Garage Sale Season in Denver Runs April Through October
Denver’s garage sale season kicks off in spring and runs through early fall. With over 700,000 residents and thousands of neighborhood Facebook groups, Denver is great garage sale territory — if you do it right.
Here’s a complete guide from planning to cleanup, including what to do with the inevitable leftovers.
Denver Garage Sale Rules
- No permit required — Denver does not require a permit for residential garage sales
- Sign regulations — You can place signs on your property, but signs on utility poles, traffic signs, or public right-of-way may be removed by the city
- HOA rules may apply — Many Denver HOAs limit garage sales to specific weekends or require advance notice. Check your CC&Rs. More on HOA rules here.
- Sales tax — Occasional garage sales by individuals are generally exempt from Colorado sales tax. If you hold more than a few per year or sell commercially, different rules apply. Consult the Colorado Department of Revenue if unsure.
How to Price Garage Sale Items
The golden rule: price everything at 10-30% of original retail. People come to garage sales for deals, not fair market value.
| Item | Garage Sale Price |
|---|---|
| Clothing (adult) | $1 – $5 per piece |
| Kids clothing | $0.50 – $2 |
| Books | $0.50 – $2 |
| DVDs/CDs | $0.50 – $1 |
| Small kitchen items | $1 – $5 |
| Small appliances (toaster, blender) | $5 – $15 |
| Furniture (tables, chairs) | $10 – $50 |
| Couches/large furniture | $25 – $100 |
| Electronics (working) | $5 – $50 |
| Tools | $3 – $20 |
| Toys/games | $1 – $10 |
| Sports equipment | $5 – $25 |
Tips for a Successful Denver Garage Sale
Timing
- Best days: Saturday and Sunday, 7 AM – 2 PM
- Best months: April through June (before summer heat) and September-October (before cold)
- Avoid: Holiday weekends, Broncos home game days, and days with forecasted rain or snow
Advertising
- Facebook Marketplace — Post 2-3 days before with photos of the best items
- Nextdoor — Your neighborhood feed is the #1 local advertising channel
- Craigslist Denver/Boulder “Garage Sales” — Still gets traffic, especially from serious bargain hunters
- Yard sale apps — Yard Sale Treasure Map, Garage Sale Finder
- Neighborhood signs — Bright, simple signs at nearby intersections (on your property or with permission)
Setup
- Display items on tables (not on the ground — people don’t want to bend down)
- Price everything individually or by category (“All clothing $2”)
- Have a designated checkout area with a cash box and small bills/change ($50 in ones and fives)
- Accept Venmo/Zelle — many buyers don’t carry cash anymore
- Put high-value items near the driveway entrance to draw people in
What to Do With Garage Sale Leftovers
Here’s the truth: you will NOT sell everything. The average garage sale sells 30-50% of items. The rest needs a plan.
Option 1: Donate Same Day
Box up leftovers and drop them at the nearest donation center before you lose momentum:
- ARC Thrift Stores — Multiple Denver metro locations, accepts most items
- Goodwill — Convenient drop-off locations everywhere
- Salvation Army — Takes furniture, clothing, household items
Many people plan to donate "later" and the leftovers end up back in the garage. Don’t let this happen — same-day donation drop-off is key.
Option 2: Post Leftovers Free Online
Take a photo of everything remaining and post it on Facebook Marketplace or your Buy Nothing group as "Free — come take what you want, porch pickup." Most of it will be gone by tomorrow.
Option 3: Schedule Junk Removal
This is the "I don’t want to deal with it anymore" option — and the most popular one after a long garage sale weekend. We specialize in garage sale leftover removal.
- A few items and bags: $99
- Tables full of unsold stuff: $149-$249
- Half-garage of leftover items: $249-$399
Pro tip: Schedule your junk removal for the Sunday afternoon of your sale. We come at the end of the day and clear everything that didn’t sell. You wake up Monday with a clean garage.
Call (303) 324-6014 or book online.
Option 4: Don’t Put It Back in the Garage
Seriously. If it didn’t sell at a garage sale for $1, you don’t need it. The #1 garage sale mistake is bringing leftovers back inside, where they sit for another 3 years until your next sale.
Multi-Family and Neighborhood Sales
Multi-family sales attract more traffic and give each household a bigger audience. Many Denver neighborhoods organize annual community sales:
- Check your neighborhood Facebook group or Nextdoor for coordinated sale weekends
- HOA-organized sales often come with advertising and signage
- Multi-family sales can share advertising costs and draw buyers from across the metro
Plan Your Sale, Plan Your Cleanup
The best garage sales end with an empty garage — not one full of unsold stuff. Plan your cleanup strategy before the sale starts: donation center addresses, junk removal booked, or online giveaway post ready to go.
Call (303) 324-6014 or book online for post-garage-sale cleanup across the Denver metro.
