Depop is poppin’. As a progressive and diverse home for unique fashion, Depop is a booming, global peer-to-peer e-commerce marketplace, reporting over 35 million active users in over 150 countries! Depop offers a perfect marketplace for sellers of vintage, streetwear, designer, Y2k, trendy, and one-of-a-kind items. With a user-friendly app and no selling fees, Depop has quickly become a favorite for buyers and sellers alike!
This article will cover everything you need to know about selling on Depop from a top seller on Depop.
Key Takeaways:
- Depop’s global audience is predominantly Gen Z, with 90% of users under 26.
- Top-selling categories on Depop include vintage, streetwear, designer, OOAK (One-of a-kind) and Y2K fashion.
- Depop charges no selling fees, but payment processing fees and (optional) boosted listing fees still apply.
- The platform is renowned for its focus on aesthetics and sustainability.
- Vendoo’s crosslisting and reseller tools makes it easy to list on Depop and other marketplaces, streamlining the selling process.
👀 Did you know that Depop launched in 2011 and was acquired by Etsy in 2021 (though it is still operated as a standalone company).
What is Depop?
Depop is a popular, trendy marketplace with 35 million active users in over 150 countries. Interestingly, 90% of users are under the age of 26. With the primary customers being Gen Z, the top-selling categories on Depop are Designer, Vintage, Streetwear, one-of-a-kind, and Y2K.
Depop is known for fashion, but has a broad range of selling categories. Creating a Depop account takes only seconds, and the app is simple and user-friendly.
👀 Did you know that there are no selling fees on Depop. Scroll down to learn more!
One of the best things about Depop is its vibrant community and focus on sustainability, making it a top marketplace among fashion sellers. Depop is not your typical reselling platform—it's a vivid assortment of unique, funky, vintage, and trendy fashion flourishing with artistic expression.
On Depop, it is all about the look and #aesthetic
Depop is the perfect place for your vintage, retro, funky, unique, and just plain weird pieces. Selling on Depop makes sourcing fun!
Want inspo? Check out my Depop Shop here.
Let’s dive into everything you need to know about Depop!
For everything you need to know about Depop, check out the article How to Get Started Selling on Depop.
What Can You Sell on Depop?
Depop is a place for primarily fashion, but there is a broad range of categories that you can sell on Depop. Beyond women’s, men's, and children’s fashion, you can also sell homeware, decor, art, records, and more. Click here for a full-guide of what you can sell on Depop.
Let’s explore the top-selling categories on Depop: Designer, Streetwear, Vintage, Y2k, and “OOAK.”
Designer
Designer and luxury brands are top sellers everywhere, especially because of the sale prices of designer pieces.
If you sell higher-end pieces, Depop provides a global audience.
Streetwear
Streetwear is athletic wear with an urban influence. It’s a top-selling category on Depop, especially when classic athletic brands make street collections.
The Top-Selling Streetwear Brands on Depop include Nike, Adidas, Supreme, Stussy, Champion, and FILA.
You might also be interested in the article Top Selling Items on Depop in 2024.
Vintage
#Vintageondepop is a top seller and hashtag. Buyers around the world love American vintage!
Anything that is at least 20 years old is vintage, and knowing the decade will help to market your item. This includes early 2000s Y2k pieces. Learn more about sourcing, selling, and dating vintage items here.
💡 Tip: If your item is not vintage but looks vintage, use the keyword and hashtag 'retro'.
Y2k
The Y2k aesthetic is inspired by the early 2000s.
Inspired by Pop Princesses Britney Spears, Paris Hilton, Beyoncé, and Destiny's Child, Y2k fashion is poppin' like lip smackers.
Y2k Fashion is so fun! If it looks like something a Bratz Doll might wear, it's probably Y2k Style. On Depop, Y2k refers to both genuine vintage (or almost vintage) from the early 2000s as well as modern fashion with that aesthetic.
OOAK (One of a Kind)
One-of-a-kind pieces on Depop refer to rare vintage, upcycled, reworked, handmade, and custom items. These are Depop's gems. 💎
Unique items sell very well on Depop, especially those within these categories:
- #Vintage: Items over 20 years
- #Upcycled: Items made from older, used materials, Like an old blanket made into a headband.
