2026 Edition | Ranking of Used Clothes That Sell Well on Flea Markets | What Products Are Actually Selling?

Many people want to sell used clothes on Mercari or at flea markets but think, "I don't know what sells" or "I'm worried if I can make a profit by sourcing items."
When selling used clothes, sales can vary greatly depending on brand selection, market prices, trends, photos, and titles.
This article explains 15 popular items and brands that sell well in flea market used clothes, how to identify best-sellers, and tips for sourcing and listing.
By the time you finish reading, you'll understand how to identify used clothes that sell and consistently generate profits.

Why Brand Selection is Crucial for Identifying Best-Selling Used Clothes at Flea Markets

If you want to sell used clothes on flea markets or Mercari, the most important thing is "what to sell."

Even for used clothes, ease of sale, profit margin, and turnover rate vary greatly by brand.

Beginners are more likely to have unsold inventory if they choose the wrong brands.

Here, we will clearly organize the common characteristics of used clothes that sell well.

Popular Used Clothes Are Easily Searched by Brand Recognition

There are three reasons why they sell well:

・Easily searched directly by brand name

・Buyers feel confident in purchasing

・Many sold items lead to stable market prices

On Mercari, many people search by brand name.
Popular brands, in particular, have a high search volume, making them easier to discover.

Examples of easily searchable brands

Examples of what sells well

・Clearly visible brand logo

・Popular series

・Standard items

Examples of what doesn't sell well

・No brand

・Unknown brand

・Out of trend

The Difference Between Retail Price and Used Market Price Leads to Profit

The basic principle for making a profit is "buy low, sell high."
The difference between the retail price and the used market price serves as a benchmark for this.

Characteristics that lead to good profits

・High new product price

・High popularity in the used market

・Stable market price

Comparison of brands with high profit potential

For example, if you source an item for 3,000 yen and sell it for 7,000 yen, you're likely to make a profit.
Conversely, even if sourcing is cheap, if the selling price is low, profit won't grow.

Best-Selling Items on Mercari Have a High Turnover Rate

In used clothing reselling, not only profit margin but also turnover rate is important.
Turnover rate refers to how quickly an item sells after being sourced.

Characteristics of high-turnover items

・Standard brands

・Seasonal

・Popular sizes

Turnover rate comparison chart

Examples of high-turnover items

・Hoodies

・Sweatshirts

・Denim

・T-shirts

Examples of low-turnover items

・Unusual sizes

・Eccentric designs

・Off-season items

For beginners, it's important to prioritize turnover rate over high profit initially.
By gaining experience in selling, sourcing accuracy will improve, and profits will become more stable.

How to Choose Items That Sell at Flea Markets Without Failing, Even as a Beginner in Used Clothing Resale

Beginners in used clothing resale often struggle with "what to source that will sell."
At flea markets and Mercari, the ease of sale varies greatly with trends, seasonality, size, and condition.
Whether you can choose items that sell or not significantly impacts your profits and turnover rate.
Here, we will clearly explain how even beginners can choose used clothing for flea markets without making mistakes.

Anticipate Trends and Seasonality When Sourcing

If you want to choose used clothes that sell, just looking at "what's selling now" is too late.
For flea markets and Mercari, the basic rule is to source items 1 to 2 months before their selling season. The reason is that when demand increases, competition from other sellers also rises, and sourcing prices tend to go up.

For example, for sweatshirts and hoodies that sell in the fall, it's advantageous to start sourcing at the end of summer. For down jackets and knitwear popular in winter, securing them in early autumn makes it easier to turn a profit.

Basic rules for seasonal anticipation

By being aware of trends and seasonality, both selling speed and profit margins tend to increase.

Prioritize Items with High Size Demand

Even within the same brand, the ease of sale varies by size.
Used clothing, in particular, often consists of one-of-a-kind items, and size selection frequently becomes the deciding factor for purchase.

Generally, M and L sizes have a high turnover rate. They have broad demand among both men and women and tend to be purchased more easily. Oversized styles are also popular, so larger sizes remain strong.

Conversely, extremely small or excessively large sizes tend to have a limited buyer base.

Guide to popular sizes

・M size

・L size

・XL size (strong in street fashion)

Examples of sizes that don't sell well

・XS size

・XXL and above

・Kids' sizes

Size verification points

□ Did you check actual measurements, not just tag sizes?
□ Did you measure shoulder width, chest width, and garment length?
□ Did you confirm it falls within a popular size range?

