If you’re anything like me, you probably have a growing pile of clothes and other items you keep saying you’ll take to Plato’s Closet or sell at a garage sale, but it never quite happens. For me, the idea of donating things I spent good money on, especially when they’re still in great shape, feels like a big commitment. What if I need them again someday? So instead of letting them go, I hold onto them just in case, even though I know I’m probably not going to wear or use them again. That was the case with me, until I started using Mercari to sell my gently used items to earn some extra cash.
I started using Mercari when I realized how little resale shops were giving me for my clothes.
Plato’s Closet offered me $20 for 15 items once. TWENTY DOLLARS. I could sell just four or five of those things on Mercari for $7–$10 each and make way more.
If you’re curious about how to use Mercari to declutter your space and make some extra money, here’s exactly how I do it.
What Is Mercari?
Mercari is an app where you can sell pretty much anything. Clothes, shoes, home goods, electronics, you name it. Think of it like eBay or Facebook Marketplace, but easier. You don’t have to be tech-savvy to figure it out, and listings only take a few minutes.
The great thing about selling your used items on Mercari is that you can actually make more money than you would at Plato’s Closet or other resale shops. I’ve brought in a bag of over 50 items before and was offered just $20 total. At that point, I might as well have dropped the whole thing off at Goodwill.
Now, instead of hauling laundry baskets in and out of stores, I just list everything on Mercari. Even if I only sell a few items for $5 to $10 each, I end up making more than what the resale shop offered me for the entire batch.
Here I’ll walk you through how Mercari works and share some tips on setting up your profile and creating listings that actually get sales.
How Does Mercari Work?
Here’s a quick breakdown of how Mercari works before we dive into best practices to help your items sell and maximize your earnings:
- Download Mercari and create a profile.
- Take photos of the item you want to sell.
- List Your Items, by adding photos, a description, price, and item details (like brand, size, condition, etc.).
- Wait for someone to buy or send you an offer.
- Once it sells, Mercari gives you a QR code.
- Package your item, take it to the post office (or USPS, or FedEx), and they’ll scan the QR code and print the shipping label for you, no printer needed!
Step 1: Download Mercari and create a profile.
First, you’ll need to download the Mercari app and create a profile. You can also use Mercari on your computer or browser, but I personally find the app easier since all my listing photos are already on my phone. This is what the app looks like.
Once you’ve downloaded the app, go ahead and create an account and log in. From there, there are a few things we’ll want to set up to make your profile look trustworthy so buyers feel confident purchasing from you.
Edit Your Profile
Tap on Profile, on the bottom right, then Settings, and then Edit Profile to update the main info buyers will see when they check out your page. I recommend adding a clear profile picture (a photo of yourself works best), your name (I just use my first and middle), and a short, friendly bio.
Your bio doesn’t need to be anything fancy. Mine says:
“Hello! My name is Abbey and I’m from Ohio. Feel free to message regarding bundles or offers!”
That simple intro has worked great. I’ve sold over $2,000 worth of items so far!
Verification
Next up is verification. This step isn’t required to start selling, but it definitely helps build trust with buyers and can give your listings more visibility on Mercari.
At a minimum, make sure to verify your email and phone number. That alone makes your profile look better, and only takes a couple of minutes. For extra credibility, you can also link your Facebook account, which I’ve done. But, I am not honestly sure if that made any difference.
There’s also an option to verify your government ID, but I’ve never done that, and I’ve still made plenty of sales without any issues.
Once your profile is ready, you can now start making listings!
Step 2: Take Photos of The Products You Want To Sell
How you choose to take photos and list your items is totally up to you, but I’ve been doing this for years and have found a quick, repeatable process that works, especially when I have a lot to list at once.
First, I gather everything I want to sell and make one big pile (if it’s clothes, I’ll usually throw them into a laundry basket). Since I’ve already decided I’m not wearing or using these things again, I take them out of my closet completely and store them separately while they wait to be sold.
Before I list anything, I start by taking all the photos at once. This makes the process go much faster than it does when I try to take the photos and list at the same time.
And don’t forget, Mercari isn’t just for clothes. I’ve sold all kinds of things like:
- Nintendo Switch and games
- Old vinyl records
- Boxing gloves
- Wedding decor
- Candles
So think beyond your closet. If it’s shippable, it can probably be sold.
