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Key Highlights:
- The best flipping categories share one trait: sellers undervalue them and buyers hunt for them.
- Vintage cookware is having a moment. TikTok collectors pay four figures for Pyrex patterns most people donate without a second thought.
- Baby gear holds value better than most furniture because parents refuse to compromise on safety.
- Some of your most profitable inventory is already sitting in your house, your garage, or your parents' attic.
The best items to flip share one trait: sellers undervalue them and buyers hunt for them. That gap between what someone will accept and what a collector will pay? That's where your profit lives.
I love flipping items because the barrier to entry is almost nothing. You don't need a warehouse or thousands in startup capital. Just an eye for value and the patience to find it.
This guide covers the 20 best things to flip for profit right now, including sourcing strategies, realistic expectations, and the margins you can actually hit. I've included where to find inventory and which platforms move each category fastest.
Find the Best Items to Flip Using SaleHoo Market Insights
Before you spend a dollar on inventory, validate your ideas with real data. The difference between flipping items successfully and losing money? Knowing what sells before you buy. I've watched too many beginners buy products that seem promising but sit unsold for months. Guessing is expensive.
SaleHoo Market Insights shows you whether a product actually sells before you commit.
1. Log Into Your SaleHoo Account
Head to the Market Insights tool from your dashboard. This is where product hunches turn into data-backed decisions.
2. Enter a Product or Niche Idea
Thinking about flipping vintage bags? Resistance bands? Type it in. You get real numbers instead of speculation.
3. Analyze Real-Time Performance Metrics
You'll see actual selling prices, competition levels, and how fast things move. That's the difference between buying smart and hoping for the best.
4. Refine Your Search with Filters
Dial in by platform, price range, or category. This is where hidden gems surface. Low competition, strong margins, obvious opportunity.
5. Find Verified Suppliers
Found a promising product? SaleHoo's supplier directory connects you with vetted suppliers. Every one is pre-verified. No gambling on quality when you're ready to scale.
Now let's get into the 20 best items to flip.
20 Best Items to Flip
1. Vintage Clothing & Accessories
Most people donate their old Levi's or vintage band tees without thinking twice. Meanwhile, collectors hunt for those exact pieces.
Estimated profit margin: 50-100%
Why flipping this can be profitable: A $5 thrift store find routinely sells for $50-$100. The secondhand apparel market is projected to reach $367 billion by 2029, and younger shoppers are driving that growth.
How to sell it: Thrift stores and estate sales are your bread and butter. Look for quality fabrics, unique prints, recognizable labels. Poshmark, Depop, eBay, and Etsy all work well. Find clothing suppliers when you're ready to scale.
2. Toys & Games
Toys and games are some of the easiest things to flip for beginners. Kids want them, adults collect them, and the global market hit $111.8 billion in 2024.
Estimated profit margin: 30-80%
Why flipping this can be profitable: Discontinued toys appreciate fast. I've seen $20 LEGO sets from five years ago go for $100+ because you simply can't buy them in stores anymore. Hot Wheels, vintage Barbies, and Star Wars figures all have collectors who've been hunting for decades.
How to sell it: Garage sales and clearance aisles are goldmines. Sealed boxes command premium prices. eBay, Amazon, and Facebook Marketplace move toys quickly. Find toys and games suppliers for consistent inventory.
3. Consumer Electronics
Technology depreciates in consumers' minds faster than it loses actual functionality. A three-year-old iPhone works fine, but the original owner is already eyeing the newest model. U.S. households spend over $3,600 annually on entertainment, much of it on electronics.
Estimated profit margin: 20-50%
Why flipping this can be profitable: People upgrade constantly, flooding the secondary market with devices that have years of life left. Buy a phone for $150, resell for $300+ after basic cleaning and testing.
How to sell it: Trade-in programs, Facebook Marketplace, and liquidation auctions are your best sources. Test everything and disclose any issues. eBay, Swappa, and Amazon Renewed move electronics fast. Find electronics suppliers for higher volume.
4. Furniture
Furniture is one of the best items to flip if you're willing to do the work. That friction keeps competition low and margins high. U.S. households spend roughly $2,500 per year on furnishings, feeding a constant cycle of upgrades and hand-me-downs.
