Are you looking to get into eCommerce and start selling online in the UK but not sure which sales channel to choose? Opening an eBay store may be the best option for you.
eBay is one of the world’s oldest and most extensive online marketplaces, making it a great place to sell to UK customers.
Keep reading to get the inside scoop about the best things to sell on eBay for profit in the UK and running a thriving online business with Printify.
12 Best categories for top-selling items on eBay
We’ve compiled a list of eBay UK’s top 12 most profitable product categories to set you up for success.
1. Clothing and Accessories
Clothing and accessories are top sellers on eBay. If you’re new to the industry and want to sell custom clothing and accessories, Print on Demand is the best option. It’s fast, beginner-friendly, easy to manage, and has zero upfront costs.
Apparel. Apparel ranks high among the most popular items on eBay, with an expected UK market value of £75 billion by 2026. Whether it’s women’s clothing staples like sun dresses or custom t-shirts like our high-quality heavy cotton tee, place your designs on profitable apparel products to attract customers to your eBay store.
Shoes. From stylish custom sneakers to classy heels, the demand for footwear never dips. With a wide range of brands, styles, and sizes, custom shoes are a hot ticket item that caters to every taste, making them top-selling items on eBay UK.
Accessories. Discover the power of personalisation with custom beanies, bucket hats, and trucker caps – some of the hottest items on eBay. Or ride the wave of eco-consciousness by designing custom tote bags. Don’t forget to explore other popular accessories like belts, gloves, small leather goods, and sunglasses to make your eBay store genuinely stand out.
2. Health and Beauty
The UK beauty and personal care industry is expected to reach £6.64 billion in 2024. Many people prioritise taking care of their appearance, so the health and beauty category is home to some of eBay’s top-selling items.
Skin Care. Sunscreen, lotions, day and night creams, and other body products are among the health and beauty industry’s most popular and profitable items.
Hair Care. Custom-made shampoos, conditioners, hair oils, and other products that differ from mass-produced selections are in high demand. Offering unique and improved hair care products with competitive pricing generates consistent online sales since these are products people buy on a regular basis.
Perfumes. Fragrances are a best-selling items. Offer scents from top-selling brands, or create your own to enchant a room with magical scents.
Makeup. Cosmetics are among the top-selling eBay categories, with a wide variety of beauty products, such as lipstick, eyeshadow palettes, mascaras, and more. Do some market research to find out which cosmetics are trending right now and what their average sales price is before adding them to your online store.
Vitamins, Minerals, and Dietary Supplements. These high-demand items support overall health and well-being. This is one of the best product categories to sell online to attract the health-conscious crowd.
3. Fitness
The sports apparel and fitness equipment markets continue to grow as more people set up home gyms. Listing best-selling products in these popular sporting goods categories will skyrocket your popularity in the fitness niche market.
Athleisure wear and athletic shoes. Selling fashionable athletic apparel like hoodies, leggings, socks, workout shoes from popular brands, and custom footwear can be profitable on platforms like eBay, where buyers seek the perfect blend of fashion and performance.
Equipment. From dumbbells and yoga mats to heavy gym machinery, customers are looking for top-quality gym equipment for their businesses or home workouts. Selling products in this category will make you much more than just a little extra cash.
Accessories. From spacious gym bags to towels and custom water bottles. Sporting goods are some of the best things to sell on eBay for profit as they let your customers stand out in the gym or make their home workouts more fun.
4. Jewellery and Watches
The global jewellery market is predicted to reach £239 billion by 2026. This market segment is highly profitable, can be priced competitively, and is easier to package and ship than other products, such as consumer electronics or items with specific weight and sizing restrictions.
Watches and Watch Bands. Watches are hot-selling items on eBay. Watch categories, including vintage, modern, and custom watch bands, are among the most popular searches. Offer one-of-a-kind watches to gain a competitive edge.
Necklaces, Earrings, Pendants. These classic pieces of jewellery never go out of style. Items like custom necklaces, personalised pendants, tags, and jewellery boxes rank among the best-selling products on eBay.
Rings. From engagement to candy rings, eBay has it all. Offer several options in this product category to raise your profits.
5. Pet Supplies
Pet supplies are among the best things to sell on eBay and the Internet as a whole. By 2030, the global market for pet supplies is predicted to reach around £188 billion. This product category is worth exploring with unique pet products and custom designs for every furry, feathery, or scaley friend.
Bestselling pet products include:
Collars and Leashes. Give your pet’s look a little razzle-dazzle with custom collars and leashes with your designs.
Bowls and Feeding Mats. Unique bowls and mats for food and water can make feeding time more memorable and fun.
Pet Beds. A comfy pet is a happy pet! Design custom beds and pillows for pets of all shapes and sizes to sell online.
Accessories. From tank tops and bandana collars to tags and more. Dress pets around the world with top-selling products and cute designs.
