It goes without saying that sports equipment is pretty expensive. It's also something you tend to grow out of quickly or stop using, making it easy to pile up a collection of gear in your garage.
So, if you want to make some quick cash and do a bit of Spring cleaning, you're in luck.
This post is covering where to sell used sports equipment so you can turn your collection into real cash.
Looking for other ways to make money? Checkout:
- Best Match Auto: Save up to $600+ per year with this free car insurance quote tool!
- Freecash: Another fun way to earn gift card and cash prizes!
Where To Sell Used Sports Equipment
Over the last few years, I've sold plenty of used sports equipment, ranging from soccer training gear to used bikes. It's always been a nice way to make quick cash and to recoup some of the cost of playing sports. Here are some of the top places you can begin selling:
1. SidelineSwap
SidelineSwap is one of the most popular marketplaces for selling used sports equipment online.
In fact, its tagline is “where athletes buy and sell their gear.”
What makes SidelineSwap so ideal for selling old sports equipment is that it accepts new and used apparel and equipment for so many different sports.
Some of the most popular sports categories on SidelineSwap include:
- Apparel
- Baseball
- Basketball
- Football
- Footwear
- Hockey
- Golf
- Lacrosse
- Skiing
- Snowboarding
- Tennis
Overall, selling on SidelineSwap is similar to using selling apps like Mercari or eBay.
It only takes a few seconds to list your sports equipment for sale. From there, you add a few photos, write a product description, and set your price.
Once you list your sports apparel or equipment, SidelineSwap tags your listing in the appropriate category.
Buyers can then make offers or buy at your listed. And, one great thing about SidelineSwap is that buyers also pay for shipping!
The main downside of selling used sports gear on SidelineSwap is the seller fees.
- First 0 – 5 Sales: Sellers pay 12% of listing price in fees.
- 6+ Lifetime Sales: Sellers pay 9% of listing price in fees.
This fee structure is expensive, but the discount makes SidelineSwap one of the best places to sell used sports equipment if you have a lot of gear to sell or if you're trying to start a flipping side hustle.
2. Geartrade
Like SidelineSwap, Geartrade is an online marketplace for used sports equipment and sports clothing.
Some of the most popular categories of sports equipment to sell on Geartrade includes:
- Apparel for men and women
- Biking
- Climbing
- Hiking and camping
- Skiing and snowboarding
Since this type of gear can get quite expensive, Geartrade is certainly worth using if you want to recoup some money for equipment you're not using anymore.
And, the unique thing about Geartrade is that you send your equipment directly to the company and it does the work to resell it for you.
Of course, this feature comes with a cost, and Geartrade takes out a percentage of your earnings for handling the sale themselves.
Here's what Geartrade says on its website:
- Items $165+: Earn 70% on items that sell for $165 or more.
- Items $565: Earn 80% on items that sell for $565 or more.
As you can see, this is a much higher seller fee than using options like SidelineSwap.
However, if you want some passive income, you can use Geartrade if you don’t want the hassle of managing offers and spending time trying to get a sale.
But, if you want to get the most value per sale possible, other websites to sell used sports equipment are better options.
3. Facebook Marketplace
In terms of selling stuff to people in your area for cash, it's hard to beat the Facebook Marketplace.
If you have a Facebook account, you can sell on its marketplace right now. There are so many popular things to sell on Facebook Marketplace, and sports equipment is definitely on this list.
For example, some used sports equipment you can sell in your area includes:
- Apparel
- Baseball gear and basketball cards
- Camping and hiking gear
- Footwear
- Football gear
- Soccer gear
- Gym gear (especially things like weights and dumbbells)
- Running shoes
- Winter sports gear
Creating a listing is similar to selling apps like Mercari where you snap some photos, write a description, and set your price.
The main downside of selling on Facebook is you usually have to do a lot of negotiating. However, you don't pay any seller fees and get paid in cash from local buyers, so it's one of the fastest ways to sell old sports equipment.
4. eBay
eBay is one of the most popular resale marketplaces out there, so it's no surprise it's an excellent way to sell used sports equipment for money.
One advantage of eBay is that it's also massive, so your listings can reach millions of buyers from around the world.
Listing on eBay is also free like with SidelineSwap. You add photos, a description, and set how much you're selling for.
From there, you can sell through eBay's auction feature, but for cheap sports equipment and apparel, you're probably going to sell at a fixed price and do some negotiating.
What's nice is that you can sell almost anything on eBay, so anything from old hockey and football equipment to gym apparel is fair game for resale.
Just note that eBay charges different seller fees depending on the category and total sale value.
For sports apparel and equipment, eBay fees include:
- 12.35% on total amount of the sale up to $7,500 calculated per item
- 2.35% on the portion of the sale over $7,500
This is fairly comparable to SidelineSwap, and eBay is definitely one of the fastest ways to sell sports equipment online due to the marketplace's size.
5. Pawn Guru
If you're still wondering how to sell sports equipment, you can always try out Pawn Guru.
This website is actually a company that lets you pawn or sell your merchandise to nearby pawn shops.
It’s completely free to list and sell which is a huge bonus compared to other sites on this list.
However, not every type of sports equipment is going to sell on a platform like this.
Pawn Guru is best if you want to sell used sports equipment that has some sort of vintage or antique value to it.
For example, if you have an 1896 cricket bat that it’s good condition, consider listing it on a site like Pawn Guru.
Pawning stuff is also an option if you just need to borrow some money and want to use some of your rare sports gear as collateral.
People also do this all the time for rare collectibles like sports cards or even more niche collections like Pokemon cards or Beanie Babies.
6. OfferUp
OfferUp is a massive mobile app and website like Facebook Marketplace where you can buy and sell practically anything that you'd find in your house.
