Depop is not like other selling platforms. It's part marketplace, part social media, and entirely driven by aesthetics. Your grandmother's cardigan that sits unsold on eBay for months? It sells in days on Depop with the right photos and hashtags because someone sees it as a core piece of their "cottagecore" wardrobe.
Understanding this fundamental difference is what separates successful Depop sellers from those who wonder why their items aren't moving. Depop rewards creativity, visual storytelling, and understanding what makes Gen Z buyers click "purchase."
This guide covers everything you need to master Depop selling in 2026, from photography that stops the scroll to cross-listing strategies that multiply your reach without multiplying your work.
Understanding the Depop Audience
Depop's core audience is Gen Z (born 1997-2012), with strong millennial crossover. These buyers prioritize:
- Sustainability: Buying secondhand is a values statement
- Uniqueness: Items that nobody else at school will have
- Aesthetic: How something looks in photos matters as much as how it looks in person
- Story: The narrative behind an item adds value
This is fundamentally different from eBay buyers who search by model number or Poshmark buyers who filter by brand and size. Depop buyers often browse by aesthetic, scrolling through feeds until something catches their eye.
What Sells Best on Depop
High performers:
- Vintage clothing (especially Y2K, 90s, and 80s)
- Unique or one-of-a-kind pieces
- Branded streetwear (Nike, Carhartt, Dickies)
- Designer items with logo recognition
- Statement pieces that photograph well
- Reworked or customized clothing
Underperformers:
- Basic mall brands (H&M, Forever 21, Shein)
- Generic items without visual interest
- Anything that looks "corporate" or "parent"
- Items that require too much imagination to style
Photography: The Make-or-Break Factor
On Depop, your photos are not just product documentation, they are content. The platform functions like Instagram for shopping, which means your listings compete for attention against curated, styled content from other sellers.
Cover Photo Strategy
Your first image appears in search results and on your shop page. Make it count:
- Styled shots win: Clothing on a model or mannequin outperforms flat lays
- Lifestyle context: Show the item in a setting that resonates with the aesthetic
- Consistent feed: Use similar backgrounds and lighting so your shop looks curated
- Face optional: Many successful sellers crop at the neck to keep focus on clothing
Lighting and Background
Natural light near windows works best. Shoot during golden hour (early morning or late afternoon) for warm, flattering tones. Avoid harsh midday sun that creates unflattering shadows.
Popular background approaches:
- Clean white or cream walls
- Exposed brick or textured walls
- Outdoor locations that fit your aesthetic
- Consistent use of specific props or settings
Additional Photos
Depop allows four photos per listing. Use them strategically:
- Styled/modeled shot (cover)
- Detail shot (fabric texture, labels, unique features)
- Full item flat lay with measurements
- Any flaws or wear (transparency builds trust)
Descriptions and Hashtags That Convert
Writing Style
Depop descriptions should feel casual and conversational, not like corporate product listings. Write like you're texting a friend about something cool you found.
Include:
- Era or decade for vintage items
- Brand (if applicable)
- Material or fabric
- Measurements (specific numbers, not just sizes)
- Styling suggestions
- Condition details (including any flaws)
Example description:
"Insane 90s tommy hilfiger windbreaker in that perfect oversized fit. Red/white/blue colorblock that goes hard with literally any jeans. Would fit M-XL depending on how oversized you like it. Pit to pit: 26 inches, length: 28 inches. One small mark on sleeve (shown in pic 4) barely noticeable when worn. Free shipping on bundles of 2+"
Hashtag Strategy
Depop search uses hashtags heavily. Include 5-10 relevant hashtags at the end of your description:
- Aesthetic tags: #y2k #vintage #streetwear #cottagecore #darkacademia
- Item type: #windbreaker #cargopants #croppped #oversized
- Brand: #tommyhilfiger #nike #carhartt
- Era: #90sfashion #2000s #80svinitage
Research trending hashtags by checking what successful sellers in your niche use. Hashtag relevance matters, using unrelated popular hashtags frustrates buyers and can get your listings flagged.
Pricing for the Depop Market
Research Sold Items
Search for similar items and check what actually sold (not just listed prices). Depop buyers often pay premium prices for the right aesthetic, but they also expect deals compared to retail.
Factor in Depop's Fees
Depop takes 10% of the sale price plus payment processing fees. Price your items to maintain healthy margins after fees.
Premium vs. Volume Strategy
Some sellers price high and wait for the right buyer. Others price competitively for faster turnover. Neither approach is wrong, choose based on your inventory type and cash flow needs.
