Is ThredUp Worth It For Sellers? A 2024 Deep Dive

Is Selling on ThredUp Worth It? A Seller’s Guide

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If you’ve ever stared at a closet overflowing with clothes you no longer wear, you’ve probably considered selling them online. The idea of decluttering while making a little extra cash is appealing, but the process can be daunting. This brings many to ThredUp, one of the world’s largest online consignment stores. The big question on everyone’s mind, often debated in forums and social media threads asking "is selling on thredup worth it reddit," is whether the convenience is worth the final payout.

This comprehensive guide breaks down everything you need to know about selling with the platform. We’ll dive deep into the process, fees, payouts, and overall experience, drawing from numerous thredup selling reviews to give you a clear, balanced picture. By the end, you’ll be able to decide for yourself: is selling on thredup worth it?

Table of Contents

What is ThredUp and How Does It Work for Sellers?

Before we get into the nitty-gritty, let’s start with the basics. What is thredup? ThredUp is an online consignment and thrift store that positions itself as an easy solution to the fashion waste crisis. Unlike peer-to-peer marketplaces like Poshmark or eBay where you list and ship items yourself, ThredUp operates on a consignment model.

Here’s how does thredup work for sellers: You send your clothes to them, and they do all the work. Their team sorts, inspects, photographs, lists, and ships the items for you. It’s designed to be a hassle-free way to clean out your closet. This hands-off approach is the core of their service and a major factor in thredup reviews for sellers. When an item sells, you receive a portion of the sale price. Now, let’s explore how does selling on thredup work in more detail.

A Step-by-Step Guide: How to Sell Clothes on ThredUp

The process of selling on thredup is straightforward and designed for maximum convenience. If you’re wondering how to sell on thredup, it all begins with their signature Clean Out Kit.

Step 1: Order Your Clean Out Kit
The first step is to visit ThredUp’s website and order a thredup clean out kit. You have two options:

  • Shipping Label: You can get a free shipping label emailed to you instantly to use on your own box. This is the fastest way to send clothes to thredup.
  • Clean Out Bag: You can have ThredUp mail you one of their signature polka-dot bags.

Step 2: Fill Your Kit
Once you have your bag or box, it’s time to fill it with women’s and kids’ clothing, shoes, and accessories you no longer want. Be mindful of their quality standards (more on that below). Each bag or box has a 30 lb weight limit. This is the primary method to sell clothes to thredup.

Step 3: Send It Off for Free
Seal your clean out kit thredup and drop it off with the designated mail carrier (usually UPS or USPS). The shipping is prepaid, so there’s no upfront cost to you.

Step 4: ThredUp Processes Your Items
Once your kit arrives at a ThredUp distribution center, it enters the processing queue. This is where their team sorts through your items, deciding what to accept based on condition, brand, and style. They handle all the photography and list the accepted items on their site.

Step 5: Your Items Are Listed and Sold
Accepted items are priced using ThredUp’s algorithms and listed for sale. Listing windows vary from 30 to 90 days depending on the brand’s value. You can track the status of your items through your online seller dashboard.

Step 6: Get Paid
When an item sells and the 14-day return window passes, your earnings are added to your account. You can then cash out via PayPal or Stripe, or use the funds as shopping credit on ThredUp. This answers the fundamental question of "does thredup pay you for your clothes".

What Sells Best on ThredUp? Understanding Acceptance Criteria

A critical factor in whether selling with thredup is profitable is sending in items they will actually accept and list. ThredUp has strict quality standards. On average, they do not accept 40% of items from Standard bags and 15% from Premium bags.

Here’s what does thredup accept:

  • Condition: Items must be clean and in excellent condition. This means no stains, holes, pilling, fading, or odors. They must also be unaltered with no missing size labels or broken parts.
  • Categories: They accept women’s and kids’ clothing, shoes, handbags, and accessories. They do not accept men’s clothing, jewelry (except watches), formal gowns, pajamas, or homemade items.
  • Brands: The official answer to what brands does thredup accept is all of them. However, a small number of brands with very low resale value are ineligible for a payout unless they sell for over $20. You can sell clothes on thredup from Gap to Gucci, but higher-end and popular mall brands tend to perform best.

To improve your acceptance rate, focus on sending in-season, on-trend items from popular brands like Lululemon, Tory Burch, Madewell, J.Crew, and Reformation. This is a key part of the thredup selling guide.

The Money Question: ThredUp Pricing, Fees, and Payouts

This is where most people decide if the service is for them. How much do you make selling on thredup? The answer depends on several factors, including pricing, fees, and the commission structure.

How ThredUp Pricing Works

ThredUp uses dynamic pricing algorithms to set the list price for your items. Their system considers the brand, item category, quality, and past sales data to determine an optimal price. Once your items are processed, you have a 12-hour window to adjust the listing prices yourself, with a maximum increase of 10%. This is the essence of how does thredup price items.

The ThredUp Commission Structure

Your payout is a percentage of the final selling price. The thredup commission rate is tiered—the more an item sells for, the higher the percentage you keep.

Here’s a breakdown of the thredup payout tiers:

  • $5.00 – $19.99: 3% – 15%
  • $20.00 – $49.99: 15% – 30%
  • $50.00 – $99.99: 30% – 60%
  • $100.00 – $199.99: 60% – 80%
  • $200.00+: 80%

This sliding scale directly addresses what percentage does thredup take. For lower-priced items, ThredUp takes a significant cut. This often leads to the common complaint and question: why is thredup payout so low? For items selling under $20, the earnings are minimal, which can be a major drawback for many sellers.

Understanding ThredUp Selling Fees

There are no upfront fees, but service fees are deducted from your earnings once items sell. It’s crucial to understand what are the fees for selling on thredup.

