Yard sale, village sale, street sale: what is what?
German has a remarkable number of words for “several people selling used things on the same day”. They are not interchangeable – each describes a different set-up, and knowing which one you mean makes organising much easier.
Hofflohmarkt – the yard sale
Everyone sells from their own property: yard, garage, driveway, front garden. Nothing is set up on public ground, visitors walk or cycle from address to address. This is the most common form in villages and residential streets, and the one FlohMaps was originally built for.
Dorfflohmarkt – the village sale
The same idea across a whole village or several districts. Often organised by a club or the municipality, with a printed map. Distances are larger, so a route and a good map matter more.
Kiezflohmarkt / Straßenflohmarkt – the neighbourhood sale
The urban variant: one street, one block, one quarter. Sometimes on private front gardens, often partly on the pavement – which needs permission from the municipality.
Garagenflohmarkt – the garage sale
Everything happens in and in front of garages, which is practical in bad weather. Frequently organised across a whole garage court.
Hausflohmarkt – one building
A single apartment building or housing estate. Several parties, one address, often in the courtyard or the underground car park.
Kinderbasar, Kita- and Schulflohmarkt
Organised by a daycare, school or parents’ council, usually at one venue and with a focus on children’s clothes and toys. Sometimes run as a numbered sale where the organiser handles the till and settles up afterwards.
Vereinsflohmarkt and church sales
A club, parish or charity runs the market on its own grounds, often with cake and coffee, and the proceeds go towards a purpose.
Which one fits your plan?
On FlohMaps you choose between four forms when creating an event: a single yard or house, the grounds of an institution, spread across the neighbourhood, or a large public market. That choice decides how sign-ups work – see our guide on organising.
Start your own market Organising a yard sale event: the complete guide