The Best Items to Flip: 30 Things to Buy and Resell for Profit

Product flipping is one of the easiest side hustles to start. There are no setup costs, and you can make extra money within hours by listing items on Facebook Marketplace or Kijiji. But how do you know what products you can flip for profit? After all, finding the right products is essential.

To help, I’ve compiled a list of 30 items you can flip for a profit. I also share some best practices and the top online marketplaces to flip products.

What to Consider When Flipping Products

Product flipping can be a lucrative side hustle; in fact, some people have turned it into a full-time business. But there are some best practices to follow if you want to be successful. While this is far from an in-depth guide, here are some quick tips for flipping.

• Sell your own stuff first: The cheapest way to source products is by selling what you already own. Look around your house for items that have value but that you no longer use – it’s a great way to get started.

• Learn how to negotiate: Whether buying or selling, strong negotiation skills are critical to ensure you are maximizing your profit potential.
• Don’t overspend on products: When buying products to flip, keep your emotions in check and never overspend. Remember that profit is your only goal. You could risk losing money on the deal if you don’t buy at the right price.
• Spend time on your product listings: Whether you’re listing your products on Facebook Marketplace, eBay, or Amazon, make sure your listing will capture the attention of potential buyers. Post lots of high-quality pictures of your items – the more, the better. Also, provide a detailed description of your items.
• Communicate effectively: If you treat your flipping side hustle as a business, you’ll have more success. And with any business, good customer service is critical. Do your best to respond to prospective buyers promptly, and if they seem serious, be willing to answer their questions.

30 Items to Flip for a Profit

The following 30 products are ideal for reselling. Note that more oversized items are perfect for flipping locally, while smaller items can be shipped anywhere in North America. Also, online marketplaces make it possible to reach a global audience. Let’s get to the list!

1. Sports Gear

Sports gear can be expensive, especially if you’re a parent trying to outfit your child, who constantly grows and needs new equipment every year. The good news is you can buy lightly used gear cheap at garage sales and then flip it for a profit on Facebook Marketplace or Kijiji.

There is no shortage of parents looking to save money by picking up lightly used gear for their kids. If you’re a sports parent yourself, you can make good money by selling your kid’s equipment as they grow out of it.

2. High-End Sneakers

You can make a huge profit buying and selling designer sneakers. Unlike flipping sports gear, you need to understand how the sneaker market works to be successful. But, like anything else, you can learn.

The most popular sneaker brands are Nike and Adidas, although Under Armor shoes have been gaining popularity among collectors. You can shop online for sneakers from the manufacturer and on aftermarket websites like eBay or Goat. You may be able to find inventory on Facebook Marketplace. For more information, check out this guide to reselling high-end sneakers.

3. Smartphones and Tablets

Used smartphones and tablets, especially iPhones and Samsung Galaxy products, retain their value if they’re well-cared for. And with new phones costing over $1000, many people will spend a few hundred dollars on a used phone instead of buying a new one. You can find deals online from motivated sellers, then aim to make a tidy profit on each phone or tablet you flip.

4. Jewelry

Jewelry is perfect for flipping because its small size and weight make it an easy product to ship. You can often find nice jewelry at yard sales or thrift stores and then sell it for a profit. Etsy, the world’s largest online marketplace for vintage and handmade goods, is the best online platform for selling jewelry.

5. Baby Gear

New parents face many expenses, from diapers to formula, to strollers, etc., so it makes sense that used baby items, such as cribs, toys, car seats, and strollers, are in high demand. Stick to items in excellent condition, as they will sell more quickly and for a higher price.

6. Brand-Name or Vintage Clothing

You can make a lot of money buying brand-name clothing at low prices from local thrift stores and selling them at higher prices online. Online marketplaces like Poshmark make it easy to list your items and sell to an engaged audience.

7. Bicycles

Bikes make for great resale items. You can easily find kid’s bikes for cheap at garage sales, tune them up and resell them for a profit. High-end mountain and road bikes from brands like Giant, Specialized, etc., hold their value. You should make a profit if you can get your hands on one at a good price.

8. Cars

If you’re mechanically minded, you can make good money buying older used cars, fixing them, and reselling them for a profit. Many savvy buyers source vehicles at insurance auctions. You don’t have to be a mechanic, but you need to be able to assess the condition of a car and how much you can sell it for. Kijiji, AutoTrader, and Facebook Marketplace are all great platforms for selling used cars.

