How To Have a Successful Yard Sale: Your Questions, Answered

Maybe you’ve sold a few things on a social media marketplace or donated to a local nonprofit organization, but now you’re looking to get rid of several household items at once (and make a little fun money while doing it!). Get out your folding tables and pricing labels because it sounds like you’re looking for advice on how to have a successful yard sale.

How To Have a Successful Yard Sale — FAQs

Should be simple, right? Gather your unwanted goods, put prices on them, set up some tables, and watch the dollars roll in. While you can certainly handle your sale this way, if you want to maximize your profits and minimize frustration, it’s going to take some pre-sale planning. You may even be wondering, “What do I need for a yard sale?” Lucky for you, we’ve heard some of the most popular questions — and answers — about how to have a successful garage sale, and we’re going to share them with you now. (Note: We’ll be using the terms “yard” and “garage” interchangeably throughout the article since both locations work well for sales!) 

What Is an Estate Sale vs. Garage Sale?

You may see signs in your neighborhood for both estate sales and garage sales. While they both involve selling a home’s contents, they do have their differences. Put simply, estate sales are usually organized by professionals, and the objective is to sell the entire contents of a home. These typically take place because of a significant life change, like moving into a retirement home. Garage sales are smaller, more casual events hosted by homeowners and featuring household items no longer wanted or needed.

Garage sales are most commonly held on weekend mornings during “Garage sale season” (aka spring or summer).

When Is the Best Time To Have a Yard Sale?

Everybody’s working for the weekend — because that’s when they’re out and about, trolling for steals and deals. As you likely guessed, Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays are known as the best times to have a yard sale because that’s when most people can attend. But what time of the year is garage sale season? It’s usually the spring and summer because of favorable weather conditions. However, despite warmer months being declared “garage sale season,” some sources claim that fall is actually the best time to have a garage sale because of the admiration so many people have for the season. In short: Just don’t have a garage sale during the cold winter months.

Now that you’ve chosen a day and month, what’s the best time for a garage sale? For the best attendance, choose a Saturday or Sunday morning between 7 a.m. and 11 a.m., when temperatures are cooler. If you can have a two- or three-day sale, that’s an even better way to maximize your profits.

Make sure to check the weather forecast, too, before you set your date in stone. One of the most important pieces of advice on how to have a successful yard sale is to make sure the sale can actually take place. Your garage may provide shelter from the storm, but bad weather deters potential customers from coming out of their homes altogether.

1. Black permanent markers: You may not stick to the sale price, but at least it’ll be well seen and won’t rub off. These will also come in handy for signage.
2. Poster board: Use posters to advertise your garage sale around your neighborhood and to categorize sale areas (clothing, electronics, kitchenware, etc.). Just be sure to follow any community rules for hanging or displaying signage.
3. Pricing stickers: Shoppers are looking for that price tag. Make it easy to find and avoid answering a lot of questions.
4. Folding tables: You’ll need some flat surfaces to display your items. Use folding tables or other tables you have on hand.
5. Cleaning supplies: Before your sale, make sure your items look their best by giving them a quick once-over.
6. Shopping bags: Shoppers may want to buy more than one thing. Make it easy for them by providing some shopping bags. This doesn’t have to be a new purchase; you can reuse some from the grocery store.
7. Packing supplies: If you’re selling fragile items, you may want to provide bubble cushioning rolls and packing tape to help shoppers get their purchases home safely.

Pro Tip: If you’re having a garage sale but your garage is already filled with clutter, it might be a good time to do some quick and efficient organizational exercises to clear space for the sale. The PODS Blog has all the information you need to get you started.

Posters are great for promoting your yard sale, but don’t forget to post the details online, too.

Pricing your items competitively will help them sell faster.

Is There a Yard Sale Pricing Guide for 2024?

You might be able to hunt one down somewhere, but it wouldn’t necessarily be practical, as pricing is based on several factors, such as age and condition. Instead, here are some quick rules about how to price garage sale items. For additional details on how to have a successful yard sale, check out another article we’ve written on the PODS Blog about garage sale best practices while moving.

Don’t Devalue Your Big-Ticket Items Too Much

While we’re all for competitive pricing, we don’t advocate that you immediately give your stuff away for pennies on the dollar. How do you make the most money at a garage sale? One of the best ways is by prioritizing the sale of your high-quality items, like collectibles, electronics, or furniture. To see what your things are worth, do some research online (again, eBay might be a good place to start) and note the prices of the items in new condition. Then, ask yourself what the condition is of your items (new, like new, used, etc.). Drop the price accordingly for items that have minimal to noticeable wear and tear.

Follow the 10%–20% Rule

Some people suggest pricing your items at only 10 to 20 percent of their retail value if they’re in fair or used condition. It may seem low, but it’ll move your inventory quickly. If your item still has the tag on it or is in excellent shape, you may be able to get away with pricing it for up to 50 percent of the retail price.

Be Prepared To Haggle

Negotiations are part of the garage sale process — they’re half the fun! You’ll likely be asked to lower the price, so consider that when presenting your opening number. How low are you willing to go?

Label Prices Individually

It’s tempting to dump things in an “Everything’s $1” bin, but this isn’t how to have a successful yard sale, profit-wise. People may pick up items from different areas and not remember the original location, leaving you to do the guesswork. Doing a little work beforehand to label every item will help you keep things organized on the day of the sale.