Actual measurements refer to the dimensions measured manually. Since sizing can vary between brands, checking actual measurements is crucial.

Used Clothes in Good Condition Sell Faster

Since used clothes are not new, their condition affects how well they sell.
Even for the same item, good condition alone can increase the price and accelerate sales.

These four points are particularly checked:

Condition check points

・Stains

・Holes

・Pilling

・Fading

Buyers judge condition from photos and descriptions.
Items in poor condition can still sell, but often require price reductions.

Sales performance by condition comparison

Even a little maintenance can change the impression.

Washing or removing pilling can often make an item more marketable.

Be Mindful of Searchable Brand Names

In used clothing resale, "being found" is crucial.
Since brand search is fundamental on flea markets, sourcing popular brands makes them easier to sell.

These brands are particularly strong.

Beginner-friendly best-selling brands

・NIKE

・adidas

・UNIQLO

・Levi's

・Ralph Lauren

・Carhartt

・ZARA

・GAP

・STUSSY

・Patagonia

Brand names should always be included in the title.
For example, "NIKE Hoodie" is stronger for search than just "Hoodie."

Title example

Bad example
Hoodie Men's

Good example
Carhartt Hoodie L size Black

Creating searchable titles tends to increase both traffic and conversion rates.

Mercari Best-Selling Used Clothing Brands: Top 15 Selection

To consistently sell used clothes, it's crucial to first know "what brands sell."

On Mercari, search volume, market prices, and turnover rates vary significantly by brand.

Beginners can reduce sourcing mistakes by starting with best-selling brands.

Here, we introduce 15 brands that are actually easy to sell and likely to generate profit.

Top 15 Best-Selling Brands List

Brands beginners should target first

・NIKE

・adidas

・UNIQLO

・Levi's

・Carhartt

Brands to target for profit

・STUSSY

・Patagonia

・Ralph Lauren

・The North Face

Just knowing the brands significantly changes sourcing accuracy.

Starting with best-selling brands makes it easier to increase turnover and consistently generate profit.

How to Research Market Prices Before Sourcing Popular Used Clothing Items

To make a profit in used clothing resale, simply knowing which brands sell is not enough.

It's important to know "how much it will sell for" before sourcing.

Especially on Mercari, even for the same brand and item, market prices can vary significantly depending on condition and size.

Here, we will clearly explain how to check market prices using sold item searches and how to determine a sourcing price that ensures profit.

Check Market Prices with Mercari's Sold Item Search

If you want to make a profit from used clothing resale, checking market prices before sourcing is essential.
On Mercari, in particular, looking at "sold prices" reveals the realistic market value.
You should look at sold items, not active listings. Active listings represent unsold prices and are not reliable for reference.

Points to check in sold item search

・How much it sold for

・How many days it took to sell

・What size it was

・What condition it was in

Search process

① Search by brand name
② Filter by item name
③ Select "Sold"
④ Check prices
⑤ Compare conditions

For example, even for a NIKE sweatshirt, prices vary depending on condition and size.

Making sold item searches a habit will help you find items that sell easily.

Calculate Sourcing Price Backwards to Ensure Profit

In used clothing resale, "sourcing just because it's cheap" is risky.
The important thing is to determine the sourcing amount by calculating backward from the selling price.

The basic profit calculation is this:

Profit Calculation Formula

Selling Price − Fees − Shipping Costs − Sourcing Price = Profit

For example, for an item that sells for 5,000 yen:

This way, if you know the selling price, you can determine the maximum sourcing cost.

Beginner's guideline

・Profit margin of 30% or more

・Sourcing cost less than half of the selling price

・Turnover rate within 7-14 days

Set a Standard for Sourcing Below Market Price

Once you've checked the market price, the next step is to decide "how much you're willing to pay."
Without a standard, you tend to source impulsively, and profits can fluctuate.

For beginners, aiming for 60-70% or less of the market price is a safe bet.

For example, if the market price is 5,000 yen, the target sourcing price would be something like this:

Tips for buying cheap

・Aim for sales

・Aim for the end of a flea market

・Buy in bulk

Especially at flea markets, prices tend to drop towards the end.
This is because vendors want to minimize what they have to take home.