Sports apparel and equipment is also a popular OfferUp category, so you can sell gear and apparel like:
- Baseball gloves and bats
- Backpacks
- Cleats and running shoes
- Gym gear
- Fishing supplies
- Peloton bikes
- Sports jerseys
- Surfboards
- Tennis rackets
- Treadmills and fitness equipment
- Used bikes
It's also very easy to sell old sports equipment on OfferUp. You list items for free, add photos and a description, and then negotiate with interested buyers who contact you.
What's nice is that you can sell in-person for cash or online through OfferUp, so it's a versatile side hustle.
Selling in person is also free, and OfferUp even highlights safe public meeting places, like areas near police stations, where you can meet buyers.
Alternatively, you can sell used sports equipment online to international buyers.
Buyers pay for shipping, although you pay a 12.9% seller fee which is pretty similar to eBay and SidelineSwap.
Ultimately, if you want the flexibility to sell used sports equipment online or in person, OfferUp is one of the best options out there.
7. Sports Exchange
Sports Exchange is an online and brick & mortar store that buys, sells, trades, and consigns used sports equipment.
Some of its most popular categories include:
- Boxing & MMA
- Fitness Equipment
- Football
- Baseball
- Softball
So, if you have equipment in any of the above categories, definitely consider selling them to Sport Exchange.
The company can buy directly from you if you just want cash. Alternatively, you can trade in sports equipment for credit or another piece of equipment or apparel of the same value.
The website does look a bit sketchy, but Sport Exchange is a trustworthy and legit brand with good reviews.
However, if you don’t have equipment that’s listed above, you’re probably better off selling with another platform on the list.
8. Mercari
Mercari is another massively popular selling marketplace where you can sell almost anything you can think of.
Sports equipment or equipment are also popular things to sell on Mercari, with popular sports including:
- Apparel
- Basketball equipment
- Camping equipment
- Cycling
- Fishing gear
- Footwear
- Golf
- Yoga equipment
One advantage of selling used sports equipment with Mercari is that the entire listing process is free and only takes a few minutes.
You manage listings through Mercari's seller app. All you have to do is take photos, create a title and description, set your price, and then publish your listing to the marketplace.
Mercari lets sellers cover shipping, but it's common to charge buyers so this is another perk of selling with Mercari.
Like eBay and SidelineSwap, you pay seller fees of 12.9% plus a $0.30 payment processing fee.
The fees can definitely be high, but these rates are pretty competitive compared to other sites on this list.
Overall, Mercari is another fantastic platform to get more people to see your listings and potentially sell used sports equipment faster.
You can also read our post on the best Mercari selling tricks for more advice on how to get fast sales!
9. Craigslist
Craigslist is one of the largest platforms for selling used items for cash, and sports equipment is no exception.
It's also easier to get a ton of views on your listing because the site is so massive, especially if you live in a major city. Plus, sports gear is a pretty common category that's sold on Craigslist.
Occasionally, you get some sketchy buyer or lowballer who wants your stuff, but you’ll usually run into everyday people just looking for cheap sports gear.
Consider selling on Craigslist if you want really quick cash or you just want to get rid of your equipment fast.
10. Play It Again Sports
Chances are, you have a Play It Again Sports store near your house and you didn’t even know it.
Play It Again Sports specializes in buying and selling used sports equipment. In fact, the company accepts walk-in appointments where you can get your used gear valued and then sell it to Play It Again Sports.
You can sell pretty much anything ranging from bicycles to used hockey equipment, so you’re basically guaranteed to find a sport that matches what you’re selling.
Keep in mind that they only buy quality used sports equipment, so things still need to be functional in order to be sold.
Also expect some lowball offers for a lot of gear. Play It Again has to turn a profit, so you're not going to make as much money selling your old sports equipment than if you sell directly to buyers on other marketplaces.
Overall, consider selling to Play It Again Sports if you have a bunch of random equipment and don’t want to list them individually.
11. Garage Sales
Believe it or not, garage sales are actually excellent places to sell used sports equipment for cash in person.
It’s local, you can set your own price, and there obviously aren’t any seller fees.
The only main downside with a garage sale is that you’re not likely to get hundreds or thousands of people looking at your stuff. However, the people that do stop by are willing to actually pay for your gear.
Consider selling with a garage sale if you have other stuff that you’re also willing to sell on top of your old sports equipment.
Extra Reading – 10+ Ways To Earn Money From Home.
Tips For Selling Used Sports Equipment
Now that you know some of the best places to sell your used sports equipment, here are a few tips you should remember to make the selling process much easier.
- Do Competitive Research: How are other sellers pricing similar or identical pieces of sports equipment and apparel? You want to make sure you price yourself competitively when selling online but that you're still making decent money.
- Know Your Floor Price: Expect a lot of negotiating and some lowball offers when you sell online, and know your absolute floor price you're willing to sell at.
- Value Your Time: Selling sports equipment is great for quick cash, but don't waste too much time dealing with difficult buyers or insultingly low offers.
Final Thoughts
I hope our guide on how to sell sports equipment helps you get rid of your old equipment and apparel to generate some extra cash.
Just remember that you don’t have to limit yourself to one website or idea.
In fact, you can maximize your earning potential by listing your items on multiple platforms and see which ones bite first or offer higher bids. This could mean pawning stuff, hosting a garage sale, or listing your sports equipment on a few classified websites.
Plus, almost every site on this list doesn’t have any listing fees, so doing this is completely free until you actually sell.
Looking for more selling side hustles? Checkout:
- Mercari vs eBay For Sellers.
- Where To Sell Board Games For Cash.
- Where To Sell Disney VHS Tapes For Cash.
