33 things you didn't know you could sell on eBay
Most of it's junk you would recycle anyway!
Broken crayons
Melted crayons have so many crafting applications; a 4-pound bag of assorted colors can go for $18.99 on eBay.
PHOTO: Chris Dlugosz, flickr
Egg cartons
Crafters and people who raise backyard hens for eggs need empty egg cartons. A stack of 12 cardboard cartons can sell for up to $15.99.
PHOTO: frankieleon, flickr
Toilet paper rolls
Teachers often use leftover cardboard rolls from toilet paper and paper towels for children's arts and crafts. A box of 100 empty rolls can bring $15 on eBay.
PHOTO: Derek Gavey, flickr
Plastic bottle caps
Listed under the craft supplies category, a lot (or collection) of 50 used soda bottle caps recently sold for $9.98.
PHOTO: sparepartstudio, flickr
Box Tops for Education
When schools offer incentives for the most "Box Tops for Education" collected, parents turn to eBay to get them in bulk. A bag of 1,000 (non-expired) BTFEs recently sold for $115.
PHOTO: Mike Mozart, flickr
Beer bottle caps
Bottle caps are considered art supplies by some. When sold in bulk, 100 non-dented beer caps can fetch $8.99 or more.
PHOTO: Jason Meredith/merfam, flickr
Coupons
High-value coupons for stores like Lowe's, Kohl's and Pottery Barn regularly fetch between $0.99 and $10. For example, a $10 Kohl's Cash voucher recently sold for $8.
PHOTO: WLWT
Empty candle jars
A set of four used Bath & Body Works candle jars, described as "great for all kinds of crafts," sold for $8 in May 2017.
PHOTO: Nico Paix/aerosolhalos, flickr
Old cables and cell phone chargers
A wall mount charger for a Samsung flip phone can bring $9.88 on the online marketplace.
PHOTO: Dom Pates globalismpictures flickr
Product boxes
An empty box for a rose gold iPhone 6s sold for $7.99 in May 2017. An empty American Girl doll box can bring $15.
PHOTO: Asim Bijarani flickr
Old catalogs
A Fall 2006 L.L. Bean catalog sold for $6.99 in May 2017.
PHOTO: Mike Mozart, flickr
Paper shopping bags
A set of nine used Starbucks bags in assorted designs recently sold for $9.99.
PHOTO: P K uair01 flickr
Empty perfume bottles
A set of three empty Chanel No. 5 glass perfume bottles sold for $38.50 in March 2017.
PHOTO: Aichinger sooperkuh flickr
Pinecones
Large pinecones are hot-ticket items for crafting decorations during the holidays. Best sold as a lot, 6" tall pinecones can sell for $1 each.
PHOTO: buckle1535 flickr
Wine corks
Natural wine corks sold in bulk are a hit with crafters. A bag of 80 used wine corks (no synthetic or champagne corks!) fetches $8.99, or you can sell 200 for around $20.
PHOTO: Meghan E. Patterson flickr
Back issues of magazines
Eleven back issues of Country Living from 2015 sold for $12.99 recently.
PHOTO: Jessica Spengler flickr
Owner's manuals
Owner's manuals for 2016 typically sell for $6-$44.
PHOTO: Jaakko Hakulinen flickr
Installation CDs
Installation CDs for printers, software and operating systems typically sell for $3 to $16.
PHOTO: kansirnet flickr
Broken coffee makers and other appliances
A broken Gaggia espresso coffee maker recently sold on eBay for parts for $78.
PHOTO: Kevin Gessner flickr
Junk drawer contents
One junk drawer lot filled with pocket knives, belt buckles and pins with catchy slogans sold for $234.99 in April 2017.
PHOTO: Bryan Ledgard flickr
VHS tapes
A collection of 20 Disney Black Diamond VHS movies sold for $99.99 in April 2017, while a single, sealed VHS copy of 1993's "Aladdin" went for $29.88.
PHOTO: tenpoundhammer flickr
Cassette tapes
A collection of 1980s rock, pop and new wave cassettes (60 total) sold for $70 in February 2017.
PHOTO: Brian Pennington byebyeempire flickr
Partial gift cards
Have you returned an item for store credit but prefer cash instead? Partial gift cards sell for roughly 60-80 percent of their value on eBay. For example, a $113 Talbots card recently sold for $87.
PHOTO: bfishadow flickr
Empty wine bottles
Another hot seller with the crafting crowd, used wine bottles can fetch between $6 and $9 when sold in a case of 12.
PHOTO: tanakawho flickr
Empty makeup containers
A collection of 10 empty or partially full MAC Cosmetics containers sells for roughly $29.99 on eBay. Buyers like these because MAC gives its customers a free lipstick (a $17 value) for every six containers they return through its .
