The Best Online Consignment Stores of 2023

With a huge user base and an easy-to-use app, Poshmark makes selling individual items from your closet a breeze—and buying name brands at a discount even easier. From Michael Kors and Louis Vuitton to lululemon athletica and Outdoor Voices, Poshmark mostly features clothing for men, women, and children, but also includes makeup, jewelry, accessories, and home decor.

To sell your items, just take a few photos, fill out the provided form, and set a price. Listing your item is free, but once it sells, Poshmark takes 20% of the sale price (or a flat rate of $2.95 for items under $15). In return, sellers don’t have to worry about shipping (Poshmark provides a prepaid label) or credit card transaction fees—they simply drop the packaged item off at USPS. Payment is deposited into their account upon receipt by the buyer.

Buyers can browse by category, brand name, or search terms. Many sellers list their items using the same titles that retailers do, so it’s easy to check for deals on an item you may be considering buying brand new. Poshmark also serves as somewhat of a social network: Follow “poshers” with similar tastes to see new listings as they come up and engage more deeply with the community of secondhand shoppers and sellers.

Users can also “like” the items that catch their eyes: This allows them to revisit the listing later and signals to the seller that they’re interested in potentially making a purchase. (While there’s no direct messaging on the app, the seller or the buyer can offer a discounted price for any item.) All purchases come with USPS one- to three-day Priority Mail shipping, which is billed to the buyer at checkout for about $7.

Founded in 2009, ThredUp bills itself as the “World’s Largest Consignment Store,” with millions of items—primarily clothing for women and children—for sale at any given time. The brand focuses on the hefty environmental benefits of thrifting, aiming to both educate consumers and provide a sustainable option for buying and selling.

To sell on ThredUp, order a closet cleanout kit, which comes with a large shipping bag and a prepaid label. Once you fill the bag and ship it to ThredUp, the company performs a 12-point inspection on each item. Once deemed acceptable for resale on the platform, ThredUp will photograph the item and post it online. Sellers get paid a percentage of ThredUp’s sale, starting at 5% for items costing $5 and increasing with price, and can choose to collect in cash or product credit once the return window on the sold item (usually about 14 days) has expired.

To shop on ThredUp, browse by category or brand name: ThredUp stocks items from retailers ranging from J. Crew and Free People to Burberry and Giorgio Armani. Prices are clearly marked and non-negotiable, and shoppers can expect steep discounts on retail prices. Shipping is free for orders over $80, with a flat rate of $6 offered on all smaller hauls.

Overall, ThredUp is a hassle-free choice for sellers looking to unload several items at a time, especially if they aren’t set on receiving a specific amount of money in return. It can also be a worthy destination for bargain shoppers or people hoping to make more sustainable fashion choices. If you’re looking to get top dollar for specific items, however, you may want to consider other options.

Tradesy claims that the average woman has about $1,000 of resale value in her closet—and its selling platform is a top option to help sellers cash in. While users take their own photos and list items themselves, Tradesy offers assistance in small, yet valuable ways: by sharing pricing suggestions based on company data; offering free shipping kits with prepaid labels and fresh packaging; and providing complimentary “image cleaning” services that allegedly sell your items faster.

As confident as sellers may feel about listing their items on Tradesy, buyers have just as much to celebrate. The platform guarantees the authenticity of every item you purchase: Anything you return is inspected by an expert, and if the item was misrepresented by the seller in any way, you can expect a refund. Sellers can choose from three shipping methods (including shipping it themselves), but shipping time estimates are displayed prominently before purchase, so the buyer knows exactly what they’re getting before they make the purchase.

With brands like Rolex, Chanel, and Hermes alongside more affordable ones like Gap and Abercrombie & Fitch, Tradesy’s community holds something for a wide range of budgets, and its policies make it an exceptional outlet for mid-level brand names. The site has even branched out into wedding wear: Browse styles by Vera Wang or BHLDN and save on your big day.

Consignment stores may offer discounts and deals, but that doesn’t always make them cheap. The RealReal, which specializes in luxury watches, jewelry, and designer goods, is ample proof of that. With top jewelry brands like Cartier or Van Cleef & Arpels as well as designer items from Valentino, Christian Louboutin, and more, The RealReal works with consignors to sell their items at the highest price possible, with a robust online store as well as in-person shopping available to customers in 11 major U.S. cities.

To sell with The RealReal, request a free consignment kit. If you’re curious about the process or your potential payout, you can book an appointment with a consignment manager via video chat, or schedule a consultation for more information about luxury jewelry or watches. Once you’re ready to sell, ship your items to The RealReal with free UPS drop off, and the company does the rest: photographing, authenticating, and listing each item at a fair price for all parties.

The RealReal offers value mostly to sellers of high-priced luxury items: Its commission structure favors watches that retail for about $3,000 or more with its highest payout percentage of 85%. The payouts decline from there, with rates dipping to as low as 40% for any item less than $145. But the fees come with results to match, and the company claims that most items are sold within 30 days. Consignors can choose to be paid via direct deposit or merchandise credit, with a 5% bonus on offer for those who choose the latter.