If you have seen videos of someone flipping furniture for a side hustle, you may have asked yourself: “Is furniture flipping actually profitable?”

When I bought a $25 end table for my first project, I thought I was about to make easy money. All I had to do was buy some paint, slap it on, sell it for $100, and call it a day.

Then I did some research and realized I needed to buy a few other items. So, I wrote them down, went to Home Depot, and got what I needed.

After scanning all the items I needed, I stood in shock as the register showed a $187 total. Luckily for me, my parents graciously paid for all the items I needed to get started (thank you mom and dad) so I got pretty lucky starting out. It’s safe to say I quickly found out the reality of furniture flipping: the $25 end table was never going to cost just $25.

In this post, I’ll walk through the real costs of a furniture flip so you can budget wisely before diving into your first project.

Cost Breakdown

This section will highlight the key costs to consider when planning a furniture flipping project. Firstly, I will highlight the one-time purchases you can reuse for multiple projects, then I will list the supplies you’ll need to replenish over time. Not all of these supplies are needed for each project; remember to keep in mind the end goal you have for your project, then plan the supplies you need in order to get there. I’ll include a rough estimate for each item to give you a realistic idea of the cost.

1. One-Time Purchases
   • Sander– $139
   • Drill set– $99
   • Respirator– $38
   • Shop Vacuum– $109
   • Work Gloves– $10
   • Clamps– $15
   • Paint Brush Set– $23
   • Measuring Tape– $13
2. Recurring Expenses
   • Primer (1 gallon)- $24
   • Paint (1 quart)- $53
   • Wood stain (8 oz)- $9
   • Top coat (ex: polyurethane)- $25
   • Wood filler– $15
   • Bondo– $22
   • Sandpaper sheets– $10/each grit
   • Shop Rags– $4
   • Paint Stripper– $15
   • Acetone– $9
   • Painters tape– $6

TOTAL: $638

Clearly it is not cheap to start flipping furniture if you have none of the tools already. However, remember that you don’t NEED all of these items, and you can do without them if necessary.

A Real Profit Breakdown

Now that the one-time purchases are out of the way, here’s what my usual expenses and profit look like per project. For items like primer, paint, and topcoat, I only factor in the portion I actually use. So if I use 1/4 of a quart of paint that costed $50, I record $12.50 as the project cost. Don’t worry about getting exact numbers; you just need an estimate to ensure you are making a profit.

EXPENSES: $100

• Dresser- $50
• Primer- $5
• Paint- $15
• Sandpaper sheets- $15
• Paint Stripper- $6
• Acetone- $5
• Bondo/wood filler- $4

TIME SPENT: 15 hours

SELLING PRICE: $425

PROFIT: $325 (around $21/hr)

As you can see, furniture flipping can be a great side hustle to take up in your free time. Keep in mind that each project is different; Some projects have averaged $50 per hour, while others were closer to $10. Over time, you’ll learn what performs well in your area through research and experience.

Don’t let the price of starting discourage you. Rather, let it prepare you to plan well and be strategic about how you start.