The Best Items to Resell from the Goodwill Bins (A Beginner's Category Guide)
The most common mistake new resellers make at the Goodwill Bins isn’t buying the wrong thing. It’s trying to buy everything.
They walk in, see a bin full of possibilities, and grab anything that looks interesting. They end up with a cart full of mixed junk, a checkout bill that doesn’t make sense, and no idea what any of it will actually sell for.
The resellers who consistently make money do the opposite. They pick one or two categories, learn them properly, and ignore almost everything else until those categories are working.
This guide maps out the five best beginner categories at the Bins - what to look for in each, what to avoid, the rough margin math, and the best platforms to sell on. If you’re new to reselling, start here.
If you’re not yet familiar with how per-pound pricing works, read Goodwill Bins Pricing by Category first - it’ll help you understand the cost side of the margin math in this guide.
👉 Free Download: The Goodwill Bins Reseller Checklist
Why Category Focus Matters
At $1.49/lb, the sourcing cost of almost anything at the Bins is low. The limiting factor isn’t what you pay - it’s your time.
Every item you buy needs to be:
- Cleaned and inspected
- Photographed
- Listed with a keyword-rich title
- Packaged and shipped when it sells
That process takes 10–20 minutes per item, minimum. At scale, time is your most expensive resource - not the $0.75 you paid for the shirt.
Category focus pays off because:
- You make faster decisions at the bin - you’re not evaluating everything, just your category
- You build pattern recognition faster - you see the same brands and conditions repeatedly
- Your listings improve faster - you learn the keywords, the comp prices, and the platform behaviour for your niche
- Your profits improve faster - you stop buying things that don’t sell
The single best piece of advice for any new reseller: master one category first. Add a second once the first is running smoothly.
1. Clothing and Outerwear
Why it’s the best starting category: lightweight, easy to ship, consistently high demand, lowest sourcing cost relative to value.
What sells:
- Vintage graphic tees - single stitch construction, band tees, college tees, sports graphics (see our full guide on vintage clothing at the Goodwill Bins)
- Designer and premium brands - Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger, Patagonia, North Face, Arc’teryx
- Athletic wear - Lululemon, Nike, Adidas, Under Armour in good condition
- Vintage outerwear - coaches jackets, varsity jackets, 1990s windbreakers
- Workwear - Carhartt, Dickies, vintage denim
What to avoid:
- Generic fast fashion with no brand recognition (H&M, Primark, Shein)
- Heavily pilled or faded basics
- Anything with cracked graphics, large holes, or permanent stains
Rough margin math at $1.49/lb:
- Source cost for a T-shirt: ~$0.75
- eBay fees + shipping on a $40 sale: ~$12
- Net profit: ~$27
Best platforms: eBay (broadest reach for vintage), Depop (best for Gen Z vintage buyers), Poshmark (strong for branded athleisure)
2. Shoes
Why it works: shoes are compact, photograph well, and the per-pair cost at the Bins is very low compared to resale value. A $2.50 pair of sourced Hokas can sell for $60–$90.
What sells:
- Running shoes - Hoka, New Balance, Brooks, On Running, ASICS in good condition
- Lifestyle sneakers - Nike Air Max, Adidas Samba/Gazelle, Converse (especially limited colourways)
- Sandals - Birkenstock (especially Boston clogs), Teva, Chaco
- Boots - Timberland, Dr. Martens, Blundstone
- Jordan and Nike SB - only if you can verify authenticity (fakes are common - inspect tags and stitching carefully)
What to avoid:
- Shoes with blown soles, cracked midsoles, or structural damage
- Heavily worn insoles or uppers that can’t be cleaned
- Counterfeit luxury or limited sneakers - if you can’t verify authenticity, don’t risk it
Rough margin math at $1.49/lb:
- Source cost for adult sneakers (1.5 lbs): ~$2.25
- eBay fees + shipping on a $70 sale: ~$16
- Net profit: ~$51
Best platforms: eBay (best for running shoes and outdoor), StockX (for verified sneakers), Poshmark and Depop (lifestyle and fashion)
For a much deeper dive into brands, inspection checklists, and margin math specifically for footwear, see Shoes at the Goodwill Bins.
3. Kitchenware and Cookware
Why it works: high-quality kitchen items are heavy and expensive at retail - which means buyers are actively looking for secondhand deals. The sourcing cost is low relative to what name-brand pieces sell for.
What sells:
- Cast iron - Lodge, Le Creuset, Staub, Griswold (vintage). A well-seasoned Lodge skillet sources for $7–$10 and sells for $30–$60 depending on size and condition.
- Dutch ovens - Le Creuset and Staub are extremely popular. Even heavily used pieces sell for $80–$200.