6. Home and Garden
The Home & Garden category is one of the most popular on eBay, offering a wide range of products to cater to various consumer needs and global market trends, from garden furniture to kitchen appliances. Here are some of the best-selling items in this category.
Heating and cooling systems. Offer energy-efficient and eco-friendly options such as fireplaces, stoves, and HVAC systems in your eBay store.
Inverters and outdoor power equipment. Inverters that convert DC into AC are in high demand, along with outdoor power equipment like lawnmowers and leaf blowers.
Small kitchen appliances. Many people enjoy cooking at home, so small appliances like blenders and coffee makers are popular on eBay. Speciality appliances like air fryers and sous-vide machines are also top-sellers. Adjust your pricing strategy so you can beat the big-box stores while still turning a nice profit.
Custom home decor. Customisable home decor items such as cushions, blankets, and rugs sell very well on eBay. Personalised mugs are definitely among the most sold items.
7. Cell Phones and Accessories
Just about everybody has a cellphone these days, making mobile phones and cell phone accessories among the most sold consumer electronics items on eBay, surpassing other options like video game consoles.
Cell Phones. From best-selling cell phone brands to lesser-known models, these everyday mobile devices are great products to sell on eBay.
Car Phone Holders. These hands-free car mounts allow drivers to safely use their phones to follow directions or change the music.
Phone Cases. These are perhaps the most popular cell phone accessories since everyone wants to keep their device safe but also stylish. Sell custom phone cases with fun designs for every niche.
Phone Parts and Accessories. From batteries and chargers to screen protectors and more. Offer eBay shoppers everything they need in these product categories.
8. Automotive Parts and Repairs
With a wide range of products, including body parts, lighting, and performance upgrades, eBay has everything one needs to keep a vehicle running smoothly and looking great.
Motorcycle and scooter parts and accessories. This category includes everything from brake pads and filters to helmets and riding gear.
Lighting and bulbs. Keep customers’ car lights shining bright by offering everything from headlights and taillights to interior bulbs. Lighting ranks high among the best-selling items in this category on eBay.
Auto electrics. eBay shoppers look for many auto electric products, including batteries, fuses, and relays, to keep the car’s electrical system in top condition.
Bicycle Components & Parts. Sell products for repairing bicycles with a wide array of parts and accessories, such as tyres, chains, handlebars, and lighting systems.
Jet Parts and Accessories. It may not be one of your first product ideas for your eBay store, but jet parts and accessories appeal to a niche market in the UK with high demand. This product category includes engines, avionics, and interior components from generic brands and big names to ensure safe and comfortable flight experiences.
Vehicle Maintenance and Care. Sell products to keep vehicles in top condition, including oil, filters, cleaning supplies, and tools.
Performance and Racing Parts. Sell products like turbochargers, exhaust systems, and suspension upgrades to enhance vehicle performance.
9. Crafts and Collectibles
The eBay marketplace is home to artistic shoppers. Supplies for paper crafts, stone beads for handmade jewellery, musical instruments, wall art, custom canvas, photo cameras, and accessories have been steady eBay best sellers for years.
Canvases and Posters. Sell wall art on eBay, like custom posters and framed pieces. With eBay’s diverse customer base, you can reach a global audience and sell your art to potential buyers worldwide.
Art Supplies. Sell an array of products to support artists with various passions, whether they’re into sewing, beading, painting, sculpting, or more. Offer the perfect tools and materials to bring creative visions to life.
Musical Instruments. From the tiniest ukuleles to electric pianos, drums, and guitars – musical instruments and their parts sell with high profit margins on eBay.
Cameras. Best-selling brands like Nikon, Polaroid, and Canon rank among the top-selling items on eBay, including photo accessories like lenses, filters, film, camera bags, and tripods.
Seasonal Decorations. Create and sell custom products like Christmas stockings to ornaments, custom stuffed animals, and holiday cards to profit from seasonal trends.
10. Business and Industrial
This category on eBay is a hub for professionals looking to source high-quality equipment and supplies at a high average selling price. Here are some of the most popular subcategories:
Testing and Inspection Equipment. eBay shoppers seek inspection equipment for industries like electronics and construction to ensure work safety and accuracy.
11. Computers and Networking
This category is home to some of the bestselling items on eBay. From spare parts to various personalised accessories, people are always looking for items to fix up their laptops or make computers work more efficiently.
Laptop Replacement Parts. Sell high-demand items like screens, keyboards, and small essentials – everything you need to fix or upgrade a laptop.
Printer Ink, Toner and Paper. Eager buyers choose from various brands and types to suit their printing needs.
Graphics/Video Cards. These essentials rank high among best-selling items on eBay, and for a reason – they boost a computer’s visual performance and elevate the gaming or multimedia experience.
Mouse Pads. Custom mouse pads are eBay bestsellers thanks to their practical and visually pleasing aesthetic. People love to buy them to spruce up their gaming station or workplace.
