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How to Sell on Mercari for Beginners: Complete Guide (2026)

Feb 19, 2026 • 15 min

How to Sell on Mercari for Beginners: Complete Guide (2026)

Mercari is one of the easiest places to start selling online in 2026, and for good reason. It was built for regular people—not retail empires. If eBay feels intimidating and Poshmark feels too niche, Mercari sits right in the middle: simple listing process, a massive buyer base, and almost no learning curve.

With over 50 million downloads in the U.S. alone and $1+ billion in annual gross merchandise value, Mercari has become a go-to marketplace for resellers, declutterers, and side hustlers. The platform handles virtually every product category—electronics, clothing, home goods, collectibles, sporting goods, toys—which means you can sell whatever you find without wondering if it “fits” the platform.

This isn’t a surface-level overview. This is the step-by-step playbook to go from zero sales to consistent income on Mercari. You’ll learn the fee structure down to the penny, exactly how to create listings that sell, shipping options that save you money, and the specific strategies that separate sellers who make $200/month from those who make $2,000+.

Whether you have a closet full of stuff you want to clear out or you’re ready to build a legitimate reselling side hustle, this guide covers everything you need in 2026. If you’re brand new to reselling entirely, start with our ultimate beginner’s guide to reselling, then come back here to master Mercari specifically.

What Is Mercari and Why Should You Sell There?

Mercari launched in Japan in 2013 and hit the U.S. market in 2014. It operates as a peer-to-peer marketplace where anyone can buy and sell new or used items across nearly every category. Think of it as a combination of eBay’s breadth and Facebook Marketplace’s simplicity—but with built-in shipping and buyer/seller protection.

Why Mercari works for beginners:

  • No listing fees. You pay nothing to create a listing. Zero. Whether you list 5 items or 500, it’s free.
  • Dead-simple UI. The app walks you through every step. You can create a complete listing in under 3 minutes.
  • Broad categories. Unlike Poshmark (fashion-heavy) or Reverb (music gear), Mercari welcomes everything from kitchen appliances to LEGO sets to vintage decor.
  • Built-in shipping. Mercari offers prepaid labels with major carriers, so you don’t need a Pirate Ship account or rate shopping skills right away.
  • Buyer protection. Mercari holds payment until the buyer confirms the item, which builds trust and attracts more buyers.

In 2026, Mercari has continued investing in seller tools, improved search algorithms, and expanded its Mercari Local option for no-ship sales. The platform also integrated enhanced analytics for sellers, giving you real data on listing views, favorites, and conversion rates.

Setting Up Your Mercari Account

Getting started takes about five minutes.

Step 1: Download the App Mercari is mobile-first. Download the app on iOS or Android. You can also use the desktop site (mercari.com), but the app experience is significantly better for listing and managing sales.

Step 2: Create Your Account Sign up with email, Google, Facebook, or Apple ID. You’ll verify your phone number via text. Mercari requires you to be at least 18 years old.

Step 3: Set Up Your Payment Method To receive payouts, link your bank account through Mercari’s direct deposit system. You can also cash out to a debit card for faster access (instant transfer has a small fee, typically $2). Keep in mind that your balance sits in your Mercari account until you request a payout—it doesn’t auto-transfer.

Step 4: Complete Your Profile Upload a clear profile photo (not a logo—buyers trust real people). Write a short bio: who you are, what you sell, your shipping speed. Example: “Part-time reseller specializing in home goods, electronics, and vintage finds. Same-day shipping on most orders. 5-star seller.”

💡 Pro Tip: Complete your profile fully before listing anything. Buyers check seller profiles before purchasing, especially on higher-priced items. A blank profile with no photo tanks your conversion rate.

Step 5: Verify Your Identity Mercari may prompt identity verification (government-issued ID) after your first sale or when you reach certain thresholds. Complete this proactively to avoid payout delays.

Understanding Mercari Fees in 2026

Knowing exactly what Mercari takes from every sale is non-negotiable. Surprises here destroy your margins.

