Where to sell
Facebook Marketplace vs. eBay vs. Craigslist
The platform you choose shapes how much you get, how fast you sell, and how much hassle you take on. Each of the big three is best at something different — here's how to match the item to the marketplace.
The quick verdict
- Facebook Marketplace — best for local sales of furniture, appliances, and anything bulky. Huge local audience, no selling fees for local pickup, buyers arrange transport.
- eBay — best for shippable items and anything with a national or niche buyer pool. Widest reach, built-in shipping and buyer protection, at the cost of selling fees.
- Craigslist — best for strictly local, cash, no-frills deals. Simple and free, but the thinnest safety net.
Reach
eBay wins on raw reach — you're listing to a national (or international) pool, which is exactly what you want for a specific brand, a collectible, or anything where local demand is thin. Facebook Marketplace has enormous local reach and the advantage of visible buyer profiles. Craigslist is local and anonymous, with a smaller but motivated audience.
Fees
Craigslist is free for most listings. Facebook Marketplace is free for local pickup (shipped sales carry a selling fee). eBay charges final-value fees that vary by category — you're paying for the reach and the protection. Factor the fee into your asking price rather than treating it as a surprise at payout.
Selling something shippable or niche?
eBay's reach is hard to beat when local demand is thin — a specific model finds its buyer somewhere in the country even if nobody nearby wants it. Lead with local platforms for big, heavy items; reach for eBay when shipping opens a bigger pool.
Shipping
eBay is built for shipping, with integrated labels and tracking — the natural home for small, valuable, mailable items. Facebook Marketplace and Craigslist are built around local pickup, which is a feature for furniture (you don't want to ship a couch) and a limitation for anything with a nationwide buyer pool.
Safety
eBay offers the most structured protection: payments run through the platform and there's a dispute process. Facebook Marketplace's visible profiles add a layer of accountability for local deals. Craigslist has the least built-in protection, so stick to public meetups, cash or verified payment, and trust your instincts. Wherever you sell, never ship before payment clears and be wary of any buyer pushing you off-platform.
Match the item to the platform
- Sofa, dining table, appliance → Facebook Marketplace (local pickup solves the moving problem). See our furniture calculator.
- Phone, laptop, camera gear → eBay for reach, or a trade-in service for speed.
- Collectibles, niche brands, parts → eBay, every time.
- Fast local cash sale → Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace.
There's no single best marketplace — only the best one for this item. Reach for eBay when shipping widens the pool; go local when the item is big or you want cash today.
Whichever you choose, price it first so you list with a number you can defend.