# Whatnot

> Live shows for sports cards, Pokémon, collectibles and vintage. Your camera, light and sound sell as much as the stock does.

Whatnot sells through live shows. Buyers watch you open packs or hold up items and bid in real time, so they judge your camera, light and sound along with the stock.

Most Whatnot sellers in the US start with sports cards, Pokémon or small collectibles from a desk. Buy an overhead phone mount, glare-free light and a clip-on mic first, then packing supplies: a good show can leave you with 40 orders to ship the next morning.

[What sells on Whatnot](https://sellersetups.com/us/trends/whatnot)

## Selling on Whatnot from home

You sell in live shows. Buyers join, bid or buy at a set price while you show each item, and the orders land in your account after the show.

New sellers apply and may be asked about their category and stock. Whatnot's seller help pages list the current steps and which categories are open.

## The show setup

An overhead phone arm shows cards and small items flat on the desk. Two LED panels from the sides keep holo cards and slabs free of hotspots, and a clip-on mic keeps your voice clear over background noise.

Run the show from a second device if you can, so you can watch chat without covering the camera. Spend on a stable connection before a new phone.

## Preparing stock before you go live

Pull every item for the show in running order, already sleeved or bagged. Put a small number on each one that matches your show list.

Set aside a space for sold items during the show, so you pack the next morning from one pile.

## Labels and shipping after a show

Whatnot provides prepaid USPS labels for orders, with the shipping cost paid by the buyer. A thermal printer runs off 4 × 6 in labels one after another without ink or trimming, which speeds up the evening after a busy show.

Buyers who win several items in one show usually get them combined into one package. Check your order list for each buyer before you pack, and ship within the time Whatnot asks of sellers.

## Packing cards and collectibles

Single cards go in a penny sleeve and toploader, then a rigid mailer. Sealed product and figures go in a box with padding all around.

Keep supplies within arm's reach of the label printer, so a busy show doesn't turn into a slow night of packing.

## Growing your shows

Run shows at a regular time so buyers learn when to find you. Keep a short list of what sold and at what price, so you can plan stock for the next show.

As orders rise, add a second shelf of packing supplies and pack in batches by mailer type. Cross-list slower stock on eBay or Mercari rather than holding it for shows.

## Common mistakes

- Using a front-facing ring light on holo cards creates a glare spot, so angle two panels in from the sides.
- Going live with stock still in boxes slows the show, so pull and number items in running order first.
- Packing a buyer's wins separately wastes shipping, so check the order list and combine.
- Relying on a weak Wi-Fi signal drops your stream, so test the connection where you'll film.
- Leaving packing for days after a big show annoys buyers, so keep the next morning free for shipping.

## Setups

- [Storage auction garage setup for Whatnot, Etsy and eBay](https://sellersetups.com/us/setups/clearance-lockup-live-and-etsy): Sort a won storage unit into four zones in a weekend, open mystery crates live, and keep the 20 year old pieces back for Etsy.
- [Whatnot clothing setup for live shows and TikTok Shop](https://sellersetups.com/us/setups/clothing-live-show): A rail, a tripod at eye height and soft light: the spare-room kit for selling women’s fashion and vintage live, then packing the sold pieces the next day.
- [Coin and jewelry selling desk](https://sellersetups.com/us/setups/coins-jewellery-desk): A precision scale, capsules, a light box for close-ups and a careful shipping routine, for selling coins and small jewelry from one desk.
- [Comic back-issue room for Whatnot shows and eBay](https://sellersetups.com/us/setups/comic-back-issues-live): Long boxes, bags and boards, an overhead phone and board-stiffened mailers for selling back issues live in the evening and on eBay in between.
- [Crystal live-show garage for Whatnot and TikTok Shop](https://sellersetups.com/us/setups/crystal-live-shows-garage): Bulk tumbled stones in tubs, an overhead phone, LED panels and small boxes for running crystal live sales several nights a week at volume.
- [Japanese import reseller with proxy buying](https://sellersetups.com/us/setups/japan-proxy-import-desk): Prize figures, Japanese-language card boxes and stationery bought through a proxy, then sold on Whatnot shows and eBay listings from one desk at home.
- [Outdoor gear setup for a shed or garage, eBay and Whatnot](https://sellersetups.com/us/setups/outdoor-gear-shed-seasonal): Tents pitched in the yard before listing, tackle sold live in lots, and a floor scale for the family tent that needs a bigger box and a carrier quote.
- [Pro Whatnot streaming setup for card breaks](https://sellersetups.com/us/setups/pro-whatnot-streaming): A two-camera studio with app-controlled lights, a button pad for angles and a packing line, for card breakers shipping 80 to 300 orders a week.
- [Whatnot card break setup for sports cards](https://sellersetups.com/us/setups/sports-card-breaks): An overhead rip camera, a sorting system for hits per buyer and flat mailer packing, for running baseball, basketball and football breaks on Whatnot and eBay.
- [Squishy toy live shows from a bedroom corner](https://sellersetups.com/us/setups/squishy-live-corner): Needoh-style squeeze toys sold in fast Whatnot and TikTok Shop shows, packed in padded envelopes from one desk and three tubs.
- [Toy and collectibles live selling setup](https://sellersetups.com/us/setups/toy-collectibles-live): Box protectors, double boxing and coded shelving for selling construction sets, die-cast cars and vinyl figures live on Whatnot and on eBay.
- [Whatnot card setup: starter kit](https://sellersetups.com/us/setups/whatnot-card-starter): Camera, lights and packing kit for running your first Whatnot card shows from a desk and shipping the orders next morning, on a starter budget.

