Blog

Thanks to the smart folks at Taverner Research Group, the 2025 Garage Sale Trail survey results are in, and it’s once again revealed the power of community and how small actions made by many have a BIG impact.

Over two big weekends in November 2025, Australian households, Men's Sheds, Neighbourhood Houses, Scout and Guide groups, CWAs, local councils and even whole streets and towns put secondhand first at thousands of garage sales across the country 👏👏

Who took part?

More than 330,000 people shopped or sold secondhand at 13,421 sales nationwide in 2025.

What were people's reasons for getting involved? Making money was the number one reason sellers took part this year, overtaking decluttering and avoiding sending items to landfill as the primary motivators.

For shoppers, it was all about finding a bargain, looking for something unique and shopping sustainably.

60% of sellers reported they would not have hosted a garage sale without Garage Sale Trail, highlighting the program’s role as a gateway into reuse, with many sellers reporting they are now more likely to buy or sell secondhand in the future.

How much did we save and earn?

739,647 items were sold or reused over the two big weekends. Sellers told us 36% of items would otherwise have gone to landfill.

All this good stuff changing hands translated to an average of $761 earned at each household sale.

What was the environmental impact?

Need a bit of context for just how significant this is for our environment? The nifty reuse calculator developed by Charitable Reuse Australia and the NSW EPA shows that Garage Sale Trail saved 2,722 tonnes of CO2 emissions, the equivalent of removing 1,125 cars from the road.

If you want to find out how your secondhand shopping habits are making a difference, you can calculate your own CO2 emission savings using the Charitable Reuse Australia Calculator.

How much were we getting to know our neighbours?

79% of survey respondents reported that taking part in the Trail helped them feel more connected to their local Community. It’s been an intangible but very real part of the Trail for years now - garage sales bring people together 🫶

Nationally, sellers met an average of 49 people at their sale, most (90%) were people they hadn’t met before.

A final thanks to you all!

Thank you to each and every one of you who hosted sales, shopped the trail and spread the word.

This success wouldn't have been possible without support from our 91 council partners and regional groups, as well as state government partners like the NSW EPA and the Queensland Government.

Our collaborations with community partners such as the Australian Men's Shed Association and Neighbourhood Houses, CWA, Scouts and more have been invaluable too.

Take a bow everyone and get ready to do it all again this year.

Ready to join?

Garage Sale Trail is happening next on 7-8 & 14-15 November, Australia-wide.

Join the wait list to be the first to know when registrations open.