What can’t you sell on UK marketplaces?

What should you check before you list it?

There are two different questions. One is whether UK law allows the sale. The other is whether that marketplace’s own rules allow the listing. A site can be stricter than the criminal law.

The notes below were checked on 17 October 2026 against each linked page. They are not the whole prohibited list of any company. Open the page before you list.

If you are moving stock across, read what you can sell as perfume or makeup, second-hand electricals, a used car seat and a second-hand mattress. Compare Vinted, Depop and eBay, and see moving listings from Vinted if an old account is stuck. A suspended Vinted account is a separate problem from a banned item.

What does Vinted say you cannot sell?

Use Vinted’s own help page, not a screenshot in a chat. Its “what can I sell” page and its catalogue rules both reject sharp knives, including kitchen knives, and cutlery sets that include knives. They reject prescription and non-prescription medicines, and food and drink.

The catalogue rules prohibit tobacco, e-cigarettes, vapes and their accessories. They allow new cosmetics from a non-professional seller, and they prohibit used, opened, unsealed or expired cosmetics. The removal page says opened or used perfume and makeup can be taken down. Beds are named under furniture. Mattresses are not.

Electronics are an allowed category, with a line that they must be safe to use. That is not a promise that every powered item is accepted.

Vinted’s help page on what you can sell says used cosmetics, underwear bottoms and piercings are not allowed, for hygiene reasons. It also lists sanitary products, detergents and hazardous materials. It says prescription and non-prescription medicinal products, professional medical supplies, vitamins, food supplements and health-related products are not allowed, and nor are food, drinks and other consumables. It says all sharp knives and bladed tools with a pointed tip are not allowed, whatever the size, including kitchen knives. Cutlery knives, or sets that include any knives, are not allowed. Bladed weapons and utility or camping knives are listed as well. Source

Vinted’s catalogue rules, which the page says are part of its terms, allow new cosmetics from non-professional sellers. They prohibit used, opened or unsealed cosmetics, including perfume, makeup, creams, lotions, hair-care and accessories, even if tried once, and they prohibit expired cosmetics. They prohibit tobacco, including e-cigarettes, vapes, vaporizing instruments and accessories, and food and drinks of any kind. They prohibit prescription and over-the-counter medicinal products, medications, professional medical supplies, vitamins, food supplements and health-related products. Electronics are listed as an allowed category, and the page says to make sure the electronics you list are safe to be used. Furniture such as beds is listed as allowed. The page does not name mattresses. Knives and sharp instruments, including kitchen knives, are prohibited. Source

Vinted’s help page on hidden or removed listings says a listing can be removed if it is a used personal-care product or homemade cosmetics, a veterinary or medical product, or tobacco or vaping, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes, e-cigarettes, vapes and accessories. It points to UK product recalls on GOV.UK. It says a cosmetic, perfume, accessory or beauty tool can be removed if it is opened, used, or not in its original sealed packaging. The examples include makeup, cream, lotion, perfumes, hair-care, brushes, sponges and beauty tools. Source

What does Depop say is prohibited?

Depop’s prohibited-items guide and its hazardous-content policy overlap. Both reject knives and sharp instruments, including kitchen knives. Both reject medicines, whether prescription or over the counter, and medical devices. The hazardous policy names e-cigarettes, vaporisers and e-liquids, with or without nicotine, and any product containing alcohol, with an exception for cosmetic items which contain alcohol. The prohibited list says alcohol products, including gift sets, are out, and that beer and wine making kits are allowed.

Used perfume and used cosmetics are restricted. Unused genuine products are allowed, as are samples still in the original container with the ingredient list. Depop’s electronics policy is stricter than a general “if it works” rule: most items that use electrical power are not allowed. Read that policy before you list a phone, a console or a hair dryer.

Depop says the hazardous list is not exhaustive, and that the ban does not depend on the item being legal where you live.

