How to Price Items for Resale Using Sold Comps

To price items for resale, start with what buyers recently paid for the same item in similar condition, then subtract platform fees, shipping and supplies to see what you'll actually keep. Knowing how to price items for resale this way stops you from overpricing items that never sell, or underpricing items that could have paid double.

Pricing is also the same math you use when buying. If you can price an item in 30 seconds on your phone, you know what it's worth paying for it. This guide covers the full method, from finding sold comps to setting markdowns.

What are sold comps and why do they matter?

Sold comps (comparables) are completed sales of the same or very similar item. They show what buyers actually paid, which is the only reliable starting point for a resale price.

Active listings show what sellers hope to get. Many sit unsold for months at those prices, so pricing from them tends to leave you with stale inventory.

Where to find sold comps:

• eBay. Filter search results for sold items, or use eBay's product research tool in Seller Hub, which is free for sellers and covers up to three years of eBay sales data, including average sold price, sold price range and sell-through rate for recent searches.
• Clothing apps. Poshmark, Mercari and Depop let you view sold items in search on their apps.
• Local items. For furniture and bulky goods, watch how quickly similar local listings disappear and at what asking price. It's rougher data, so price conservatively.

How do you price an item step by step?

Follow the same five steps for every item, and write down the result. It takes a minute once you've done it a few dozen times.

1. Identify the item exactly

Brand, model, size, color, edition and any code on the label or base. "Men's leather boots" is not a comp; the exact brand and model is.

2. Pull recent sold comps

Look at sales from the last 90 days if there are enough. Ignore extreme highs and lows, and take the middle of the cluster.

3. Adjust for condition and completeness

Compare your item honestly with the comps: flaws, missing parts, original box, tags. An item missing a charger, lid or manual is a different product to buyers.

4. Check how fast it sells

Count how many sold recently compared with how many are listed. Many sales and few active listings means you can price near the top of the range. Few sales and many listings means price lower or expect to wait.

5. Calculate your net and set a floor

Subtract fees, shipping and supplies from the price (see below). Your floor is the lowest price where the profit is still worth your time. Don't accept offers below it.

How do fees and shipping change your price?

Fees and shipping often take a large share of a low-priced item, so always price with them included. Rates differ by platform; here are the main ones as of 2026.

Sources are the official fee pages listed below this article. Platforms change fees, so recheck before pricing a batch.

Example (hypothetical): a $30 item on three platforms. Assume a $7 label where you pay shipping, and no sales tax for simplicity.

In practice eBay's fee also applies to any sales tax the buyer pays, so your real eBay fee will be a little higher. The point: the same sticker price leaves you different amounts on each platform, so price per platform.

How do you work out your maximum buy price?

Your maximum buy price is the sold price minus fees, shipping, supplies and the minimum profit you want per item. It's the pricing formula run in reverse.

Maximum buy price = expected sold price − fees − shipping you pay − supplies − minimum profit.

Example (hypothetical): a jacket sells for about $40 on Poshmark. The 20% fee is $8, the buyer pays the label, supplies cost $1, and you want at least $15 profit for the time it takes. Your maximum buy price is $40 − $8 − $1 − $15 = $16. At a $6 thrift price, it's a buy; at $22, walk away.

Should you use auctions, fixed price or offers?

For most beginners, fixed price with offers enabled is the simplest and most predictable. Auctions suit items with strong demand where you're unsure of the value, or rare items where competition can push the price up.

• Fixed price. You control the price and can wait. Best for common items with clear comps.
• Best offer. Lets motivated buyers negotiate. Price slightly above your target so there's room, and set an automatic decline below your floor if the platform allows it.
• Auctions. Useful when demand is strong and comps are thin. The risk is a low final price if few buyers are watching, so use a starting price you can live with.

On apps where buyers routinely send offers, such as Poshmark and Mercari, many sellers list a little above their target price to leave room to negotiate.

When and how should you lower prices?

Lower prices on a schedule, not on emotion. A written markdown plan keeps inventory moving and turns old stock back into cash.

A simple approach many sellers use:

These intervals are illustrative; adjust them to how fast your category moves. Items that get views but no sales usually have a price or photo problem. Items with no views usually have a title or category problem.

Common pricing mistakes

Most pricing mistakes come from skipping the comp step or ignoring costs.

• Pricing from active listings instead of sold ones.
• Using one high sale as the benchmark when most sold for less.
• Forgetting the fee base. eBay's fee applies to shipping and tax as well as the item price.
• Guessing weight and paying more for the label than you charged.
• Refusing to cut prices on items that clearly aren't selling.

We cover these and other margin killers in flipping mistakes.

Next steps

Price your next five items with the full method and a written floor price, then track how long each takes to sell.

• The reselling for profit guide covers sold comps, fee math for each platform and markdown schedules.
• Compare fees in detail in the best reselling apps.
• See what this means for your earnings in how much you can make flipping.

New to earning online? Read our guide to making money online. When you want a system for every step, learn how to price and flip items for profit.