Photo Taking Tips for Mercari
- Use a clean, simple background to help your item stand out. If you’re not modeling the clothing, lay it flat on a neutral blanket or sheet; something like a white or neutral color works great. Lay it out neatly on the bed or floor and take the photo from directly above, so the image is straight and focused on the item.
Good lighting and a clutter-free background can make a big difference in how professional your listing looks, and buyers are much more likely to click on something that looks clean and well-presented.
- Use good lighting. If you do not have great lighting, I would suggest getting a phone light to use when you take your photos. It makes all the difference, and looks a lot better than using your phone flash!
Here is an example of how much better your listings can look when using a light to take your photos. The top has no lighting, and the bottom has lighting added.
As you can see, the product looks much more appealing to the buyer this way, which will get you more sales on Mercari!
- Show multiple angles, including any flaws or scuff marks. It’s better to be honest so buyers know what they’re getting (and won’t leave you a bad review). We will touch more on reviews later.
- Photograph the tag and size on clothing. This helps during listing so you don’t have to go back and look at the item, but I also include the photo of the tag in my listing photos because it gives buyers confidence in the fit and brand.
- Try it on, if you’re comfortable. If the item still fits, a quick photo of you wearing it can really help. I’ve noticed that the items I model tend to sell faster.
Step 3: List your Items
Once you’ve got your photos ready, it’s time to create your listings, and this part matters more than you think.
When someone’s scrolling Mercari, they might just be browsing for fun… or they might be looking for something super specific, like a “silver sequin shirt for New Year’s Eve.” The more detailed and relevant your listing is, the more likely it is to show up in their search results.
I like to think about it this way: If I were shopping for this item, what would I type into the search bar? Use that to help you write your title and description.
Title
This is the first thing someone sees when scrolling. Here, you don’t want to be vague like “cute top” or “nice shoes.” Be specific!
Description
This is where you explain what the item is, what condition it’s in, and why someone might want it. You don’t need to write a novel, but the more helpful you are here, the fewer questions you’ll get later. Also, the more descriptive you are, the more likely you are to show up in search results.
Here’s an example of what not to do:
- Title: Sparkly Shirt
- Description: Cute sparkly shirt
(This doesn’t really tell the buyer anything, right?)
Here’s what to do instead:
- Title: Silver Sequin Sparkle Shirt – Perfect Going Out Top
- Description: Eye-catching silver sequin sparkle shirt, perfect for New Year’s Eve, parties, or holiday events. Worn a couple of times but still in great condition. All sequins intact. Super comfy and cute to wear!
This version not only gives details but also paints a picture for the buyer. You’re helping them imagine where they’d wear it, and that’s what makes people click buy.
Don’t forget the important details:
- Category: Make sure you choose the right one so your item shows up in the right spot.
- Brand: If it’s a well-known brand, include it. A lot of people search for specific brands. Even if it is a brand that is not well-known, if it is an option, I would add it. If you don’t know, or it isn’t an option, you can just choose “No Brand/Not Sure”. Generally, if I don’t know the brand but know where I purchased the item, I will say something in the description like “purchased at DSW”.
- Condition: When choosing your condition, you want to be honest. You don’t want to get a bad review for misleading the buyer, and you wouldn’t want that done to you!
- Size: Always double-check and make sure you are listing the size correctly.
- Pricing: Take a look at what sellers are selling similar items for, and list around there. You don’t want to list too high where nobody is willing to even make an offer, but you also don’t want to lose out on money.
A good listing takes maybe an extra 60 seconds, but it makes all the difference. And once you do a few, it gets way easier and faster.
Step 4: Choose Your Shipping Options
Mercari shipping is extremely easy and hassle-free
When listing your item, you can choose if you want the buyer to pay the shipping or if you want to pay for the shipping. If you pay yourself, you get a “free shipping” icon on your listing, which can entice buyers to purchase your item instead of other items.
When you choose, you will need to choose the shipping carrier (such as UPS, USPS, or FedEx). When choosing, it will first ask for the estimated weight. You will want to make sure that it is accurate because the pricing will change. Sometimes, one carrier is cheaper than the other, depending on the weight, so I will pick based on that. If you prefer to use the same dropoff location every time, you can do that; it’s up to you.