Estimated profit margin: 50-100%
Why flipping this can be profitable: Quality furniture costs thousands new. On the secondary market, people practically give it away before a move. Solid wood dressers purchased for $50 at estate sales resell for $300-$500.
How to sell it: Estate sales and moving sales are where the deals hide. Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and OfferUp dominate local sales. Skip shipping headaches entirely. Find furniture suppliers for wholesale opportunities.
5. Books
Books are a sleeper category. First editions, out-of-print titles, and college textbooks command prices that seem absurd until you realize how badly someone needs that specific book.
Estimated profit margin: 30-70%
Why flipping this can be profitable: Most people donate books without checking value. A textbook bought for $1 at a library sale resells for $40-$80. Niche non-fiction in medicine, law, or engineering holds value because professionals need it.
How to sell it: Library sales and thrift stores are your hunting grounds. Use the Amazon Seller app to scan barcodes before buying. Amazon, eBay, and AbeBooks are the main platforms. Find a books supplier when you're ready to scale.
6. Clearance Items
Retail arbitrage is the most accessible way to start flipping. Major retailers need to clear inventory, and their loss is your margin.
Estimated profit margin: 30-100%
Why flipping this can be profitable: When Target marks something down 70%, they just want it gone. That same item sells for full price on eBay to someone who can't find it locally.
How to sell it: Hit clearance sections at Walmart, Target, and Best Buy regularly. Check Amazon and eBay to verify selling prices before purchasing. Amazon FBA, eBay, and Mercari move clearance finds quickly.
7. Watches
Watches sit in a unique space where functional item meets investment piece. Swiss watch exports alone were about $30 billion in 2025.
Estimated profit margin: 20-60%
Why flipping this can be profitable: Vintage Omega, Rolex, and Tag Heuer appreciate over time. Even mid-range brands like Seiko and Citizen have strong resale demand because collectors take watches seriously.
How to sell it: Estate sales and pawn shops are your best sources. Counterfeits are everywhere, so learn to spot fakes. eBay, Chrono24, and WatchBox serve this market. Find a credible watch supplier for serious inventory.
8. Musical Instruments
Quality instruments actually appreciate with age because the wood seasons and that level of craftsmanship is harder to find now. The global music products industry is worth $17 billion, and a vintage guitar from the right era can be worth more today than it sold for new.
Estimated profit margin: 20-50%
Why flipping this can be profitable: Fender, Gibson, and Martin command premium prices, especially for vintage pieces. Even student-level instruments can flip for two to three times what you paid when you find them at garage sales.
How to sell it: Estate sales and pawn shops yield the best finds. Learn to identify quality brands and spot damage. Reverb is the musician's marketplace, and eBay and Facebook Marketplace also work well.
9. Designer Handbags & Accessories
Designer bags operate more like investments than accessories. The global luxury handbag market was valued at $24 billion in 2024, and brands like Hermès, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton don't just hold value; they actually appreciate.
Estimated profit margin: 30-60%
Why flipping this can be profitable: A gently used Louis Vuitton Neverfull purchased for $800 resells for $1,200+. Limited edition pieces double or triple. The catch? Authentication is everything.
How to sell it: Consignment stores and authenticated resale platforms are your safest sources. Get pieces verified through services like Entrupy. The RealReal, Poshmark, Vestiaire Collective, and eBay dominate. Source discounted designer items through wholesale channels.
10. Seasonal Items
Seasonal flipping comes down to one principle: buy when nobody wants it, sell when everybody needs it.
Estimated profit margin: 20-70%
Why flipping this can be profitable: Christmas decorations hit 90% off in January. Store them for ten months and sell at full price in November. Same applies to swimwear, camping gear, and holiday items.
How to sell it: Buy immediately after seasons end when retailers are desperate. Store items properly, then list 6-8 weeks before the next season peaks. eBay, Facebook Marketplace, and Amazon all work. Seasonal inventory strategies can help you maximize timing.
11. Tools & Equipment
Quality tools last for decades, and the people who need them know it. That's why DeWalt, Milwaukee, and Snap-on hold value so well.
