How to know if something's worth selling

A quick way to decide before you spend time on photos and a listing.

Most people either guess a price and hope, or don't bother listing at all because working out the real value feels like effort. There's a faster way to decide, before you commit any time to it.

Value isn't what you paid - it's what similar items are selling for right now

What you paid, what you think it's worth, and what it's actually going for on eBay, Vinted or Depop this week are three different numbers. Only the last one matters for deciding whether to list. Check real, live listings for the same or closest-matching item - not a general price guide, which lags behind what's actually happening.

Three questions that actually decide it

• Is there real demand? A handful of stale listings sitting unsold for months is a different signal to items that keep selling.
• Do fees and postage still leave you with something worthwhile? An item selling for £6 rarely clears the bar once postage and your time are counted, even with seller fees now at £0 on the big UK marketplaces.
• Would waiting get you more? Some items are worth more in a different season or after a trend moves - see our guide on sell now vs wait.

The rule of thumb

If it would sell reliably for meaningfully more than the hassle of listing it, list it. If it's borderline, it usually isn't worth your time - donate or bin it and move on to the next item, rather than letting low-value stuff pile up as unfinished listings.