Is Selling Outdoor Equipment On Facebook Marketplace Profitable
Last updated: April 2026 ·affiliate disclosure
Most outdoor equipment sellers on Facebook Marketplace see net margins between 15% and 35% after all fees and costs. You're not paying listing fees, but Facebook takes a cut on payment processing, and you'll lose money to shipping, packaging, and the time you spend photographing and responding to messages. The profitability question isn't whether you can make money—you can—it's whether the margins justify the effort compared to selling the same gear on eBay, Craigslist, or specialized outdoor sites.
Facebook Marketplace Fees for outdoor equipment Sellers
Facebook Marketplace doesn't charge listing fees, but it does charge payment processing fees. When you use Facebook Pay, you'll pay 1.5% + $0.10 per transaction on items under $20, and 2.2% + $0.20 on items $20 and over. For a $200 camping tent, that's $4.60 in fees right there. You also have to factor in shipping costs (which you can pass to buyers, but many outdoor equipment shoppers expect free or low shipping), packaging materials, and payment processor fees if you accept other methods like PayPal (2.9% + $0.30).
Profit Margin Benchmarks
Good margins on outdoor equipment happen when you're selling used items you already own or buying wholesale at heavy discounts. A used tent bought for $50 and resold for $120 nets you roughly 25-30% profit after Facebook fees and shipping. Average margins sit around 20% for most used outdoor gear (used backpacks, sleeping bags, climbing equipment). Poor margins happen when you buy retail inventory to resell new—a $100 item you bought for $80 and sell for $110 leaves you with 5-8% after fees, shipping, and your time.
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The margins above are averages. Your real profit depends on your specific price, costs, and volume.
Run Your Facebook Marketplace Profit Calculation →Verdict: Is It Worth It?
Facebook Marketplace is profitable for outdoor equipment if you're selling used gear you already own or have sourced cheaply. Don't expect to make money flipping new retail inventory—your margins are too thin and competition from specialized retailers is brutal. The real advantage is zero listing fees and access to local buyers who avoid shipping costs entirely. If you have inventory sitting around, yes, list it. If you're building a business, you're better off on eBay or niche outdoor marketplaces.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the exact Facebook Marketplace fees for outdoor equipment?
Facebook charges 1.5% + $0.10 for items under $20, and 2.2% + $0.20 for items $20 and over when using Facebook Pay. On a $200 outdoor item, that's $4.60. If you accept PayPal or other payment methods, you'll pay an additional 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction.
What profit margins should I expect selling outdoor equipment on Facebook Marketplace?
Used outdoor equipment typically yields 20-30% net margins after all fees and shipping. New retail inventory usually produces only 5-10% margins. Your actual profit depends heavily on how much you paid for the item—buying wholesale or selling items you already own dramatically improves margins.
Is selling outdoor equipment on Facebook Marketplace worth the effort?
Yes, if you're selling used gear locally and avoiding shipping costs. No, if you're trying to build a full-time business reselling new outdoor equipment—your margins are too thin to justify the time. Facebook Marketplace works best as a secondary channel for inventory you already have.
How do shipping costs affect profitability for outdoor equipment on Facebook Marketplace?
Shipping outdoor equipment is expensive. A tent or backpack easily costs $15-40 to ship, eating 10-20% of your profit margin. Offering local pickup eliminates this problem entirely, which is why outdoor equipment sellers often see better margins on Facebook Marketplace than on eBay.
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