20+ Best Things To Flip For Profit (Ultimate Guide!)
So, you're looking for a new flipping side hustle and are wondering what the best things to flip are so you can make some quick cash.
Flipping is one of the oldest side hustles in the book. And as someone who has bought and sold stuff for years, it's a great way to turn a nice profit without much work.
However, knowing the best items to flip is crucial to making money. After all, you need to flip things that have a high enough margin to be worth your time that also sell quickly so you're not drowning in inventory.
That's why in this post, I'm covering some of the most popular things to flip you can use to begin making money.
This is based on my experience with selling things. And I'm also including some top picks and tips from other experienced flippers and resellers so you can hit the ground running. Let's get to it!
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The Best Things To Flip
Maybe you want to flip stuff to make a few hundred dollars to pay some bills. Or, perhaps you're branching into retail arbitrage and want to start your own flipping business.
Whatever the case, knowing the best products to flip is critical to actually making money. So, here are some of the top categories you can get started with.
1. Furniture
Furniture is one of the best items to flip because it's always in demand. Plus, if you have some DIY skills, the margin on furniture flips can be massive.
This is because a lot of people get rid of old furniture on the side of the road when they upgrade theirs. But if you know how to refinish and repair these pieces, you can get massive flips for hundreds of dollars.
This video from flipping expert MissFlips shares a step-by-step guide on how to flip furniture, ranging from picking the right pieces to how to make repairs before reselling.
Some of the best furniture items to flip include:
- Chairs
- Chests and drawers
- Desks
- Dining sets
- Night tables
- Side tables
You can also source furniture and then resell it on the Facebook Marketplace if you're looking for an easy way to start.
2. Phones
Whether they're Apple or Android, used smartphones can have a high resale value, especially if they are recent models that are in high demand.
Many people flip phones by buying new releases before they sell out. You can then resell the phone on Facebook Marketplace or eBay and find fast buyers.
You can also sell used smartphones to online retailers like Decluttr and Gazelle. So, if you find a busted or used phone for cheap, you might be able to flip it for some quick money.
3. Sports Cards & Gear
Sports fans love to collect merchandise from their favorite players and teams. So, unsurprisingly, sports memorabilia can often be easy items to flip.
Here are some of the best sports items that you can flip online or at collectible stores:
- Sports cards including baseball cards, basketball cards, and football cards
- Autographs
- Bobbleheads and other exclusive limited merchandise
- Vintage hats, shirts and jerseys
- Championship rings
- Programs from certain games
- Used sports equipment
If you go to games and other sporting events in your area, watch for freebies on giveaway nights. These items are often limited quantities and can fetch a great price when sold.
4. Watches
Another one of the best items to flip are watches. And this is especially true if you can get your hand on a designer brand like Cartier, Omega, Patek, or a Rolex since these pieces tend to appreciate over time.
And this appreciation potential is why watches are such a popular item to flip. You just need to know the market and how to spot potential fakes, and always buy from a reputable buyer.
If you need help selling your watch, you can also go through reputable online auction sites like Worthy.
You can also sell on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace. Just make sure you meet in public areas, especially when selling high-value goods.
5. Concert Tickets
Can you predict what concerts are going to be the hottest shows in town? If so, you could flip concert tickets and make a profit helping others score seats to their favorite bands.
My husband is a contest junkie and often wins more concert tickets that we can possibly ever attend. He flips these online on Facebook Marketplace, StubHub, and TickPick and often makes 100% profit.
Just be careful and don't buy too many tickets if it's not a show you know is going to sell out. The one risk with this flipping hustle is that you get stuck with a bunch of tickets to an event that's not that popular!
6. Appliances
If you’re handy and know how to do basic appliance repairs, there is a huge market for second hand appliances.
Not all homeowners can afford new, and will gladly purchase running used appliances. Many individuals who are doing upgrades even give away the old appliances free of charge to those who can haul them away.
You can also find plenty of cheap or free appliances on apps like OfferUp or Facebook Marketplace, so getting inventory is easy.
With a little clean up and TLC, you can flip these to local buyers for a nice profit. And it's easy to find appliances for free if you drive around your neighborhood on a junk removal day.
7. Antiques
If you're still looking for the best things to flip, you can always try buying and reselling antiques.
The antique market is massive, and you can source inventory from places like garage sales, pawn shops, or local selling sites like Facebook Marketplace.
Some of the top antiques you can try to flip include:
- Artwork
- Furniture
- Dining sets and things like fine china
- Old stamps and postcards
- Silverware
- Vintage clothing
Just be careful when flipping very niche antiques since these categories likely have smaller buyer pools and you really need to know your stuff to find good flips.