Estimated profit margin: 20-60%
Why flipping this can be profitable: Contractors pay for quality. A vintage Snap-on wrench set bought for $10 sells for $100+. Power tools at estate sales often go for 3-4x purchase price because families don't know what they have.
How to sell it: Estate sales, pawn shops, and auction houses are your hunting grounds. Test power tools before purchasing and clean hand tools well. eBay, Craigslist, and Facebook Marketplace move tools consistently.
12. Home Decor Items
Home decor rewards people who can spot quality and recognize trends. The U.S. home decor market was valued at $185 billion in 2024, and the margins are strong if you have an eye for it.
Estimated profit margin: 30-60%
Why flipping this can be profitable: Trends cycle constantly. Mid-century modern is hot right now. Vintage pottery, Pyrex, milk glass, and vintage lamps all have dedicated collector followings.
How to sell it: Estate sales, thrift stores, and flea markets are where you'll find the good stuff. Learn to identify valuable makers' marks. Etsy and Chairish work for higher-end pieces, eBay handles everything else. Find a credible home decor supplier for consistent inventory.
13. Board Games
The tabletop gaming renaissance is real, and board games aren't just for kids anymore. The global board games market hit $15 billion in 2024, and it's growing fast.
Estimated profit margin: 20-80%
Why flipping this can be profitable: Out-of-print games command ridiculous prices. A $5 thrift store find sells for $100+ if it's rare and complete. Modern "cult" games that go out of print triple in value. Critical catch: missing pieces destroy value entirely.
How to sell it: Thrift stores, garage sales, and library sales are your sources. Open boxes and verify all pieces before buying. Use BoardGameGeek to identify valuable titles. eBay and BoardGameGeek's marketplace both work well.
14. Sports Memorabilia
Sports fans don't mess around. They're loyal, and they spend accordingly. The global sports memorabilia market reached $33 billion in 2024, and it's not slowing down.
Estimated profit margin: 30-100%
Why flipping this can be profitable: Trading cards, autographs, game-worn jerseys, and vintage team gear all have serious collector bases. Authenticated pieces from Jordan or Brady keep climbing because supply is fixed and demand isn't. Rookie cards are the wild card. One breakout season can turn a $10 card into a $500 card overnight.
How to sell it: Estate sales, garage sales, and local auctions are where you'll find deals that haven't been picked over. Authentication matters for high-value items. eBay, COMC, and specialized auction houses dominate this market.
15. Exercise Equipment
People buy exercise equipment with good intentions and sell it when those intentions fade. Their abandoned fitness goals are your profit margin.
Estimated profit margin: 20-50%
Why flipping this can be profitable: You'll find barely-used treadmills, weight sets, and yoga gear everywhere. Someone buys a Peloton, uses it for three months, then needs it gone. Quality brands hold value because fitness people know cheap equipment breaks. Pro tip: list right after New Year's.
How to sell it: Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist, and NextDoor are where people sell locally. Clean everything before listing. Resistance bands and compact equipment offer good margins for online sales.
16. Vintage Cookware: Cast Iron, Pyrex, and CorningWare
TikTok collectors are paying four figures for Pyrex patterns that people donate to Goodwill without a second glance.
Estimated profit margin: 50-300%
Why flipping this can be profitable: Griswold and Wagner cast iron skillets go for $50-$2,750 depending on rarity. Rare Pyrex patterns like Lucky in Love and Pink Gooseberry? Four figures. The knowledge gap is enormous.
How to sell it: Thrift stores, estate sales, and garage sales are where you'll find these. Learn to identify Griswold, Wagner, and Le Creuset. For Pyrex, study patterns like Butterprint, Gooseberry, and Cinderella. eBay, Etsy, and Facebook Marketplace all work.
17. Trading Cards: Pokémon and Sports
I didn't expect trading cards to be one of the best things to flip five years ago. But Magic: The Gathering alone hit $1.08 billion in revenue in fiscal year 2024.
Estimated profit margin: 30-200%
Why flipping this can be profitable: Cards combine nostalgia, gaming, and investment appeal. Pokémon cards have appreciated dramatically over two decades. Sports cards for emerging stars multiply overnight. Sealed vintage products command the highest premiums.