- #Reworked: Used clothing that has been redesigned or re-sewn into a new garment, like making a vintage dress into a cute two-piece crop top and skirt set.
- #Handmade: Anything made by you.
- #Custom: Items made especially for the buyer or items customized by the seller.
Trending Fashion
While “trending fashion” is not found on Depop’s official top-selling category list, I have to add it. Based on my own sales, trending items, brands, and styles do very well on Depop.
If its currently trending, Depop is the place for it. Right now, athleisure, bohemian, western, Lululemon, Stanley Cups, and other trending items are hot! 🔥
💡 Tip: Accessories, including handbags, jewelry, and belts also sell very well for me on Depop- especially vintage pieces!
Depop Fees: What Percent Does Depop Take?
There are no selling fees on Depop! 🤩
Depop eliminated the selling fee as of July 2024. For listings created after July 15, 2024, there are no Depop selling fees. A few things to note:
- The transaction fee still applies to all listings. In the US, the translation fee is 3.3% + $0.45 of the sale price for payments made through Depop Payments. (Note that transaction fees vary by location)
- If you use the Boosted Listings feature in Depop, you will incur an 8% boosting fee on the total sale price.
Boosting Your Listings on Depop
The Boost feature promotes your item(s) by placing them in one of the boosted tiles on the search results page. The boosting fee applies when the buyer views, clicks, or likes your listing via the boosted tile and purchases it within 28 days.
Depop provides stats for boosted listings and revenue. In my experience, it is very much worth it to boost your listings on Depop! 🤑
How to Sell on Depop: A Step-By-Step Guide
Depop is one of the best places to sell fashion online. With a global audience and broad categories, don’t miss out on what Depop has to offer!
You can crosslist to Depop in just seconds with Vendoo 🚀
Depop perhaps the easiest platform to list on, but one of the toughest to master. Before you get started, be sure to familiarize yourself with Depop; the community guidelines.
Let’s explore a step-by-step guide on how to get started making sales on Depop!
1. Download the Depop App and Create an Account
The Depop Mobile App allows you to create a Depop account in seconds. Although Depop has a website, the app has more tools and capabilities.
You will also need to enter your contact, tax, and bank details to get paid!
2. Prepare Your Items
Next, you’ll prepare your items to sell! Make sure that they are clean, steamed, and in good condition.
Scroll up to take a look top selling categories on Depop.
3. Create Your Listings
It is super easy to list an item on Depop. Depop offers one of the most simple listing forms, with photos, a description, and a few drop-downs.
Depop Photos:
You can add 8 photos and 10 seconds of video content to your Depop listing.
Depop much prefers modeled or flat-lay photography (in fact, you must use one of these for a chance to be featured on the Explore Page). If modeling is not your thing, keep it simple with flat-lay photos.
Remember that it is all about the style and aesthetic on Depop, the best Depop shops look more like curated Instagram feeds than stores, give it style and have fun!
💡 Tip: Do not use stock photos on Depop. They will remove them instantly, and your account will be compromised. Depop does not wait until a brand complains about the use of its images - it proactively removes them to promote and protect artistic expression.
Depop Listing Descriptions
Descriptions matter! Every single character in your Depop description is searchable in the Depop search query- make sure your listings contain all the words that buyers are looking for including the item, style, type, size, and descriptive adjectives.
Measurements are very important on Depop as well. If you don’t provide them, you will be asked, or you will be overlooked for a shop that provides the information the buyer needs to purchase with confidence.
To learn more about how to maximize your Depop descriptions for search engine optimization (SEO), check out The Reseller’s Guide to SEO in Listing Descriptions.
Depop Trending Hashtags
The most important part of your Depop listing is the hashtags. Use all five hashtags in your description, and choose them carefully. Trending hashtags will promote your listings in the search field and newsfeed.
Bookmark this: For a trending hashtag glossary with collage examples, we’ve got you covered in A Reseller’s Guide to Cores, Aesthetics, and Hashtags! ⭐
Depop Style Fields:
For best results, fill out the Depop listing form entirely. Don’t skip any field, even if it is “optional.”