Laptop Sleeves. Safeguard laptops worldwide with a custom laptop sleeve – design them in multiple sizes and patterns to appeal to a broader target audience.
12. Automotive Accessories
While automotive parts are for improving the vehicle’s performance, this category is all about improving the experience and visual aesthetic of the ride. And that can be done through various accessories – for interior and exterior use.
Interior Accessories. From car mats and seat covers to rearview mirror charms and more, people will gladly buy these eBay best sellers to spruce up their rides.
Exterior Accessories. Custom licence plate frames, flags, spoilers, and various other car decor items are a hit with eBay shoppers as they give cars a personal touch.
Motorcycle Accessories. From unique helmets and protective gear to fun and unique bike accessories – these will be a hit among daredevil road warriors on eBay.
Why is it a Good Idea to Start Selling on eBay?
It’s no secret that some of the most successful eCommerce business owners choose eBay to build their online stores. Creating an eBay seller account opens the door to many possibilities and benefits for selling goods. The online marketplace’s existing audience, product categories, and advertising options open up opportunities for the highest sales numbers you’ve ever had.
Worldwide Audience. With 132 million active users in 2023, UK eBay sellers have the opportunity to market their products to one of the biggest global audiences. Stock your storefront with top-selling items on eBay UK and reach millions of buyers looking for your products. A bigger reach results in more significant revenue.
Seller Protection. Focus on growing your online sales while eBay has your back. Their seller protection team tracks problems beforehand, enforces the seller protection policy, and provides customer service at all times. From fake feedback to other customer issues, eBay will rise to the occasion and protect its merchants.
eBay App. Thanks to the powerful eBay app, selling on multiple devices is effortless. Set prices, check current trending products and their average sale price, add photos from your phone directly to the listings, auto-fill information, interact with customer inquiries, and fully run your eBay UK store on the go.
Lower Fees. eBay charges lower fees than other top online marketplaces. With eBay, there is a listing fee and final selling fee, usually adding up to 12.8% + 30p per order and a 0.42% regulatory operating fee (free for apparel). Lower fees mean more profits for eBay UK sellers, making this a convenient marketplace for running a successful eCommerce business.
Auctions. eBay gained worldwide popularity as the biggest online auction marketplace. Sell items directly or list them for auction, reaching a much higher final sales price and providing sellers with flexibility. Earn more with auctions and allow the items to reach their full price potential.
Product Diversity. From best-selling items on the market to random deals on super niche items, eBay allows merchants to sell just about anything as long as it’s legal. Don’t believe us? Two sisters once sold a cornflake shaped like the state of Illinois on eBay for $1,350. If you think your items are worthy of a new owner, you can sell them on eBay.
Shipping Assistance. One of the most significant benefits eBay sellers receive is shipping assistance, such as exceptional savings on shipping and the Global Shipping Program, which has various logistics options and solutions. With one-of-a-kind deals, you can save time and money and attract buyers with lower shipping costs for your successful listings.
Start Your eBay Journey With Printify
Why choose Printify:
- Beginner-Friendly. It’s free, quick, and easy to sign up for Printify and start designing best-selling products.
- Product Selection. Our extensive Product Catalogue offers over 1000 products to customise with your designs, including apparel and accessories, home decor, pet supplies, kitchen utensils, games, and more. We also include a bestseller list to see which products consistently make other UK merchants tons of money.
- Transparency. There are no hidden costs. Manage listings on your Printify account to ensure full transparency on pricing strategy, deals, orders, and other processes.
- Easy Design Process. Use our free, beginner-friendly Product Creator to make exquisite designs and write successful listings. It includes valuable tools like a text editor, mockups and previews, a pattern creator, and even an AI Image Generator.
- Great Support. Our merchant support agents are available 24/7 to help with everything from store setup to product listings, order status, re-routing, and more.
FAQ
Seasonal trends significantly influence demand for certain categories in online marketplaces such as eBay UK, with items like holiday decorations or summer fashion peaking during specific times of the year. Sellers should plan their inventory and pricing strategy accordingly.
Other eBay sellers often use a combination of wholesale purchasing, dropshipping, and personal sourcing methods like thrift shopping to find items. Research and networking are key for stellar product ideas, connecting with the right suppliers, and encouraging positive feedback.
Proper padding and static-free packaging are essential for electronics, while home goods may require sturdy boxes and bubble wrap to prevent damage. Clear, detailed shipping policies can also build customer trust.
Conclusion – Top Selling Products on eBay
What sells best on eBay? That depends on your niche. But, by conducting thorough market research and finding ways to price competitively, you can amp up your profits by appealing to shoppers with a vast range of bestsellers.
Sign up for Printify today to design products, sell items from the top-selling eBay categories, and succeed in the UK eCommerce market.
