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A car boot sale is a temporary market, usually held in a field, school or car park, where sellers park up, open the boot and set out second hand goods on a table, tarp or ground sheet. Shoppers wander round, browsing and haggling over prices on everything from kids’ clothing to plant pots.

Most people turn up looking for bargains, not designer shopping. That means:

Costs are low and flexible.

Cash is still king, even if some sellers use phone payments.

There’s a relaxed “buyer beware” feel, but you still have legal responsibilities if you’re effectively trading rather than just decluttering.

If you’re staring at a house full of stuff wondering what to sell, start with clean, working, easy to carry items. Decluttering first makes it easier to spot unused things in good condition you can get rid of for extra money.

Clothes and accessories

Everyday outfits in good condition

Children’s and baby clothing, especially bundles

Branded items and vintage pieces

Shoes, belts, bags and other accessories

Clothing is a top seller at boot sales, especially children’s and designer items that would cost much more new.

Kids’ stuff

Toys, games and puzzles with all pieces

Baby items such as high chairs, cots and bouncers

Children’s books and DVDs

Parents seek affordable items because children quickly outgrow clothes and toys, so baby bundles and equipment usually do well.

Books, media and collectibles

Paperbacks and kids’ books, often 50p to £1 each

CDs and DVDs

Vinyl records, niche ceramics and ornaments

Vintage cameras, retro video games and consoles

First editions or rare books

Research any potentially valuable items or full collection online beforehand so you don’t let a rare book, vinyl or game go for pennies.

Home, garden and tools

Small furniture pieces one person can lift

Tools and DIY gear

Garden accessories and plant pots

Ornaments, home decor and small electrical items

Tools and garden accessories are popular, and small electricals sell well if they’re safe, tested and priced low. Avoid things that are too large or heavy for customers to get back to their car easily.

Jewellery, watches and cosmetics

Costume jewellery and simple watches

Unopened cosmetics, skincare or perfumes

Neatly arranged “nice to have” accessories near the front

Jewellery and watches are good sellers because they’re small, easy impulse purchases. Any food items or cosmetics you sell should be in date, sealed and handled with basic health and safety in mind.

Skip items that are likely to cause problems or stay on the floor all morning:

Very large furniture that won’t fit easily in a buyer’s car

Heavy objects that are awkward to carry across the site

Broken electricals or anything that looks unsafe

Items on the organiser’s banned list, such as age-restricted goods, counterfeit products, some plants or new stock if they want a purely second-hand event

If in doubt, read the organiser’s guidance or ask them for guidance before you load the car.

A good stall is less about having the fanciest stuff and more about clear display and easy browsing, so potential buyers feel comfortable stopping.

Trestle or folding table to keep things off the floor

Clothes rail so clothing feels more like a mini shop

Ground sheet or tarp for bigger toys and boxes

Baskets or crates to group categories together

Organise your table by type and size, for example:

One section for kids’ clothing by age

One box for tools and DIY

One neat area for jewellery and small accessories

Cleanliness and presentation matter. A variety of clean, well maintained goods will always beat a random heap.

Put your best bits and more valuable items at the front to catch interest

Keep similar things together so buyers can compare quickly

Use simple price tags or group signs, even if you’ll haggle

Offer plastic bags so people can take several purchases easily

Keep valuables and cash in a secure spot near you for security

It helps to bring a friend or family member. One person chats to customers and handles money, the other keeps an eye on safety and the stall. Don’t be afraid to adjust the display mid morning - move a “bargain box” or better stuff forward if interest drops.

Have a basic plan for unsold items so you know what you’ll donate, what you’ll store in a unit for the next boot sale, and what you’ll try on ebay instead.

Car boot sales are about making lots of small deals, not squeezing every penny from one thing. Focus on clearing good quality stock at realistic prices.

A simple rule of thumb:

Aim for roughly 10 to 15% of the original retail value

Or about 10% of what you originally paid, rounded to simple prices like 50p, £1, £2 or £5

People go to a boot sale looking for bargains, so set things too high and most people won’t even stop.

Group items into clear price brackets, for example “Everything £1”

Keep a list of bigger items with your ideal price and lowest price point you’ll accept

Expect to haggle - that’s part of the car boot experience

Most sellers don’t tag every single item, but a few price tags and clear signs help

Reduce costs gradually through the day to encourage last minute deals

Bring a good float of coins and notes. Stay polite but firm if someone keeps pushing for a much lower price. If you realise something is more valuable, it may be better to sell it on ebay later.

Selling handmade crafts at car boot sales can be profitable, but it’s not guaranteed. Attendees are often looking for deals and may not value handmade work at the same level you do, so you’ll need to be realistic.

Keep handmade items together in their own tidy section

Put your best selling products right at the front for potential buyers

Use a simple cloth, small stands and baskets so it feels like a mini boutique

Add short labels with item names and prices so people know what they’re looking at

A friendly, polite, informative approach matters. Answer questions, give simple care advice and tell people what makes your items different. An approachable, appealing stall display plus good customer interaction can really lift sales.