Selling Fee: 10%

Mercari charges a flat 10% selling fee on every transaction, calculated on the item’s sale price (not including shipping if you use Mercari’s prepaid labels). This is straightforward and consistent across all categories—no tiered rates to memorize.

Payment Processing Fee: 2.9% + $0.50

On top of the 10% selling fee, Mercari charges a payment processing fee of 2.9% + $0.50 per transaction. This covers credit card processing and is standard across payment platforms.

Total Fee Breakdown Example

Here’s what the fees look like on a real sale:

Sale Price 10% Selling Fee Processing (2.9% + $0.50) Total Fees You Keep
$20 $2.00 $1.08 $3.08 $16.92
$50 $5.00 $1.95 $6.95 $43.05
$100 $10.00 $3.40 $13.40 $86.60
$200 $20.00 $6.30 $26.30 $173.70

On a $50 item, Mercari takes $6.95 total—roughly 13.9% of the sale price. That’s competitive with eBay’s 13.25% + $0.30 and significantly less than Poshmark’s flat 20% on items over $15.

Use our platform fee comparison tool to see exactly how Mercari fees stack up against other marketplaces for your specific price points. And before listing any item, run your numbers through the flip profit calculator to make sure the deal still works after fees.

Payout Fees

  • Direct deposit (standard): Free, takes 2-5 business days.
  • Instant pay (to debit card): $2 flat fee, arrives within minutes.
  • Mercari balance for purchases: Free—you can use your earnings to buy on Mercari.

💡 Pro Tip: Let your balance accumulate and do one weekly direct deposit instead of instant-cashing every sale. That $2 fee adds up fast—if you make 20 sales in a month, that’s $40 gone.

Creating Your First Listing on Mercari

Mercari’s listing flow is designed for speed. Here’s how to make your first listing compete with experienced sellers.

Step-by-Step Listing Process

1. Tap “Sell” and Add Photos You get up to 12 photos per listing. Use all of them—or at least 6-8. Mercari’s algorithm favors listings with more photos, and buyers are far more likely to purchase when they can see every angle.

  • Photo 1: Hero shot—clean, well-lit, shows the full item
  • Photo 2-3: Different angles (sides, back)
  • Photo 4-5: Close-ups of labels, tags, brand markings
  • Photo 6-7: Any flaws, wear, or imperfections (honesty prevents returns)
  • Photo 8+: Item in context, packaging, accessories

2. Write Your Title (Up to 80 Characters) Your title is how buyers find your listing. Front-load the brand name, include the item type, size/specs, and condition. Example:

“Cool jacket for sale”“Nike Windrunner Jacket Men’s Large Black Full Zip EUC”

Use our listing title optimizer to generate keyword-rich titles that match what Mercari buyers actually search for.

3. Write Your Description Be thorough. Include:

  • Exact brand, model, size, color
  • Condition with specifics (not just “good”—say “worn twice, no stains, small scratch on buckle”)
  • Measurements for clothing (pit-to-pit, length, waist)
  • What’s included (original box, charger, accessories)
  • Reason for selling (optional, but builds trust)

4. Set Category and Brand Mercari uses categories for search filtering. Pick the most specific category available. For brand, type it in—Mercari has a database of thousands of brands. Branded items get significantly more search visibility than unbranded ones.

5. Set Your Price We’ll cover pricing strategy in detail below, but the key principle: price 10-15% higher than your target to leave room for offers. Most Mercari transactions involve some negotiation.

6. Choose Your Shipping Method Select prepaid label or ship on your own. Detailed breakdown in the shipping section below.

7. Post Your Listing Hit “List” and your item goes live immediately. There’s no approval process or waiting period.

💡 Pro Tip: List items between 7-10 PM local time on weekday evenings and Sunday afternoons. These windows see the highest Mercari browsing activity. Use the best time to list calendar to optimize your posting schedule for maximum visibility.

Photography Tips for Mercari

Mercari is a visual platform. Your photos are the single biggest factor in whether someone clicks your listing or scrolls past it.