9. Exercise Equipment

Exercise equipment is always in demand, but many people who purchase treadmills and other fitness training equipment end up using them for a short period before it just gathers dust in their basement. You can source used gear cheaply and sell it at a profit on Facebook Marketplace.

10. Musical Instruments

If you’re a musician, you can make good money buying quality musical instruments from popular brands and reselling them on Facebook Marketplace or a dedicated online marketplace like Reverb. Avoid cheap entry-level equipment, as there is little resale value.

Here are some great brand names to target: Gibson, Guild, Fender, Taylor, Martin, Yamaha, Roland, Korg, Marshall, Orange, Shure, Neumann, AKG, Audio-Technica, Motu, Focusrite, Universal Audio, Apogee, etc.

11. Camping Gear

The global camping gear industry is worth over $20 billion annually, an enormous sum. That makes flipping camping gear, like tents, backpacks, and cookware, very profitable. Source quality items at garage sales or Facebook Marketplace and flip for a profit.

12. Wedding or Grad Dresses

Wedding and grad dresses are similar because they are usually only worn once by their owner. They are also costly, so many people are willing to sell them after using them. If you have an eye for fashion and can identify a stylish dress that will resell at a reasonable price, add wedding dresses and grad dresses to your list of products to flip.

13. Lego

To some, Lego sets have become more than just a toy; they are an investment. Many Lego sets increase in value when they are no longer available in stores, and some Lego investors have earned hundreds, even thousands, of dollars in profit on single sets.

14. Trading Cards

For generations, people have profited from trading cards, including sports cards, Pokémon, and other non-sports trading cards. Rare trading cards can sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars. You can source trading cards from garage sales, thrift stores, or Facebook Marketplace and sell them to dealers or through online marketplaces like eBay.

15. Board Games

Board games are very popular, but many people will get rid of their old games when it’s time for spring or fall cleanup. Lesser known games, like out-of-print European-style strategy board games, are to find and can fetch a high price.

16. Vintage Rugs

From vinyl records to clothing to furniture, anything vintage is in-demand nowadays. You can add vintage rugs to that list. People sell their old rugs for next to nothing at garage sales or on Facebook Marketplace. If you can find vintage rugs in good condition, you can easily resell them online.

17. Clearance Items

One of the best strategies for finding items to flip is looking for products on clearance. If you can buy several products at 50% or 70% off the retail price, you should have no problem making money.

18. Vinyl Records

Vinyl has been making a comeback for several years, but who would have believed that vinyl records would outsell CDs – that’s what happened in 2022. Not all vinyl is in demand, so it helps to know what will sell. You can check eBay’s lists of completed sales to find out what records are currently selling and for how much.

19. Cameras & Gear

High-quality tech gear is always in demand, and cameras are always in high demand. There is even a market for old, vintage cameras, which you can often buy at garage sales for cheap. Other photography gear worth looking for includes

20. Power Tools

Power tools are yet another item you can quickly source from garage sales or Facebook Marketplace and flip for a profit. Examples include drills, circular saws, table saws, air compressors, routers, etc.

21. Wood Furniture

Good quality wood furniture is an excellent item to flip because you can often get it for next to nothing, refurbish it, and sell it for a massive profit. Many people will give away their old furniture for free. If you are up to sanding down and repainting a wooden dresser, desk, or kitchen table, you can make hundreds of dollars in profit per item.

22. Vintage Artwork

People are constantly getting rid of artwork that no longer fits their home decor. You can pick up nice vintage art pieces at garage sales or on Facebook Marketplace, then resell them for a profit on eBay or Etsy. Etsy is one of the best places to sell artwork online.

23. Vehicle Tires

This is one of the best items to flip in your local community because the price for new tires is enormous. For example, you can easily spend $1500 purchasing a new set of winter tires for a midsized sedan. Many people would rather buy lightly-used tires at a reduced price. You can sell used tires on Facebook Marketplace. You only need a few pictures of the tires and a brief description, including size and tread depth.

24. Appliances

Many people will get rid of their appliances as soon as they stop working because they don’t know how to fix them or don’t have the patience to seek a licensed repair technician. If you scan Kijiji and Facebook Marketplaces, you can often get working appliances, like refrigerators, washers and dryers, ovens, and dishwashers, for around $100 (or less).

The downside of flipping appliances is that moving and transporting items is time-consuming and physically demanding.