## Guides

- [Best time to sell on Whatnot, eBay and Poshmark](https://sellersetups.com/us/guides/best-time-to-sell): When toys, back-to-school, Halloween and holiday stock sell, plus Whatnot show times, Poshmark sharing and eBay auction end times.
- [How to run soccer card breaks on Whatnot](https://sellersetups.com/us/guides/football-card-breaks): Running Premier League, MLS and Champions League card breaks on Whatnot: picking a format, filling spots, ripping on camera and shipping each buyer's cards.
- [Form 1099-K for resellers: the $20,000 and 200 rule](https://sellersetups.com/us/guides/form-1099-k-resellers): Who gets a 1099-K from eBay, Poshmark or Mercari in 2026, why some states ask for less, and the records that keep a form from turning into a tax bill.
- [Hobby or business? Schedule C for home resellers](https://sellersetups.com/us/guides/hobby-or-business-resellers): The IRS factors that separate a selling hobby from a business, why the answer changes what you can deduct, and the $400 self-employment tax line.
- [Pirate Ship vs platform labels: which to use](https://sellersetups.com/us/guides/pirate-ship-vs-platform-labels): Poshmark's fixed label, Mercari and eBay labels, Whatnot's per-show labels, and the orders where Pirate Ship's free USPS and UPS rates save money.
- [How to promote your Whatnot show](https://sellersetups.com/us/guides/promote-your-whatnot-show): Get people into your next Whatnot show: short videos, posts between shows, product photos and turning buyers into regulars.
- [Whatnot fees, Poshmark and eBay: what sellers keep](https://sellersetups.com/us/guides/reseller-earnings-maths): US fees on Whatnot, Poshmark and eBay, worked examples of profit per item after shipping and packaging, and the levers that change what you take home.
- [Amazon return pallets: what to buy, test and sell](https://sellersetups.com/us/guides/return-pallets-and-job-lots): The real cost of Amazon return pallets, how to sort and test the stock, check recalls and price every item.
- [How a resale certificate works for resellers](https://sellersetups.com/us/guides/sales-tax-resale-certificates): When you need a resale certificate, how to use it, and where sales tax still applies.
- [How to avoid eBay scams and win disputes](https://sellersetups.com/us/guides/scams-and-disputes): Proof that beats empty box claims, false returns, off-platform payment tricks and chargebacks, so eBay scams and disputes go your way.
- [Whatnot reviews: fees, legitimacy and how to sell](https://sellersetups.com/us/guides/sell-on-whatnot-us): Is Whatnot legit? A review of how it works for sellers: approval, fees, payouts, and the setup for your first show.
- [How to sell Pokémon cards: live setup and kit](https://sellersetups.com/us/guides/sell-pokemon-cards-live): The camera, light, sound and card protection you need to sell Pokémon cards live, and the order to buy it in.
- [How to ship Pokémon cards in the US](https://sellersetups.com/us/guides/ship-trading-cards-us): Envelope, eBay Standard Envelope or Ground Advantage: how to ship Pokémon cards safely, from matching value to service to packing raw and graded cards flat.
- [How to start a small business from home in the US](https://sellersetups.com/us/guides/start-selling-from-home): Which platform suits what you sell, what the first kit covers, and a checklist for your first week of orders shipped from home.
- [Trend reselling and spotting fakes](https://sellersetups.com/us/guides/trend-reselling-fakes): Labubu, Sonny Angels, Pokémon cards and sneakers: read demand from live viewer counts, check stock before you buy, and stay on the right side of US law.
- [The July 2026 USPS under-1-lb change for sellers](https://sellersetups.com/us/guides/usps-under-1-lb-change): Since July 12, 2026, commercial Ground Advantage dropped its ounce tiers under a pound. What it costs card, jewelry and accessory sellers, and how to adjust.
- [Whatnot production setup: lights, camera and audio](https://sellersetups.com/us/guides/whatnot-production-setup): Which pro streaming kit to buy first, and which to skip, once your Whatnot shows outgrow a phone and a ring light.

## Questions

### Do I need a label printer for Whatnot?

Whatnot generates prepaid USPS labels for your orders, and the buyer pays shipping at checkout. You can print 4 × 6 in labels on a home inkjet at first, but once a show brings in more than a dozen orders, a thermal printer saves you cutting, taping and buying ink.

### Is a ring light enough for card shows?

A ring light is fine for your face, but it reflects off holo cards, slabs and glossy boxes. Two LED panels angled in from each side give you even light with no hotspot in the middle of the card. If you sell sealed product and singles, start with the panels.

### What fees does Whatnot charge US sellers?

Whatnot takes a commission on the sale price, about 8% in most categories, plus a payment processing fee of about 2.9% plus $0.30 on the order total. Some categories carry a lower rate. Rates change, so check Whatnot's seller fees page before you set starting bids.

### How long does a Whatnot show need to be?

Whatnot sets no required length. Start with a short show, see what sells and build from there.

### Do I need a second phone for shows?

It's optional. A second device for chat lets you keep the camera steady and still answer buyers.

### What should I sell in my first show?

Sell stock you know well and can talk about, because Whatnot buyers bid with sellers who know their category.