Unique vintage pieces often justify premium pricing. Common items benefit from competitive pricing that drives volume.
Building Your Depop Presence
The Algorithm Rewards Activity
Depop's algorithm favors active sellers. Regular engagement boosts your visibility:
- List new items consistently (even just 1-2 per day)
- Refresh existing listings by editing descriptions
- Follow potential buyers in your niche
- Like and share items from other sellers
- Respond to messages within hours
Profile Optimization
Your bio should quickly communicate:
- What you sell (aesthetic/style)
- Shipping information
- Any special offers (bundle discounts)
- Your personality
Keep it concise but memorable. Buyers check bios before purchasing, especially for higher-priced items.
Leveraging Depop Boosted Listings
Depop offers a "Boost" feature that promotes your listing for a percentage of the sale. Use it strategically on items that have proven appeal (lots of likes but no purchase) or seasonal items during peak shopping periods.
International Selling: A Major Opportunity
Depop has a massive user base in the UK and Europe. Enabling international shipping opens your shop to millions of additional buyers.
International Shipping Tips
- Calculate actual shipping costs to major markets
- Consider building shipping into your prices
- Be clear about customs responsibilities in your bio
- Ship promptly and with tracking
Items that sit in the US market sometimes sell quickly to international buyers who can't find similar pieces locally.
Scaling with Cross-Listing
Depop is powerful, but it's one platform with one demographic. Multi-platform sellers reach different audiences and often sell faster by casting a wider net.
Where to Cross-List Depop Items
- Poshmark: Same fashion focus, older demographic (25-45)
- eBay: Largest buyer pool, global reach, collectors
- Etsy: Vintage items (20+ years), premium pricing
- Mercari: Quick sales, price-sensitive buyers
The Inventory Challenge
Cross-listing creates a management problem: when an item sells on Depop, you need to remove it from every other platform immediately. Fail to do this, and you risk double-selling, having to refund a buyer, and damaging your reputation.
For Depop, Poshmark, and Mercari, you will need to track inventory manually or use a spreadsheet system. However, if you also sell on eBay, Etsy, or run your own store on Shopify, WooCommerce, or BigCommerce, tools like Voolist can handle automatic inventory synchronization across those ecommerce platforms. This means when something sells on your Shopify store, it automatically delists from eBay and Etsy.
The practical approach for most sellers: use Voolist or similar tools to sync your ecommerce and major marketplace inventory (eBay, Etsy, Shopify), then manually manage your Depop listings by checking your inventory before fulfilling orders. Many sellers keep a simple spreadsheet or notes app to track what is listed where.
Common Depop Mistakes to Avoid
Mistake 1: Treating Depop Like eBay
Clinical product shots on white backgrounds with keyword-stuffed titles don't work here. Depop rewards personality and aesthetic. Adapt your approach.
Mistake 2: Wrong Product-Market Fit
Not everything sells well on Depop. If your inventory is generic mall brands or basic items, consider other platforms as your primary marketplace.
Mistake 3: Inconsistent Posting
The algorithm rewards regular activity. Sellers who post sporadically see their visibility drop. Consistency matters more than volume.
Mistake 4: Ignoring the Social Features
Depop is social commerce. Sellers who only list without engaging (following, liking, messaging) miss a major driver of visibility and sales.
Mistake 5: Staying Single-Platform
Even successful Depop sellers leave money on the table by not cross-listing. That vintage jacket might appeal to a different buyer on eBay or Etsy who would never find it on Depop.
Getting Started: Your First Week Action Plan
New to Depop? Here's your roadmap:
Day 1-2: Setup
- Create your profile with a clear photo and bio
- Set up your photography space
- Research successful sellers in your niche for inspiration
Day 3-4: First Listings
- List 5-10 items that fit Depop's audience
- Style and photograph items carefully
- Write conversational descriptions with relevant hashtags
Day 5-7: Build Activity
- Refresh listings daily
- Follow 50-100 users in your niche
- Like and engage with other sellers' content
- Respond to all messages promptly
Next Steps for Growth
Once you understand Depop's unique culture, expanding to additional platforms multiplies your income potential. Consider adding eBay for global reach, Etsy for vintage items, or even launching your own Shopify store for brand building.
If you expand to eBay, Etsy, or your own ecommerce store, tools like Voolist can help manage inventory across those platforms automatically. For more reselling strategies, check out our guides on starting a reselling business and vintage trends and where to list them.