Because craft takes time, set a minimum price so you don’t undervalue your work:

For example, nothing under £3 for small items

Higher prices for detailed, time heavy pieces

You can still offer multi buy deals, such as “any 3 for £10”, to keep buyers feeling they’re getting value.

Some organisers require craft stalls to have public liability insurance. This protects you against financial loss if someone is injured at your stall or if goods cause damage. It’s especially worth considering if you sell electrical items, body products or candles.

Check each event’s booking terms. They’ll usually say if insurance is needed or suggest relevant services.

Even at a relaxed community boot sale, there are important legal and consumer rights issues to think about.

If you sell at car boot events very often, or buy items specifically to resell, you may be treated as a trader rather than someone clearing a property. Traders have extra obligations, including the right to refunds on faulty goods.

Whatever your status, goods should be:

Of satisfactory quality

Fit for their intended purpose

Accurately described, without misleading claims

It’s illegal to sell counterfeit goods, copied CDs or DVDs, or items that don’t meet safety standards such as some electrical goods and children’s nightwear.

Local authorities can also set conditions, for example only allowing charity events or limiting the number of commercial sellers. Many boot sales prohibit age restricted goods, some plants and new products, so always check the rules.

If you decide to sell food items such as home-baked cakes:

Label allergens clearly

Keep food covered and off the floor

Follow basic food hygiene and temperature advice

You’re responsible for making sure food is safe to eat. Different councils treat food at community events slightly differently, so check local guidance if you’re unsure what to expect.

Before you put out electrical items, check they work and inspect cords, plugs and casings. If something looks unsafe, don’t sell it.

Plan your layout and pack so the table, rail and float come out first

Make a short list of higher value items and what you’d like to get for them

Decide what you’ll do with anything that doesn’t sell - donate, store in a unit, or list on ebay

Arrive early to get a good pitch near main walkways and have time to set up

Lay out tarp and table, then hang clothing and put better stuff at the front

Keep jewellery, cash and small gadgets close to you for security

Expect early birds, often other sellers, to come straight to your car as you open the boot. They’re often hunting for better stuff before everyone else, which can help you cover your pitch cost in the first part of the morning.

Stand up, smile and chat; it makes your stall more inviting

Use gentle lines like “I can do a slightly lower price if you’re taking a few things”

Keep the table tidy, refold clothing and rotate interesting items to the front

Look after your own health with water, snacks and sunscreen, and avoid trip hazards around your space

If it’s quiet, walk the site to see what other pitches charge, what buyers seem keen on and what you might want to bring next time.

Offer last-minute deals such as “everything half price” or “fill a bag for £3”

Decide what’s worth keeping for another boot sale, and what you’ll donate or recycle

Note what sold best - clothing, tools, ornaments, plant pots - so you can plan future trips

If you’re running regular events as a small side hustle, keeping neatly organised boxes in a HOLD storage unit makes it easier to build a decent stockpile without losing your spare room.

If you catch the bug and start doing more than one car boot sale a year, storage quickly becomes a pain point. HOLD Self Storage is set up to make extra space simple for small businesses.

You get:

A central Kings Cross location that’s easy to reach early in the morning

Secure storage units with 24/7 access, individual unit alarms and CCTV

Flexible sizes from a few boxes of clothes to a full stall’s worth of stock

New customer offers, including 50% off for the first weeks and a local price match

In practice, that means you can keep seasonal stock, tools, decorations and better stuff for eBay separate from lower-priced boot sale items, and load the car quickly whenever you’ve decided to trade

Get a free quote and price match for London storage.

Clothes, toys, books, baby equipment, household bits, tools, garden accessories, small electrical items, jewellery and watches all tend to sell well. Vintage cameras, vinyl, retro games and niche ornaments can do particularly well if you’ve checked their value.

Yes. Children’s and baby clothes, branded items, vintage pieces and shoes are in steady demand. Hang them on a clothes rail and group by size so customers can browse quickly.

Paperbacks, children’s books and popular series usually sell, especially if they’re 50p to £1 or bundled, for example, 3 for £2. First editions or rarer titles may be worth more, so check before you price them as basic stock.

Aim around 10 to 15% of the original retail value, rounded to simple figures like 50p, £1, £2 or £5. Group items by price, expect to haggle and lower prices later in the day to clear more stock.

Takings vary, but many casual sellers make around £100 after fees on a decent morning, with £150 to £300 possible if you’ve got good quality stock, strong demand and realistic pricing. If you’re trading regularly, check when you might need to declare income.

For most people clearing a home, yes. Your main costs are pitch fee, travel and time, and you’re being paid to get rid of clutter. If you’re buying to resell, profitability depends on buying low, selling at the right prices and keeping an eye on your overall costs.

You generally can’t sell weapons, illegal drugs, alcohol or tobacco without a licence, counterfeit goods, unsafe electricals, some plants, or age-restricted products like certain films and fireworks without checks.

You also shouldn’t sell anything you know is unsafe or misdescribed. If unsure, check the organiser’s rules or local trading standards services.