Your Guide to the Best Selling Items on eBay: Tips, Advice & More
This page was last updated 2 February, 2017
We’ve endeavoured to find you some of the hottest selling products from the world famous auction website once again. For any sellers out there looking for the best products to stock up on for the year ahead, this list should provide you with all the information you need to hit your targets.
This list is targeted at both personal sellers and online businesses alike, with sections tailored for both. That means whether you’re a full-time retailer or just someone who’s looking to get rid of stuff they don’t want anymore, you’ll be able to find something on our list you’ll find useful.
Most Popular Items on eBay in 2017 for Casual Sellers
1. Lego Sets
Who didn’t love Lego as a kid? We know we did – so it warms the heart to see the fantastic little blocks are still on the list of best selling items on eBay in 2016.
Things have come a long way since the early days of the Danish toy company, with the very basic blocks now for the most part traded in for a variety of complex sets. These will often focus around a specific theme – usually something that’s popular in the media.
Right now Marvel and Star Wars are two of the most popular categories available from the range, so it’s good to see things haven’t changed too much since we were kids. Dependant on the size of the set, prices will vary dramatically – which is also true when it comes to the old and new price range.
Average price when new: £57-£106
Average price when used: £8-£16
2. Dell Laptop
Dell have stepped out from the crowd as one of the leading names in laptop innovation across the past decade, so it’s little surprise this brand stands out as one of the most popular being sold on eBay right now.
The speed of Dell laptops is an overarching factor in helping them stand out from the crowd, with the latest Inspiron line consisting of a dual core processor boosting the rapidness of both data transfer and net browsing.
It’s perhaps unsurprising the Dell range is also one of the most expensive on the market, owing to the advanced nature of the product. It’s unlikely you’ll receive too much of a price cut between a new and used model as a result.
Average price when new: £458-£600
Average price when used: £412-£572
3. iPhone 5
In the modern day and age, we’ve become obsessed with technology. Needing to keep up-to-date with world events on a constant basis is now the norm, so it’s not a surprise this particular item stands out as one of the top names on the list.
What perhaps is a little shocking however, is that it’s the iPhone 5 and not the latest model (the iPhone 6) which finds a spot.
That said, with the latest model now on the market maybe there is some sense in this – with the most recent Apple product causing the price of its predecessor to be reduced significantly. The iPhone 5 is certainly not a cheap product though, and offers a wide range of features which are more advanced than a lot of smartphones.
Average price when new: £267-£431
Average price when used: £213-£328
4. Men’s Nike Shoes
Strutting around in Nike shoes is becoming an increasingly popular pastime for young men and that has seemingly helped find the magic tick a spot on our list.
There’s a huge range of shoes to choose from, with names like the famous Air Max and Flyknit standing out as just two of many options for people to select.
Trainers were once just as a means of being able to exercise without damaging a nice pair of shoes, but with the advancements in brand awareness and fashion they’re now an accessory which can be worn at all times. Nike has pretty much cornered the market in that regard and now offer some of the most aesthetically pleasing designs around. Their prices reflect that.
Average price when new: £38-£55
Average price when used: £15-£46
5. RC Cars
Another toy a lot of people will have fond memories of from their childhood comes in the form of classic remote controlled (RC) cars. These little gadgets are as popular today as they’ve ever been, registering a spot as one of the best selling items on eBay for 2016 as a result.
The simplicity of these toys is probably what has helped to see them remain relevant for so many years, with a basic steering and speed system making them easy for even a very young child to drive.
Whether someone’s looking for a Formula One, Lamborghini or Rally model (to name a very select few), these fantastic mini motors are one of the most popular collectible items on eBay right now.
Average price when new: £135-£228
Average price when used: £58-108
6. Hugo Boss Suit
Anyone striving for the latest advancement in men’s fashion need look no further than a brand like Hugo Boss.
This extravagant manufacturer is currently one of the best sellers on the eBay marketplace, with their suits the most sought-after men’s item of clothing.
