Furniture flipping is a popular way that DIYers can make extra cash or income as a side hustle/business. If you’ve been curious about what it is or what techniques and materials you would need, you are in the right place! We will show you all the furniture flipping basics and strategies that have worked for us and answer some of the most common questions beginners have about getting started in flipping furniture.
In case you missed it, we recently refinished an old dresser and earned $300 after posting it online in less than a week!
And we’ve written an all-in-one comprehensive eBook detailing everything you need to know about this venture. We’ll share just a snippet of what you can find in the book here so keep reading and if you want a deeper dive, download the beginner’s guide!
What is Furniture Flipping?
You’ve seen it and heard about it, but what is it really? A furniture flip is basically finding or purchasing old furniture for a low price, fixing it up into something desirable, and reselling it for a profit. You can flip different types of furniture like dressers, tables or chairs. We’ve found that solid wood furniture gives the best return on investment and is what we focus on here.
How Do I Start Flipping Furniture?
Furniture flipping is not only for experienced DIYers. Even as a beginner, you can jump into these projects and start making money flipping old pieces of furniture after learning some of the basics. If we were starting our journey over, we would start with these 3 steps:
- Educate Yourself: Get familiar with the styles and types of furniture that sell really well in your local area (check Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, etc). Once you decide what type of furniture you would like to flip, research the techniques that work best. The Ultimate Furniture Flip Guide for Beginners is a great resource for learning everything you need to know about furniture flipping.
- Gather Supplies: Invest in supplies and tools like sandpaper and/or sander, primer, paint or stains, and hardware if you don’t already have what you need. Research to find which materials and finished would work best on your piece.
- Start Small: We’d recommend looking for smaller, easier-to-handle pieces of furniture. This will help you hone your skills before tackling larger projects.
What Tools Do I Need for Furniture Flipping?
Part of the furniture flip basics is having the right tools handy. We recommend investing in quality materials to ensure that your furniture stands the test of time, however you may start with budget-friendly options and work your way up to higher priced options once you’re ready!
Quick list of tools to get started:
- Orbital sander or sanding block
- Screwdrivers (an assortment of bit drivers may be useful here)
- Hammer
- Utility knife
- Paint brushes (various sizes)
- Paint roller and tray
- Drill and drill bits
- Tape measure
- Safety equipment (gloves, mask, goggles)
Quick list of materials to get started:
- Wood filler or putty
- Sandpaper (various grits: coarse, medium, fine)
- Primer suitable for furniture
- Quality paint or wood stain
- Clear coat or sealant (optional for added durability)
- Decorative hardware like drawer pulls
- Wood glue
You may need other materials depending on your project of course, but at least having these on hand will make sure you are prepared to tackle most flips.
Where Can I Find Furniture to Flip?
There are several places where you may find furniture to flip like:
- Online marketplaces (e.g., Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, OfferUp, eBay)
- Thrift stores
- Garage/Estate sales
- Flea markets
What is the Best Furniture to Flip?
We look for solid wood pieces or at least furniture with “good bones”. You want to find furniture that is able to take some rehabilitation. If you opt for a plastic, fragile piece because it is super cheap, you are not likely to sell it for a higher price because it will not last and would be worth less than a buyer would normally pay for a quality item.
How Much Money Do I Need to Start Furniture Flipping?
The amount of money you’ll need to start furniture flipping depends on a few things. You’ll need to consider the cost of supplies and the type of furniture you’re flipping. For example, if you have been DIYing for a while and already have a sander and paint materials, your supplies cost would be lower than someone who is just starting.
Also keep in mind that the idea is that you will buy your furniture piece for a lower cost so that you can make a higher return when you sell.
In our experience, this is a quick breakdown of the expenses you may encounter:
Estimated Costs
- Supplies and Tools: You may spend around $80 – $200 on tools and materials. This will depend on what you already have and the quality of the items you purchase. For example, if you opt for a high quality enamel paint, it may cost more than $50 per gallon. Or if you want to buy new hardware instead of updating the current ones.
- Furniture Purchase: Finding the right furniture piece for the right piece is essential to make sure you actually earn a profit. This cost will vary depending on the type of furniture you buy.
- Miscellaneous Expenses: We always account for contingencies and you should too. You never know if your furniture needs a special kind of repair until it happens. Or if you break one of your glass drawer handles and have to purchase another (we know from experience!). Also budget for a U-Haul rental if you don’t own a vehicle that can transport a large furniture item.
As you gain experience and confidence, you can gradually invest more money into your flipping projects.
Related Post: 5 Furniture Flipping Tips You Need to Know
Want to learn more about how to make money flipping furniture? We show how we made hundreds of dollars in this beginner’s guide called The Ultimate Money-Making Furniture Flipping Guide for Beginners.
We understand the challenges with approaching furniture flipping and wanted to provide a comprehensive guide for anyone to pick up and start the process with confidence. This guide is the culmination of our experience and expertise, designed to provide you with everything you need to get started!
What’s Inside
- How to find free or cheap furniture
- How to find the best furniture to flip for profit
- What you tools and materials you need to start flipping
- How to prep your furniture
- How to choose a primer
- How to choose the right color
- How to make your furniture stand out
- How to sell your furniture online
- What to do if your furniture is not selling
Have you started creating or flipping furniture and have a project to share? We’d love to see it! Tag us in your photo on Instagram, Pinterest or TikTok @hammerandhandsaw.