Depop’s prohibited-items guide says it is a guide only, that you should sell only items you have, and that legally prohibited items are not allowed even if they appear on an allowed list. It prohibits alcohol products, including gift sets, and says beer and wine making kits are allowed. For perfume and cosmetics it restricts testers, decanters, used perfume and cosmetics, replicas, items past their expiration date, unsealed samples decanted from the original packaging, homemade cosmetics without an ingredient list, prohibited or hazardous ingredients, and regulated ingredients above the permitted levels. It allows unused and genuine perfume and cosmetics, and sample perfume and cosmetics in the original container when that container includes the ingredient list. It prohibits all blade weapons, knives and sharp instruments, including kitchen knives. For medical items it prohibits prescription and over-the-counter medical devices, including contact lenses and used or unused diagnostic tests, all medical products, used and unsealed healthcare products, and items past their expiration date. It says Depop has a zero-tolerance policy for any drugs, drug paraphernalia, tobacco or smoking accessories. Source

Depop’s restricted and hazardous content policy says the advertisement, sale, purchase or distribution of the listed items is not allowed, whether or not they are legal in the user’s country. The list includes prescription or over-the-counter medicines and medical devices; tobacco, including herbal tobacco, cigarettes, rolling tobacco and snus; e-cigarettes, vaporisers, and e-liquids with or without nicotine; smoking accessories; any product containing alcohol, except cosmetic items which contain alcohol; knives and sharp implements of any type; hazardous or flammable materials; cosmetics with prohibited or hazardous ingredients, or regulated ingredients above permitted levels; and recalled items. The page says the list is not exhaustive. Source

Depop’s technology and electronics policy says the sale of most electronic and technology items is prohibited, and that items which use electrical power, including batteries and solar power, are not allowed. It says not to list mobile phones, speakers or headphones, games consoles and controllers, computers, laptops, tablets and e-readers, smartwatches, cosmetic electronics such as hair dryers or styling tools, home and lifestyle electronics such as lighting, virtual assistants and kitchen appliances, televisions and DVD players, battery banks, chargers, USB cables and hard drives, electronic toys, or chargers, USB cables and other electronic accessories. It says the list is not exhaustive and that Depop decides what is allowed. It allows cameras, video cameras, camera film, lenses, flashes and SD cards. It does not allow external printers or hard drives, card readers, studio lighting or power banks. It allows mobile-phone and laptop cases, covers, folios and holders, and digital and analogue wrist watches. The page gives Casio, Swatch and Timex as examples. Source

What does Facebook’s commerce policy not allow?

The English commerce policy says Facebook Marketplace is covered. It says commerce content may not promote buying, selling or trading alcohol, drugs, drug paraphernalia, prescription products, tobacco products or tobacco paraphernalia.

That medicines line is about prescription products, drugs and paraphernalia. This guide does not say Facebook has banned every over-the-counter medicine, because that sentence was not on the page. It also does not say the page names vapes. Tobacco and tobacco paraphernalia are what it states.

Used cosmetics, and cosmetics that are not in the original packaging, are not allowed. The weapons policy separately blocks edged weapons, including utility, hunting, combat and self-defence knives. It does not, in the sentence we checked, name ordinary kitchen knives. Do not stretch it.

Facebook’s commerce policy, in the English version, covers commerce content including Facebook Marketplace. It says commerce content may not promote the buying, selling or trading of alcohol. It says the same for drugs, drug paraphernalia and prescription products. It says the same for tobacco products and tobacco paraphernalia. It says commerce content may not promote cosmetics that have been used, or cosmetics that are not sold in their original packaging. Source

Facebook’s weapons policy says commerce content may not promote the buying, selling or trading of weapons, ammunition and explosives. Educational material about weapon safety, training and licensing is allowed. The not-allowed list includes weapons and weapon parts, weapon accessories, ammunition, bows and crossbows, paintball, airsoft and BB guns, explosives and fireworks, pepper spray, tasers and other products designed to stun or incapacitate, and edged weapons, including swords and utility, hunting, combat and self-defence knives. It also lists historical, antique and collectible weapons, and gun ranges and gun shows. Source

What does Gumtree’s prohibited list say?

Gumtree’s page, dated 5 September 2025, bans knives of all kinds, including chef and kitchen knives, and it says cutlery and butter knives are allowed. It bans prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, steroids and contact lenses, as well as illegal drugs.

On vapes, read the sentence rather than the heading. The page lists electronic cigarette filters and e-liquids, with or without nicotine, and it says electronic cigarettes themselves and rolling papers are allowed.

The page has an alcohol heading. This guide does not state a Gumtree alcohol rule, because no alcohol rule was set out in the section we could read. Open the page yourself before you list drink.