Pro Tip: You can easily become overwhelmed when you start pulling items out of every nook and cranny of your house. For a more relaxed (and spread-out) pre-sale organization, consider taking advantage of the convenience and flexibility of a PODS portable storage container. It’s delivered straight to your driveway, and you can simply load and unload it whenever you’d like.

What not to sell at a garage sale? Personal products like used makeup and toiletries.

• Used undergarments: This isn’t just unsanitary; it’s a turn-off for buyers.
• Used beauty products: Once soaps, makeup, lotions, and other similar toiletries have been opened, it’s best to discard them to prevent the spread of germs.
• Broken appliances and electronics: Unless it’s a simple fix, it’s better to give these away for free or recycle them.

What Is the Average Profit From a Yard Sale?

It’s tough to give a strong estimate of how much money yard sales usually make because some are incredibly successful while others aren’t worth the time and effort. As you can tell from this article, the devil is in the details. With proper planning and garage sale pricing, though, you can potentially earn between $500 and $1,000, depending on how much you have to sell.

Used books are some of the easier items to sell at garage sales.

What Is the Best-Selling Item at a Garage Sale?

Wondering what makes the most money at yard sales? Because tools and furniture are in demand and hold up well over time, they typically sell well and/or make the most money at yard sales. If electronics are still current and in good shape, these can also be high earners.

Here are some of the most popular items to sell at a garage sale. Keep in mind, this isn’t a guaranteed way to rake in the dough, but it’s helpful advice for those wanting to know how to have a successful yard sale.

Here Are Some Popular Items:

• Video games and gaming systems: These are expensive to purchase new, so people are looking for deals. Don’t be surprised if potential buyers want to plug them up first to make sure they work before purchasing them, though.
• Outdoor furniture: This type of furniture is going to get some wear and tear no matter what, so it’s easier to sell used.
• Books, especially hardcover ones: These retail for more than $20, so getting books for $5 or less is a deal.
• Sporting equipment: Especially bikes in good condition, skis, and other larger pieces.
• Jewelry: This isn’t the place to sell your grandmother’s wedding ring, but some fun costume jewelry or vintage pieces will likely go quickly.
• Dishes: Again, probably not the place for your expensive china, but if you have some cute everyday dishes or unique pieces, they’re popular for décor hunters.
• Power tools: These are expensive items, so getting quality products (that work!) at a reduced rate has a lot of appeal.
• Toys: If you have toys in good working condition or new in the box, this is a big target for shoppers.
• Children’s clothing: Kids grow quickly. Garage sales are a great way for parents and caregivers to purchase clothing at a discount.
• Purses, handbags, and other accessories: Adult clothing is tough to sell, but accessories are popular because you don’t have to try them on beforehand.

If you’re looking to make some extra-extra money, consider selling food and drinks. All that bargain hunting can make people feel snacky!

Don’t be surprised if your mismatched coffee mugs don’t go flying off the shelves at your garage sale.

What’s the Worst-Selling Item at a Garage Sale?

One of the best tips on how to have a successful yard sale is to know what people want to buy and what they typically avoid. Determining this is part art and part science. A good rule of thumb is to ask yourself what you’d be interested in purchasing at a garage sale. You probably don’t want someone’s used cups or an outdated stereo, but you may be willing to shell out the big bucks for a one-year-old television. 

Here are some items that are usually not big sellers.

• Travel souvenirs: They may mean something special to you, but they don’t have the same sentimental value for most shoppers.
• VHS tapes and other outdated electronics: With technology changing at a rapid pace, many electronics are quickly becoming unusable. Don’t put a price on something someone can’t use.
• Used shoes: There’s a certain ick factor to wearing someone’s worn out shoes. Of course, if you have some designer pairs in decent condition, this could be an exception to the rule. Use your best judgment.
• Mugs and cups: Again, it’s a little icky to think about sharing a cup with someone. It’s also tough to sell one-off items that don’t come with a set.
• Armoires and entertainment centers: People typically don’t have big, bulky TVs anymore, making these pieces less sought after.
• Encyclopedias and textbooks: Hello, internet. Goodbye, Britannica.

If you’d like to get rid of items that fall into one of the less desirable categories, consider having a free bin where people can grab things as they please. It’ll at least cut the clutter!

Have around $100 in various bills and coins, so you can make change at your garage sale.

Arrange similar items together in an organized display, so garage sale shoppers have an easier time making selections.

Use a PODS portable storage container to store items you aren’t ready to sell but don’t need frequently.

What Do I Do After My Garage Sale Ends?

A garage sale is meant to help you declutter your home. With that goal in mind, try to unload as many items as you can during your sale hours, even if that means giving stuff away.

If your sale has ended and you’re still left with some things you no longer want, call a donation service and ask them to cart off anything remaining. It’s never a good idea to bring items back into your home. There’s a reason you wanted to get rid of them in the first place, right?

If your sale has ended, and you’re left with a few things that you’re not ready to donate, consider using a PODS storage solution. These convenient portable storage containers can be loaded right in your driveway — at your own pace — and they can either stay at your home for as long as you need them or be securely stored at a local PODS Storage Center with easy access whenever you need it.

Want more decluttering advice? Check out these pro tips for decluttering and downsizing, and get some organizational inspiration from top influencers while you’re at it!

LB Gabriel is a freelance writer who lives with her husband, daughter, and Golden Retriever in Memphis, TN. A frequent PODS Blog contributor, she's a sucker for any tip she can find on downsizing, cutting clutter, or minimalist living. When she's not on a deadline, you can find her on a tennis court or golf course.