Garage Sale Pricing Calculator
Price a garage-sale item fast using a simple percentage of its original retail price, adjusted for condition.
How it works
Price = original retail × condition rate (like-new 40% · good 25% · fair 15% · poor 7%), rounded to sale-friendly amounts
Garage-sale shoppers expect deep discounts because they are buying used with no returns, so pricing between 5% and 40% of original retail moves goods without leaving money on the table. Newer, unused items hold more value; anything worn, dated or missing parts should be priced to disappear. Round to quarters and whole dollars so buyers can pay in cash and you are not fishing for change all morning.
Worked example
A jacket that retailed for $40 in good, gently-used condition prices at 40 × 0.25 = $10. A well-used version at 15% would be $6, and a like-new one at 40% would be $16, rounded to whole dollars for easy cash sales.
Frequently asked questions
What percentage of retail should I charge at a garage sale?
A common range is 10-30% of the original price, going up toward 40% for like-new or unused items and down to single digits for worn or dated goods. Electronics and brand-name items can command the higher end; generic housewares sit at the lower end.
Should I put price stickers on everything?
Yes — unpriced items slow the sale and invite lowball offers on everything. Clear stickers or table signs ("Everything on this table $1") let shoppers browse and buy without hunting you down, which sells far more over a morning.
How do I handle hagglers?
Price a little above your walk-away number so there is room to come down, and be willing to bundle. Offering three items for the price of two late in the day clears inventory you would otherwise have to box up and store or donate.
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This calculator is for educational purposes. Double-check important results before acting on them.