Although most things can be sold on OfferUp, certain items aren't allowed. Some present legal risks or may pose health and safety issues. We've also chosen not to allow items that we feel are inappropriate for our community or could be considered offensive.
Before posting your items, please read the guidelines below to ensure that they are OK to sell on OfferUp. Also please review our Posting rules and Community guidelines. OfferUp may make exceptions to these rules for certain verified sellers in its sole discretion.
The following items are not allowed for sale:
- Alcohol, drugs & tobacco
- Adult & mature content
- Animals
- Wildlife products
- Counterfeit and replica items
- Dangerous items
- Recalls & product warnings
- Misleading claims
- Food items
- Gift cards
- Illegal items or encouraging illegal activity
- Intangible items
- Medical & healthcare items
- Offensive materials
- Cultural items
Alcohol, drugs & tobacco
Alcohol, drugs, tobacco, and related products are often subject to regulatory restrictions and are illegal for sale in some cases. Because we can't enforce these laws and regulations, we don't allow these items for sale, including:
- Alcohol
- Prescription drugs
- Drugs, narcotics, or controlled substances (even those that are legal in some states)
- Items marketed for the purpose of intoxication
- Drug paraphernalia such as bongs, vaporizers, and pipes
- Tobacco and related products, including e-cigarettes, e-juice, vaporizers, mods, hookahs, and hookah accessories
- Cannabis and cannabis-derived products, such as CBD
- Growing or cultivation equipment for cannabis and cannabis-derived products
Adult & mature content
OfferUp strives to be an open marketplace but understands that not all people want to see explicit sexual content. Items intended for adult use or that contain explicit sexual content are not allowed on OfferUp, such as:
- Explicit sexual content or nudity
- Pornography
- Adult toys
Animals
Our policy around animals and wildlife products represent OfferUp’s commitment to improving animal welfare in our own communities and in helping to protect threatened and endangered animals around the world.
You can certainly post many types of animal products. However, live animals are never allowed, including:
- Cats
- Dogs
- Fish
- Marine mammals
- Reptiles such as lizards or snakes
- Horses or ponies
- Hamsters, gerbils, rabbits, or other pets
- Farm animals such as chickens, goats, pigs, or cows
- Insects
Wildlife & wildlife products
You can certainly post many types of animal products. However, wildlife products that were sourced illegally or are being traded in contravention of any law are prohibited. Examples of prohibited live wildlife and their products include, but are not limited to:
- Bears (e.g. Asiatic Black Bear, Giant Panda, Sloth Bear, Sun Bear)
- Birds (e.g. African Grey Parrot, Falcons, Eagles, Helmeted Hornbill and some other Parrots)
- Cetaceans (e.g. Dolphins, Porpoises, Whales)
- Corals (Elkhorn, Staghorn)
- Elephants
- Marine Turtles
- Otters (e.g. European River Otter, Giant Otter, California Sea Otter)
- Pangolins (All)
- Primates (e.g. Bonobo, Chimpanzee, Gorilla, Monkeys, Orangutan)
- Reptiles & Amphibians (e.g. Ploughshare Tortoise, Iranian Spotted Newt, Indian Rock Python)
- Rhinoceros
- Sharks, Sawfishes, Manta & Devil Rays (e.g. Great White Shark, Basking Shark, Whale Shark, Smalltooth Sawfish)
- Tibetan Antelope (also known as Chiru and shawls known as Shahtoosh)
- Wild Cats (e.g. Cheetah, Jaguar, Leopard, Lion, Ocelot, Tiger)
Counterfeit or replica items
The sale of bootlegs, counterfeits, fakes, and unauthorized or pirated copies of items is illegal and not allowed on OfferUp, including:
- Counterfeits, fakes, and replicas of brand-name items, including items “inspired” by a brand without permission of the owner
- Bootlegged or unauthorized recordings
- Pirated copies of any copyrighted materials
- Use of a trademark or other implied affiliation with a brand
Shipping and counterfeit items
For more information, visit our Intellectual property policy.
