Beginner’s Guide to Selling on Mercari

Last updated on September 25th, 2025 at 10:57 am

At some point, most of us look around our homes and realize just how much extra stuff we’ve collected. Closets filled with clothes no one wears anymore. Toys that once felt essential but now sit in a corner. Kitchen gadgets that seemed brilliant but never made it past one or two uses. Instead of letting that clutter collect dust, you can turn it into cash.

One of the easiest ways to do this is by selling on Mercari. It’s an online marketplace where you can list just about anything, from kids’ clothes to home décor. The best part is that you don’t have to coordinate meetups with strangers in parking lots. Everything ships, which makes the whole process safer and more convenient.

And while many people start on Mercari just to clean out closets, it can also grow into a flexible side hustle if you find you enjoy it. Here’s a step-by-step guide to get you started, with the latest details on fees and shipping for 2025.

Getting Started Selling on Mercari

Signing up is simple. Download the app or go to their website, then create an account with your email or connect through Facebook. Once you’re in, take a few minutes to set up your seller profile.

Your profile is like your storefront. Give your shop a name, add a photo or logo, and write a short bio. These small touches help potential buyers feel more comfortable shopping with you because they can see there’s a real person behind the screen.

Use my link to get a $10 credit when you sign up and make your first purchase!

What to Sell on Mercari

If you’re just starting out, don’t overthink it. Look around your home for items you no longer need or use. A few good starting points are:

• Clothes your kids have outgrown
• Shoes in good condition
• Unopened or duplicate gifts
• Small home goods or décor pieces
• Toys and games

The key is to start with what you already have. This keeps your upfront costs at zero. Later, if you decide to make reselling more of a side hustle, you can branch out into sourcing items from thrift stores, yard sales, or clearance racks.

Creating Listings That Get Noticed

Your listing is the first impression buyers have of your item. A strong listing not only helps your item show up in search results, but it also builds buyer trust and makes a sale more likely.

Take Clear, Honest Photos

Photos matter more than anything else on Mercari. Use natural light when possible and a clutter-free background. Show your item from multiple angles so buyers can see exactly what they’re getting. Close-ups of tags, labels, or small details are helpful. If there’s any wear or damage, be upfront and include photos of it. Buyers are far more likely to leave you a positive review when they know exactly what to expect.

Write a Search-Friendly Title

Your title should be short but packed with the details shoppers are searching for. Include the brand, item type, size, and color if possible. For example:

• Weak title: Cute shoes
• Strong title: Nike toddler sneakers, size 7, black and white

You have 80 characters to work with, and it’s worth using them.

Create a Detailed Description

The description is your chance to go beyond the basics. Share the brand, style, material, and condition. Mention unique qualities and what the item is best used for. If it’s clothing, include measurements. If it’s used, be clear about wear and tear. Transparency builds trust, and trust leads to sales and better ratings.

Use Hashtags and Categories

Mercari lets you add hashtags to your listing. While optional, they help items show up in more searches. For example, if you’re selling beach toys, you might add #summerfun, #beachday, or #vacation.

You’ll also choose a category and fill in optional fields like color and brand. It might feel like extra work, but these small details give your item more opportunities to show up in buyer searches.

Here is what the form looks like when you create a new listing on Mercari:

How Shipping Works on Mercari

One thing that sets Mercari apart from local selling apps is that everything ships. That might sound intimidating at first, but Mercari makes it straightforward.

You’ll decide whether you pay for shipping (which means offering free shipping to the buyer) or the buyer pays.

If you pay for shipping, buyers are often more likely to purchase since they aren’t hit with extra costs at checkout. But keep in mind, shipping costs can eat into your profit, so it’s important to weigh your items first and understand the cost.

If the buyer pays for shipping, Mercari will provide a prepaid label and the cost is automatically added to their order. This option makes it easier for you as the seller, since you’re not paying anything out of pocket. Packages shipped with Mercari’s labels are also automatically insured up to $200 and tracked through the app.

As of March 10, 2025, Mercari is adding an extra fee if your package exceeds the weight or dimensions you entered. If your box is heavier or larger than what the buyer paid for, you’ll be charged an 8 percent penalty on the order. So it pays to measure and weigh items carefully before listing.

I personally only have my buyers pay for shipping just for the ease of it, but if you prefer are willing to do the research free shipping can help improve your profits.

Pricing Your Items

Pricing is part research and part strategy. Start by looking at what similar items are selling for on Mercari. From there, set your price a little higher than your lowest acceptable number. This leaves room for offers and promotions.