8. Clothing
Got a flare for spotting fashion? If so, flipping clothing could be a side hustle that you might enjoy.
People flip all sorts of clothing, including shoes, designer clothing, handbags, and limited-edition merchandise.
You also have plenty of places to find inventory. Apps like Poshmark and OfferUp are one way to start. You can also go thrifting and then alter clothing before flipping it for cash.
This video from YouTuber The College Hustle shares a guide on how to flip designer purses and similar items on websites like Poshmark and Etsy if you want some tips for getting started.
9. Jewelry
Jewelry is another one of the best items to flip. And, like watches, a large part of this has to do with the fact that jewelry tends to maintain its value and appreciate.
Of course, you need to be able to spot fakes for this flipping hustle to make sense.
Also note that you can branch into more niche categories. For example, custom jewelry that's made locally can attract buyers, and same goes with sustainable jewelry.
10. Sports Equipment
Another important category in our list of things to flip is sporting goods.
Whether it’s smaller items like baseball bats and gloves or larger equipment like exercise bikes, this equipment is always in demand and offers a good resale market even when it’s used.
Here's some of the sports equipment that you can flip pretty easily:
- Treadmills
- Exercise bikes
- Pelotons
- Home gym equipment
- Golf clubs
- Hockey skates
- Lacrosse sticks
- Weights
- Skis
- Used bikes
Some of the equipment on this list you may even be able to obtain for free. Owners who have large used equipment like treadmills and exercise bikes often offer it at no charge for someone who can move it out of its home.
Clean up the equipment, give it a bit of TLC, and you can then resell for a nice profit.
As for where to flip these, my favorite options include Facebook Marketplace or OfferUp so you can sell locally.
11. Vehicles
If you’re knowledgeable about vehicles and mechanically inclined, you might be able to flip vehicles for a side hustle.
Whether you purchase the cars at an auction or spot great deals in your area, you can use your negotiation skills to buy at a great price and resell for a profit.
Just note that some states have stricter legislation on car sales and ownership. Registering as a dealer may be required to resell vehicles. Check the local laws for your area before trying to flip vehicles.
12. Houses
While flipping houses does require a larger investment that the other options on this list, you can flip houses for money with some research and hard work.
Find great fixer uppers at property tax auctions for a deal and then clean them up, and fix any major issues before flipping them for a profit.
This video from flipper Ricky Gutierrez shares a step-by-step guide of how to flip houses as well as the type of expenses you're probably going to encounter.
Extra reading – How To Flip $1,000.
13. Collectibles
Another one of the best things to flip are collectibles.
Collectors are passionate about their hobbies, and if you know what you’re looking for, collectibles can have excellent margins and sell quickly. Here are some of the hottest collectibles to flip:
- Trading cards like Yugioh cards, MTG cards, and Pokemon cards
- Funko Pops
- Old coins
- Comic books
- Old Coins
- Vintage toys
- Board games
- Vintage clothing
- Beanie Babies
My teen has recently been making money flipping LEGO’s. He spots valuable minifigures and pieces at thrift stores and garage sales and has been selling them online and to LEGO resellers for a profit.
14. Sneakers
While your department store sneakers may not have a market, those name brand shoes you wore twice could definitely fetch a fair price.
Have you spotted designer sneakers at a great price or were you able to score a rare pair right when they launched? These shoes can be excellent things to flip for extra money.
This video from sneaker flipper Stay Focused Frank shares advice on how you can get started and what the best sneaker resale websites are if you're curious.
Just keep an eye out for popular brands to flip, like Nike, Air Jordans, and limited-edition drops from major companies.
15. Instruments
While it might surprise you, instruments are another one of the best things to flip if you're knowledgeable about a type of instrument and are willing to hustle.
Instruments have a long lifespan and are an excellent thing to flip for cash. If you can purchase inexpensive musical instruments from individuals who no longer need them, you’ll be able to sell items online for a nice profit.
Lots of people also buy instruments thinking they'll learn a new hobby and then ditch them a few months later. So, you can often find instruments for cheap on local selling sites, buy them, and resell them for a nice profit.
16. Baby Items
Babies and kids grow quickly, and many of their items, especially clothing, barely get used. So, baby items are an easy thing to flip because so many people sell their used gear for cheap.
Look for quality and name brand baby items at garage sale and thrift stores. Next, try selling them on marketplaces like eBay or Mercari to find quick buyers.
Some of the top baby items to flip include:
- Strollers
- Cribs
- Changing Tables
- High Chairs
- Diaper Bags
- Pack and Plays
- Bumbo Seats
- Bouncers
If you want to make passive income, you can also consider using websites like Baby Quip to rent out your baby gear to people instead.