You will be prompted to choose the category, select the condition, and enter your price.
Then, you will select the Depop Style Fields- these fields are super important on Depop. Select the ones that are most relevant to your item.
3. Pricing on Depop
While many sellers price competitively on Depop, do not be afraid to price high. The majority of users are young (perhaps with disposable income) and willing to pay up for trendy, unique, and vintage styles.
👀 Did you know that there are no sold comps on Depop? You cannot look at sold listings on Depop for pricing reference, so competitive research includes only browsing active listings through the search feed.
But comps are not huge on Depop as the buyer is not necessarily as savvy as the buyers elsewhere (nor is the search as advanced). Plus, your item is worth what someone will pay for it.
Many Depop sales are outright purchases, without offers or messages requesting a discount.
However, Depop does have an offer feature (offers are not binding, however) and it is more common to receive a message requesting a discount or inquiring as to your "best price."
4. Manage Your Depop Shop
Depop is not a "list it and leave it" platform; it requires constantly refreshing your listings. This is so important. You must refresh your items on Depop at least once daily to make sales. Refreshing your items is the only way to bump them to rank higher in the search bar. To manually refresh your items, open a listing, click “edit,” and click “save.”
💡 Tip: Manual sharing becomes tedious. Consider using SellerAider to refresh your Depop Listings (Note: Use at your own risk, as the use of automation software is not technically allowed on Depop)
Managing your shop also includes:
- Listing new items daily (or delisting and relisting old items)
- Sending offers to likers
- Running occasional discounts
- Enhancing listings that aren’t gaining traction
- Responding quickly to inquiries and offers
- Shipping promptly upon sale
👀Did you know that Vendoo allows you to delist and relist your Depop listings in bulk and also sends offers to likers on Depop?
5. Handle Shipping on Depop
On Depop, there are many shipping selections available to sellers. When listing, you must select whether to:
- Ship with Depop or ship on your own;
- Offer free shipping or charge shipping; and
- Use USPS, FedEx, or UPS.
Each Depop listing has a shipping section for this information. If you select to ship with Depop, Depop will email you a USPS label upon sale. However, you will need to enter the item’s approximate weight (including packaging) when you list to select the label tier.
The current rates for shipping with Depop are great, ranging from $4.49 for extra small packages (under 4oz) to $13.49 for extra large packages (up to 10 lbs). That is an incredible rate to ship to any United States territory, especially for heavier items. 📦
When you ship with Depop, you can download a prepaid shipping label issued by Depop and tracking will automatically start once the package is in route. Depop uses USPS Ground Advantage for qualifying packages and USPS Priority Mail for all heavier orders.
Electing to ship on your own requires purchasing your own shipping label and providing Depop with the tracking information for the package. When you ship on your own, you can purchase through any carrier. I suggest using Pirate Ship for the best rates.
To learn more about pros and cons of self-shipping vs. shipping with Depop, check out The Reseller's Guide to Shipping on Depop.
International Shipping with Depop
Expand your exposure by offering international shipping. Depop exists in over 150 countries worldwide, and buyers love American Vintage! 🌎
However, you must ship on your own when you offer international shipping (you cannot use Depop labels).
International shipping can be very expensive, so be mindful when offering this on a listing. In the listing field, I generally put $20-$50 for international shipping based on weight. I use Pirate Ship Simple Export to get the best rates for global shipping; they make the customs information so simple!
Offering Free Shipping vs. Charging Shipping
According to Depop, sellers are 10% more likely to make sales when they offer free shipping. ‼️
People hate paying for shipping, and we’re living in Amazon Prime Days, so this makes sense. Many sellers choose to offer free shipping but raise their prices a bit more to accommodate this.
Free shipping is positively incentivizing, but it can also be infeasible for lower-priced items if it eats up too much of your profit. A 1 lb pair of jeans that you might choose to sell for $20, would cost you $5-$8 to ship, significantly reducing your margin. If your inventory is of higher value, the shipping costs may not be as detrimental to your profit margin.
