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What is a stoop sale?

Also called: porch sale, curb sale · Used in American cities, especially the Northeast

A stoop sale is the city version of a garage sale. Where a home has no garage and no yard, the goods go out on the front steps — the stoop — or along the curb. 'Porch sale' and 'curb sale' describe the same event from the same lack of driveway.

What it actually means in practice

Row houses and walk-up flats force the layout: everything is stacked on the steps, buyers climb past it, and the sale is visible from the pavement for exactly the reason a driveway sale is visible from the road.

In dense cities these are the highest-density sales anywhere, because a single block can hold thirty of them on one Saturday morning.

Garage saleA garage sale is a household selling its own used belongings directly to walk-up buyers, usually from a driveway or garage, for a day or a weekend. Items are priced by the seller, cash is normal, and there is no shop, staff or warranty involved.Yard saleA yard sale is the same event as a garage sale — a household selling used goods to the public from its own property. The name reflects the geography: in regions where homes sit on front lawns rather than behind attached garages, the sale happens in the yard.Community saleA community sale is many households in one street, subdivision or neighbourhood selling on the same agreed weekend, sometimes promoted with a single map or flyer. Dozens of sales sit within walking distance, which makes it the most efficient way to cover ground.

Find one near you

Every stoop sale posted nearby is on one map, sorted by distance, with dates, hours and photos. Hosting one yourself? Posting is free and takes about two minutes.

Browse sales near meThis weekendPost a sale

Need the rules rather than the words? Permits and signage by state. Back to the full glossary.

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