How to Sell Hand Tools in Australia
The best platforms for selling hand tools in Australia are eBay and Facebook Marketplace. Quality brands hold value; vintage tools have a collector market.
Best Platforms for Hand Tools
eBay
FreeAustralia's largest marketplace with 12M+ monthly users. Strong search traffic for hand tools and built-in buyer protection.
Facebook Marketplace
FreeZero seller fees and local pickup option. Ideal for hand tools where buyers want to inspect before purchasing.
Pricing Hand Tools
Vintage Stanley planes (#4, #5, #7) sell for $50-200+ depending on type and condition. Old Disston saws have a collector market. Modern quality hand tools (Bahco, Knipex) hold value well. Bundle common hand tools into workshop lots for faster sales.
Market context: That $62 billion figure represents a $14 billion spike from the prior 12 months.
Source: Gumtree / EcoVoice, 2022
Where to Source Hand Tools in Australia
Garage sales and deceased estate shed clearouts are goldmines. Look for Stanley, Record, Disston, and old Australian-made tools. Farm clearances in regional areas surface tools that city buyers pay premiums for. Op shops occasionally get workshop donations.
Photography Tips for Hand Tools
Show the maker's mark, blade or cutting edge condition, and handle condition. For planes and chisels, photograph the sole and edge. Clean surface rust but don't over-restore — patina has value.
Shipping Tips
- Australia Post Parcel Post with tracking is the go-to for most items. Budget $10-15 for standard-sized parcels.
- Poly mailers work for clothing and soft goods — they're lighter and cheaper to post than boxes.
- For rigid items, use a box with at least 2cm of padding on all sides. Newspaper works in a pinch, but bubble wrap is better.
- Print labels at home if you're shipping regularly — it saves time at the post office and gives you tracking automatically.
- Offer combined shipping if you sell multiple items. Buyers appreciate the discount and you save on packaging.
- Always get proof of postage. A tracking number or Australia Post receipt is your only defence in a delivery dispute.
Sell Hand Tools on Each Platform
Each platform has different strengths for hand tools. Check the individual guides for platform-specific tips.
What Sellers Say
“We are dealing with a demographic of entitled people — but some lowballers just don't know any better. Don't take it personally.”
— Australian Depop seller, 2026
“Write 'the 3 stripe brand' instead of Adidas. Let photos show the brand, not the text.”
— Australian seller tip on Facebook Marketplace workarounds, 2026
“I'd rather pay $40 with free shipping than $25 with $15 shipping — even though it's the same total.”
— Depop buyer, Australian Depop Sellers Facebook group, 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the best platform to sell hand tools in Australia?
eBay is generally the strongest platform for hand tools in Australia, followed by Facebook Marketplace. Quality brands hold value; vintage tools have a collector market
How much can I make selling hand tools?
Vintage Stanley planes (#4, #5, #7) sell for $50-200+ depending on type and condition. Old Disston saws have a collector market. Modern quality hand tools (Bahco, Knipex) hold value well. Bundle common hand tools into workshop lots for faster sales.
Where can I source hand tools for resale in Australia?
Garage sales and deceased estate shed clearouts are goldmines. Look for Stanley, Record, Disston, and old Australian-made tools. Farm clearances in regional areas surface tools that city buyers pay premiums for. Op shops occasionally get workshop donations.
How should I price used hand tools?
Vintage Stanley planes (#4, #5, #7) sell for $50-200+ depending on type and condition. Old Disston saws have a collector market. Modern quality hand tools (Bahco, Knipex) hold value well. Bundle common hand tools into workshop lots for faster sales. Always check recently sold listings on eBay (filter by "Sold" and "AU Only") to get current market pricing rather than relying on active listing prices, which are often inflated.
What shipping method works best for hand tools?
Standard Australia Post Parcel Post with tracking works well for hand tools. Most items in this category ship for $10-15 domestically. Use poly mailers for soft goods and boxes with padding for anything rigid. Always get proof of postage — it's your protection in any buyer dispute.
Sell Hand Tools Across Multiple Platforms
List your hand tools once and crosslist to eBay, Facebook Marketplace automatically. When an item sells on one platform, Shopfront marks it as sold everywhere — no double-selling, no manual updates.
Start Crosslisting FreeAU Reselling Market Data
Australia's secondhand economy is valued at $62 billion AUD.
Source: Gumtree Second Hand Economy Report, 2022
Around 1 in 3 Australians has sold items via online marketplaces.
Source: Statista, 2022