How to Sell Your Guns Online [Beginner’s Guide]

The internet was supposed to make our lives easier, but we all know that isn’t always the case.

When it comes to trying to sell a gun online, it can be daunting if you don’t know how or where to start.

But don’t worry; we are here to help you get pointed in the right direction so that you can offload your guns without too much hassle and hopefully get some good money along the way.

How to Sell on GunBroker

GunBroker doesn’t buy or sell guns directly but instead serves as a middleman between buyers and sellers.

If you are looking to sell a gun, GunBroker has the most robust search functions and the popularity to back it up. This means that your gun is getting more looks than it will anywhere else. It is the eBay of the gun world.

Steps to Sell on GunBroker

Step 1: Register

You must first register for an account through GunBroker. This step requires you to verify your identity with basic information, including your name, address, and contact info. 

Step 2: Make a Listing

After you have created an account, you can click on “Sell” at the top of your account dashboard. You can then select the appropriate category, create a title, add a description, select your payment terms, and then choose which type of listing you want (Auction or Buy Now)

Step 3: Preview Your Listing

This is an important step to ensure that all of the information on your listing is accurate before you confirm your listing.

Step 4: Confirm Your Listing

During this step, you will agree to all of the associated GunBroker fees. GunBroker makes their money by taking a percentage of each sale. These percentages vary based on the price of the item. You can check what the total fee will be beforehand using this tool.

Step 5: Ship Your Gun

Once your gun has sold, it is time to ship it to the buyer! Sellers who do not possess a Federal Firearms License (FFL), which is most of us, are considered “unlicensed sellers.”

Per the ATF rules:

Before you ship your firearm, you must have the buyer fax, mail, or email you a copy of the dealer’s signed FFL license. The gun must be shipped to the address on the FFL. GunBroker recommends that you take a copy of the signed FFL with you when shipping the gun in case the shipper requests it.

For more details, you can check out GunBroker’s comprehensive Firearms Shipping Guide.

Here is the shipping carrier information for Unlicensed sellers:

UPS

• As of January 2025, you can ship firearms via UPS through the GunBroker Shipping Tool.
• Handguns must be shipped by Next Day Air only.
• Rifles and shotguns can be shipped using UPS ground.

You can view the complete UPS Firearm Guidelines here.

FedEx

• FedEx does not allow unlicensed sellers to ship firearms. Customers with a Federal Firearms License may work with their FedEx account executive to obtain approval to ship firearms with FedEx.

You can view the complete FedEx Firearm Guidelines here.

USPS

• Unlicensed sellers can ship a rifle or shotgun through USPS but cannot ship a handgun through USPS.
• Ammunition cannot be shipped through USPS.

You can view the complete USPS Firearm Guidelines here.

Be sure to check out our full review of GunBroker!

How to Sell on Guns.com

For those who are not comfortable dealing with other individual buyers and trusting them to come through with payment, Guns.com is an option to consider.

Guns.com is a large and reputable longtime online website that buys and sells both new and used firearms.

While you may not get as much money as you would setting your own price or creating an auction, Guns.com is a simple, safe, and secure method to sell your gun.

Steps to Sell Your Gun on Guns.com

Step 1: Provide Your Firearm Information

Guns.com makes this part super simple. There is a form where you can include basic information like make, model, condition, and features, as well as provide photos for them to help verify the condition of your firearm.

Step 2: Receiving an Offer

After your firearm info is received, Guns.com will make an offer that is good for 10 business days.

Step 3: Ship Your Gun

If you accept the offer, Guns.com will send you a prepaid shipping label. You can then pack your firearm and send it off using UPS or USPS. Make sure to follow any shipping rules or restrictions. Be sure to view their Shipping Guide.

Step 4: Get Paid!

Once Guns.com receives your firearm, they will perform a physical inspection. If your firearm passes inspection, they will pay you the previously agreed amount. Since everything is prepaid, there are no additional taxes or fees.

Per Guns.com: Direct deposits are usually processed within 1 business day of your approved firearm inspection. Depending on your financial institution, your payment could take 2-3 days to post in your bank account. Check payments are generally mailed within 3 business days of approved inspections. Once your check is mailed, please allow up to 2 weeks for delivery. 

How to Sell on Cash for Arms

If selling to a known vendor is more your speed, Cash for Arms is another great and reputable alternative that is very similar to Guns.com.

The entire process is exactly the same — provide information about your gun, receive an offer, ship your gun, get paid!

Cash for Arms sends payment out within 24 hours of receiving and successfully inspecting your firearm. They also handle all the shipping in the form of a prepaid shipping label.

If you are considering selling directly to an online vendor, we always recommend reaching out to multiple vendors in order to get the most competitive offer for your guns.

Local Sales Websites/Forums

Unless you have an extremely in-demand or rare gun that will do well at auction, selling your guns locally is almost always the best way to get top dollar.

Individuals are more likely to pay closer to fair market price than gun shops. Fees and shipping costs from auction sites like GunBroker can also start to add up.

This method isn’t selling online technically, but rather, it is advertising online to get more exposure. You post your gun for sale, hopefully get a response and negotiate a price and meeting place, and then conduct the sale in person in accordance with your state laws.

While there are some nationwide sites, like Armslist, that let you make sales ads for a small fee, the best ones are usually local or state sale forums. These obviously vary from state to state, but many are free and easy to use.

For example, I am located in Texas, and I have used Armslist, Texas Gun Trader, and Texas Gun Talk for various transactions. I have had good success getting my asking price or close to it through these avenues.

We have an article on How to Improve Your Online Gun Sales Ad to help you learn more about maximizing sales potential while also avoiding any scams or hiccups.

Meet the Experts

Spearheading this article is our editor, Wyatt Sloan. Wyatt is an NRA-certified instructor with previous experience as a USPSA competitor. Wyatt personally owns over 200 firearms and has 10 years of home-based FFL firearm sales, so he knows a thing or two about buying and selling. He has used his extensive experience with firearms at large to test guns for Pew Pew Tactical — evaluating them based on our standards and metrics.

Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings runs our experienced team of reviewers. She is a National Rifle Association Basic Pistol Instructor as well as a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association. Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. With 2,000+ articles to her name, she uses her professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards for Pew Pew Tactical.

Final Thoughts

While getting the most money is always nice, some people may be okay with taking a slight hit in the payout for that extra convenience and peace of mind.

Although this isn’t a comprehensive list of every place to sell your gun online, it covers some of the most popular options. Luckily, there are enough different ways to go about selling so that you can choose what best suits your needs.

Do you have any tips or tricks for selling guns online? Are there any methods or places we missed? Let us know in the comments below! Selling to fund something new? Be sure to also check out our guide on the Best Places to Buy Used Guns Online!