Not all Whatnot categories are created equal. Some niches are saturated and competitive. Others are exploding with demand but have almost no sellers. Finding the right niche is the single biggest factor in your success on Whatnot.
We analyzed trending categories, viewer growth, seller saturation, and average sale prices across Whatnot to identify the 10 niches blowing up in 2026. Whether you're just starting or looking to diversify, this list will help you pick the best things to sell on Whatnot right now.
How We Ranked These Niches
Each niche is scored on four factors:
- Growth trend (📈): Is demand increasing? Measured by viewer growth and search volume.
- Profit margin (💰): What's the typical markup after COGS and fees?
- Competition level (🏁): How many sellers are already in this space?
- Ease of entry (🚪): How easy is it to source product and get started?
1. K-Beauty & Skincare 🔥
| 📈 Growth | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (+791% YoY viewer increase) |
| 💰 Profit Margin | 200–400% |
| 🏁 Competition | Low — still early |
| 🚪 Ease of Entry | Medium (need reliable suppliers) |
| Avg Sale Price | $15–45 |
K-beauty (Korean beauty products) has been trending globally, and Whatnot sellers are cashing in. Sheet masks, serums, sunscreens, and lip products from brands like COSRX, Beauty of Joseon, and Laneige sell like crazy in live shows.
Why It's Blowing Up
- TikTok pipeline: Products go viral on TikTok → buyers search Whatnot for deals
- Unboxing appeal: Cute packaging and product reveals work perfectly in live format
- Repeat buyers: Skincare is consumable — buyers come back monthly
- Mystery lots dominate: "$25 K-beauty mystery box" shows get massive viewership
How to Source
Korean wholesale suppliers (StyleKorean, BeautyNetKorea), Amazon overstock, TJ Maxx/Marshalls beauty sections, and liquidation pallets from beauty retailers.
2. WNBA & Women's Sports Cards 🏀
| 📈 Growth | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (+1,670% YoY — biggest growth on Whatnot) |
| 💰 Profit Margin | 150–500% |
| 🏁 Competition | Very Low |
| 🚪 Ease of Entry | Easy |
| Avg Sale Price | $8–75 |
The WNBA is having a cultural moment. Caitlin Clark, Angel Reese, and the new wave of women's basketball stars have created an entirely new collecting market. WNBA rookie cards that were $2 a year ago are selling for $20–50+.
Why It's Blowing Up
- Caitlin Clark effect: Her rookie cards have driven massive interest in the entire WNBA card market
- Low entry cost: You can source WNBA cards cheaply because the market is still young
- Almost no competition: Most Whatnot card sellers focus on NBA/NFL. WNBA is wide open.
- Media momentum: TV ratings, social media, and cultural relevance are all up
How to Source
Retail card packs (Target, Walmart), hobby boxes from distributors, eBay lots, and card shows. Focus on Panini Prizm and Hoops WNBA releases.
3. Vintage Band & Concert Tees 🎸
| 📈 Growth | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Steady growth, evergreen demand) |
| 💰 Profit Margin | 300–1000% |
| 🏁 Competition | Medium |
| 🚪 Ease of Entry | Easy (thrift stores everywhere) |
| Avg Sale Price | $25–150+ |
Vintage band tees are the bread and butter of Whatnot's clothing category. Authentic 80s and 90s concert tees from bands like Metallica, Nirvana, Grateful Dead, and Pink Floyd regularly sell for $50–200+ depending on condition and rarity.
Why It's Blowing Up
- Gen Z nostalgia: Young buyers want authentic vintage, not reprints
- High margins: A $4 thrift store find can sell for $80+
- Perfect for live selling: Showing the print, the tag, the fade — it's content
- Authentication matters: Live selling builds trust that fixed listings can't
How to Source
Thrift stores (Goodwill, Salvation Army, local thrifts), estate sales, garage sales, and Goodwill Outlet (bins). Learn to date tags and identify reprints — your knowledge is your moat.
4. Gold & Silver Bullion 🪙
| 📈 Growth | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (+240% YoY) |
| 💰 Profit Margin | 5–15% (volume game) |
| 🏁 Competition | Low-Medium |
| 🚪 Ease of Entry | Hard (requires capital) |
| Avg Sale Price | $30–500+ |
With gold prices at all-time highs and economic uncertainty driving safe-haven demand, bullion shows on Whatnot are pulling massive viewership. Sellers auction silver rounds, gold coins, junk silver lots, and numismatic pieces.