While the top-end suits are slightly less in demand, you’ll be able to sell some of the more basic outfits in the range for a healthy profit owing to their popularity. An elite brand does sometimes bring with it elite prices however, so don’t mark them down too much.
That said, you won’t want to go crazy with your price range. Remember, your customers have come to you because they’re looking for a much-reduced price. Don’t sell for peanuts, but also bear that in mind when you come up with a figure. Understandably, you’ll also need to take the condition of the suit into account.
Average price when new: £113-£227
Average price when used: £34-£76
7. Michael Kors Women’s Handbag
Michael Kors is one of the leading names in fashion right now, with his handbags for women currently one of the most popular on the market. Any shrewd seller will do well to get some of them in now before the November rush.
There’s plenty of versatility from the manufacturer, with the Jet Set and Bedford Black ranges two of the most commonly purchased items.
At a time when wearing the latest and greatest names in the fashion world is becoming increasingly important, make sure you have a decent supply of one of the trendiest bags available.
Average price when new: £75-£200
Average price when used: £33-£75
8. PS4 Consoles
Gaming consoles have become one of the best means of stress relief available to people both young and old, and continue to stand out as one of the most popular free-time or leisure activities in the 21st century.
PlayStation and Xbox have entered into a head-to-head battle across the past decade-and-a-half as the two leading names in the industry. It would seem on the surface PlayStation might be winning that war, with their PS4 consoles coming out on top as the most popular electronic gaming item on eBay.
Make the most of that by stocking up on the item now. With Christmas just around the corner it won’t be long before there’s a further influx of orders on what is one of the current best selling items on eBay.
Average price when new: £300-£450
Average price when used: £268-£378
9. American Girl Today Dolls
Luxury dolls have suddenly become all the rage in the consumer market, with certain brands able to sell for prices in excess of thousands of pounds. While the American Girl Today range probably won’t reach those heights, it’s still a sure-fire money-maker.
AGT Dolls fall into a far more affordable bracket, which is probably what has seen them become one of the most popular items for sellers to flog. Collectibles are an increasingly prevalent item for customers and have a near-limitless appeal owing to the fact consumers are effectively ‘purchasing for the sake of purchasing’ as they build their haul.
Make the most of people’s desire to horde a collection of one thing, by stocking up on some of the most expensive plastic on the market.
Average price when new: £64-£189
Average price when used: £40-£98
10. Chanel Perfume
When it comes to style and fashion, there are very few names more elite than the CHANEL brand – especially when it comes to women’s fragrances. These perfumes appeal to most demographics and are the “one size fits all” option of the toilette world.
That almost does them a disservice however, with the brand standing out as one the elite names in fashion and beauty – making their vast range of perfumes a product which any consumer would be happy to possess.
Much like with Nike, CHANEL is a name which represents class and premium, yet is actually relatively affordable for the average person (especially as a Christmas gift or birthday present). Clever eBay sellers would be wise to stock up on these for 2017.
Average price when new: £55
Average priced when used: £52
11. ASOS Dresses
The ASOS brand has become an increasingly popular name in recent years, with the company who originally started out as a cheap alternative, and underdog, to more established brands now transforming into one of the most prevalent chains in both men and women’s clothing.
The mark-down, percentage-wise, is more extreme here than with any other product when it comes to price for new and used – which can be expected, given clothing does tend to lose its allure somewhat once it’s already been worn.
Women are prone to ditching a nice dress after just a few wears – which is something you can try to take advantage of. Get your hands on as many second-hand items as possible for a tenner, then sell them on for double that price. They’ll still be over 50% off the original RRP, but you’ll make a decent profit.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t still focus on getting some new dresses in and trying to peddle them as well. There’s a potentially huge revenue to be tapped into here for prudent sellers.