Success at flea markets depends on how you create your product page.

Even for the same used clothing, the likelihood of selling varies greatly depending on how the product page is created.

Especially on Mercari, photos, titles, descriptions, and pricing directly influence purchasing decisions.

Even if you source popular brands or best-selling items, they may not sell if poorly presented.

Here, we will clearly explain tips for creating product pages to sell used clothing quickly at flea markets.

Winning photos stand out with brightness and cleanliness.

Whether used clothing sells at a flea market is almost entirely determined by the initial photo.
Especially on Mercari, buyers decide whether to click on a listing by looking at the photo on the list screen.
No matter how popular the brand, if the photo is dark, wrinkled, or doesn't show the whole item, it will be harder to sell.

Key points for a winning photo:

・Shoot in a bright place

・Keep the background simple

・Include a full shot

・Show logos and tags

Photo comparison:

Increase search visibility by including brand name and features in the title.

The title is a crucial element for searchability.
Since buyers often search by brand name or product name, you need to create a title that is easy to find.

For example, "hoodie" alone is not strong enough.
Including the brand name and features will make it more searchable.

Title examples:

Bad example:
Hoodie Men's

Good example:
NIKE Sweat Hoodie L Black with Logo

Information to include:

・Brand name

・Product name

・Size

・Color

・Features

Title format:

Brand Name + Product Name + Size + Color + Features

This order is easy to understand and effective for search.

Accurately convey condition and size in the description.

The description serves to reduce buyer anxiety.
Since used clothing is not new, a detailed condition description is particularly important.

Being honest about the condition tends to reduce problems.

Content to include in the description:

・Brand name

・Size as tagged

・Actual measurements

・Condition

・Presence of damage

Actual measurements are the sizes measured directly.
Since sizing varies by brand, relying solely on tag sizes can be confusing.

Description example:

Brand: Levi's
Size: L
Actual measurements: Length 72cm, Width 58cm
Condition: No noticeable stains
Features: Popular straight denim

Detailed descriptions tend to increase the purchase rate.

Use pricing strategies and markdown tactics to increase conversion rates.

Pricing affects the speed of sales.
Too high, and items won't sell; too low, and profits shrink.

Generally, list slightly above market price to allow room for negotiation.

Pricing guidelines:

This margin is crucial in flea markets where price negotiations are common.

Markdown flow:

Initial listing
↓
No interest for 3 days
↓
5-10% price reduction
↓
Relist

Relisting is a method of deleting an item and listing it again.
This makes it more likely to appear as a new listing and increases visibility.

Creating a pricing strategy helps reduce unsold inventory.

Learn from common mistakes of used clothing resale beginners and how to improve.

Reselling used clothing is easy to start, but beginners often fail by doing things their own way.

Choosing brands that don't sell or listing without checking market prices can lead to low profits.

Sales performance also varies greatly depending on photo quality and relisting timing.

Here, we will clearly explain common mistakes beginners make and how to improve.

Only sourcing brands that don't sell.

A common mistake made by beginners in used clothing resale is to source "brands they like."
The brands you like are not necessarily the same as the brands that sell. On Mercari, the number of searches and demand influence sales.

Characteristics of brands that sell well:

・High recognition

・Stable market price

・Many sold listings

Examples of beginner-friendly brands:

・NIKE

・adidas

・Levi's

・Carhartt

Listing without checking market prices and losing profit.

Listing without checking market prices can lead to items not selling because they're too expensive, or reduced profits because they're too cheap.
Checking market prices is fundamental in used clothing resale.

Especially by searching sold items on Mercari, you can find out the actual selling prices.

Points to check:

・Sold price

・Item condition

・Size

・Days until sold

Pricing error examples:

Getting into the habit of checking market prices tends to stabilize profits.

Poor photo quality leads to no clicks.

In used clothing sales, the photo is the first battle.
Whether an item is clicked is decided the moment it's seen in the list view.

Dark photos or heavily wrinkled items tend to lower the purchase rate significantly.

Common mistakes:

・Shooting in a dark place

・Cluttered background

・Product not fully visible

Improvement points:

・Shoot in a bright place

・Use a white background

・Photograph the whole item and details

Photo comparison:

Even just improving photos can significantly change responses.

Not relisting and having items buried.