Why It's Blowing Up
- Inflation hedge: Buyers see precious metals as protection against inflation
- Trust in live format: Seeing the product on camera before buying builds confidence
- High ticket, high volume: One gold coin auction can bring $500+ in a single sale
- Collector crossover: Numismatic coins attract both investors and collectors
How to Source
Wholesale dealers (APMEX, JM Bullion, SD Bullion), coin shows, estate sales, and pawn shops. You need capital — expect $5,000–10,000 minimum to stock a decent inventory.
5. Anime & Manga Collectibles 🎌
| 📈 Growth | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Strong, consistent growth) |
| 💰 Profit Margin | 100–400% |
| 🏁 Competition | Medium |
| 🚪 Ease of Entry | Medium |
| Avg Sale Price | $15–120 |
Anime figures, manga volumes, Demon Slayer merch, One Piece collectibles, and limited-edition Japanese imports are hot on Whatnot. The anime audience is young, passionate, and willing to spend.
Why It's Blowing Up
- Massive fandom: Anime is mainstream now — not niche anymore
- Limited editions: Japanese exclusives and convention items create scarcity
- Display culture: Buyers want shelf-worthy figures and box sets
- Community: Anime fans are deeply engaged — they'll watch a 3-hour show
How to Source
Japanese import wholesalers (Tokyo Otaku Mode, AmiAmi), convention dealer rooms, retail clearance (Barnes & Noble manga, Hot Topic figures), and wholesale lots on eBay/Alibaba.
6. Refurbished Electronics & Retro Gaming 🎮
| 📈 Growth | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Growing fast in 2026) |
| 💰 Profit Margin | 100–300% |
| 🏁 Competition | Low |
| 🚪 Ease of Entry | Medium (need testing/refurb skills) |
| Avg Sale Price | $20–200 |
Retro gaming consoles (N64, GameCube, PS2, Game Boy), refurbished AirPods, vintage iPods, and tech gadgets are booming. Nostalgia-driven buying meets sustainability-conscious shopping.
Why It's Blowing Up
- Nostalgia: Millennials buying the tech they grew up with
- Sustainability: Refurbished electronics appeal to eco-conscious buyers
- High perceived value: A working N64 with controllers feels like a steal at $80
- Live demos: Turning on a console and showing it works = instant trust
How to Source
Thrift stores, estate sales, liquidation pallets, Facebook Marketplace, and local electronics recyclers. Test everything before listing — "as-is" electronics on live sell poorly.
7. Designer Fragrance 🧴
| 📈 Growth | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (New category, fast adoption) |
| 💰 Profit Margin | 80–200% |
| 🏁 Competition | Low |
| 🚪 Ease of Entry | Medium (authentication knowledge needed) |
| Avg Sale Price | $25–120 |
Fragrance culture exploded on TikTok and now it's flooding into Whatnot. Sellers move designer fragrances (Dior Sauvage, YSL, Tom Ford, niche houses like Parfums de Marly), testers, decants, and sampler sets.
Why It's Blowing Up
- TikTok-to-Whatnot pipeline: "FragTok" has millions of followers looking for deals
- High repeat purchase: Fragrance enthusiasts collect multiple bottles
- Live selling advantage: Sellers describe scent profiles, show batch codes, prove authenticity
- Decants are genius: Selling 10ml samples of $300 bottles at $15 each = massive margin
How to Source
Authorized distributors, TJ Maxx/Marshalls, FragranceNet (wholesale), estate sales, and overstock from department stores. Authentication is critical — learn to read batch codes and identify fakes. Check our authentication guide.
8. Sports Card Breaks 🃏
| 📈 Growth | ⭐⭐⭐ (Mature but evolving) |
| 💰 Profit Margin | 20–60% |
| 🏁 Competition | High |
| 🚪 Ease of Entry | Hard (capital + knowledge needed) |
| Avg Sale Price | $10–100+ per spot |
Card breaks — where sellers open sealed product live and distribute cards to buyers by team — remain a Whatnot staple. The format has matured but continues to evolve with new product releases and formats.