Gumtree’s prohibited-items page, dated 5 September 2025, says knives of all kinds are prohibited, including chef and kitchen knives, and notes that cutlery and butter knives are allowed. It prohibits illegal drugs, legal highs, prescription drugs and medicines, steroids, over-the-counter drugs, drug-use items and contact lenses. It lists electronic cigarette filters and e-liquids, with or without nicotine, and says electronic cigarettes themselves and rolling papers are allowed. The page says Gumtree can remove content it considers inappropriate. Source

What does eBay’s product safety policy say?

eBay’s product safety policy does not allow recalled items, items prohibited by law, health or safety hazards, or products that fail the laws it lists. Those include the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 and the Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994. That is not the same as a ban on every used electrical item.

On child seats, the same policy says used car seats are not allowed. A new seat has extra conditions for eligible sellers. Used bicycle helmets and used cots are not allowed either.

This guide does not state an eBay rule for knives, vapes, alcohol or medicines. Those category pages were not the ones checked. Open eBay’s prohibited-items pages for the exact item. The cosmetics policy is covered on used perfume and makeup.

eBay’s product safety policy says recalled items, items prohibited by law, items that are a health or safety hazard, and products that do not comply with the laws it lists are not allowed. The laws it names include the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 2016 and the Plugs and Sockets etc. (Safety) Regulations 1994. For baby and child products it says a new child car seat may be listed only by an eligible seller, and only if it meets UN Regulation No. 44 or UN Regulation No. 129 and the listing says so. It says used car seats are not allowed. It also says used bicycle helmets and used cots are not allowed. It tells sellers to check recalls and points them to the Office for Product Safety and Standards. Source

What do SilentSale®’s Terms ban?

SilentSale®’s Terms are stricter than the criminal law on several everyday items. Section 13 prohibits knives of any kind, including kitchen, table, collectible, antique, folding, pocket, craft, utility, decorative and cutlery knives. It prohibits tobacco, vaping products, nicotine products, smoking accessories, alcohol and age-restricted consumables. It prohibits prescription and over-the-counter medicines, medical devices and diagnostic tests.

Food, drink and perishables are prohibited. So are expired cosmetics, used cosmetics, unsealed skincare, and homemade cosmetics without compliant ingredient, batch and safety labelling. Counterfeits are prohibited.

Some other goods are restricted rather than banned outright. The Terms allow collectible tools that are not knives, vintage electronics without modern certification, and batteries or small electronics when they are properly packaged, each under the conditions in section 13. Sellers must disclose defects, missing parts and modifications. Read the Terms. A summary on this page is not the rule.

Buyer and seller each contribute £0.30 + 3% of the item price to SilentCover® (£0.60 each on a £10 item), a discretionary protection service. That contribution is not a reason to list a prohibited item.

Counterfeits are banned. Describe authenticity accurately and retain supporting evidence; SilentSale® does not authenticate items.

SilentSale® is a UK marketplace for private individuals aged 18+ buying and selling personal goods in GBP.

What does the law say about selling a knife?

GOV.UK says it is illegal to sell most knives, or any weapon, to anyone under 18. It is illegal to carry most knives in public without a good reason. A folding pocketknife with a cutting edge of 3 inches or less, that is not a lock knife, is an exception to the carrying rule. Do not read that as permission to sell a knife to a child.

In Scotland, GOV.UK says cutlery and kitchen knives may be sold to 16 and 17 year olds. Some weapons are illegal to sell at all, with narrow exemptions. Flick knives and gravity knives are outside the “more than 100 years old” exemption.

SilentSale® still does not allow those kitchen knives. A site rule can ban an item that the criminal law does not ban for an adult buyer. If you are unsure about an offence, read the GOV.UK page and get advice. This guide is not that advice.

GOV.UK’s page on selling, buying and carrying knives and weapons says it is illegal to use any knife or weapon in a threatening way, to carry most knives or any weapons in public without a good reason, and to sell most knives or any weapons to anyone under 18. A folding pocketknife with a cutting edge no longer than 3 inches, that is not a lock knife, is an exception to the carrying rule. In Scotland, cutlery and kitchen knives may be sold to 16 and 17 year olds. Some listed weapons are illegal to possess, import, sell, hire, lend or give, with exemptions, including some weapons more than 100 years old. Flick knives and gravity knives are not in that age exemption. Source