Quick Answer
To sell used patio furniture and BBQs in Kingston, list on Fliku, Kijiji or Facebook Marketplace in April and May for the best price, or at the end of the season if you want to clear it. Clean everything, photograph sets together, and list the brand, material and number of pieces. For BBQs, remove the propane tank unless it is in date, because propane cylinders must be requalified every 10 years. Price at about a third to half of the new price for sets in good condition.
It is October, the leaves are turning, and your patio set has become a very large, very expensive reminder that summer is over. Maybe you are downsizing, maybe you got new furniture, maybe you just do not want to wrestle it into the garage again. Either way, outdoor furniture and BBQs are one of the more profitable things you can sell second-hand, as long as you list them at the right time and present them properly.
This guide covers what sells, what to charge, how to clean up a set that has seen better days, and the one safety rule about propane tanks that every BBQ seller should know. It is written for a real person with a real patio set, not for a furniture catalogue.
Sell Now, or Wait Until Spring?
This is the first decision, and there is a trade-off. Spring is when demand is highest, and buyers will pay the most. But if you are selling now, the end of the season has its own advantages: you do not have to store a big set all winter, and some buyers hunt for end-of-season bargains.
| When | Demand | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| April to June | Highest | Best prices | Sets in good condition you can store until then |
| July to August | Good | Fair | Quick sales of anything left over |
| September to October | Moderate; bargain hunters | Lower | Clearing out before winter |
| November to March | Low | Lowest | Items you cannot store, or need gone |
If you have a garage or a shed, storing a good set and listing it in April usually pays better. If you do not, list it now and price it to move. A set that has been covered and cleaned will always sell for more than one that sat in the rain.
What Sells Well
- Dining and conversation sets: a table with four or six chairs, or a sofa set with cushions, are the most popular outdoor furniture. Complete sets sell faster than single pieces.
- Adirondack and lounge chairs: wooden and recycled-plastic Adirondack chairs, loungers and rockers sell steadily.
- Umbrellas and bases: sell with the base, since buyers need both.
- BBQs and grills: well-known brands sell quickly, especially propane models with side burners.
- Fire pits and chimineas: popular in the shoulder seasons, and easy to sell when clean.
- Planters, benches and garden decor: small but steady sellers, best bundled.
- Outdoor storage: deck boxes and small sheds, which are bulky and need local pickup.
Clean It Up Like You Mean It
Outdoor furniture looks worse in photos than it does in person, so a good clean makes a bigger difference than almost anything else. Spend an hour on it, and it can add real money to the price.
- Metal and aluminum: wash with soapy water, scrub off rust spots with a wire brush, and touch up with paint if needed.
- Wood and teak: scrub, rinse and let it dry, then lightly sand and oil it if the surface is weathered.
- Plastic and resin: a soapy scrub and a rinse make it look nearly new.
- Cushions: wash covers according to the label, dry them thoroughly and photograph them fluffed. Mouldy cushions are worth removing from the sale.
- Glass tabletops: clean them and check for chips or cracks.
BBQs, Propane and the 10-Year Rule
If you are selling a BBQ, there is one safety point you should know. Portable propane cylinders in Canada must be inspected and requalified 10 years after the date stamped on them, and an out-of-date cylinder cannot be legally filled. The collar of the cylinder shows the manufacture date, a month and a year, such as "04 19" for April 2019, which means it would need requalification by April 2029. The Canadian Propane Association FAQ explains the rule, and the Transport Canada website lists registered requalifiers.
What does that mean for a seller? Before you list a BBQ with a tank, check the date. If the tank is expired, do not sell it as part of the BBQ, or say clearly that it needs requalification or replacement. If you are not sure, sell the BBQ without the tank. Disconnect the tank properly, clean the grates and burners, check the hoses for cracks, and test the ignition. Buyers will ask whether it lights and whether the burners work, so be ready to show them. For safety, never sell a grill with a damaged hose, a leaking regulator or a rusted-out firebox.
How to Price Used Patio Furniture and BBQs
Outdoor furniture loses value quickly because weather and wear show, but good brands and solid materials hold up. As a rough guide, sets in good condition sell for about a third to half of the new price, and well-known BBQs sell for similar proportions. Wrought iron, teak and quality aluminum hold value better than cheap plastic or resin. The best method is to check current Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace listings for the same brand and style, and price slightly below the closest match.
| Item | Rough guide | What affects the price |
|---|---|---|
| Dining set (table and chairs) | A third to half of new | Material, number of chairs, condition of cushions |
| Conversation or sectional set | A third to half of new | Brand, cushion condition, completeness |
| Adirondack chairs | A third of new each | Wood, plastic, condition |
| Propane BBQ | A third to half of new | Brand, burners, condition, tank date |
| Fire pit | About half of new if clean | Material, rust, accessories |
These are guides only. For a method that works for any item, read how to price used items for a fast sale.