Why It Still Works
- Gambling excitement: Buyers pay for a "spot" and hope their team hits a big card
- Community engagement: Break rooms build tight-knit communities of repeat buyers
- New product cycles: Every new Panini/Topps release brings fresh demand
- Pick-your-team format: Popular teams (Cowboys, Lakers) sell out instantly
How to Source
Distributors (GTS, Southern Hobby), retail (Target drops), pre-orders from hobby shops. Need $2,000+ to buy hobby boxes. See our trading card reselling guide.
9. Cottage-Core Home Decor 🏡
| 📈 Growth | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Emerging fast) |
| 💰 Profit Margin | 200–600% |
| 🏁 Competition | Very Low |
| 🚪 Ease of Entry | Easy |
| Avg Sale Price | $10–60 |
Vintage kitchenware, Pyrex, CorningWare, handmade candles, woven baskets, dried flower arrangements, and farmhouse decor have found a passionate audience on Whatnot. This niche is wide open for sellers who know how to curate.
Why It's Blowing Up
- Aesthetic-driven buying: Cottage-core is a lifestyle, not just a trend
- Untapped on Whatnot: Most sellers focus on cards and clothing — home decor is blue ocean
- Incredible sourcing: Thrift stores, estate sales, and garage sales are overflowing with home goods
- Visual format: Staging items beautifully on live shows = immediate appeal
How to Source
Estate sales (the #1 source for vintage kitchenware), thrift stores, Goodwill bins, yard sales, and Facebook Marketplace. Focus on Pyrex, vintage Corelle, cast iron, and handmade/artisan items.
10. Sneaker Mystery Boxes 👟
| 📈 Growth | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (Reinvented format driving new interest) |
| 💰 Profit Margin | 30–100% |
| 🏁 Competition | Medium |
| 🚪 Ease of Entry | Medium (need wholesale access) |
| Avg Sale Price | $40–150 per box |
Mystery sneaker boxes have exploded on Whatnot. Sellers curate boxes containing 1–3 pairs of shoes from brands like Nike, Jordan, New Balance, and Adidas. Buyers pay a flat rate and get a random assortment — the "unboxing" moment is pure content.
Why It's Blowing Up
- Unboxing content: The reveal moment drives insane engagement and chat activity
- Value perception: "$60 box with $100–200 retail value" is irresistible
- Repeat purchases: Buyers get hooked on the gamble and come back for more
- Social sharing: Buyers post their wins on social media = free marketing for your show
How to Source
Wholesale sneaker pallets, Nike/Adidas clearance, outlet store runs, and B-stock (customer return) pallets from liquidation companies. See our sneaker reselling guide.
Niche Comparison Table
| Niche | Growth | Margin | Competition | Startup Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| K-Beauty | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 200–400% | Low | $300–500 |
| WNBA Cards | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 150–500% | Very Low | $200–500 |
| Vintage Band Tees | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 300–1000% | Medium | $100–300 |
| Gold & Silver | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 5–15% | Low-Med | $5,000+ |
| Anime Collectibles | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 100–400% | Medium | $500–1,000 |
| Retro Gaming | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 100–300% | Low | $200–500 |
| Designer Fragrance | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 80–200% | Low | $500–1,000 |
| Sports Card Breaks | ⭐⭐⭐ | 20–60% | High | $2,000+ |
| Cottage-Core Decor | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 200–600% | Very Low | $50–200 |
| Sneaker Mystery Boxes | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | 30–100% | Medium | $1,000–2,000 |
How to Get Started in Any Niche
- Watch 10 shows in the niche. Before selling anything, watch successful sellers in your chosen category. Note their pricing, presentation, and engagement style.
- Source a small test batch. Start with 30–50 items. Don't invest thousands before your first sale.
- Run 3 shows before judging results. Your first show will be small. By show 3, you'll have returning buyers and better data.
- Track everything. Use BundleLive to monitor which items sell, at what prices, and to which buyers. Data-driven decisions beat guessing.
- Double down on what works. After 5 shows, you'll know which items and price points perform best. Source more of those.
💡 The best niche is the one you know. All the data in the world doesn't replace genuine knowledge and passion for your product. If you love vintage clothing and know your tags, that beats jumping into K-beauty because the growth chart looks good. Authenticity sells — literally.