Facebook Marketplace Selling Tips: 15 That Actually Work (2026)

Who this is for

Facebook Marketplace sellers who want their listings to get more views, more messages, and faster sales. Whether you're decluttering or running a side business, these tips apply to local and shipped listings.

The goal

Learn how Facebook Marketplace's algorithm decides which listings to show, then optimize your titles, descriptions, photos, and pricing to rank higher and sell faster.

How the Facebook Marketplace algorithm works

Before diving into listing tips, understand what determines your visibility. Facebook's algorithm ranks listings based on:

1. Recency — Newer listings get an initial visibility boost
2. Engagement — Views, saves, messages, and shares signal quality
3. Relevance — Keyword matching between your listing and buyer searches
4. Response speed — How quickly you reply to buyer inquiries
5. Visual similarity — Image quality and relevance to the category

The critical window is the first 60–120 minutes after posting. If your listing gets low engagement during this period, its visibility drops sharply. Everything below is designed to maximize that initial window.

Title tips

1. Front-load keywords in the first 65 characters

Facebook Marketplace titles can be up to 100–200 characters, but only the first ~65 characters display in buyer feeds on most devices. Everything after gets cut off.

Put the most important details first:

Bad: "Beautiful handmade wooden cutting board perfect for any kitchen, great housewarming gift, made from walnut"

Good: "Walnut Cutting Board - Handmade, 12x18 inch - Kitchen Gift"

The good title puts the material, item type, and size in the visible portion. The bad title wastes space on adjectives that get truncated.

2. Include specific details buyers search for

Buyers search for specifics. Include:

• Brand name (if applicable)
• Size or dimensions
• Color or material
• Condition (new, like new, used)
• Model number (for electronics)

"Nike Air Max 90 Size 11 White - Like New" performs better than "Great condition sneakers barely worn."

3. Don't keyword-stuff your titles

Facebook actively penalizes keyword stuffing. Titles crammed with repetitive terms can get flagged and removed. Worse, repeated violations can restrict your account.

Flagged: "Table Coffee Table Wood Table Brown Table Living Room Table Side Table"

Safe: "Solid Wood Coffee Table - Brown, 48x24 inch - Living Room"

Photo tips

4. Lead with a clean, well-lit main photo

Your first photo is the only thing buyers see when scrolling their feed. It determines whether they tap or scroll past.

Requirements:

• Minimum resolution: 600×600 pixels (recommended 1080×1080 or higher)
• Format: JPEG for photos, PNG for images with text or logos
• Max file size: 30MB
• Aspect ratio: 1:1 (square) works best in the feed grid

Tips for your main photo:

• Use natural daylight or bright, even lighting
• Clean, uncluttered background (white or neutral preferred)
• Fill the frame with the product
• Shoot straight-on, not at an angle
• No watermarks, logos, or text overlays

5. Add multiple angles and detail shots

After the main photo, include:

• All sides of the item
• Close-ups of details, labels, or features
• Scale reference (item next to a common object for size context)
• Flaws (be honest—this builds trust and prevents returns)
• Item in use (if applicable—furniture in a room, clothing being worn)

Facebook allows up to 10 photos per listing. Use as many as you need to fully represent the item.

6. Never use stock photos

Stock photos trigger compliance flags and reduce buyer trust. Even if you're selling a new-in-box item, photograph the actual item (or at minimum, the actual box). Listings with stock photos are more likely to be flagged for removal.

Description tips

7. Structure your description for scanning

Marketplace descriptions don't support rich formatting, so use spacing and capitalization to create visual structure. Our Facebook Marketplace Description Generator creates properly structured descriptions automatically:

CONDITION: Like new, used twice
SIZE: 12x18 inches
MATERIAL: Solid walnut wood
INCLUDED: Board + care instructions card

Handmade walnut cutting board with juice groove.
Food-safe mineral oil finish.

Smoke-free home.
Local pickup in [Your Area] or shipping available.

8. Answer the questions buyers will ask

Preempt buyer messages by including:

• Condition and any flaws
• Dimensions or sizing
• Reason for selling (if applicable)
• Whether you accept offers
• Pickup location (neighborhood/area, not exact address)
• Payment methods accepted
• Shipping availability

Every question you answer in the description is a message you don't have to respond to—and fewer messages means less time per sale. If you're offering shipping, see our Facebook Marketplace shipping guide for costs and carrier options.

9. Include relevant keywords naturally

Facebook's search matches keywords from your title and description. Include terms buyers might search for, but work them into natural sentences:

Forced: "Mid century modern desk. Mid century desk. Modern desk. MCM desk. Retro desk."

Natural: "Mid-century modern writing desk in teak. Clean lines and tapered legs give it a classic retro look. Works great as a home office desk or entryway table."

Pricing tips

10. Research comparable listings before pricing

Search Facebook Marketplace for identical or similar items in your area. Note:

• What price they're listed at
• How long they've been listed (long-listed = overpriced)
• Whether they offer shipping or local only
• Condition compared to yours

Price your item competitively within the first page of results. Overpriced listings get buried as engagement drops. Factor in Facebook Marketplace fees when setting your price—shipped items incur ~13% in fees.

11. Build in negotiation room

Facebook Marketplace buyers negotiate. Most expect to pay 10–20% below the asking price. If your target price is $80, list at $95–100 to leave room for offers.