As of January 2025, Mercari charges a 10 percent selling fee based on the combined total of your item price and the buyer’s shipping cost. So if you list a sweater for $20 and the buyer pays $5 shipping, the 10 percent fee is calculated on $25. There’s no longer a separate processing fee.

Mercari also has a feature called Smart Pricing, where you set a floor price and Mercari gradually lowers the price if the item doesn’t sell. This can help your items move more quickly, but you can turn it off if you prefer.

I typically price mine a few dollars more than I would like to receive for my listing to give room for sending offers and possible sales.

When an Item Sells

As soon as a buyer purchases your item, Mercari sends you an email with a prepaid shipping label. Print it, pack your item securely, and drop it off at USPS, FedEx, or UPS, depending on which carrier you selected.

You’re expected to ship within three business days. If life happens and you can’t meet that window, message the buyer through the app. Clear communication goes a long way in keeping your ratings strong.

When I package items, I like to keep it simple but thoughtful. A cute poly mailer or sturdy box works well, and sometimes I add tissue paper or a short thank-you note. It’s not required, but those extra touches can turn a good review into a glowing one.

Supplies to Start a Reselling Business on Mercari

You don’t need to spend a ton of money purchasing supplies to sell on Mercari. I recommend having a supply of the following:

• Scale—this is a must especially if you are going to offer free shipping to your buyers and pay postage yourself. If you aren’t paying for shipping, it is still helpful to know how much your item ways to try to adjust the shipping cost to be as low as possible for your buyers. I use this small food scale, but a bathroom scale can be helpful for larger items. 

• Printer—or even access to a printer is fine. You will need to print the shipping labels to send your packages.

• Half sheet labels—these have been a game changer for shipping! So easy. You just print, peel off the label, and stick it on. You can also use regular paper and tape the label on with packing tape

• Mailing envelopes—I like to use cute poly mailers to add a bit of fun to my packaging, but you can also find even cheaper ones online. These work great for clothing and small items.

• Plain boxes—you can purchase these, but I prefer to keep a small stash of boxes from my own online purchases to reuse (Amazon’s are my favorite).

• Storage—If you are just selling a few things out of your home it’s a good idea to have a space dedicated to your listed items. This will make the shipping process a lot faster because you will not have to go searching for the items. If you are starting a small business, you will want to find a way to store your inventory. A closet, storage bins, or shelves all can help keep it organized.

How You Get Paid

After your buyer receives the item, they have three days to confirm everything looks good and leave a rating. If they don’t, Mercari automatically marks the transaction complete. Once that happens, your earnings are released.

You can either use the money to shop within Mercari or transfer it to your bank account. Direct deposits are free if successful. If you need your funds immediately, you can use Instant Pay for a $3 flat fee.

Extra Features to Help You Sell

Mercari Rating System

Mercari has a 5-star rating system for both buyers and sellers. Visitors can leave anywhere from a 1 star to 5 stars along with a comment about their experience with you. They are also quick ratings such as “fast-shipper”, “friendly”, and “good communicator” that can be used. If the costumer does not leave a rating within the 3 day period after delivery, Mercari automatically will give you 5-stars.

Badges

Badges are shown on your profile page underneath your picture. The available badges are

• Member since XXXX (how long you have been on Mercari as either a buyer or seller)
• Quick Shipper (you usually ship items within 24 hours, excluding holidays and weekends)
• Fast Responder (You answer questions within an average of 12 hours)
• Reliable (You deliver items as promised and do not have cancelations)

All of these give your potential buyers insight into how you are as a seller.

Promote Button

Do you have an item that has been listed for a while but has not sold? Put it on sale! The promote button allows you to either publicly drop the price or send a private offer. A public sale will lower the price, put a banner on it indicating a price drop, and place it at the top of keyword searches. A private offer will notify all the people who liked your item of the same. It only allows you to drop the price lower than your lowest previously listed price, so keep that in mind when choosing the sale.

Final Thoughts on Reselling on Mercari

Mercari is a great place to start if you want to clear clutter, make some extra money, or even test out reselling as a side hustle. It doesn’t require a big upfront investment, and you can run everything right from your phone.

Now that you have set up your account and listed a few items its time to wait for those offers to come in! Reselling can require some patience for the right buyer to come around, so don’t get discouraged. And remember, the more items you list, the more chances you have to make sales!

Not sure Mercari is the right fit for you? Or want to scale your business even further? Check out my Ultimate Guide to Selling on Poshmark or my Complete Guide to Reselling to help to get your reselling business up and running.