How to sell it: Buy booster boxes at retail, find undervalued singles on eBay, and check local game stores for collections. Learn to identify valuable cards using TCGPlayer and PSA price guides. eBay, TCGPlayer, and Facebook collector groups are where serious buyers shop.
18. Vinyl Records
Vinyl hit $1.4 billion in 2024, the highest since 1984. That's 18 straight years of growth, and it now outsells CDs.
Estimated profit margin: 50-300%
Why flipping this can be profitable: Audiophiles swear by the sound quality. Older collectors are chasing nostalgia. And a whole generation of younger buyers is just now discovering vinyl. A Beatles album you pick up for $1 at a garage sale can go for $50-$300 depending on the pressing.
How to sell it: Estate sales, thrift stores, and garage sales are your primary sources. Use Discogs to identify which pressings are valuable. Focus on complete sleeves and minimal scratches. eBay, Discogs, and local record shops all serve this market.
19. Small Kitchen Appliances
Premium kitchen appliances hold their value because people notice the difference when they're using something daily. Breville, KitchenAid, and Vitamix have loyal followings for a reason: they last.
Estimated profit margin: 30-100%
Why flipping this can be profitable: People buy appliances, use them twice, then resell at steep discounts. Breville and Nespresso units sourced refurbished can flip for 100%+ margins. Generic appliances sit forever, but name brands move.
How to sell it: Liquidation sales, Facebook Marketplace, and Goodwill outlet stores are your best sources. Stick to Ninja, Instant Pot, Vitamix, Breville, and KitchenAid. Test everything before listing.
20. Baby Gear & Strollers
Premium brands like UPPAbaby, Bugaboo, and Nuna resell for 60-80% of retail. Parents don't compromise on safety.
Estimated profit margin: 40-150%
Why flipping this can be profitable: Babies outgrow gear fast, which means there's always supply. Parents hunt for premium brands at non-premium prices. An UPPAbaby stroller purchased for $200 resells for $400-$500.
How to sell it: Facebook Marketplace, consignment sales, and Buy Nothing groups surface the best deals. Focus on UPPAbaby, Bugaboo, Cybex, Nuna, and Stokke. Check for recalls before listing. Mercari and GoodBuy Gear serve the broader market.
How SaleHoo Market Insights Work
Want to know if a product is worth flipping? SaleHoo Market Insights lets you assess demand, competition, and average pricing in seconds. You won't waste time on products that don't move.
1. Log In to Your SaleHoo Account
Head to your dashboard and click into Market Insights from the top navigation. This tool separates promising ideas from costly missteps.
2. Search for Any Product or Keyword
Thinking about flipping Bluetooth speakers? Pet beds? Vintage earrings? Type it in. The tool pulls real data on whatever you're curious about, whether it's a specific product or a broad category you want to explore.
3. Analyze Key Product Metrics
Each search gives you the numbers that actually matter:
- Sell Rate: How often it moves
- Average Retail Price: What buyers are paying
- Competition Level: How crowded the market is
- Number of Listings: How many sellers you're up against
This tells you whether a product is worth chasing or a waste of your time. Takes about ten seconds.
4. Use Smart Filters to Refine Your Search
Filter by platform (Amazon or eBay), price range, or category. The best finds tend to be products with solid demand but fewer sellers competing for them.
5. Save or Take Action
When something looks good, click "Find Supplier" to connect with verified providers in the SaleHoo Directory. You can also save products to revisit later.
How to Flip Items Step-by-Step
Knowing what to flip is half the battle. The other half is actually doing it right.
Before spending anything, look around your house. Your attic, garage, and closets are hiding forgotten items worth real money. I've talked to sellers who funded their first inventory purchases entirely from stuff they already had. Ask family and friends if they have items they want gone. Check Facebook Marketplace's "free stuff" section.
The best deals come from motivated sellers who need things gone fast. Thrift stores and garage sales reward people willing to dig. If you're serious about flipping items, these are the places to be. Estate sales yield underpriced quality items. Why? Families often don't know what they have.