PHOTO: haleynealphotography flickr
Old software
A disc and product key for Microsoft Outlook 2007 recently sold for $12.99, while an older version of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom brought $36.95.
PHOTO: jakecaptive flickr
Trophies
Crafters repurpose trophies into everything from to , so it's no surprise that a large one can get $40 on eBay.
PHOTO: befuddledsenses flickr
Empty cases for games
A pair of empty cases for PlayStation 3 Pac-Man games recently sold for $13.69.
PHOTO: Michel Ngilen flickr
Empty printer ink cartridges
Three empty Cannon Pixma ink cartridges sold for $9.99 in May 2017.
PHOTO: armydre2008 flickr
Incomplete board games
Just because it's missing pieces doesn't mean you should get rid of a game—someone else may be looking for replacement pieces. A special "The Office" edition of Clue sold for $19.99 recently, despite the fact that it was short five pieces, and an Axis & Allies game missing one piece sold for $54.99.
PHOTO: flem007_uk flickr
Damaged sweaters
Even torn, holey sweaters can fetch a pretty penny on eBay—especially if they're made of quality material. A pair of damaged, 100 percent cashmere sweaters recently sold under the crafts/fabrics category for $12.99.
PHOTO: m01229 flickr file photo
Baby food jars
Listed under craft supplies, a box of 36 empty 4-ounce baby food jars sold for $34.99 in May 2017.
PHOTO: jennycu flickr
Used golf balls
A box of 100 "reclaimed" Titleist balls went for $15.45 recently.
PHOTO: tncowart flickr
Broken crayons
Melted crayons have so many crafting applications; a 4-pound bag of assorted colors can go for $18.99 on eBay.
PHOTO: Chris Dlugosz, flickr
Egg cartons
Crafters and people who raise backyard hens for eggs need empty egg cartons. A stack of 12 cardboard cartons can sell for up to $15.99.
PHOTO: frankieleon, flickr
Toilet paper rolls
Teachers often use leftover cardboard rolls from toilet paper and paper towels for children's arts and crafts. A box of 100 empty rolls can bring $15 on eBay.
PHOTO: Derek Gavey, flickr
Plastic bottle caps
Listed under the craft supplies category, a lot (or collection) of 50 used soda bottle caps recently sold for $9.98.
PHOTO: sparepartstudio, flickr
Box Tops for Education
When schools offer incentives for the most "Box Tops for Education" collected, parents turn to eBay to get them in bulk. A bag of 1,000 (non-expired) BTFEs recently sold for $115.
PHOTO: Mike Mozart, flickr
Beer bottle caps
Bottle caps are considered art supplies by some. When sold in bulk, 100 non-dented beer caps can fetch $8.99 or more.
PHOTO: Jason Meredith/merfam, flickr
Coupons
High-value coupons for stores like Lowe's, Kohl's and Pottery Barn regularly fetch between $0.99 and $10. For example, a $10 Kohl's Cash voucher recently sold for $8.
PHOTO: WLWT
Empty candle jars
A set of four used Bath & Body Works candle jars, described as "great for all kinds of crafts," sold for $8 in May 2017.
PHOTO: Nico Paix/aerosolhalos, flickr
Old cables and cell phone chargers
A wall mount charger for a Samsung flip phone can bring $9.88 on the online marketplace.
PHOTO: Dom Pates globalismpictures flickr
Product boxes
An empty box for a rose gold iPhone 6s sold for $7.99 in May 2017. An empty American Girl doll box can bring $15.
PHOTO: Asim Bijarani flickr
Old catalogs
A Fall 2006 L.L. Bean catalog sold for $6.99 in May 2017.
PHOTO: Mike Mozart, flickr
Paper shopping bags
A set of nine used Starbucks bags in assorted designs recently sold for $9.99.
PHOTO: P K uair01 flickr
Empty perfume bottles
A set of three empty Chanel No. 5 glass perfume bottles sold for $38.50 in March 2017.
PHOTO: Aichinger sooperkuh flickr
Pinecones
Large pinecones are hot-ticket items for crafting decorations during the holidays. Best sold as a lot, 6" tall pinecones can sell for $1 each.
PHOTO: buckle1535 flickr
Wine corks
Natural wine corks sold in bulk are a hit with crafters. A bag of 80 used wine corks (no synthetic or champagne corks!) fetches $8.99, or you can sell 200 for around $20.
PHOTO: Meghan E. Patterson flickr
Back issues of magazines
Eleven back issues of Country Living from 2015 sold for $12.99 recently.
PHOTO: Jessica Spengler flickr
Owner's manuals
Owner's manuals for 2016 typically sell for $6-$44.
PHOTO: Jaakko Hakulinen flickr
Installation CDs
Installation CDs for printers, software and operating systems typically sell for $3 to $16.