The reason used clothing doesn't sell isn't always the product itself; often, it's not being seen.
On Mercari, many people view by "new arrivals," so older listings tend to get buried.

Leaving them as is often means missing out on sales opportunities.

Relisting flow:

List
↓
No interest
↓
Review price
↓
Relist

Relisting makes it more likely to appear as a new arrival.

Relisting目安

・No interest for 3-7 days

・Views stop

・Only "likes" increase

Making relisting a habit tends to increase sales opportunities.

Strategy for increasing inventory turnover in used clothing resale for sustained profit.

To consistently profit from used clothing resale, it's crucial to sell items quickly and increase turnover.

On Mercari, consistently sourcing best-selling items helps stabilize sales.

Paying attention to trend changes and relisting timing can impact selling speed.

Here, we explain strategies for increasing turnover to ensure sustained profit.

Repeat sourcing only best-selling items.

The fastest way for beginners in used clothing resale to achieve stable profits is to "re-source items that have already sold."
Rather than constantly trying new brands, increasing inventory of items with a proven sales record has a higher success rate.

For example, the process is as follows:

Proven sales = demand data.
Increasing reproducible sourcing reduces unnecessary inventory.

Rotate inventory in line with changing trends.

Used clothing sales trends change with seasons and fashion.
Down jackets are hard to sell in spring/summer, and only T-shirts in autumn/winter won't move quickly.

Seasonal best-seller examples:

・Spring → Sweatshirts, light outerwear

・Summer → T-shirts, short-sleeved shirts

・Autumn → Hoodies, flannel shirts

・Winter → Down jackets, knitwear

Especially Patagonia and STUSSY experience significant seasonal demand fluctuations.
Sourcing 1-2 months in advance gives you an advantage.

Improve search ranking by timing relistings.

Used clothing listings get buried if you just post them.
On Mercari, new listings tend to appear higher, so relisting is effective.

Relisting guidelines:

・Not sold in 7 days

・Views stop increasing

・Only "likes" increase

・Before the season changes

Relisting brings your item back to the top of search results, increasing click-through rates.
Reviewing photos and titles at the same time can be even more effective.

Manage sales to improve profit margins.

Even if it looks like you're making a profit, without proper management, the actual profit isn't clear.

The four numbers to manage are:

Check items:

・Sourcing cost

・Selling price

・Fees

・Shipping costs

The basic profit calculation formula is simple:

Profit = Selling Price - Sourcing Cost - Fees - Shipping Cost

For example, if an item sells for 5,000 yen, but the sourcing cost is 2,000 yen, shipping is 750 yen, and fees are 500 yen, the profit is 1,750 yen.
Understanding these numbers can significantly change your sourcing decisions.

Summary of points for increasing turnover:

✅ Repeatedly source items that have sold
✅ Anticipate trends and seasons
✅ Relist items that aren't selling
✅ Manage profits with numbers

By following these steps, even beginners in used clothing resale can aim for a side income of 30,000-50,000 yen per month.

If you're unsure where to source, starting with pre-inspected assortments or warehouse sourcing can be efficient. You can make sourcing decisions while viewing best-selling brands in bulk, making it easier for beginners to get started.

👉 Click here for details on the Kuki Warehouse Store
OLDFLIP Kuki Warehouse Store

Click here to check the latest sourcing information and arrival updates:
OLDFLIP LINE Official Account

Summary

The key to selling used clothing at flea markets is to know which brands sell and to source and list after checking market prices.

Especially on Mercari, popular brands like Nike, adidas, and Levi's tend to be best-sellers.

What's important is not just intuition, but calculating profit based on sold market prices.

By optimizing your product page and relisting strategies, you can also increase your inventory turnover.

Even for beginners in used clothing resale, aiming for a side income of 30,000-50,000 yen per month is definitely achievable with correct sourcing and persistence.

Starting small and getting a feel for what sells is the shortest path to success.

If you're unsure where to source, starting with pre-inspected assortments or warehouse sourcing is recommended. You can choose while actually seeing best-selling brands, making it easier for used clothing resale beginners to avoid mistakes and grasp the sourcing感覚.

👉 Click here for details on the Kuki Warehouse Store
OLDFLIP Kuki Warehouse Store

Click here to check the latest arrival information and sourcing tips
OLDFLIP LINE Official Account