Dangerous items
Items that pose health and safety concerns or that are regulated or illegal are not allowed on OfferUp. These include but are not limited to:
- Firearms, no exceptions
- Knives primarily used as weapons or for self-defense. Note: Cutlery, kitchen, and utility knives are generally permitted
- Mace, pepper spray, bear spray, tasers, and other weapons used to subdue humans or animals
- Batons, billyclubs, brass knuckles, or similar weapons used for striking a person or animal
- Paintball guns, BB guns, guns that fire blanks, Airsoft Guns, and all related ammunition and accessories
- Sporting or hunting weapons such as bows and arrows, crossbows, archery items, including historical or cultural items such as arrowheads
- Swords, if sharpened or functional. Note: Decorative blunt swords are generally permitted
- Weapon parts and accessories, including any item that attaches to a firearm, ammunition, bullets, clips, arrows, and bolts
- Regulated chemicals, poisons, or substances
- New or used airbags sold separately from a vehicle
- Hazardous materials such as:
- Fireworks
- Explosives
- Items deemed to pose significant health or safety risks to others
- Items used to incite violence
- Gun manufacturing mills or production units
- Recalled items (see below)
Recalls & product warnings
Recalls
Items that are subject to a recall, typically because they are deemed unsafe or defective by federal regulators or manufacturers, are not allowed on OfferUp. Items recalled in the past include:
- Samsung Galaxy Note 7 cell phones
- Fisher-Price Rock N’ Play infant sleepers
- Fisher Price 4-in-1 Rock n' Glide soothers
- Fisher Price 2-in-1 Soothe n' Play glider
- Drop-side cribs
- Three-wheel all-terrain vehicles (ATVs)
- Boppy newborn loungers
- Other items listed on the U.S. CPSC list of recalls
You should avoid selling or buying any recalled item or product. If you end up selling or buying a recalled item, you should contact the manufacturer as they may offer a refund, replacement, or voucher in exchange for surrendering the recalled item.
For more information on recalled consumer products generally, visit the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website.
Product warnings
Some items may not be subject to a formal recall, but due to certain safety issues presented by the item, a safety warning or notice is issued by the manufacturer to alert consumers to those issues. Buyers and sellers should be mindful of items subject to safety warnings.
When manufacturers issue product warnings and bring them to our attention, we'll list that information here.
Current product warnings:
Misleading claims
Some consumer products are regulated by federal agencies or organizations in order to protect the public against unreasonable risks of injury or death. While some of these products are allowed on OfferUp, we cannot verify the guarantees or certifications of safety provided by these agencies.
Therefore, certain posts that claim that an item has been endorsed or certified by a federal agency or organization for safety, and that agency states to OfferUp that they don’t provide such an endorsement or certification, are not allowed. Examples include items claiming Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) confirmation or certification
Food items
The sale of homemade prepared food is subject to regulatory guidelines and often requires a permit. Because we can't enforce these restrictions, prepared food is not allowed. Examples:
- Most perishable goods, including meat, seafood, dairy, and cut fruits or vegetables
- Homemade shelf products, such as jams, jellies, and pickles
- Homemade meals or baked goods
- Eggs sold outside of the seller's farm
- Baby formula (Previously, we have allowed the sale of shelf-stable baby formula on OfferUp. However, due to the nationwide shortage of baby formula, this item is no longer allowed)
Exceptions to this policy include:
- Whole, uncut fruits and vegetables
- Eggs sold directly on the seller's farm
- Unopened and packaged commercially sold food goods (canned soup, packages of cookies, etc.) as long as the packaging has not been tampered with and the items are sold before their expiration date
Gift cards
Gift cards and reloadable cards are not allowed due to the risk for buyers. The balance can't always be verified, and sometimes the card balance can be used or canceled by the original purchaser.