PHOTO: kansirnet flickr
Broken coffee makers and other appliances
A broken Gaggia espresso coffee maker recently sold on eBay for parts for $78.
PHOTO: Kevin Gessner flickr
Junk drawer contents
One junk drawer lot filled with pocket knives, belt buckles and pins with catchy slogans sold for $234.99 in April 2017.
PHOTO: Bryan Ledgard flickr
VHS tapes
A collection of 20 Disney Black Diamond VHS movies sold for $99.99 in April 2017, while a single, sealed VHS copy of 1993's "Aladdin" went for $29.88.
PHOTO: tenpoundhammer flickr
Cassette tapes
A collection of 1980s rock, pop and new wave cassettes (60 total) sold for $70 in February 2017.
PHOTO: Brian Pennington byebyeempire flickr
Partial gift cards
Have you returned an item for store credit but prefer cash instead? Partial gift cards sell for roughly 60-80 percent of their value on eBay. For example, a $113 Talbots card recently sold for $87.
PHOTO: bfishadow flickr
Empty wine bottles
Another hot seller with the crafting crowd, used wine bottles can fetch between $6 and $9 when sold in a case of 12.
PHOTO: tanakawho flickr
Empty makeup containers
A collection of 10 empty or partially full MAC Cosmetics containers sells for roughly $29.99 on eBay. Buyers like these because MAC gives its customers a free lipstick (a $17 value) for every six containers they return through its .
PHOTO: haleynealphotography flickr
Old software
A disc and product key for Microsoft Outlook 2007 recently sold for $12.99, while an older version of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom brought $36.95.
PHOTO: jakecaptive flickr
Trophies
Crafters repurpose trophies into everything from to , so it's no surprise that a large one can get $40 on eBay.
PHOTO: befuddledsenses flickr
Empty cases for games
A pair of empty cases for PlayStation 3 Pac-Man games recently sold for $13.69.
PHOTO: Michel Ngilen flickr
Empty printer ink cartridges
Three empty Cannon Pixma ink cartridges sold for $9.99 in May 2017.
PHOTO: armydre2008 flickr
Incomplete board games
Just because it's missing pieces doesn't mean you should get rid of a game—someone else may be looking for replacement pieces. A special "The Office" edition of Clue sold for $19.99 recently, despite the fact that it was short five pieces, and an Axis & Allies game missing one piece sold for $54.99.
PHOTO: flem007_uk flickr
Damaged sweaters
Even torn, holey sweaters can fetch a pretty penny on eBay—especially if they're made of quality material. A pair of damaged, 100 percent cashmere sweaters recently sold under the crafts/fabrics category for $12.99.
PHOTO: m01229 flickr file photo
Baby food jars
Listed under craft supplies, a box of 36 empty 4-ounce baby food jars sold for $34.99 in May 2017.
PHOTO: jennycu flickr
Used golf balls
A box of 100 "reclaimed" Titleist balls went for $15.45 recently.
PHOTO: tncowart flickr
Broken crayons
Melted crayons have so many crafting applications; a 4-pound bag of assorted colors can go for $18.99 on eBay.
PHOTO: Chris Dlugosz, flickr
Egg cartons
Crafters and people who raise backyard hens for eggs need empty egg cartons. A stack of 12 cardboard cartons can sell for up to $15.99.
PHOTO: frankieleon, flickr
Toilet paper rolls
Teachers often use leftover cardboard rolls from toilet paper and paper towels for children's arts and crafts. A box of 100 empty rolls can bring $15 on eBay.
PHOTO: Derek Gavey, flickr
Plastic bottle caps
Listed under the craft supplies category, a lot (or collection) of 50 used soda bottle caps recently sold for $9.98.
PHOTO: sparepartstudio, flickr
Box Tops for Education
When schools offer incentives for the most "Box Tops for Education" collected, parents turn to eBay to get them in bulk. A bag of 1,000 (non-expired) BTFEs recently sold for $115.
PHOTO: Mike Mozart, flickr
Beer bottle caps
Bottle caps are considered art supplies by some. When sold in bulk, 100 non-dented beer caps can fetch $8.99 or more.
PHOTO: Jason Meredith/merfam, flickr
Coupons
High-value coupons for stores like Lowe's, Kohl's and Pottery Barn regularly fetch between $0.99 and $10. For example, a $10 Kohl's Cash voucher recently sold for $8.
PHOTO: WLWT
Empty candle jars
A set of four used Bath & Body Works candle jars, described as "great for all kinds of crafts," sold for $8 in May 2017.
PHOTO: Nico Paix/aerosolhalos, flickr
Old cables and cell phone chargers
A wall mount charger for a Samsung flip phone can bring $9.88 on the online marketplace.
PHOTO: Dom Pates globalismpictures flickr
Product boxes
An empty box for a rose gold iPhone 6s sold for $7.99 in May 2017. An empty American Girl doll box can bring $15.