Write a Listing That Makes the Sale
Describe what you are selling the way you would to a friend. "Teak dining table with six chairs, seats six comfortably, kept in a covered porch, small scratch on one chair" tells a buyer everything they need. Include the dimensions, the material, how many pieces come in the set and whether cushions are included. Say whether the set can be taken apart for transport, and what kind of vehicle is needed.
Take photos in daylight against a clean background. Set up the whole set, take a wide shot, then close-ups of the table surface, the chairs and any wear. Photograph BBQs from the front, the side and the inside, with the lid open and the burners visible. And remember that buyers shopping for outdoor furniture are imagining their own patio, so a clean, tidy photo makes it easy for them to picture it.
Selling Fire Pits, Planters and Garden Decor
Smaller items sell best in bundles. A fire pit with a cover and a set of tools, three matching planters, or a bench with a pair of garden chairs all look more appealing together than alone. Clean them, take a good photo and say how many are included. If you have a lot of small items, a garage sale may be easier than listing each one, and our garage sale guide explains how to run one in Kingston. Items that nobody wants can go to a charity shop or a free listing; see free stuff in Kingston.
Delivery, Pickup and Safety
Patio sets are bulky, so make pickup easy. Say where the items are, whether they can be disassembled and what vehicle is needed. Offer to help load, and have the set ready outside. Do not deliver unless you want to; it is easy to say "pickup only". Keep the item near the door when buyers arrive.
Whatever you are selling, large items that need loading is a good reason to be careful about who comes to your house. Meet in daylight, keep the item near the door, have someone else home if you can, and accept cash or an e-transfer you can see in your own banking app before anything leaves. Never send a deposit or a verification code to someone you have not met, and be suspicious of any buyer who offers more than you asked. Our guides to avoiding scams when selling locally and safe meetup spots in Kingston cover the details, and the Canadian Anti-Fraud Centre lists current scams.
Storing Outdoor Furniture Over the Winter
If you decide to hold your set until spring, how you store it affects the price you get later. Clean it, let it dry completely, and store it indoors or in a shed or garage if you can. Stack chairs, remove cushions and store them dry, and cover the table. If you have to leave it outside, use a good fitted cover and raise the legs off the ground, because pooled water and ice damage metal and wood. A set that comes out of winter clean and dry will sell for noticeably more than one that spent five months under snow.
Selling an Outdoor Kitchen, Gazebo or Shade Structure
Bigger outdoor items, such as gazebos, pergolas, shade sails and built-in grills, have a smaller audience and need more explanation. Say how large they are, how they are assembled and whether they can be taken apart. Take photos assembled and disassembled if you can, and be honest about wear on the frame and fabric. Buyers will usually need a truck and a couple of helpers, so give them the information they need to plan. Because these items are bulky, list them well before the season so that people have time to arrange the move.
Buying Used Patio Furniture: What to Check
Shoppers should look closely before paying. Check the frame for rust, cracks and loose joints, sit on the chairs and shake the table, and look at cushions for mould and odour. For wood, look for rot and splits, and for plastic, check for fading and brittleness, since sun makes some plastics snap. For a BBQ, check the burners, the hoses, the igniter and the date on the propane tank, and ask whether it has been stored covered. Measure your patio first so that you do not buy a set that is too big.
Selling patio furniture or a BBQ in Kingston?
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List Your Outdoor Items on FlikuFrequently Asked Questions
When is the best time to sell patio furniture in Kingston?
April to June, when buyers are preparing their patios and will pay the most. You can also sell at the end of the season, from September to October, at lower prices if you do not want to store it. Listing in winter is slow.
How much is used patio furniture worth?
As a rough guide, a set in good condition sells for about a third to half of the new price. Teak, wrought iron and quality aluminum hold value better than cheap plastic or resin. Check current Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace listings for the same brand and style before you set a price.
Can I sell a BBQ with a propane tank?
Only if the tank is in date. Portable propane cylinders in Canada must be requalified 10 years after the date stamped on the collar, and out-of-date cylinders cannot be legally filled. If the tank is expired or you are unsure, sell the BBQ without it, or say it needs requalification.
How do I clean old patio furniture before selling?
Wash metal and plastic with soapy water, scrub off rust and touch up with paint, scrub and oil wood, wash and fully dry cushion covers, and clean glass tops. A good clean often adds more to the price than it costs in time.
Where can I list patio furniture in Kingston?
You can list it on Fliku, Kijiji and Facebook Marketplace. Listing in all three takes about twenty minutes and reaches the most buyers. For small items, a garage sale is another option.
