How to Make $600–$1,000/Month Selling Used Shoes in College (No Job Needed)

Think of it like this: Imagine you just bought a beat-up, ugly old house that looks totally destroyed.

Once it’s yours, you repaint the walls, fix the cracks, upgrade the appliances, and give it a fresh new vibe. When you’re done, it looks brand new — and it’s suddenly worth way more.

That house? It’s just shoes.

You buy dirty, scuffed-up, over-worn sneakers for cheap. You clean them, restore them, make them look fresh again… and then sell them for a solid profit.

That’s it. Super simple.

First off, you’re your own boss. No set schedule, no asking for time off, and no one yelling at you if you miss a shift.

You work when you feel like it. If something important pops up with friends or family, you can just… go. Total freedom.

Even better? The startup cost is super low. You can literally start with zero money — just ask your family for their old shoes or sell a few pairs you already own.

The hardest part is honestly just learning how to clean and restore them so they look brand new again. Once you get that down, the rest is smooth.

And the money? Pretty solid. You can usually make $15 to $50 profit per shoe. Sell 10–25 pairs a month and that’s $150 to $1,250. That’s not even going hard — just doing it casually.

First things first — you need shoes that will actually sell.

Go on eBay, Depop, Vinted, and similar sites. Spend some time scrolling through what’s selling fast and what people are paying good money for.

Then buy those kinds of shoes. It’s really not rocket science.

But here’s the important part: only go for desirable shoes. Skip the random kids Sketchers or super common pairs that no one wants. You need stuff people actually get excited about.

Always do the math — make sure you’ll still profit after shipping costs and whatever you spend fixing them up. That’s the golden rule.

For cleaning tools, keep it simple.

I recommend starting with a good pre-made kit. My favorite is the Reshoevn8r kit — it comes with a solid cleaning solution and high-quality brushes that actually get the job done.

I also suggest grabbing a shoe washing bag (the kind made for the washing machine) and a pair of shoe trees. The bag lets you throw them in the washer for a deep clean, and the trees help keep the shape while you’re working on them.

I’ve linked the ones I use here:

reshoevn8r kit

Price: $54.88

The Reshoevn8r Kit is a bit pricier at around $54.88, but honestly? It’s worth it.

You get three really good brushes with different strengths — perfect for light dirt all the way to tough stains. There’s a 4oz bottle of cleaning solution that lasts forever, a sneaker laundry bag (you only need one), a microfiber towel, and shoe trees to keep everything in shape while you clean.

Everything you need in one box.

Totally up to you if you want to start with it, but I think it’s a smart first buy.

Extra shoe trees

Price: $8.59

Extra shoe trees are a must.

Get the ones with the flat back — they won’t push too hard and mess up the heel. The cheap ones with the big round heel piece can actually deform the shoe, so avoid those.

Once your shoes are clean and dry, pop a shoe tree in them before you ship them out. It keeps the shape nice and makes them look way better when the buyer opens the box. (Take them out before you ship* don't send the buyer your shoe trees)

Super simple habit, but it makes a big difference. 

These next tools are totally optional.

But here’s the thing — if you get good with them, you can make a lot more money per pair.

They’re more complicated and need real skill. So don’t jump in right away. Practice a ton first, get comfortable with the basics, and only go for these once you’re serious about flipping shoes.

ICe box (Optional)

Price: $70–$100.

Building an Ice Box might sound a little wild at first… but hear me out.

One of the biggest issues with expensive sneakers (especially the hyped ones) is yellowing on the soles. An Ice Box basically reverses that using UV light.

Here’s what you need to build one:

• A box with reflective walls (think white or foil-covered inside)
• A strong UV light — 600W to 1000W LED
• A fan for good airflow
• Salon Care 40

It takes up decent space, can get loud, and isn’t cheap to set up.

But if you’re serious and experienced, this thing can be a game changer. We’re talking hundreds of extra dollars per pair on designer shoes because they look brand new again.

This is not for beginners. Only go for it once you’re really locked in and making money with shoe flipping.

I never personally got into repainting shoes, but this skill can seriously level up your profits.

You can grab a beat-up $2 pair from the thrift store, fix all the scuffs, and turn them into something that looks brand new. Then sell them for $150 or more.

It takes real skill though — matching colors perfectly, sanding the right way, layering paint smoothly, all that stuff. It’s not easy, and you’ll probably mess up a few pairs while you’re learning.

But if you get good at it? You’ll be making a lot of money.

I don’t know a ton about this side of things myself, but there are tons of great YouTube videos if you want to dive in.

