On Facebook Marketplace, you list items for free, buyers message you, and you arrange payment and pickup or shipping.
How it works
Facebook Marketplace lets you buy and sell local items. You need a Facebook account.
To sell
- Open Marketplace and click Create new listing.
- Add photos, title, price, category and description.
- Choose location and publish.
- Buyers message you through Messenger.
- Agree on payment and pickup.
Fees
Free to list. Shipped orders have a selling fee (5 percent, minimum $0.40, as of 2024 to 2025).
Safety
- Meet in public places.
- Use cash or secure payment.
- Don’t share personal data.
- Beware of scams (overpayment, fake checks, deposits).
Buying
Search, message sellers and inspect items.
Tip
Take clear photos and price competitively.
What you can sell
Most items are allowed, such as furniture, electronics, clothing, cars and home goods. Prohibited items include animals, weapons, drugs, adult products, counterfeit goods and recalled products, according to Meta’s commerce policies.
Listing a good ad
- Take clear, bright photos from several angles.
- Write a plain title with brand, model and condition.
- State the size, age, defects and the pickup location.
- Search for similar items to set a fair price, and leave room for negotiation.
Local pickup versus shipping
Most sales are local pickup with cash. Some sellers offer shipping, where Meta may charge a selling fee, typically a percentage of the sale price with a minimum.
Messaging
Buyers contact sellers through Messenger. Reply quickly, since buyers often message multiple sellers. Use the “Available” or “Sold” status to avoid repeated questions.
Meeting safely
- Meet in a public place, ideally a police station “safe exchange zone” or a busy store.
- Bring a friend, and meet in daylight.
- Do not share extra personal information.
- Test electronics before paying.
Scams to know
- Overpayment scams where a buyer sends too much and asks for a refund.
- Fake payment confirmation screenshots.
- Verification code scams, where a scammer asks you to send a code received by text. This code can lead to account takeover.
- Requests to move conversation or payment outside the platform.
Taxes
In the US, income from selling items at a profit may be taxable. Payment platforms report some transactions on Form 1099-K above thresholds that change by year, so check the IRS guidance.
Listing and selling practices
Facebook Marketplace lets people list items for sale within their local area, using photos, a title, price, category and description. Listings with clear photos taken in good light, a specific title and the item condition sell faster. For local sales, the seller can set the pickup option, and shipping is available for some items, with Meta charging a selling fee, which was 10 percent per shipment, with a minimum fee of 0.80 USD in 2024 for shipped orders in the US. Local pickup transactions are free of selling fees. Marketplace is available to users who are 18 and older with a Facebook account.
Staying safe and legal
Meet buyers in a public place, ideally a police station “safe exchange zone,” bring a friend, and avoid sharing personal details. Be wary of buyers who overpay, ask to move to text or email, request payment through gift cards or want you to send a verification code, as these are common scam signs. The FTC reported that consumers lost over 10 billion USD to fraud in 2023, and social media was the starting point for a large share. Cash and in person payment apps are safer, and payment should be received before shipping. Selling items for less than you paid is not taxable income, but regular sales may be taxable, and platforms must report certain sellers to the IRS.
Based on data from Meta Help Center and the FTC