Baby gear is actually one of the top things to rent out for profit. So, don't be afraid to get creative and to earn some autopilot cash with your gear.
17. Electronics
Do you have old phones or laptops collecting dust? If the answer is yes, you might be able to flip those for a profit.
Even older electronics still have some life left and can be sold online. And people often sell or give away old electronics for cheap, so you can easily buy them and resell them for a profit.
Some popular electronics to sell include:
- Gaming systems like a PS5 or Xbox
- Cameras
- E-readers
- Laptops / Computers
- Smart watches
- Sound systems
- Smartphones
- Tablets
Start out with selling your old items that you no longer use. Next, you can buy used electronics to flip. You can also read our post on how to get free electronics for even more options.
18. Bikes
Are you handy with bikes and able to do basic repairs? If so, bikes are another great thing to flip you can consider.
Used bikes can fetch a great price, and you can often obtain them for free or very cheap at garage sales and on the curb on city junk days. Clean them up, do any required maintenance and put them for sale locally or online.
19. Vintage Goods
Got an eye for older items? Vintage goods are valuable items that can be flipped for a profit.
Keep an eye out for fantastic finds at garage sales and while thrifting and sell them on eBay, Whatnot, Mercari and other sites that sell vintage items.
Here are some vintage goods that are usually easy to flip:
- Records
- Dolls
- Silverware
- China
- Artwork
- Stamps
- Coins
If you have certification of authenticity or anything that backs up how old your vintage gear is, share that information with potential buyers as well.
20. Websites & Domain Names
One final category of the best things to flip are websites and domain names.
Even though they are entirely digital, domains can be bought and sold, just like physical items. The same goes with websites, and people buy and sell online businesses all the time.
Websites can be a particularly lucrative thing to flip since if you buy a site from a marketplace like Flippa and then increase its monthly revenue, you can easily resell it since the business is growing and looks promising.
This video from SEO expert Matt Diggity shares how to flip websites and why this idea can be so lucrative.
Granted, it's a bit of an unusual way to make money online. But if you know how to build online businesses, it's certainly worth considering and can be a way to double your money quite quickly.
What Do Other Flippers Suggest?
Now that you know some of the most popular items to flip, here are some tips from other flippers about the categories they've found the most success with.
To find this data, I looked on Reddit's r/flipping, a community of 260,000+ flippers, for some of their recommendations. Here's what some flippers suggest beginners start with in this thread:
- BoneGolem2 says: “Niches are overrated. I'm an everything seller. I recently bought a walnut chess board for $3.50 from a Mom and Pop thrift that sold for $200, a $5 Kohler hose kit from Home Depot that sold for $25, and a Mechanical Keyboard for $3.06 at a religious thrift store that sold for $65. It all depends on your area, what you know, what you're willing to learn, and what your inventory system will allow for.”
- One user says: “books.”
- throwaway2161419 says: “90% clothes but little of everything.”
- ExplosiveDrama says: “I sell weights easyily and all it requires is luck, a bit of knowledge, and a bit of cash to start.”
- peeinmybee says: “Buying clearance plants from Walmart that look like death and babying them then reselling them.”
- Adept_sympathy3755 says: “Furniture and certain musical instruments.”
The key is to stick with categories you know so that when you find a bargain, you realize it!
Extra reading – How To Flip $500.
Tips For Flipping Things For Profit
If you're ready to begin flipping things for profit and want a few tips to get started, here are some of the top ones that I've found useful over the years of selling stuff:
- Do Your Homework: Always research resale prices of things you're thinking about flipping. Also consider things like seller competition and overall demand since you want your inventory to sell quickly.
- Set A Budget: Are you flipping $100, or $10,000 or more? Decide how much you want to invest in inventory and stick to your numbers.
- Diversify Inventory: Don't buy too much of one product before you know how well it sells. This is to avoid locking up your money in inventory that doesn't sell well or at all.
- Consider Shipping Costs: I like local selling sites since I can avoid shipping hassles and costs. Factor in shipping costs to your pricing if you sell online.
- Communicate Quickly: Always respond to potential buyers quickly so you can lock-in a sale before they move on.
This video from Chase Curtis also provides an overview on how to begin flipping, sourcing inventory, and finding local buyers if you want an overview on how to get started.
Extra Reading – How To Get $500 By Tomorrow.
Final Thoughts
I hope my guide on the best things to flip helps you put your money to work with a new and exciting side hustle.
Flipping is a real business, and people have been doing it for ages. As long as you do your research and understand the flipping niches you're in, there's no reason you can't find success.
This can also be an incredibly rewarding, fun side hustle. And it's also a great couples side hustle if you want to do it with a partner.
In any case, thanks for reading and best of luck!
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