Lighting

Natural light is your best friend and it’s free. Photograph items near a large window during daytime. Avoid direct sunlight (causes harsh shadows) and overhead fluorescent lights (creates yellow tones). If you’re listing at night, a $25 ring light from Amazon solves the problem permanently.

Backgrounds

Use a clean, white, or neutral background. A $3 white posterboard from Dollar Tree works perfectly. Avoid photographing items on patterned bedspreads, cluttered floors, or dark surfaces. Mercari’s search results display small thumbnails—your item needs to pop.

Clothing Specifics

Lay flat on a clean surface or use a hanger on a plain wall. Steam or iron wrinkles out before photographing. Show the tag, size label, material content, and any wear. Mercari buyers are looking for pre-owned bargains, so honesty about condition converts better than trying to hide flaws.

For a deep dive on product photography techniques check out our full guide on how to photograph items for resale.

Electronics & Hard Goods

Show the item powered on if possible (proves it works). Include all sides, any serial numbers or model numbers, and everything included in the sale. For electronics, a photo of the item actually functioning (screen on, lights working) dramatically reduces buyer hesitation.

Pricing Strategies That Actually Work

Pricing on Mercari requires balancing three things: what the item is worth, what buyers will pay on Mercari specifically, and leaving room for the inevitable offer.

Research Sold Prices First

Before pricing anything, check what the same or similar items have actually sold for on Mercari. Use the app’s search function, filter by “Sold” items, and look at the last 10-20 sales. This tells you real market value—not what people wish they could get.

You can also check completed listings on eBay for broader market data using our eBay sold link generator. Cross-referencing prices across platforms gives you a more complete picture.

The 15% Rule

Price your items 15% above what you actually want to get. Mercari buyers love making offers—roughly 60% of sales involve negotiation. If you want $40 for a jacket, list it at $46-47. When someone offers $40, you accept. If it sells at full price, you’ve made extra.

Use the negotiation range calculator to set your listing price, minimum acceptable price, and target price before each listing.

Smart Pricing

Mercari’s Smart Pricing feature lets you set a floor price and a listing price. Mercari then automatically reduces the price incrementally over time—typically 5% drops—to keep your listing competitive and appearing in “Price Drop” notifications to interested buyers.

When to use Smart Pricing: Items you want to sell quickly and aren’t concerned about maximizing every dollar. Good for lower-value items ($10-30), seasonal items, or inventory you’ve held too long.

When to skip it: High-value items where you know the market price, rare or in-demand items, or anything you’re not in a rush to sell.

Price Psychology

  • Items priced at $X9 or $X5 ($29, $35, $45) perform better than round numbers
  • Free shipping listings get more views (build shipping cost into item price)
  • Bundle discounts (“10% off 2+ items”) increase average order value

💡 Pro Tip: Use the ROI calculator before setting any price. Plug in your cost, selling price, fees, and shipping to see your actual profit. Many beginners price items that look profitable but actually net $2-3 after all costs.

Shipping Options on Mercari: Explained

Shipping is where new Mercari sellers either save money or hemorrhage it. Understanding your options is critical.

Option 1: Mercari Prepaid Shipping Labels

When you create a listing, Mercari offers prepaid shipping labels at negotiated rates. The buyer pays the shipping cost (it’s added to their total), and you just print the label and drop off the package. This is the easiest option for beginners.

2026 Mercari Prepaid Shipping Rates:

Carrier Weight Limit Rate
USPS First Class Up to 4 oz $4.50
USPS First Class Up to 8 oz $5.99
USPS First Class Up to 1 lb $7.99
USPS Priority Mail Up to 5 lbs $11.49
USPS Priority Mail Up to 10 lbs $16.49
FedEx Home Delivery Up to 10 lbs $13.99
FedEx Home Delivery Up to 25 lbs $18.99
UPS Ground Up to 10 lbs $14.49
UPS Ground Up to 25 lbs $19.99

Advantages: No guesswork, no overcharges, tracking included, buyer sees exact cost upfront.

Disadvantages: Rates aren’t always the cheapest. For lightweight items you can often beat these prices shipping on your own.

