2026 Recommerce Report reveals consumer insights about secondhand marketplace
SEATTLE — The secondhand marketplace continues to drive transactions in the consumer marketplace, and a new Recommerce Report highlights some of the reasons.
According to the OfferUp 2026 Recommerce Report, 81% of the surveyed U.S. shoppers responded that buying secondhand puts products they want within financial reach, and 51% noted that tariff-related price concerns make them more likely to shop secondhand.
Additionally, some 90% of U.S. shoppers reporting buying something secondhand in the past year, and 51% reported selling something. According to the report, 81% of existing secondhand shoppers are spending as much or more time on online resale platforms than they were a year ago, while 78% are buying as many or more secondhand items.
See also:
- Premium secondhand marketplace finds foothold in furniture
- Demand for secondhand: Ikea takes on Facebook Marketplace, Craigslist
The secondhand recommerce industry continues to play a large role in the U.S. retail economy. The market is expected to reach $246.7 billion in 2026, up 7.9% from 2025, and grow to $307.7 billion by 2030. Recommerce is also projected to account for 8.3% of U.S. retail spending by the end of the decade.
Secondhand selling provides financial flexibility
Seven in 10 U.S. shoppers (71%) say economic or financial concerns influenced their decision to buy or sell secondhand over the past year, with 56% specifically pointing to cost of living or inflation. Additionally, 95% of respondents reported owning at least one type of item they believe they could sell or resell.
Among those with something to sell, 53% estimate they could make at least $500 from items they already own, one-third (33%) believe they could make $1,000 or more, and 13% estimate they could make $3,000 or more.
For those earning money through resale, more than half (51%) use the money they earn to pay bills or everyday expenses, 41% put it toward savings, and 25% use it to pay down debt. Resale is also helping fund what’s next: 11% use their earnings to start or grow a business or side hustle, and the percentage rises to 18% among Gen Z sellers.
OfferUp is a mobile marketplace that helps consumers buy, sell and connect locally. The eighth annual report, published in partnership with retail analytics firm GlobalData, reveals that secondhand is becoming a bigger part of how Americans shop, helping consumers get more of what they want for their money while unlocking value from things they already own.
The report also shows how resale is evolving alongside the broader retail landscape. Economic pressures, including rising costs and tariff concerns, are making the financial flexibility of recommerce increasingly relevant, while new technology is introducing conveniences and new questions about trust, authenticity and control.
Methodology
The OfferUp Recommerce Report includes research and data from retail analytics firm GlobalData. GlobalData uses consumer surveys, retailer tracking, official data, data sharing, store observation and secondary sources to analyze, model and calculate metrics, including market and channel size and market share. Online market research provider Pollfish conducted an August 2026 survey of 1,500 U.S. adults, asking specific questions about their recommerce buying and selling behaviors.