Average price when new: £50
Average priced when used: £9
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Most Popular Items on eBay in 2017 for Businesses
1. Lego
There’s a massive demand for Lego right now, with both young children and adult collectors looking to stock up on the famous creative toys. Whether it’s in the form of standard blocks or larger sets, there’s serious money to be had from these Danish manufacturers.
Contemporary sets are particularly popular, with the company releasing designs which correspond with whatever’s popular in the media at the time. Superhero sets continue to lead the way, and can generate decent sales figures.
When it comes to Lego – or any toys for that matter – you’ll generally find the older the product is, the more it’ll fetch you.
Average profit margin: £20-25 per unit
2. Books
While the rise in popularity of eBooks has seen a slight dip in the number of “hardware” copies being sold, books continue to stand out as one of the best selling items on eBay, regardless.
Online businesses would be wise to try and target one specific genre – sci-fi, fantasy, fiction etc. – if they really want to try and corner the market. Comic books have also become popular thanks to the recent Marvel and DC movie franchises, but are relatively hard to find online. Try to take advantage of this.
You can find second-hand books online for relative peanuts, with ones in good condition providing you with a healthy profit if you can sell on at the RRP.
Average profit margin: £5-6 per unit
3. Stationary
While they might not be the most exciting products in the world, everybody needs a decent supply of stationary to get them through life. Targeting your businesses towards providing people with this need is likely to see you in good stead.
Scissors, sharpeners, pens, pencils and other items are in constant demand, from every-day people to larger corporations requiring a relatively consistent need for these types of products.
There are a number of success stories out there, with people who started off with just a few items of stock eventually evolving into businesses which were forced to expand to a warehouse.
Average profit margin: £2-£10 per unit
4. Video Games
People can never get enough of video and computer games – which is why they’ll continue to stand out as one of the best-selling items on eBay in 2017, whether you’re selling for the PC, Xbox One or PlayStation 4.
It doesn’t just have to be contemporary games which you deal in however, with names from the 80s and 90s also finding a place on the market. Retro gaming is currently experiencing a boom, so don’t overlook the genre.
If you’re finding one type of game is selling better than another, also don’t be afraid to stock more names from the same category. For example, if you’re selling a lot of first person shooters, try to fill your storerooms with games of this variety.
Make sure to also pay attention to upcoming titles and plot your sales and levels of stock around it. You don’t want to be competing with elite name titles for the attention of your consumer base.
Average profit margin: £10-£15 per unit
5. Clothing
There’s probably more variance when it comes to clothing than any other item on the list – at least in regards to styles and prices – but that’s no reason to shirk away from selling them as an e-commerce company.
Targeting a specific demographic will see you do well here, with clothing aimed at one section of society serving to provide you with a concentrated stream of traffic. Targeting more niche markets might also be wise, with children’s clothing and plus-size items potentially seeing you stand out from the crowd.
You’ll also want to decide whether you brand yourself as a high-end fashion label, or want to focus your attentions more towards appealing to the masses. The key is knowing your brand identity as early as possible and sticking to it throughout.
Who knows, maybe there’s a gap in the market right now for someone to rise through the ranks and become a world renown seller of underwear? You’ll never know until you try.
Average profit margin: £10-£60 per unit
6. Electronics
It’s perhaps little shock electronic goods are growing immensely in popularity; with the technological age we currently live in bringing with it a revolution in the way most people operate on a daily basis.
Smart phones and tablets have rapidly become the norm for most people, while personalised MP3 players have been popular across the globe for the best part of a decade. There’s still a massive market for this type of product – and the beauty is businesses will be able to evolve and expand as new pieces of tech get released.
There’s a fantastic chance of making a healthy turnover with electrical appliances, owing to the increasingly expensive price of the items in the global marketplace.
Average profit margin: £50-£80 per unit
7. Bicycles
When it comes to bicycles, you’re probably best off trying to find your niche from the outset. Bringing a myriad of high-to-low end bikes into your stock might sound like a good idea, but it’ll see you lose any sense of driven direction.