25. Books

Books are an affordable way to start flipping because so many are available at low prices. But not all books can be profitable, and you need to know what sells. Profitable books include textbooks, book sets, vintage books, and non-fiction books, including autobiographies.

26. Laptops

Like smartphones, laptops have good resell value, especially Apple products and some higher-end Windows PC laptops. If they are well-cared for. You can purchase laptops on Facebook Marketplace and resell them for a higher price.

College students living on a tight budget make for an ideal target market. If you have some technical abilities, you can even purchase damaged laptops and refurbish them.

27. Scrap Metal

Many Canadians make thousands of dollars per year recycling scrap metal they collect. Where can you find scrap metal, such as copper, stainless steel, brass, or aluminum? Construction and demolition sites and electronics repair shops are good places. You can even find scrap metal around your home. Refrigerators, washing machines, dryers, ovens, BBQ grills, and woodstoves are all items that contain metal parts.

28. Toys

You’ve heard the saying, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” That’s undoubtedly true with toys. By scouring garage sales and thrift stores, you can find vintage toys that will sell at a huge profit when sold online. Dolls, action figures, stuffed animals, Lego – you can sell the right toys for a decent profit.

29. Concert and Sports Tickets

There is a massive demand for tickets to major concerts and sporting events. Often, tickets sell out within hours, leaving fans desperate and willing to pay a premium for tickets on aftermarket ticket sites. If you can buy the tickets at retail price, you can make hundreds of dollars in profit from a single event.

30. Patio Furniture

Patio furniture is getting nicer and more expensive every year, so more and more people are interested in buying used outdoor furniture for their backyards. You stand to profit if you can source products for a low price.

Where to Find Products to Sell

You can find items to sell just about anywhere. The best place to start looking is at home, as you already own the items. Here are some other places to source products:

Garage or Estate sales: Garage sales are usually full of junk, but if you have a keen eye and are willing to search, you can find products to flip for a profit. At a garage sale, many valuable items are hidden in plain sight because the owners don’t realize their actual value.

Thrift stores or Flea markets: Thrift shops are constantly adding products to their shelves, so it helps to visit stores frequently to see what you can find. Top thrift store items include brand-name clothing, vintage books, board games, and toys.

Facebook Marketplace: Kijiji was once the top marketplace for finding great deals on used items, but Facebook Marketplace has surpassed it in terms of the number of listings and the overall experience. Facebook Marketplace is your best bet if you’re looking for higher-quality, big-ticket items to flip.

Kijiji: While it’s no longer the go-to marketplace, Kijiji is still a great place to find items to flip. You can find thousands of listings for vehicles, exercise equipment, sports gear, musical instruments, and more.

eBay: Facebook and Kijiji are ideal for sourcing products locally, but eBay gives you access to a global market for buying and selling. It’s a great place to find smaller items to flip, like sneakers, trading cards, comic books, musical instruments, books, etc.

Etsy: If you want to flip handmade goods, including clothing, jewelry, or artwork, look at Etsy. You can order large quantities at wholesale prices and resell them for a profit.

The Best Places to Sell Your Items for Profit

There are hundreds of online marketplaces where you can flip items.

Facebook Marketplace: Buy and sell items locally. Ideal for large items that can’t quickly be shipped (furniture, vehicles, appliances, etc.)

Kijiji: Similar to Facebook Marketplace, but beware of scammers. I don’t recommend selling to anyone who isn’t local. The same goes for Facebook Marketplace.

Etsy: Global online marketplace where you can sell handcrafted and vintage goods. Ideal for clothing, jewelry, crafts, artwork, etc.

eBay: Global auction-style marketplace, ideal for buying and selling a wide range of products that can be easily shipped.

Poshmark: Global online marketplace where you can buy and sell lightly used brand-name clothing.

Reverb: Global online marketplace for buying and selling musical instruments. Reverb handles payment, making it a safe way to buy and sell goods.

AutoTrader: Online automotive marketplace with a massive audience.

Amazon: Amazon is the world’s largest online marketplace. You can become an Amazon seller and flip items for profit. For more information, check out this article explaining how to become an Amazon reseller.

Is Product Flipping Right for You?

Many people make extra money on Facebook Marketplace or Kijiji from time to time, but have you considered it as a regular side hustle?

There are many benefits to running a flipping business: it’s flexible, easy to get started, you can be your own boss, the income potential is significant, and you can choose to flip products you enjoy using and know something about.

And with so many online marketplaces, you can market your products to millions of potential customers. If you’re considering starting, there’s no better time than now.