How to sell shoes online: cleaning, photos, sizing and packing

What sells well

• leather boots, Chelsea boots and ankle boots, especially in autumn and winter
• trainers from well-known brands in good condition, with clean soles
• occasion shoes and heels that have only been worn once or twice
• walking boots and wellies that are still waterproof
• children's shoes, which are often outgrown before they wear out

Shoes with soles worn through, broken heels or split uppers are much harder to sell. Our guide to buying second-hand winter boots shows exactly what careful buyers check.

Clean them first

1. Brush off dirt from the uppers, soles and welt with a soft brush.
2. Wipe the soles with a damp cloth, getting into the tread.
3. Clean the uppers in the way that suits the material: a damp cloth for leather and synthetics, a suede brush for suede and nubuck, and a gentle wash by hand for fabric trainers. Check any care instructions first.
4. Wash or replace the laces if they are grubby.
5. Freshen the insides. Take out removable insoles to air, and leave the shoes somewhere airy, away from radiators.
6. Polish leather with a matching polish if it is scuffed, and let it dry fully.

Never dry shoes on a radiator or in front of a heater, as heat can crack leather and loosen glue.

Photograph them from every side

Shoe buyers want to see the wear, so show it.

• The pair from the side, both shoes together.
• The front and back of one shoe, to show the toe and heel.
• The top view, looking down into the shoe.
• The soles, both of them, in sharp focus.
• The heels, from behind, to show wear on the heel tips.
• The inside label with the size.
• Any scuffs, creases or marks, each up close.

Daylight near a window and a plain background work best. Our guide to photographing clothes to sell has more tips that apply just as well to shoes.

Get the size right

Shoe sizes vary between brands and between countries, so the label alone does not tell a buyer enough.

• Give the size exactly as it is on the label, including any EU or US size printed alongside.
• Measure the insole in cm, heel to toe inside the shoe. On Rewear this is the measurement the listing form asks for on shoes and trainers.
• Mention the fit if you have worn them: narrow, wide, roomy at the toe or true to size.

Our UK shoe size conversion guide explains why the insole measurement matters more than any chart.

Describe the condition honestly

Say how many times they have been worn, roughly, and be specific about wear:

• "Light creasing across the toes, soles show light wear at the ball of the foot."
• "Small scuff on the inside of the left heel, shown in photo 6."
• "Heel tips replaced last year."

On Rewear you can tick flaws such as Scuffs and Worn soles in the "Any flaws?" section of the listing form, as well as describing them.

Pack them well

Shoes need a box, unlike most clothes.

1. Stuff each shoe with paper so it keeps its shape.
2. Wrap each shoe separately, or put them in a shoe bag, so they do not scuff each other.
3. Use the original box if you still have it, inside a mailing bag or a slightly larger box.
4. Fill any gaps with paper so nothing moves.

On Rewear, a pair of shoes is usually the large parcel size, about a shoebox, and boots often need extra large. Weigh them packed before you list. Our guide to posting clothes cheaply explains each size.

Price them fairly

Condition matters more for shoes than for most clothes, because buyers know soles and heels wear. Pieces that look almost unworn and come with the box can ask noticeably more. Check similar pairs in similar condition, and decide your lowest price before you list.

On Rewear there is no selling fee, so the price you agree is the price you are paid. Buyers pay postage and a buyer protection fee of 30p + 3%.

The short version

Clean them inside and out. Photograph the pair, the soles, the heels, the label and every scuff. Give the label size and the insole length in cm. Describe wear honestly, stuff and wrap them, and post them in a box.