Make your mind up early as to what category and demographic you want to target, and bring in products strictly according to that. If you’re overloaded with ambiguous stock, you’re likely to get lost in the mad scramble.
It’s harder to push the sale of products this size compared to a lot of the other names on the list, but the monetary rewards make it well worth it.
Average profit margin: £50-£60
eBay Selling Tips
Now you know what you’ll want to be offering customers, why not check out some of the amazing eBay selling tips we’ve provided to help your business grow further? If you take heed of the advice we’ve given here, you could find yourself with a very successful online business in a matter of no time.
1) Sell what you no longer want
Ideally you’d start by selling the clutter in your home no longer needed. The golden rule here is to not think of it as old junk no one else would bother buying. Remember the phrase ‘one man’s trash is another man’s treasure’.
Matt and Amanda Clarkson were far from experts on the site, but these eBay geniuses (who now make in excess of £750,000 a year) found they could make a healthy profit utilising this method; “We were making $400-a-week profit just selling things that we no longer wanted. We learned quickly not to assume what people would buy.”
2) Learn how to manage your customers
You’ll also need to learn the appropriate way of dealing with customers, whilst using trial and error for certain package and posting methods. In our Definitive Guide to Shipping & Fulfilment for UK eBay businesses eBook, we provide all the information you’d need to run a successful eBay business.
Don’t go straight off to buy bulk products. By getting the experience selling on eBay you’ll start to learn what does and doesn’t strike well with customers and how best to utilise the auction website.
It would also be beneficial for you to learn from an early stage in your eBay career what types of customers you’ll want to attract. Certain demographics may be more relevant to your brand.
3) Think about your selling strategy
Once you have a taster for eBay you’ll probably want to start selling more and more to make money. It’s amazing how quickly the cash can start rolling in, especially when selling higher priced items. Remember, you may sell many items priced at £1, but it means you’ll have to separately ship each of these out.
Craft a strategic plan of action which sees you making the most cost-efficient decisions for your business. If you sell a lot of lower-priced items, it might even be worth setting a minimum spend limit of £5-£10 for people when ordering from you.
4) Don’t be afraid to take the second-hand route
Selling your old clothes, or any other second-hand items, are another smart way to go about turning over a healthy profit in the early days of your eBay career.
Everyone may want to sell the latest technology, but unfortunately the big brands won’t distribute to those working from home. Even some larger stores find it difficult to get an allocation from the likes of Sony, Panasonic and Apple.
If you want to sell these products, it’ll have to be second-hand. Another avenue to explore for eBay beginners is vintage goods. You can pick up sought after equipment from charity shops and boot fairs, before making a serious profit online.
5) Buy in bulk (when appropriate)
Buying in bulk from overseas is a great way to reduce costs, no matter the product. For instance, one eBay user imports 50,000 cigarette lighters for 11p each and through bulk selling manages to make £125 each time. Flea markets, petrol stations and corner shops are those responsible for picking these up.
Once you have a solid idea of what your business is and what you’re aiming to sell, you can afford to make these mass purchases. As we hinted at earlier though, it wouldn’t be wise to do this in the fledgling stages of your enterprise, when your vision is a little less clear.
6) Pay close attention to trends
Trends are another thing to keep an eye out for, because by getting in early there’s the opportunity to win big time. According to The Telegraph, in the early parts of 2015, Disney’s Frozen merchandise was hot property.
Frozen toys are the most popular toys on eBay and in the UK there were 12,623 products selling daily. Dolls of Elsa and Ana were particularly popular around Christmas time and for young girls, Barbie was knocked off top spot for the first time in a decade. In 2014 there were even Elsa dresses selling for an incredible £500.
You can easily monitor what people are searching for by making the most of tools like Google Trends. This will allow you to find out exactly what’s being searched for on Google – which in turn will go a long way to helping you stay on top of what’s hot and what’s not.