The best second-hand flips under £100 (2026 UK guide)

Flipping — buying something second-hand below its market value and reselling it — works best when you stay under £100. The downside risk is small, the buyer pool is large, and you can learn a category fast without tying up cash.

But not all sub-£100 items behave the same. Some categories hold value and sell in days; others sit for months. Here is how the main ones compare, based on the categories we track on the OmniUse marketplace.

Cameras: small, durable, and always in demand

Entry-level DSLRs and instant cameras are reliable flips. A Canon EOS body with a kit lens, or a Fujifilm Instax, has a constant stream of first-time buyers — students, parents, people starting photography. Condition is easy to assess (shutter works, lens is clean, battery holds charge), shipping is cheap, and the brands hold recognition.

What to look for: bundles. Sellers offloading a camera often include bags, SD cards and lenses they no longer need — the accessories alone can cover your purchase price.

Power tools: trade buyers pay for reliability

DeWalt, Makita and Bosch hold value because the buyer is often a tradesperson replacing a stolen or worn tool — they know exactly what it is worth and want it this week. Bare units (no battery) under £100 are the classic flip: tradespeople usually have batteries already.

• ✓Check the chuck and gearbox — those are the wear points buyers ask about.
• ✓Brushless models (the "XR" / "LXT" lines) resell noticeably better than brushed.
• ✓Photograph the serial number plate; it signals the listing is genuine.

Creator gear: the side-hustle multiplier

Microphones, ring lights, stream decks and capture cards ride the creator economy. A Blue Yeti or an Elgato Stream Deck under £60 sells to someone starting a podcast or stream — a buyer who is motivated and in a hurry.

The interesting angle: this gear can also earn before you flip it. A decent microphone can record a course or voiceover work; that is the kind of dual-use the Opportunity Score weighs when it ranks an item.

The economics that make any flip work

A workable flip needs three numbers: what you pay, what it realistically sells for, and what the platform takes. As of mid-2026, typical UK selling fees look like this — always check the current fee pages before you list:

• ✓eBay: roughly 13% + £0.30 per order for most categories.
• ✓Etsy: 6.5% transaction fee + £0.20 listing fee (vintage and handmade only).
• ✓Vinted: free for sellers — the buyer pays the protection fee.
• ✓Facebook Marketplace: local cash sales are free; shipped orders carry a fee of roughly 5% + £0.50.
• ✓OmniUse marketplace: 10% flat, with escrow — the buyer pays through protected checkout and you are paid out when delivery is confirmed.

A £40 buy that sells for £85 on a 10–13% fee platform clears roughly £35 before postage. Do that twice a week and it is a £300/month side income from one category you understand.

If you want the numbers done for you — realistic resale value, the best platform for the specific item, and ready-to-paste listings — that is exactly what an OmniUse analysis produces in about six seconds.