The beginning of June can only mean one thing – the start of summer and garage sales! 

With inflation and rapidly changing tariffs, the best place to score art supplies and art-adjacent equipment will always be your local garage sales. Many families see the end of the school year as a great time to clear out the house of unused items and make a bit of spare cash for vacations during summer.

• Where to find garage sales
• Best art supplies & equipment at bargain discounts
• Less common art supplies at garage sales
• Example of search results from Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace
• Tips on second-hand buying

In the U.S., Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, and Nextdoor are still the main sites that the majority of people look to post because these sites are free. Craigslist does not require an account to view posts, while Facebook and Nextdoor require accounts. 

I personally enjoy Craigslist over the latter options, but I would recommend giving all three a try. The search features work nearly the same as you can specify the distance you are willing to travel and key words for items. 

I live in San Jose, California and while it is considered a large city with a population of nearly one million people, the cities that have stronger artist communities are Berkeley and San Francisco to the north and Santa Cruz to the south. It may be worthwhile to make a day-trip out of garage sale hunting if you see exceptional items for a bargain price! 

Items that are traditionally expensive but are often posted for 75% off retail or even free are:

• Drafting/drawing tables 
• Drawing boards
• Easels – including tabletop and floor versions
• Large rulers
• Drawing paper pads
• Picture frames

Large art equipment can be too bulky for a person with a small car or limited mobility to dispose of easily – hence the steep discount. Just remember to measure the capacity of your vehicle before you message the seller. Bring a friend if the item is heavier than what you can handle solo. Don’t expect the seller to help with transport.

Less common used art supplies sold for 30-50% off retail:

• Paint sets
• Paint brushes
• Drafting/drawing supplies 
• Light boxes/tracing tables 
• Drawing/graphic tablets

Here are the results for drawing tables in my local area:

Within a few minutes of searching, I was able to find a FREE glass drafting table within a half-hour drive away! 

Common questions on buying second-hand:

Are free items really free? 

• Often – yes they are! Bulk trash removal can be an expensive service. Some paints and solvents require special hazardous waste disposal. If you’re willing to haul away a large unused drawing table or a box of oil paints, you’re actually doing the seller a favor. It’s a win-win for everyone.

How safe is it to meet with stranger?

• With garage sales, it is usually safe because you’re outside the apartment/home. For non-garage sales, I recommend reading my safety guide below and using common sense.

What if I only want one or two items from a set of art supplies shown in a picture? 

• This depends on the seller, but in most cases sellers are looking to part with the entire bundle of art supplies rather than piece it out. Separating a listing would require the seller to retake photos and repost which may be more of a headache than its worth. If a seller wants to sell items individually, they are more likely to do so at a garage sale or the description will include details on the price per item.

Can I haggle? Will the seller sell it to me for a lower price? 

• Yes if OBO is mentioned – which means “or best offer.” Art supplies have a long shelf life so sellers are usually willing to wait for a bite from a person willing to pay the price listed. One key way to encourage a seller to accept a lower offer is if you buy multiple items. I have a dedicated post on haggling with more tips. 

How do I know the items being sold are not damaged or expired? 

• You don’t, but you can make a few assumptions based on photos and the description details. One key step many beginner artists fail to do is properly tighten the caps on paint. If you can handle the items before purchasing, give the paint tubes a gentle squeeze or make swatches with markers or pens. 

The first weekend of June was a treasure hunt adventure in my city! I was able to visit 8 garage sales in a few hours due to a community-organized event making it very easy to navigate. Although I didn’t pick up any art supplies, I did grab some summer clothing and camping gear! 

-Lauren