  • Service Fee: A fee is deducted from your total earnings per bag. For a Standard bag, this is currently $14.99 (often discounted). For a Premium bag, it’s $34.99. If your total earnings are less than the fee, you are not charged the difference.
  • Reclaim Fee: If you want an unsold item back at the end of its listing window, it costs $5.99 per item plus shipping.

The service fee is a major part of the thredup commission and is why sending a full bag of high-quality items is essential to make a profit.

ThredUp Pros and Cons: A Balanced Look

To give you the most accurate thredup reviews selling perspective, here is a breakdown of the key advantages and disadvantages.

Pros:

  • Unmatched Convenience: This is ThredUp’s biggest selling point. You simply bag up your clothes and send them off. No photos, no listings, no shipping individual items.
  • Declutter an Entire Closet: ThredUp accepts a wide range of brands, making it a one-stop solution for clearing out clothes from your entire wardrobe, not just luxury pieces.
  • No Upfront Costs: You don’t pay anything to send your items in. Fees are only deducted from your earnings.
  • Sustainable Choice: Selling your clothes gives them a second life, contributing to a more circular fashion economy and reducing waste.

Cons:

  • Low Payouts for Cheaper Items: The thredup commission structure heavily favors the platform for items that sell for under $50. Your earnings can be very low.
  • Lack of Control: You have very little control over pricing, the photos used, or the item descriptions.
  • High Rejection Rate: There’s no guarantee your items will be accepted. Unaccepted items in Standard bags are not returned and become ThredUp’s property.
  • Processing Times Can Be Long: Depending on backlog, it can take several weeks or longer for your bag to be processed and for items to be listed.

These thredup pros and cons highlight the central trade-off: you are paying for a service with a cut of your potential profits.

Tips for Selling on ThredUp to Maximize Your Earnings

If you decide the convenience is right for you, there are ways to improve your outcome. Following these thredup selling tips can help you with making money on thredup.

  1. Be Selective About What You Send: Don’t treat it like a donation bin. Only send items that are in excellent condition, in-season, and on-trend.
  2. Focus on High-Value Brands: Check the thredup selling guide for trending brands. The best brands to sell on thredup are those that retail for a higher price, like Tory Burch, Lululemon, Patagonia, and Reformation. Your earnings will be significantly higher.
  3. Fill Your Bag: The service fee is charged per bag, so maximize the number of high-quality items you send in each kit to lower the per-item cost.
  4. Review Your Listings: Take advantage of the 12-hour window after processing to review your items. You can adjust prices slightly if you feel they are too low.
  5. Understand the Payouts: Before sending, use ThredUp’s payout estimator to get a realistic idea of your potential earnings. This will help manage expectations and decide if a particular item is worth sending.

Following these tips for selling on thredup can help you learn how to make money on thredup more effectively.

The Verdict: Is It Worth Selling on ThredUp?

After weighing all the factors, is selling clothes on thredup worth it? The honest answer is: it depends entirely on your goals.

Selling on ThredUp is likely worth it for you if:

  • Your primary goal is to declutter your closet with minimal effort.
  • You have high-quality, in-demand items from mid-tier to high-end brands that you want to get rid of.
  • You view any money earned as a bonus rather than a primary source of income.
  • You value convenience far more than maximizing your profit on each item.

Selling on ThredUp is probably NOT worth it for you if:

  • You want to maximize your profit and are willing to put in the work of listing items yourself.
  • You are selling mostly fast-fashion or lower-value brands.
  • You want full control over the pricing and sale of your items.
  • You need the money from your sales quickly.

Ultimately, is thredup a good place to sell clothes? Yes, for the right person. It’s a service you pay for through commission. If you see it as a convenient service to responsibly offload clothes and make a little cash back, it can be a great experience. If you’re looking for a serious side hustle, platforms where you control the listings yourself might be a better fit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is ThredUp legit?
Yes, ThredUp is a legitimate and one of the largest online consignment companies in the world. They have been in business since 2009, process millions of items, and have a well-established system for buying and selling secondhand clothes. Many thred up reviews confirm that it is a real, functioning business. Based on its long history and scale of operations, it’s fair to say that is thredup legit 2025 is a question that can be answered with a confident yes.

Is ThredUp safe?
Yes, is thredup safe is a common question, and the platform is generally considered safe for both buyers and sellers. They handle all financial transactions and shipping logistics, so you don’t have to interact directly with buyers. They also have security measures in place to protect your data.

How long does ThredUp take to process?
The processing time for a Clean Out Kit can vary significantly based on current demand. According to their website, the entire process from shipping to receiving all your earnings can average around 9 weeks. Shipping to their facility takes 1-2 weeks, and processing itself can take 3-4 weeks before items are even listed.

What does ThredUp do with clothes that don’t sell?
If an item doesn’t sell within its listing window, you have a 7-day period to "reclaim" it for a $5.99 fee per item. For unlisted items or items that aren’t reclaimed, what does thredup do with clothes that don t sell is partner with ethical organizations to reuse or responsibly recycle them. Some items may also be sold in their "Rescue Boxes."

is thredup better than poshmark?
The question of is thredup better than poshmark depends on what you value. ThredUp is a consignment service where they do all the work for you in exchange for a higher commission. Poshmark is a peer-to-peer marketplace where you do all the work (photos, listing, shipping) but keep a larger portion of the profit (80% for sales over $15). If you want convenience, ThredUp is better. If you want higher earnings and control, Poshmark is better.

How does ThredUp payout work?
Once your item sells and the 14-day return window has passed, the earnings are credited to your ThredUp account. From there, you can cash out via PayPal or Stripe (transfer fees apply) or use the earnings as shopping credit on the site. Understanding how does thredup payout work is key to managing your expectations for receiving your money.