From what I’ve seen, here’s the basic stuff you’ll need:

• Acetone
• Angelus paint (the go-to brand for sneakers)
• A grinder or rotary tool (to remove flakes)
• Sandpaper (different grits)
• Brushes or an airbrush

Start simple, practice a bunch, and go from there!

Alright, this is the part that actually turns dirty thrift store finds into cash. Here’s the simple beginner-friendly process I use:

Step 1: DisinfectWipe everything down with soap and water, then hit it with rubbing alcohol or Lysol spray. This kills any smell or bacteria — super important.

Step 2: Deep Clean

• Use a Magic Eraser on scuffs and marks
• Brush the soles thoroughly
• Take the laces out and wash them separately (throw them in a laundry bag in the washer)

Step 3: ConditionFor leather shoes or boots, rub in a good leather conditioner. It brings the color back and makes them look expensive again.

Step 4: Quick Fixes

• Glue down anything that’s peeling or loose
• Replace beat-up laces (you can get packs cheap on Amazon)

Step 5: Dry CompletelyLet them air dry fully before you take listing photos. Wet shoes = bad listings and returns.

Quick Tips:

• Most pairs only take 15–45 minutes once you get the hang of it.
• Take before-and-after photos! They’re great for your listings and show buyers you actually put in work.
• Warning: Don’t use water or heavy cleaners on suede or delicate materials — they can get ruined fast.

Do this step right and your shoes will look 10x better than when you bought them. That’s how you charge more.

This is hands-down the most important part.

Good photos can turn a $30 sale into a $150+ sale. No joke.

Here’s the easiest way to do it right:

Go on eBay, Depop, or Vinted and find the top sellers in your niche. (If you’re selling sneakers, look at the biggest sneaker flippers. Selling women’s boots? Study the top boot sellers.)

Then copy their style.

• Do they use a wooden table background?
• White wall?
• Natural light by a window?

Do the exact same thing.

Buyers already trust those listings, so when your photos look similar, they’ll trust yours too.

Quick tips:

• Take lots of angles (top, side, bottom, inside, close-ups of the soles)
• Good natural lighting beats everything
• Clean background, no clutter
• Show the before & after if the shoes were really beat up

Do this right and your shoes will sell faster and for way more money.

And I know what you’re thinking…

“Well those shoes just sell for WAY different prices anyway.”

Nope. Let me show you.

Both of these photos are the exact same shoes, on the exact same day, from StockX.

(sorry it’s in euros, I was in Germany when I pulled these.)

This is the best way I’ve found to price them:

Take your cleaned and restored shoe and look for similar ones that have already sold on eBay, Depop, etc.

Just go to the search bar, type the shoe model, and use the filters:

• Sold listings only
• Same size
• Similar condition

This does two things:

1. Shows you if the shoe is even worth flipping (do this before you buy)
2. Tells you what people are actually paying

Once you see what similar restored pairs sold for, check the current prices on GOAT or StockX for the same model.

Then price your shoe about 20% lower than what they’re going for.

If it doesn’t sell in a week, drop the price a little more. Keep lowering it every 5–7 days until it moves.

This “start higher and drop slowly” method works way better than guessing a random number.

Always factor shipping into your price before you list.

Example: If you want to clear $75 profit after everything, don’t list it for $75. List it around $89–$95. That way shipping is covered and you still walk away with your target profit.

The easiest way to cut shipping costs is by buying postage online instead of at the post office.

Here’s what I do:

• Use Pirate Ship (it’s free to sign up) — gives you the cheapest USPS rates.
• Or just buy labels directly through eBay/Depop — they usually have discounted rates too.

This one trick can save you $3–$8 per package. It adds up fast when you’re sending out 10–20 pairs a month.

Bottom line: Price smart and ship cheap = more money in your pocket.

Here are the biggest rookie mistakes I see — and how to dodge them:

• Buying without checking sold prices firstAlways research before you spend a single dollar. Otherwise you’ll end up with shoes no one wants.
• Over-cleaning and ruining the shoesToo much scrubbing or the wrong products can actually make them look worse. Start gentle.
• Forgetting to factor in fees & shippingIf you want $75 profit, price it higher (like $89–$95). Otherwise you’re working for pennies.
• Bad photos or lying in the descriptionBlurry pics and fake “flawless” claims = returns, bad reviews, and lost money. Be honest and take good photos.
• Skipping the disinfect stepNo one wants to buy smelly shoes. Always clean and disinfect — it builds trust.
• Buying way too many shoes too fastStart small. Learn the process with 3–5 pairs before you fill your room with inventory.

Learn from these mistakes early and you’ll save yourself a ton of headaches (and lost cash).