PHOTO: Asim Bijarani flickr
Old catalogs
A Fall 2006 L.L. Bean catalog sold for $6.99 in May 2017.
PHOTO: Mike Mozart, flickr
Paper shopping bags
A set of nine used Starbucks bags in assorted designs recently sold for $9.99.
PHOTO: P K uair01 flickr
Empty perfume bottles
A set of three empty Chanel No. 5 glass perfume bottles sold for $38.50 in March 2017.
PHOTO: Aichinger sooperkuh flickr
Pinecones
Large pinecones are hot-ticket items for crafting decorations during the holidays. Best sold as a lot, 6" tall pinecones can sell for $1 each.
PHOTO: buckle1535 flickr
Wine corks
Natural wine corks sold in bulk are a hit with crafters. A bag of 80 used wine corks (no synthetic or champagne corks!) fetches $8.99, or you can sell 200 for around $20.
PHOTO: Meghan E. Patterson flickr
Back issues of magazines
Eleven back issues of Country Living from 2015 sold for $12.99 recently.
PHOTO: Jessica Spengler flickr
Owner's manuals
Owner's manuals for 2016 typically sell for $6-$44.
PHOTO: Jaakko Hakulinen flickr
Installation CDs
Installation CDs for printers, software and operating systems typically sell for $3 to $16.
PHOTO: kansirnet flickr
Broken coffee makers and other appliances
A broken Gaggia espresso coffee maker recently sold on eBay for parts for $78.
PHOTO: Kevin Gessner flickr
Junk drawer contents
One junk drawer lot filled with pocket knives, belt buckles and pins with catchy slogans sold for $234.99 in April 2017.
PHOTO: Bryan Ledgard flickr
VHS tapes
A collection of 20 Disney Black Diamond VHS movies sold for $99.99 in April 2017, while a single, sealed VHS copy of 1993's "Aladdin" went for $29.88.
PHOTO: tenpoundhammer flickr
Cassette tapes
A collection of 1980s rock, pop and new wave cassettes (60 total) sold for $70 in February 2017.
PHOTO: Brian Pennington byebyeempire flickr
Partial gift cards
Have you returned an item for store credit but prefer cash instead? Partial gift cards sell for roughly 60-80 percent of their value on eBay. For example, a $113 Talbots card recently sold for $87.
PHOTO: bfishadow flickr
Empty wine bottles
Another hot seller with the crafting crowd, used wine bottles can fetch between $6 and $9 when sold in a case of 12.
PHOTO: tanakawho flickr
Empty makeup containers
A collection of 10 empty or partially full MAC Cosmetics containers sells for roughly $29.99 on eBay. Buyers like these because MAC gives its customers a free lipstick (a $17 value) for every six containers they return through its .
PHOTO: haleynealphotography flickr
Old software
A disc and product key for Microsoft Outlook 2007 recently sold for $12.99, while an older version of Adobe Photoshop Lightroom brought $36.95.
PHOTO: jakecaptive flickr
Trophies
Crafters repurpose trophies into everything from to , so it's no surprise that a large one can get $40 on eBay.
PHOTO: befuddledsenses flickr
Empty cases for games
A pair of empty cases for PlayStation 3 Pac-Man games recently sold for $13.69.
PHOTO: Michel Ngilen flickr
Empty printer ink cartridges
Three empty Cannon Pixma ink cartridges sold for $9.99 in May 2017.
PHOTO: armydre2008 flickr
Incomplete board games
Just because it's missing pieces doesn't mean you should get rid of a game—someone else may be looking for replacement pieces. A special "The Office" edition of Clue sold for $19.99 recently, despite the fact that it was short five pieces, and an Axis & Allies game missing one piece sold for $54.99.
PHOTO: flem007_uk flickr
Damaged sweaters
Even torn, holey sweaters can fetch a pretty penny on eBay—especially if they're made of quality material. A pair of damaged, 100 percent cashmere sweaters recently sold under the crafts/fabrics category for $12.99.
PHOTO: m01229 flickr file photo
Baby food jars
Listed under craft supplies, a box of 36 empty 4-ounce baby food jars sold for $34.99 in May 2017.
PHOTO: jennycu flickr
Used golf balls
A box of 100 "reclaimed" Titleist balls went for $15.45 recently.
PHOTO: tncowart flickr
Most of it's junk you would recycle anyway!
You don't need a thrift-store haul to start a side hustle on eBay. Chances are, there's plenty of inventory in your home that could easily fetch a fair price on the online marketplace. Besides the obvious (think: clothes, children's toys, personal electronics) there's money to be made from things you'd ordinarily recycle or throw out. Keep scrolling for ideas—we bet you'll be ransacking your house before the article's over.