How to Sell or Trade Used Board Games

Every board gamer hits the same wall eventually. Your shelves are full, some games have not been played in over a year, and new releases keep tempting you. The solution is not buying more shelves. It is moving games along to people who will actually play them. Here is how to do it efficiently.

Online Marketplaces

BoardGameGeek Marketplace. The BGG marketplace is the gold standard for selling board games. Listing is free, buyers are knowledgeable, and fair pricing is easy to research by checking completed sales. The audience is targeted, everyone browsing is a board gamer actively looking to buy.

Facebook Groups. Search for board game buy/sell/trade groups in your area. Local transactions avoid shipping costs, which significantly improves your margins on heavier games. Most cities with a gaming community have at least one active trading group.

eBay and Mercari. Better for rare, out-of-print, or collectible games where competitive bidding drives prices up. Less ideal for common titles because shipping costs eat into your profit and the buyer pool is less targeted.

In-Person Trading

Math trades are the most efficient way to trade in volume. Organized through BGG or local groups, a math trade uses an algorithm to find optimal trade chains among dozens of participants. You list what you have and what you want, and the system finds matches. It is magical when it works.

Game store trade-ins. Some local game stores offer trade-in credit. You will get less than selling directly, but it is instant and hassle-free. Great for clearing out a stack of games you do not want to list individually.

Convention swap meets. Board game conventions almost always have a flea market or swap area. Bring a box of games and walk out with new ones. The in-person negotiation is part of the fun.

Cycling games out of your collection is not giving up on them, it is making room for new experiences and putting games in the hands of people who will play them. Your shelf space is valuable. Treat it that way.

For more on building and maintaining a smart collection, check our collection building guide.