Option 2: Ship on Your Own

You provide your own shipping label from USPS, UPS, FedEx, or a third-party service like Pirate Ship. You set the shipping price (or offer free shipping) and handle label creation yourself.

When this saves money:

  • Items under 1 lb that qualify for USPS First Class through Pirate Ship (~$3.50-$5.00 vs. Mercari’s $5.99-$7.99)
  • Heavier items where you can use Pirate Ship’s cubic pricing or UPS commercial rates
  • When you offer “free shipping” and bake the cost into the item price (control your margins)

For a full breakdown of carrier rates and money-saving tricks, read our complete shipping guide for resellers. And use the first class vs priority calculator to figure out which service class saves you the most on each shipment.

Option 3: Mercari Local (No Shipping)

Mercari Local lets you sell to buyers in your area with in-person meetups. No shipping, no labels, no packaging. The transaction still processes through Mercari, so you’re protected by their guarantee. We’ll cover this more in a dedicated section below.

Don’t forget to pick the right box size for your items. Our shipping box size calculator tells you the ideal packaging dimensions to avoid overpaying for dimensional weight.

💡 Pro Tip: Weigh everything before listing. A $5 kitchen scale from Walmart pays for itself on your first shipment. Guessing weights leads to either overcharging buyers (fewer sales) or eating shipping costs from your profit.

Promoting Your Listings and Getting Discovered

Listing an item isn’t enough. Mercari’s marketplace has millions of active listings. Here’s how to get yours seen.

Promote Button

Mercari lets you “Promote” listings for free. This bumps your item higher in search results for a limited time. Use this strategically—promote your highest-value items first, and promote during peak browsing hours (evenings and weekends).

Relist Stale Listings

If an item hasn’t sold in 2-3 weeks, delete and relist it. This gives it the “new listing” boost in Mercari’s algorithm. Update photos and the title while you’re at it—something about the original listing wasn’t converting.

Share to Social Media

Mercari lets you share listings directly to Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. This expands your reach beyond Mercari’s built-in audience. If you have even a small social media following, every share is free advertising.

Offer Bundles

Encourage buyers to purchase multiple items by offering bundle discounts. Go to your profile settings and enable “Bundle Discounts”—typically 10-15% off when a buyer combines 2+ items from your shop. This increases your average order value and saves on shipping per item.

Optimize for Search

Mercari’s search works on keyword matching. Include relevant keywords in your title and description—brand name, item type, color, size, model number, compatible devices (for accessories), and common search terms buyers might use.

If you sell on Depop as well, our Depop hashtag generator can help you brainstorm keyword ideas that work across platforms.

Handling Offers and Negotiations

Negotiation is a core part of the Mercari culture. Roughly 60% of sales involve at least one offer. Here’s how to handle it effectively.

Types of Offers

Buyer Offers: Buyers tap “Make Offer” and submit a price. You can accept, decline, or counter. You have 24 hours to respond before the offer expires.

Seller Offers (Offers to Likers): When someone “likes” your listing, you can send them a private offer—a discounted price that only they see. This is one of the most powerful conversion tools on Mercari. Typically, offering 10-15% off to likers converts 20-30% of them into buyers.

Negotiation Strategy

  1. Never accept the first offer if it’s below 80% of your listed price. Counter at a midpoint. If your item is listed at $50 and someone offers $35, counter at $43.
  2. Use the “Offers to Likers” feature daily. Check your likes dashboard and send offers to anyone who liked an item more than 24 hours ago.
  3. Don’t get emotional. A lowball offer isn’t personal. Simply counter or decline and move on.
  4. Bundle negotiation. When a buyer expresses interest in multiple items, offer a custom bundle price that incentivizes them to buy more.

Use the offer acceptance calculator to quickly decide whether an offer still makes you money after fees and shipping.

💡 Pro Tip: When countering, include a brief message: “Thanks for the offer! I can do $43 shipped—this jacket is in excellent condition and retails for $120.” Adding context to your counter increases acceptance rates by roughly 25%.

