would I pay for this item?' You can also search for similar sold items in the past to gauge how much you should list your item for in order to get the sale. Seasonality also plays its part, with items such as toys, games and winter coats selling best before Christmas.

Sell on Sundays

eBay’s busiest time for buyers is Sunday evenings, so if you’re using the auction function, schedule your listings to end around that time. Alternatively, for ‘buy it now’ items, upload at this time for maximum views.

Keep a positive selling history

Ensure your item reaches your buyer on time and use tracking where possible to maximise purchase satisfaction.

Now that you are armed with these top tips straight from the eBay experts, if you like the idea of making some extra cash online, we reveal the 10 best items to sell on eBay in January.