6. Manage Returns on Depop
Depop does not allow returns (although you can, as a seller, if you choose). However, the buyer is protected if the item is not received, is inauthentic, or is not as described. When a buyer opens a claim with Depop, you do not see the claim or get a chance to respond. Depop will likely side with the buyer.
Ultimately, if a buyer wants to return an item, they will find a way to do so. To avoid the hassle and risk of infractions on your Depop account, it's best to allow returns. This approach helps maintain good relationships with buyers and ensures you receive your item back in its original condition, rather than dealing with potential account infringements or damaged items from dissatisfied customers forcing a refund.
I have had less than a dozen returns in my many years selling a high volume on Depop. *knocks on wood* 🤞🏽
You might also be interested in the article Beware of these Depop Scams! Protect Yourself as a Seller.
Depop Seller Tips to Drive Consistent Sales
Consistency is key to growing a successful Depop shop. By investing time and effort into every aspect of your store, you can build momentum and ensure regular sales. Here are some top tips to help you along the way:
Use High-Quality Images
Clear, well-lit photos can make or break a sale. Capture your item from multiple angles to give buyers a complete view.
💡Tip: Remember that flat lay and modeled photos are the top performers on Depop!
Optimize for SEO
Use relevant keywords in your titles and descriptions. Research trending search terms to ensure your listings appear in top searches. Scroll up to learn more about search engine optimization!
Engage with the Depop Community
Interact with other sellers by following, liking, and commenting on items. It helps build relationships and increases your visibility on the app!
Promote Your Listings on Social Media
Platforms like Instagram and TikTok can massively expand your audience- even without a large following! Share your listings to boost traffic to your shop and drive sales.
Provide Excellent Customer Service
Respond to inquiries promptly, and always maintain a friendly, professional tone. Great communication leads to happy customers and positive reviews.
💡Tip: Don’t forget to send offers to all likers!
Offer Bundle Discounts
Encourage buyers to purchase more by offering discounts for bundles when they purchase multiple items. This can help increase your average order value while providing a good deal for your shoppers.
Boost and Discount Items
The boost feature allows you to pay (8% of the sale price) for extra promotions on Depop. You can select which items to boost, too! With no selling fees, you should have room to consider this.
The discount feature allows you to host a “flash sale.” If you apply a discount of at least 10% on your listings, all likers will be notified on the price drop.
You might also be interested in this article: Make More Sales on Depop and Become a Top Seller
Boost Your Depop Business with Vendoo
Successfully selling on Depop requires dedication—setting up your account, preparing your items, creating listings, and managing shipping and returns. Vendoo’s crosslisting tool allows you to list items on multiple platforms (including Depop) in just a few clicks, saving you hours of manual work.
Vendoo’s inventory management keeps you organized across platforms, while analytics help you track your performance. By streamlining tasks, Vendoo allows you to focus on scaling your business, selling more, and managing less.
List, manage, and grow all in one place!
Depop FAQs
How Much Does It Cost to Start Selling on Depop?
It’s free to start selling on Depop. The platform takes no sale commission! There are no selling fees except payment processing fees- currently 3.3% + $0.45, but varies based on region.
What Are the Rules of Selling on Depop?
Sellers must avoid selling illegal, medical, and perishable items and maintain respectful communication with buyers. Don’t forget that using stock images from the web violates federal copyright laws that Depop zealously enforces.
How Does Payment Work on Depop?
Payments are processed via Depop Payments, and funds are automatically deposited after shipping confirmation minus fees. Scroll up to learn more about fees and payments.
How Do I List Items on Depop?
Tap “Sell,” upload photos, write a description, set a price, execute shipping fields, and publish.
How Does Shipping Work on Depop?
Sellers can use Depop’s shipping labels or arrange their own shipping, charging buyers or offering free shipping.
What Can You Sell on Depop?
You can sell fashion, accessories, vintage items, art, and more, as long as they meet Depop’s guidelines.
Depop is unlike the other marketplaces. Really browse the app, the feature pages, and listings from other sellers. Understanding Depop Culture and the Depop Community will help you to connect with buyers, enhance your Depop shop, and be more successful on Depop.
Do you sell on Depop? Share your best tips and tricks below. 👇🏼