Use the "Or Best Offer" option for items where you're flexible. This signals approachability and generates more messages—which boosts your algorithm ranking through engagement signals. Use our Facebook Marketplace Fee Calculator to determine your minimum acceptable price after fees.

12. Price in round numbers ending in 0 or 5

$45 reads faster than $43. $100 reads faster than $97. On Marketplace, where buyers are scrolling quickly, simple pricing stands out in the feed.

Category and timing tips

13. Choose the right category

Category selection affects which searches your listing appears in. Facebook auto-suggests categories based on your title and description, but the suggestion isn't always correct.

Pick the most specific category available. A listing in "Furniture > Tables > Coffee Tables" appears in targeted searches, while one in "Home Goods" competes with everything.

Wrong category = wrong audience = fewer sales.

14. Post during peak browsing hours

Engagement in the first 60–120 minutes determines long-term visibility. Post when your target buyers are actively browsing:

• Local items: Evenings (6–9 PM) and weekend mornings (9–11 AM)
• Shipped items: Late morning (10 AM–12 PM) when online shopping peaks
• Avoid: Late night and early morning when engagement is lowest

Test different times and track which posts get the fastest initial responses.

15. Renew stale listings

If a listing hasn't sold after 7–10 days, its visibility has likely dropped. Delete it and relist rather than letting it sit. The fresh listing gets a new recency boost from the algorithm.

Some sellers relist every 5–7 days as a standard practice. Just don't relist so frequently that it looks like spam.

Boosting: Is it worth paying for visibility?

Facebook offers paid boosts starting at $1/day with a recommended budget of $5/day in the US for meaningful reach.

When boosting makes sense

• High-margin items where the boost cost is small relative to profit
• Time-sensitive items you need to sell quickly
• Items that got low initial engagement and need a visibility reset

When to skip boosting

• Low-margin items where $5–10 in ad spend eats your profit
• Items already getting steady engagement organically
• Local-only items in small markets where organic reach is sufficient

A reasonable test is $35 over three days. If you don't see increased messages and views, the issue is likely your listing quality, not reach.

Common mistakes that kill visibility

Using "trigger words" in unrelated listings

Words like "gun," "weapon," or drug-related terms trigger automatic removal—even if you're selling a toy, game, or decorative item. A "Nerf gun" listing may get flagged. Try "Nerf blaster" instead.

Ignoring messages

Response speed is an algorithm factor. Slow or no responses reduce your visibility for future listings too. If you can't respond promptly, consider turning off notifications during busy periods rather than leaving messages unread.

Listing in the wrong location

Facebook shows listings to buyers near the listed location. If your listed location is wrong (or too broad), you'll reach buyers who are too far away to pick up and not close enough to justify shipping.

Relisting too aggressively

Deleting and reposting the same item multiple times per day looks like spam and can trigger account restrictions. Once every 5–7 days is reasonable.

FAQ

How long should a Facebook Marketplace title be?

Keep the most important information within the first 65 characters, since that's what displays in the feed. The technical limit is 100–200 characters, but anything past 65 characters is only visible after a buyer taps into the listing.

What's the best time to post on Facebook Marketplace?

Evenings (6–9 PM) and weekend mornings (9–11 AM) tend to get the most engagement for local items. The key is posting when your target audience is browsing, since the first 60–120 minutes of engagement determine long-term visibility.

How many photos should I use on Facebook Marketplace?

Use as many as needed to fully represent the item, up to the 10-photo limit. At minimum, include a clean main photo, multiple angles, and close-ups of any details or flaws. More photos generally mean higher buyer confidence and fewer questions.

Should I use stock photos on Facebook Marketplace?

No. Stock photos can trigger compliance flags and listing removal. Always photograph the actual item you're selling, even if it's new in the packaging.

How do I make my listing show up first?

Optimize your title with specific keywords, use high-quality photos, price competitively, respond to messages quickly, and choose the correct category. The algorithm favors listings with strong initial engagement, so posting during peak browsing hours helps.

Can I edit my listing after posting?

Yes. You can edit the title, description, price, photos, and other details at any time. However, significant edits don't reset the algorithm ranking—if a listing has stalled, deleting and relisting is more effective than editing.

Is boosting worth it on Facebook Marketplace?

It depends on your margins and goals. Boosting at $5/day can increase visibility for high-margin items or time-sensitive sales. For low-margin items, the boost cost may eat your profit. Test with $35 over three days to evaluate.

Next steps

1. Generate a complete listing — title, description, and tags in 30 seconds with our Facebook Marketplace listing generator.
2. Calculate your fees using our Facebook Marketplace Fee Calculator to price profitably.
3. Understand your costs with our Facebook Marketplace fees breakdown.
4. Learn shipping with our Facebook Marketplace shipping guide for carrier options and costs.
5. New to Facebook? Start with our getting started guide for account setup.
6. Selling locally? See our local selling guide for meetup safety, pricing, and negotiation.
7. Selling on multiple platforms? Compare Facebook Marketplace vs eBay to optimize your strategy.

Sources

• Meta Transparency Center - FB Marketplace Ranking
• CLOSO - Boost Listing Testing (1,300 Listings)
• Outfy - Facebook Image Size Guide 2026
• PowerAdSpy - Category Impact on Visibility
• LyfeMarketing - Complete Facebook Marketplace Guide
• LeadsBridge - Boost Marketplace Listings
• OneShop - Facebook Marketplace SEO