- Stainless steel cookware - All-Clad, Cuisinart (commercial line), Demeyere
- Kitchen appliances - KitchenAid stand mixers, Vitamix blenders (test if possible)
- Single items - single skillets, single pots. Sets are harder to sell and heavier to ship.
What to avoid:
- Heavily scratched non-stick pans - non-stick coating damage is a liability
- No-name generic sets with no resale market
- Heavy items that can’t be sold locally - shipping a cast iron Dutch oven costs $15–$25 and needs careful packaging
Rough margin math at $1.49/lb:
- Source cost for a 5 lb cast iron skillet: ~$7.45
- eBay fees + shipping on a $45 sale: ~$16
- Net profit: ~$21
Best platforms: eBay (nationwide reach), Facebook Marketplace (ideal for heavy items - local pickup avoids shipping)
4. Toys and Board Games
Why it works: collectible toys and complete board games can sell for multiples of their sourcing cost, and the scanning workflow (barcode → eBay Sold) works well for this category.
What sells:
- LEGO (by the pound) - even loose, unsorted LEGO sells reliably by weight on eBay and Mercari. Minifigures sell separately for $1–$10+ each.
- Vintage action figures - pre-2000 figures from Star Wars, GI Joe, He-Man, Transformers. Even loose figures from these lines command strong prices.
- Complete board games - Catan, Ticket to Ride, Pandemic, and similar modern classics sell well. Only buy if the box is complete - shake it, open it, verify major components are present.
- Vintage games - 1970s–1980s games in original boxes are collectible even if not playable
- Hot Wheels and Matchbox (specific cars) - certain models and years are highly collectible. Use Google Lens to identify them.
What to avoid:
- Board games missing pieces - they sell for almost nothing
- Toys without batteries or with obvious damage
- Generic toys from discount brands with no collector market
Rough margin math:
- Source cost for a complete Catan (priced per item at $3): ~$3.00
- eBay fees + shipping on a $35 sale: ~$12
- Net profit: ~$20
Best platforms: eBay (best for vintage and collectibles), Mercari (good for LEGO), Facebook Marketplace (for local buyers of large games or toy lots)
For a full breakdown of what toys and games actually cost to source by weight, see Goodwill Bins Pricing by Category.
5. Books and Media
Why it works: the barcode scanning workflow is fast and reliable for books. Valuable books (textbooks, out-of-print non-fiction, first editions) source for almost nothing and can sell for significant amounts.
What sells:
- Textbooks - especially recent editions in subjects like nursing, law, accounting, engineering. A current edition nursing textbook can sell for $30–$120.
- Niche non-fiction - technical manuals, professional reference books, niche hobby guides
- Out-of-print titles - check eBay Sold Listings; some obscure books with no current print run sell for $20–$80+
- Children’s books (specific titles) - certain series and first edition children’s books have strong collector demand
What to avoid:
- Popular mass-market fiction - Dan Brown, James Patterson, etc. sell for $1–$3 on eBay and aren’t worth the effort
- Heavily damaged books - water damage, torn spines, heavy underlining
- Books with pages missing
Rough margin math at $1.49/lb:
- Source cost for a 2 lb textbook: ~$3.00 (or $1–$2 if per item)
- eBay fees + shipping on a $40 sale: ~$11
- Net profit: ~$26
Best platforms: eBay (best overall for books), Amazon (very competitive but high volume for textbooks), AbeBooks (specialised book buyers)
For book-specific strategies at the Bins - including how different stores price books - check out Books at the Goodwill Bins.
How to Use the Scanning Workflow for Any Category
Every category above benefits from the same scanning approach:
- Barcode or photo search in the eBay app
- Filter to Sold Listings
- Look at 5–10 recent sales for the same item in similar condition
- Run your margin math (sold price minus fees, shipping, and source cost)
- Only buy if you clear your minimum profit threshold
For a full walk-through of how to scan efficiently at the Bins - including what to do when you have bad signal or are mid-rotation - see our guide on how to scan items at the Goodwill Bins.
The Lowdown
The Bins are full of items that can be resold. The key is deciding which ones are worth your time - and that starts with category focus.
- Clothing is the best starting point - low cost, high demand, easy to ship
- Shoes offer the best margin per item once you know the right brands
- Kitchenware rewards knowing a handful of name brands and using Facebook Marketplace for heavy pieces
- Toys and board games work best when you’re comfortable with barcode scanning and know LEGO’s reliable resale value
- Books are a reliable side category if you can scan quickly - textbooks and out-of-print titles are the priority
Pick one. Learn it well. Let everything else stay in the bin until you’re ready.
For the complete sourcing workflow - from researching before you leave home to listing within 48 hours of your trip - download the free checklist below.
For more practical tips, be sure to check out our free Goodwill Bins Reseller Checklist.