Check eBay's completed listings to understand what things actually sell for. Focus on what buyers actually paid, not what sellers are hoping to get. That spread is where you buy low and sell high.
Most flippers lose money on condition issues they missed before buying. Check for damage, missing parts, and wear before you hand over cash. And clean everything before you photograph it because a little effort here goes a long way. Disclose defects honestly. Hiding problems leads to returns and negative feedback.
Finding the best items to flip is only half the battle. Amateurs often forget hidden costs. eBay takes 13.6% plus $0.40, Poshmark takes 20%, and shipping/packaging add up too. Your time has value. Use platform-specific fee calculators to know your actual profit before committing.
Different platforms serve different products. eBay has the largest audience. Works for almost everything. The best items to flip on eBay? Electronics, vintage clothing, and collectibles move fastest. Amazon's better for books, electronics, new items. Poshmark and Depop own clothing. Facebook Marketplace dominates anything heavy where shipping is a nightmare.
Start with one platform and learn it well before expanding. eBay alternatives like Mercari, Poshmark, and Facebook Marketplace each have their own strengths once you're ready to branch out.
Good photos sell items. Bad photos don't. Use natural lighting, shoot from multiple angles, and show any flaws so buyers know what they're getting. Write titles with the words people actually type into search, and check completed sales (not active listings) to set your price. A little effort here makes a big difference in how fast things move.
Package items securely to avoid damage claims, and provide tracking numbers as soon as they're available. Respond to buyer questions quickly because that responsiveness builds positive feedback over time. As you develop expertise in specific categories, reinvest your profits and expand to additional platforms. That's how a side hustle becomes a real flipping business.
Alternative Ways to Make Money Flipping
Flipping isn't the only way to sell products online. Four other models are worth knowing about:
- Dropshipping lets you sell without holding inventory. When someone orders, your supplier ships directly to them. The margins are thinner, but you don't need much money to start. Starting a dropshipping business requires finding suppliers you can trust, which is where SaleHoo's supplier directory helps.
- Print-on-demand means custom products get made only after a customer orders. T-shirts, mugs, phone cases, that sort of thing. You never touch inventory. The best print-on-demand companies plug directly into Shopify and other platforms.
- Wholesaling is buying in bulk at a discount and reselling at retail prices. You need more cash upfront, but the per-unit economics are better. Starting a wholesale business makes sense once you're ready to commit to specific product categories.
- Private labeling goes a step further: you work with a manufacturer to produce items under your own brand. Highest margins, but also the biggest investment. Private label dropshipping is one way to test the concept with less risk.
All four models come back to the same thing flipping does: find the right products and know your numbers.
Common Questions About Flipping for Profit
The most profitable items to flip right now are vintage cookware and trading cards. A Griswold cast iron skillet bought for $4 sells for $150+. Pokémon cards have appreciated dramatically. Designer handbags do well too. So does limited-edition anything.
Income varies widely based on time invested and categories chosen. Some beginners earn a few hundred dollars monthly; serious full-time flippers can earn significantly more.
Thrift stores, garage sales, and estate sales are where undervalued inventory hides. Facebook Marketplace is solid for free stuff and steep discounts. And don't sleep on clearance sections at Walmart, Target, and Best Buy for brand-name products at rock-bottom prices.
Yes. Totally legal. Some states want you to get a business license or reseller's permit once you hit certain sales numbers. eBay and Amazon have their own rules around seller accounts and taxes. But buying something and reselling it for more? Nothing illegal about that.
On eBay, electronics, vintage clothing, collectibles, and brand-name items move quickly. Facebook Marketplace is a different game. It's built for the heavy stuff like furniture, baby gear, and appliances where buyers want to see items in person and haul them away themselves. Seasonal items sell fast on both when you time it right.
Start Flipping Today
These are the best items to flip right now, with proven opportunities at every experience level. The common thread is simple: find items sellers undervalue and connect them with buyers who'll pay what they're actually worth.
Start with what you already know. Into vintage clothing? You'll spot value that others walk right past. Gamer? You know which consoles hold value. That existing knowledge is your edge when flipping items for profit. Just check the data before you spend money on inventory.
Which of these categories will you try first? Drop your thoughts in the comments.
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