Does Craigslist Charge to Post? A Full Breakdown of Craigslist Fees
By CAPS. Guidance reviewed October 22, 2026 against Craigslist’s official help.
Craigslist is often the first place people go to sell an item, rent out a place, hire staff, or advertise a service. So a fair question before you start is simple: does Craigslist charge to post? The short answer is that most Craigslist postings are completely free, and only a few specific categories carry a small fee.
This guide breaks down exactly when Craigslist charges to post, which categories are free, how much the paid ones cost, and how long your listing stays live, using Craigslist’s current fee list so you are not caught off guard.
Is It Free to Post on Craigslist?
Many ordinary by-owner items, free-stuff and community categories have no posting fee. Check the category before publishing: services and several commercial, vehicle and property categories are paid. Craigslist no longer has a personals section.
Paid categories include jobs, certain rentals, dealer listings, gigs and services. The fee depends on the category and market; the list and table below help you check which charge applies.
Craigslist Posting Fees by Category
According to Craigslist’s current fee list, all postings are free except for the following:
- Jobs in the US and parts of Canada: $10 to $75, depending on the area.
- Apartment rentals in the Boston, Chicago, and New York City areas: $5.
- Commercial real estate in the US: $5.
- For-sale by-dealer categories in the US: $5.
- Cars and trucks by-dealer in the US and Vancouver BC: $5.
- Furniture by-dealer in Vancouver BC: $5.
- Cars, trucks, RVs, and motorcycles by-owner in the US: $5.
- Gigs in the US and selected Canadian areas: $3 to $10.
- Services in the US and Canada: $5.
Everything else, most notably regular items for sale by owner, remains free. If your category is not on this list, you can post without paying.
How Much Does It Cost to Post on Craigslist?
For the paid categories, here is the cost to post on Craigslist at a glance:
| Category | Typical fee | Where it applies |
| Jobs | $10 to $75 | US and parts of Canada |
| Services | $5 | US and Canada |
| Gigs | $3 to $10 | US and selected Canada |
| Apartment rentals | $5 | Boston, Chicago, NYC areas |
| Commercial real estate | $5 | US |
| For-sale by-dealer | $5 | US |
| Vehicles by-owner | $5 | US |
US job-posting fees vary by area, within the published $10-$75 per-category range. Check the charge shown for the actual category and location before payment; a general range is not a verified price for a particular city. For the employer workflow, see our Craigslist job posting guide.
How Long Do Craigslist Posts Last, and Do Fees Repeat?
A posting fee covers one paid listing. Reposting creates another charged listing. Craigslist also documents an optional autorepost feature for eligible paid listings at expiry, charged to a saved card or posting balance. Check your account settings if you use that option; this differs from free renewal.
Paid listings, like jobs and rentals, generally stay live for about 30 days. Free listings run anywhere from 7 to 45 days depending on the category and area. As new posts come in, older ones move down the list, so many people repost to stay visible.
Why Does Craigslist Charge for Some Posts?
Craigslist publishes its category fees and shows the charge before payment. The fee depends on the category and market; payment does not exempt a post from content, location or frequency rules, and a paid listing can still be removed.
How to Post for Free on Craigslist
Use the category that genuinely fits your item or offer. Many ordinary household items sold by owners and community posts are free, but a paid service or dealer listing must not be moved into a free category to avoid its fee. Craigslist no longer has personals. For the posting steps, see how to place an ad.
A Note on Posting Costs vs Posting Time
A Craigslist service ad costs $5 in the US. Two genuinely distinct eligible service listings therefore carry $10 in platform fees. This example excludes CAPS work charges, which are shown separately on our posting packages page. The quote confirms the actual listings and campaign schedule.
Craigslist fees pay for the listing itself. Our manual Craigslist posting service is separate campaign work, priced on the Packages page. For example, four new eligible US Services posts cost $20 in Craigslist fees alone; that does not include CAPS work. If a CAPS-posted ad is flagged before 48 hours, our free replacement includes both amounts.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Craigslist charge to post?
Only in specific categories. Most Craigslist posts are free. Jobs, certain rentals, dealer listings, gigs, and services carry a small one-time fee, and only in certain regions.
How much does it cost to post on Craigslist?
Paid categories run from $3 to $75. Jobs are $10 to $75 depending on the city, gigs are $3 to $10, and most other paid categories (services, rentals, dealer, and by-owner vehicles) are $5.
Is it free to post an item for sale on Craigslist?
Yes. Selling items as a private, by-owner seller is free in nearly every category. Only for-sale by-dealer listings and certain vehicle posts carry a $5 fee.
Does Craigslist charge a monthly or subscription fee?
There is no ordinary monthly posting subscription. Each new paid post has a fee. If you enable Craigslist’s optional autorepost for an eligible paid listing, the new post is charged again when the old one expires.
How much does it cost to post a job on Craigslist?
Job postings cost $10 to $75 per category depending on the city, and jobs are paid in all US cities. See our full guide to Craigslist job posting for details.
How long does a paid Craigslist post last?
Paid listings usually run about 30 days. After that you create and pay for a new post to list again.
Final Thoughts
Check the category and location before budgeting. Many ordinary by-owner listings are free; jobs, services, dealer ads and certain other categories have per-post fees. Paid reposting creates another charge. CAPS work is priced separately, so review both amounts in your quote.