Understanding Mercari’s Rating System

After each transaction, both buyer and seller rate each other on a 1-5 star scale. This rating is permanent and public—it’s displayed on your profile and directly impacts buyer trust.

What Gets You 5 Stars

  • Ship within 1 day of sale (ideally same-day)
  • Pack items securely (no one wants a shattered mug)
  • Item matches the listing description accurately
  • Responsive, polite communication
  • Include a simple thank-you note (a $0.02 Post-it note with “Thanks for your purchase!” goes further than you think)

What Tanks Your Rating

  • Shipping delays (more than 3 days to ship)
  • Item not as described (biggest complaint on any platform)
  • Poor packaging (items arriving damaged)
  • No communication when buyer messages you
  • Canceling orders frequently

The Auto-Rating System

If a buyer doesn’t rate within 3 days of confirmed delivery, Mercari auto-rates the transaction at 5 stars. This means you automatically get positive feedback if the buyer is satisfied enough to not bother rating—which happens often.

Your rating directly affects your visibility in search results and buyer confidence. Maintain 4.8+ stars and you’ll consistently outperform competitors. For more on building a reputation that drives repeat business, read our guide on building your reseller reputation.

What Sells Best on Mercari in 2026

Mercari’s buyer demographics lean slightly younger (25-45) and bargain-conscious. Here are the top-performing categories:

Electronics

Smartphones, tablets, gaming consoles, controllers, headphones, smart home devices. Electronics move fast on Mercari. A used Nintendo Switch controller bought for $15 at a thrift store can sell for $35-45 within a week.

Brand-Name Clothing

Nike, Adidas, Lululemon, Carhartt, Patagonia, North Face. Buyer behavior on Mercari favors recognizable brands at 40-60% off retail. Check the brand resale value index to see which brands hold the most resale value.

Home Goods & Kitchen Items

KitchenAid mixers, Instant Pots, Le Creuset, vintage Pyrex. Home category items have great margins when sourced from thrift stores and estate sales.

Toys & Games

LEGO sets (complete and incomplete), board games, vintage toys, action figures. Parents are always looking for deals on kids’ items.

Sneakers

Nike Dunks, Jordan retros, New Balance 550s, Asics Gel-Lyte. The sneaker resale market is strong on Mercari, especially for pairs in the $60-$150 range that are priced below StockX and GOAT.

Books & Media

Textbooks, manga sets, special edition books, Blu-ray collections. These ship easily and have consistent demand.

For a complete breakdown of the most profitable items to sell in 2026, check out our guide on the best things to flip for profit and what to sell to make money as a beginner.

Mercari vs. eBay vs. Poshmark: Which Should You Use?

This is the most common question new resellers ask. Here’s the honest comparison:

Feature Mercari eBay Poshmark
Selling Fee 10% + processing 13.25% + $0.30 20% (over $15)
Listing Fee Free Free (250/month) Free
Best For General items, electronics, home goods Everything, especially collectibles/rare items Women’s fashion, shoes, accessories
Shipping Prepaid labels or self-ship Discounted labels via eBay USPS Priority prepaid ($7.97)
Buyer Base 50M+ U.S. users 130M+ global users 80M+ U.S. users
Offer System Direct offers + Offers to Likers Best Offer + auctions Offer/Counter system
Average Sale Time 3-14 days 7-21 days 7-30 days
Learning Curve Low Medium-High Low-Medium
Payments Direct deposit / instant Managed payments (2-3 days) Direct deposit (3 days)

The real answer: Don’t pick just one. Most successful resellers in 2026 cross-list on 2-3 platforms. Different items sell better on different platforms. A Lululemon jacket might sit for weeks on Mercari but sell in 3 days on Poshmark. A vintage video game that gets no traction on Poshmark will sell instantly on eBay.

Use the crosslisting platforms comparison tool to determine which platforms are best for each item in your inventory. And read our comprehensive guide on crosslisting for resellers to learn how to efficiently list on multiple platforms.

For platform-specific deep dives, see our complete eBay selling guide and Poshmark selling guide.

