Is Depop worth it? Pros, cons and who it suits

By FastBuySale Newsroom · 9 Nov 2026 · 40m ago

The short answer

Depop is worth it for some sellers and not for others. It is one of the UK's biggest apps for second-hand fashion, with a young, style-conscious audience that actively searches for vintage, streetwear, designer and trend-led items. For people clearing out their wardrobes or building a small resale business, it can turn unwanted clothes into real money. But it takes time, competition is strong and not every item sells. This honest guide weighs the pros and cons and explains who it suits best. It does not promise any level of sales, which depend on your items, pricing and effort.

Pro: a fashion-focused audience

Depop's users mainly come to buy clothing, shoes and accessories, so your listings reach people already looking for fashion. Vintage pieces, streetwear, sportswear, Y2K styles and branded items often perform well. Buyers can follow sellers, like items and return to shops they enjoy, which helps sellers with a clear style build a following.

Pro: lower selling costs in the UK

In 2024 Depop removed its standard selling fee for UK sellers, introducing a buyer-paid protection fee instead. Payment processing fees still apply to sales, and boosting a listing adds a fee when a boosted item sells. Compared with marketplaces that take a larger share of each sale, this can leave sellers with more of the price. Check the current fee page, because fee structures can change.

Pro: easy to start

Setting up a shop takes minutes. You take photos on your phone, write a short description, set a price and choose shipping options. Payments are handled in the app, and there are integrated shipping options. No website, stock system or business registration is needed to start selling your own clothes.

Pro: social and visual

The app's feed, likes and follows make it feel more like social media than a classified listing. Good photos and a consistent style can help your shop stand out. Sellers who post regularly and refresh their listings often see more engagement.

Con: competition

Many sellers list similar items, especially popular brands. Prices for common pieces can be low because supply is high. Standing out requires good photos, accurate descriptions, fair prices and quick replies.

Con: time spent

Photographing, measuring, writing descriptions, answering questions, negotiating offers, packing and posting all take time. For low-value items, the time may not be worth the money. Many sellers batch tasks, such as photographing ten items at once, to save time.

Con: low offers and haggling

Buyers often make offers below the asking price. Some offers are reasonable, others very low. It helps to decide your minimum price in advance and counter politely. Listing a little above your target price leaves room for negotiation.

Con: postage and packaging

Postage costs, packaging and trips to drop-off points add up. Depop's shipping options and drop-off services make this easier, but you still need to pack items carefully and post them on time. Heavy items such as boots and coats cost more to ship.

Con: disputes and returns

If a buyer says an item is not as described or did not arrive, a dispute may follow. Accurate photos and descriptions and tracked postage protect you. Returns for change of mind are up to your policy unless you are a business seller with legal obligations.

Worked example: is an item worth listing?

Leo has a branded hoodie he expects to sell for 30 pounds. Payment processing at around 3.3 percent plus 45p on 30 pounds costs him about 1.44 pounds. He spends 20 minutes photographing, listing, replying and packing, and 15 minutes posting it. His return is about 28.56 pounds for 35 minutes, roughly 49 pounds an hour. For a plain T-shirt that sells for 5 pounds, the fee is about 62p and the time is similar, so he earns about 4.38 pounds for 35 minutes, around 7.50 pounds an hour. He decides to bundle cheap items into lots. The percentage calculator on this site helps with these sums.

Who Depop suits

Depop suits people clearing out good-quality fashion items, vintage and streetwear resellers, students and young people with trend-focused wardrobes, and small fashion brands or makers who want a young audience. It works best for sellers who enjoy styling and photographing clothes and can reply to messages quickly.

Who it may not suit

It is less suited to sellers of household goods, electronics or furniture, people with mainly low-value high-street items, and those who want to sell quickly with little effort. General marketplaces or local selling apps may be better for bulky or non-fashion items.

Comparing with other apps

Other resale apps and marketplaces have different audiences and fee structures. Some focus on low-cost everyday clothing, others on designer goods, and general marketplaces reach a broader audience. Many sellers cross-list on several apps, but they must remove listings quickly once an item sells to avoid overselling.

Tax and trading

Selling your own unwanted clothes is usually not taxable. Buying items to resell, such as vintage pieces from charity shops, is trading. If your trading income is above the 1,000 pound trading allowance in a tax year, register for Self Assessment. Platforms report sellers who pass reporting thresholds to HMRC.

Tips if you decide to try it

Take bright, clear photos, include measurements, be honest about flaws, price based on sold listings, reply quickly, post on time and refresh listings regularly. Track your sales, fees and time so you know whether the effort pays.

What sells well

Items that tend to perform well on Depop include vintage denim and jackets, retro sportswear, branded trainers in good condition, statement accessories, festival wear and pieces from popular streetwear and designer labels. Seasonal items sell best just before their season, such as coats in autumn and swimwear in late spring. Plain basics from high-street brands are harder to sell individually, because many sellers list similar pieces at low prices.

How long items take to sell

Some listings sell within hours, especially well-priced popular items. Others take weeks or months. Refreshing listings, adjusting prices and sending offers to people who liked an item can help. If an item has had many views but no likes after a month, the price, photos or description may need changing. If it still does not sell, consider bundling, another platform, donating or recycling.

Building a shop rather than a one-off clear-out

Sellers who treat Depop as a small business usually curate a clear style, list regularly, use consistent photo backgrounds and offer bundle discounts. Repeat buyers and followers become a source of steady sales. This approach takes more time but can turn occasional sales into a reliable side income, though it also means you are trading and need to keep records.

Worked example: a month of reselling

Priya buys 25 vintage items from charity shops and car boot sales for 150 pounds. Over a month she sells 18 of them for a total of 540 pounds. Payment processing fees come to about 26 pounds and packaging to 20 pounds; buyers pay postage. Her profit on the items sold is about 344 pounds, after counting the full 150 pounds spent on stock, and she still has 7 items left to sell. She spent about 20 hours sourcing, listing and posting, so she earned around 17 pounds an hour.

Staying safe

Keep every conversation and payment in the app, never share verification codes and be wary of buyers who ask to ship to a different address.

The verdict

For the right items and sellers, Depop is well worth trying, especially with lower UK selling costs. Start with a handful of your best fashion pieces, track your profit and time for a month, and decide from your own results whether to keep going.

Reader questions

Have a question about reselling online? Send it through the Ask page on this site.

Disclaimer

This article is for general information only and is not financial or tax advice. Fees and policies change; check the official help centre for current details.

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