Illegal items or encouraging illegal activity
Any item that is illegal or that encourages illegal activity is not allowed, including but not limited to:
- Offers to trade for illegal goods
- Offers to trade for items defined as prohibited on OfferUp
- Items with sensitive information such as IDs, passports, and social security cards
- Fake or forged documents (such as licenses, IDs, diplomas, and government-issued documents)
- Items received through Government Assistance
- Police badges or security uniforms, as these can be used to impersonate an officer or gain access to secure areas
- Locked phones or devices, for example blacklisted, activation, iCloud or similar locks
- Current vehicle license plates or plates that were valid in the last 5 years
- License plate tags
- Cars without titles
- Stolen or found good
- Catalytic converters
- Rideshare signs
- TV streaming devices
- Canisters or cylinders of pressurized gas (such as CO2 or nitrous oxide)
Intangible Items
OfferUp is intended for the sale of individual, tangible items. Items must exist and be available for immediate sale. Examples of things that are not allowed include:
- Services for intangible items such as dog walking, babysitting, and IT support
- Advertisements
- Links to or information about flea markets, yard sales, and garage sales
- URLs, links, or redirecting to other websites
- Rentals and timeshares
- Multi-level marketing schemes and related promotional materials
- Job postings
- Lost pet ads
- Wanted ads
- Solicitations
- Digital account transfers, digital goods, non-fungible tokens (NFTs)
- Invites, referral codes, or discount codes for apps or websites
- Items planned for future purchase from another retailer, wholesaler, distributor, or manufacturer
- Items of unknown contents such as “mystery boxes” or “grab bags”
- Items where the photo does not match the title or description
- eBooks
Medical & healthcare items
Due to health and safety, privacy, and regulatory concerns, certain medical and healthcare items are not allowed for sale on OfferUp, including but not limited to:
- Devices, drugs, and medications that require a prescription from a licensed medical practitioner (such as a dentist, doctor, optometrist, or veterinarian)
- Ventilators and other respiratory equipment
- Cannabis and cannabis-derived products, such as CBD
- Pills, vitamins, and supplements
- Contact lenses
- Used cosmetics
- Used makeup sponges and applicators
- Needles and items containing needles (such as syringes or tattoo equipment)
- Listings that claim the item can diagnose, cure, mitigate, treat, or prevent a disease or viruses, including COVID-19 (coronavirus)
- Any post related to administering vaccinations, including access to, proof of, or a physical item.
Posting any of the prohibited vaccine items mentioned above may result in the immediate removal of your account.
Offensive materials
OfferUp is an inclusive community that welcomes people from all backgrounds. To build a respectful mobile marketplace, posts that contain foul language or that promote hatred, violence, or discrimination are not allowed. This includes posts that support hate or discrimination toward others based on age, race, ethnicity, national origin, religion, gender, gender identity, disability, or sexual orientation, or items that promote or glorify organizations with such views. Examples:
- Posts containing racial slurs
- Posts promoting intolerance or discrimination
- Items that promote, support, or commemorate groups with views of hatred or intolerance (for example Nazi, Neo-Nazi, KKK groups, Proud Boys, QAnon, Antifa, or the Boogaloo movement)
- Items that depict or glorify violence against people or animals
- Items that reflect people of color through offensive or dehumanizing caricatures, including historic, antique, or memorabilia items
Cultural items
To build a respectful and diverse mobile marketplace, we may prohibit certain cultural or historical artifacts, objects, or memorabilia. Examples of things that are not allowed include:
- Items that reflect people of color through offensive or dehumanizing caricatures, including historic, antique, or memorabilia items
- Any item that violates the Indian Arts and Crafts Act by falsely suggesting it is: (1) produced by Native Americans or American Indians; and/or (2) the product of a particular tribe or tribal arts and crafts organization within the United States.
- Native American, Alaska Native, American Indian cultural or ceremonial items, such as grave markers, human remains, ceremonial masks, and prayer sticks.
Non-compliance
Posts that violate any of our guidelines, policies, or terms may be removed at our discretion. Additional actions may be taken for severe or repeat offenses.
What we're doing
Our teams work around the clock to ensure the safety of our marketplace and enforcement of our policies. We review posted content to ensure that transactions for buyers and sellers are ethical, safe and protected.
- We remove posts and take action on accounts that violate our policies.
- We work with law enforcement to do our part in supporting their investigations.
- We’re continuously updating our product features to create a more trustworthy marketplace experience.
- We understand that our work is never done.
Help keep our community strong
If you see a prohibited item on OfferUp, please report it in the app. On that item’s page, tap 
Report, then Prohibited on OfferUp, then Done. For more information on reporting a person or an item, please see Report a person or item.
For additional restrictions on behavior such as profanity and harassment, please see Community guidelines.