Shipping Weight
It is very important that you do not lie about the weight of your item when selling on Mercari. If it is a small item, such as a shirt, you can estimate; however, don’t underestimate the weight of your items.
If you have an item that weighs 2 pounds, but you choose the 1-pound shipping option, you will have to pay the difference from your profit! I learned this the hard way when I guessed how heavy a pair of rain boots was. I was way under and ended up literally shipping them to the buyer, and made $0!!! These were nice Hunter rainboots!
I recommend having a small scale so you can weigh the products. Even a food scale works great. If it is an awkward-shaped item, you can put a box on the scale and 0 it out and then add the item to see what it weighs before you list. Unless your item is pretty heavy, a regular scale that you would use to track your weight will not work, as those generally won’t tell you the exact amount under a pound or two. You want something that will tell you the ounces.
Packaging Your Item
When you sell on Mercari, you need to package the item yourself. I generally will use a box from an Amazon order that I have lying around, so I don’t ever need to purchase any boxes. All you need to do is package and tape the box shut.
(Just a tip, if you do this, I would cross out any barcodes on the recycled box and rip off the preexisting shipping label.)
I like to wrap clothing items in tissue paper, and I always add a thank-you card in the box that I personally fill out, saying thank you for purchasing. You don’t have to do this, but it helps to get great reviews!
I just purchased a large box of thank-you cards and put one in each box. I buy them in bulk here.
If you don’t have a box lying around, but it’s a smaller item, you can also send it in a manila envelope as long as you tape the end well. I just have a big box I use for small items, like a shirt. These are the envelopes I get.
Taking the Item to Ship
Taking the item to the carrier to ship quickly is key. People will leave bad reviews if you wait even a few days to ship, so I always try to take it by the next day, two max. If you are out of town, there is a vacation option you can turn on to let your buyers know you are not in town at the moment. If someone does buy, and you can’t ship for a few days, I recommend messaging them so they are aware. Communication is key!
Once someone buys, Mercari gives you a QR code for your item. All you need to do is take your package item to the mail carrier you chose and have them scan the QR code. They will add the shipping label for you. That is one of my favorite features of selling items on Mercari, because I don’t have to worry about printing the label; they do it all for you.
Mercari Reviews
When you sell an item on Mercari, your funds will be released once the item is delivered and both you and the buyer have rated each other. If you’re the seller, I recommend just giving the buyer 5 stars. There’s usually not much for a buyer to mess up, and being friendly helps encourage them to shop with you again.
After you rate them, they’ll have the chance to rate you and leave a comment. If they don’t rate you within the time limit, Mercari will automatically give you a 5-star review.
If you follow the tips I shared earlier, you should have no problem getting consistent 5-star reviews. Personally, the only times I got less than 5 stars were when I took too long to ship, so make sure to ship on time!
Mercari Seller Fees
When selling on Mercari, it’s important to understand the Mercari seller fees so you know exactly what to expect. As of 2025, Mercari charges a flat 10% selling fee on the item price and any buyer-paid shipping.
That’s it, no more additional payment processing charges for most listings. These Mercari fees are automatically deducted from your earnings when the item sells, so you don’t have to worry about paying anything upfront.
While all selling platforms have some kind of cost, the simplicity of Mercari’s fee structure, combined with how easy it is to list and ship, makes the Mercari selling fees pretty reasonable in exchange for reaching millions of potential buyers.
Don’t Fall For Scams
Most people on Mercari are normal, but I still stick to a couple of simple rules to stay safe. I never click on any links that buyers send me. If they need something, they can ask through the app. I also never accept payment outside of Mercari. Keeping everything within the app protects you and ensures you’re covered if anything goes wrong.
Now and then, you might get a spam message, but it’s super rare. If it happens, you can report it and move on.
Let’s Get You Selling on Mercari
I know this was a lot, but once you list your first few items, it really does get easier (and kind of fun, honestly). It’s such a good feeling to clear out space and make money at the same time, especially when you realize how much more you can make compared to resale shops.
Are you thinking about giving Mercari a try? Or already started and have questions? Feel free to reach out. I’m happy to help however I can!