Mercari Local: Selling Without Shipping

Mercari Local lets you sell to buyers in your geographic area for in-person pickup or meetup. The transaction still processes through Mercari—the buyer pays through the app and you hand them the item in person.

Why use Mercari Local:

  • No shipping costs (100% of the sale price goes to you minus fees)
  • Ideal for large, heavy, or fragile items that are expensive to ship (furniture, large electronics, glass items)
  • Instant “delivery”—no waiting for tracking updates or buyer confirmation
  • No packaging needed

Safety tips for local meetups:

  • Meet in public places (police station parking lots, busy shopping centers)
  • Bring someone with you, especially for high-value transactions
  • Never invite strangers to your home
  • Complete the transaction through the Mercari app—don’t accept cash outside the platform (you lose buyer/seller protection)

💡 Pro Tip: For items over 20 lbs or items that are fragile, Mercari Local saves you $15-30+ in shipping costs and eliminates the risk of damage claims. Furniture, large kitchen appliances, and sporting equipment are Mercari Local goldmines.

Common Mistakes New Mercari Sellers Make

Mistake #1: Not Researching Prices Before Listing

Listing a jacket at $60 when identical ones routinely sell for $35 means your item sits unsold for months. Spend 2 minutes checking sold comps before every listing. Our eBay sold link generator makes this research instant.

Mistake #2: Using Bad Photos

Dark, blurry, or cluttered photos kill sales. Mercari thumbnails are small—your item needs to be clearly visible and appealing at a glance. Invest 5 minutes per item in decent photography.

Mistake #3: Ignoring Offers

Many sellers let offers expire because they’re annoyed by lowball numbers. Counter every offer. Even if it’s $20 on a $50 item, counter at $42. You’d be surprised how often buyers meet in the middle.

Mistake #4: Slow Shipping

Mercari gives you 3 business days to ship after a sale. Ship within 24 hours if possible. Fast shippers get better ratings, more repeat buyers, and Mercari’s algorithm favors them.

Mistake #5: Not Using Offers to Likers

This is free money sitting on the table. Every “like” is a buyer raising their hand. Send offers daily. Even a 5% discount can trigger a purchase from someone who was on the fence.

Mistake #6: Forgetting to Account for All Fees

The 10% selling fee plus 2.9% + $0.50 processing fee adds up. Use the fee calculator for every listing to see your real take-home.

Mistake #7: Building a “Death Pile”

Buying inventory faster than you can list and sell it. That pile of unsorted items in your garage represents trapped capital earning nothing. Read our guide on avoiding the death pile to fix this before it becomes a problem.

Growth Strategies: Scaling From $200/Month to $2,000+

Once you’ve made your first sales and understand the basics, here’s how to scale.

Increase Listing Volume

The math is simple. If your sell-through rate is 25% per month and your average profit per sale is $15, you need 133 sales to hit $2,000/month. At a 25% sell-through rate, that means maintaining roughly 530 active listings. Volume is the single biggest lever.

Source Strategically

Stop buying random stuff at thrift stores. Focus on the categories you’ve proven sell well for you. Track your data: what categories give you the best ROI, fastest turnaround, and fewest returns? Double down on those.

For sourcing strategies, our guide on how to source inventory for reselling covers every channel from thrift stores to liquidation pallets.

Cross-List Everything

Every item you list on only one platform is leaving money on the table. List simultaneously on Mercari, eBay, and Poshmark (or whichever platforms fit your inventory). Just remember to remove the listing from other platforms when it sells.

Optimize Pricing With Data

Track your sell-through times. If items sell within 48 hours consistently, you’re priced too low. If items sit for 30+ days, you’re priced too high. The sweet spot: 7-14 days average time to sale.

Use the margin vs markup calculator to ensure you’re hitting your target profit margins consistently, and the inventory turnover calculator to measure how efficiently your inventory is moving.

Build Repeat Customers

Mercari allows buyers to follow your shop. Encourage follows in your thank-you notes. Followers see your new listings first. Building even 200-300 followers creates a built-in audience for every new item you list.

