How Much to Charge at a Yard Sale

Pricing is the part of a yard sale that worries people most. Price too high and you carry it all back inside. Price too low and you feel it later. A simple rule fixes most of it.

The one-quarter rule

Start at about one quarter of what the item cost new, then adjust for condition. A blender that cost $40 and works well can go for about $10. If it shows wear, go lower. If it is still in the box, you can go a little higher.

Some things fall below that rule because there are so many of them: books, DVDs, kids' clothes and mugs usually sell for coins, not dollars. Price them in bundles instead, like "4 books for $1."

Price everything before the first buyer arrives

Buyers walk away from tables with no prices, because asking feels like work. Put a price on every item, or a price on every table ("Everything on this table $1"). Colored dot stickers make it fast: one color per price, and a sign that says what each color means.

Expect to haggle

Most buyers will offer less, so leave a little room. If you want $10, mark it $12. Decide your lowest price before the sale starts, so you do not have to think about it with someone waiting.

Use the price guide

The yard sale price guide lists typical asking prices for more than 90 common items in 12 categories, from kids' clothes to lawn mowers. Use it as a starting point, then trust what you see in front of you.

Cut prices in the last hour

Whatever is left in the last hour is about to become something you have to haul away. Half price after noon, or a "fill a bag for $5" deal, clears tables fast.