Every weekend, thousands of UK sellers set up their tables hoping to make money from items they no longer need. Some leave with an empty table and a full wallet. Others take most of their stock home. The difference comes down to what you choose to sell. This guide collects tips from experienced UK sellers on the best things to sell at a car boot — what moves fast, what earns the most, and what is not worth the space.
The Best Things to Sell at a Car Boot: Quick Reference
| Item type | Price range | Speed of sale | Space needed | Bring a table? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toys and games | £1-5 | Very fast | Medium | Yes |
| Baby clothes | 50p-£3 | Very fast | Low | Yes |
| Books | 50p-£2 | Medium | High | Yes |
| Vinyl records | £2-20 | Medium | Low | Yes |
| Small furniture | £5-40 | Slow | High | No |
| DVDs and Blu-rays | 50p-£2 | Fast | Medium | Yes |
| Video games | £3-15 | Very fast | Low | Yes |
The best things to sell at a car boot in the UK are items that hit a sweet spot: low acquisition cost, broad appeal, and quick turnover. The sellers who do this weekly focus on a few categories they know inside out rather than bringing a random mix. For a full category breakdown, see the best items to sell guide — it covers each category in detail.
Toys, Games, and Children's Items
Toys are the single most reliable category at any UK car boot sale. Parents arrive with children who want something new, and grandparents are always on the lookout for presents that cost a fraction of retail.
What experienced sellers bring: Board games (checked for all pieces), Lego sets by the bagful, action figures and dolls, children's craft kits, outdoor toys (bubbles, kites, water pistols), and puzzles. Branded toys from known ranges sell faster than generic items. The best sellers guide has a full breakdown of which toy categories outperform others.
Pricing tip: Bag Lego at £1-3 per sandwich bag. A single bag sells fast; a whole box slows down because buyers cannot assess the value. Display dolls and action figures standing up so children can see them at eye level.
Clothes for Babies and Children
Baby and children's clothes are the most consistent earners at UK car boot sales. The maths is simple: parents need them, they outgrow them fast, and the resale value is near-zero for individual items, so boot sale prices feel like a bargain.
What sells best: Babygros and sleepsuits at 50p-£1, toddler coats at £2-3, school uniform bundles at £3-5, branded children's trainers at £3-5, and party dresses at £2-4. Items in a bundle sell faster than singles — "5 babygros for £3" is a better pitch than "babygro 50p each."
Display tip: Sort by size and gender with clear signs. A table of mixed baby clothes in a heap looks like a rummage bin. A table of size 3-6 months labelled "Baby Girl" looks like a shop. See the good things to sell guide for what buyers look for in the children's category.
Books
Books are the most common item at UK car boot sales because they are easy to collect and hard to throw away. The competition is high, so your pricing and selection need to stand out.
What experienced sellers bring: Recent paperbacks from bestseller lists, children's picture books, cookbooks from well-known authors, box sets, and unusual illustrated books. Hardbacks in good condition sell if they are current bestsellers or classic reference books.
What to leave at home: Book club editions, Reader's Digest volumes, textbooks more than three years old, yellowed paperbacks, and encyclopaedias. These do not sell at any price and waste table space.
For book sellers, venues like indoor car boot sales are worth seeking out — the weather protection means books stay dry and buyers can browse without rushing. At outdoor sales, cover books with a plastic sheet if rain is forecast.
Vinyl Records
Vinyl is a niche that rewards preparation. Records sell well at UK car boot sales because the resurgence in vinyl collecting means demand is strong, but most sellers do not know how to price them correctly.
What sells: Classic rock (Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd), 80s pop, jazz standards, and original cast recordings. Condition matters enormously — a VG+ copy of a sought-after album sells for £10-20, while the same record in poor condition is worth £1. Find venues with Saturday sales that attract dedicated record buyers.
Pricing approach: Check Discogs for recent sale prices before the boot sale. Price competitively — at 70-80% of Discogs market value — and be prepared to negotiate on multiple purchases. Serious collectors at Sunday car boot sales arrive early and know exactly what they are looking for.
Small Furniture and Homeware
Furniture is a high-risk, high-reward category. The rewards are real — a well-priced piece can earn more than a full table of books. But the risks are significant: space, transport, weather, and buyer hesitation.
What sells: Small tables (bedside, coffee), chairs (dining, occasional), stools, shelving units, and storage baskets. Items that fit in a standard car boot sell fastest. Anything that needs a van or a roof rack limits your buyer pool.
What does not sell: Large wardrobes, sofas, mattresses, and flat-pack furniture that has been assembled and disassembled. The beginner's guide to selling has advice on how much space to allocate to furniture versus table goods.
DVDs, CDs, and Video Games
Physical media has not disappeared from car boot sales — it has just changed. DVDs at 50p-£1 each still sell because people buy them for cars, holiday homes, and children who damage discs. Video games have held their value better than any other media format.
What sells: DVD box sets of popular TV series (£2-5), video games for PlayStation 4, Nintendo Switch, and Xbox One (£5-15), and Blu-ray films in good condition (£1-2). Older formats (PS3, Xbox 360, Wii) still sell if the price is low enough.
Pricing by platform matters: Games for current-gen consoles sell for £10-15. Last-gen games sell for £2-5. Retro games (PS2, GameCube, original Xbox) sell for £3-10 depending on rarity. The pricing guide covers how to price media items competitively.
What Not to Bring
Experienced UK sellers are clear about what is not worth the space:
| Item | Why it does not sell |
|---|---|
| Encyclopaedias | Google replaced them |
| VHS tapes | Nobody has a player |
| Exercise equipment | Too bulky, too few buyers |
| Large furniture | Too much space, slow sale |
| Damaged electronics | Liability, bad reputation |
| Clothes without labels | Buyers cannot assess quality |
| Single odd shoes | Useless without a pair |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the most profitable thing to sell at a car boot sale?
Children's items consistently deliver the best profit-to-effort ratio. They cost nothing (from your own house), sell fast, and buyers pay asking prices without negotiation. A table of baby clothes and toys can clear £40-80 in a morning.
Do branded items sell better at car boot sales?
Yes. Branded children's clothes (Next, M&S, John Lewis), branded toys (Lego, Barbie, Disney), and branded electronics sell faster and for higher prices than unbranded equivalents. A Next babygro sells for £1-2; an unbranded one sells for 50p.
How much can you make selling things at a car boot?
A typical seller with a car boot full of household clearance makes £50-150 in a morning. Regular sellers who source stock deliberately make £100-300 per sale. The top sellers who specialise (vinyl, vintage, tools) can make £200-500 on a good day.
Should I sell old mobile phones at a car boot?
Yes, but only if you factory reset them and include a charger. Unlocked smartphones sell for £20-60 depending on model and condition. Be prepared for buyers to test the phone — bring a charger and a power bank.
Final Thoughts
The best things to sell at a car boot in the UK are the items you already have that fit a clear buyer need: toys for children, clothes for growing families, and collectables for enthusiasts. Start with your own clearout, learn what sells in your local market, and adjust your stock based on what moves fastest each week.
Find car boot sales near you on LocalBoot — search by area, day, and venue type to find the best pitches for your stock.