Leverage Analytics

Mercari’s seller dashboard shows views, likes, and sales data. Use it. If a listing gets 200 views and 0 sales, the price is wrong or the photos aren’t converting. If it gets 5 views total, your keywords need work.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to sell on Mercari?

Mercari charges a 10% selling fee plus a payment processing fee of 2.9% + $0.50 per sale. There are no listing fees, monthly fees, or subscription costs. On a $50 sale, you’d pay $5.00 + $1.95 = $6.95 in total fees, keeping $43.05 before shipping costs. Use our platform fee comparison tool to compare this against other marketplaces.

How do I get paid on Mercari?

Mercari holds funds until the buyer rates the transaction or 3 days pass after delivery (auto-rated at 5 stars). Once the funds are in your balance, you can transfer to your bank via direct deposit (free, 2-5 business days) or instant pay to a debit card ($2 fee).

How long does it take to sell on Mercari?

Competitive items typically sell within 3-14 days. Electronics and brand-name clothing in good condition sell fastest (often under a week). Less in-demand items may take 30-60 days. Pricing competitively based on sold comps is the biggest factor in speed.

Is Mercari better than eBay for beginners?

Mercari is easier to learn but eBay has a larger buyer pool. If you’re brand new to reselling, Mercari’s simpler interface and listing process makes it a great starting platform. Once you’re comfortable, add eBay to reach more buyers. Read our eBay beginner’s guide for a full comparison.

What are Mercari’s shipping options?

You can use Mercari’s prepaid shipping labels or ship on your own. Prepaid labels range from $4.50 (USPS under 4oz) to $19.99 (UPS up to 25 lbs). Shipping on your own through services like Pirate Ship can save money on lightweight items. Check our shipping guide for rate comparisons.

Can I sell on Mercari without shipping?

Yes, through Mercari Local. This feature lets you sell to nearby buyers who pick up in person. The transaction still processes through Mercari’s payment system, so both buyer and seller are protected. It’s ideal for large, heavy, or fragile items.

What sells best on Mercari?

Electronics, brand-name clothing, sneakers, home goods, toys, and media consistently sell well. Items from brands like Nike, Lululemon, Nintendo, KitchenAid, and LEGO are always in demand. See our guide on the best things to flip for profit in 2026 for detailed category breakdowns.

How do I deal with lowball offers on Mercari?

Always counter rather than declining. If someone offers $20 on a $50 listing, counter at $42-45. About 40% of countered lowball offers lead to a sale at a price you’re happy with. Set your absolute minimum price before listing using the break-even price calculator.

Does Mercari have seller protection?

Yes, Mercari protects sellers through its Mercari Buyer and Seller Protection guarantee. If a buyer claims an item wasn’t received but tracking shows delivery, you’re covered. If a buyer tries to return a correctly described item, Mercari typically sides with the seller. However, if your listing description is inaccurate, expect to pay for a return.

How many items should I list per day on Mercari?

Aim for at least 3-5 new listings per day if you’re building a side hustle. Consistency matters more than volume. Listing daily keeps your shop active in Mercari’s algorithm and provides a steady pipeline of sales. Experienced resellers list 10-30+ items daily, but start with whatever pace you can sustain.

Start Selling on Mercari Today

Mercari is one of the most beginner-friendly platforms in 2026, and there’s no better time to start. The barrier to entry is zero—no fees to list, no complicated setup, and millions of active buyers looking for exactly the kind of items you already have.

Here’s your action plan:

  1. Download Mercari and set up your account today
  2. List 5 items from around your home to learn the process
  3. Research sold prices before setting your own
  4. Focus on clear photos and detailed descriptions
  5. Ship fast, communicate clearly, and build your ratings

Before you list your first item, run the numbers through Underpriced to make sure your deals are actually profitable. The app gives you 10 free AI-powered deal analyses—just snap a photo or enter the details, and you’ll get instant market data, profit projections, and platform recommendations. No guesswork, no overpaying, no selling at a loss.

Stop guessing. Start selling. Your first Mercari sale is closer than you think.