Where and how to sell used school uniforms and textbooks in Colombia

In November, many households' closets look alike: a dark sweatshirt that no longer zips, pants with a short hem, and last year's math textbook on the shelf. Before posting anything, it helps to know what the rules say, because that's where almost everything another family from the same school will ask you comes from.

What the school can and cannot require

This helps you understand why a working secondhand market exists. According to Circular 002 of January 8, 2026 from the Ministry of Education, non-official schools cannot require brands or suppliers, nor require that uniforms or materials be bought at the school, at parent association businesses, or at partner stores.

The same circular says schools cannot require more than one everyday uniform and one physical education uniform. In addition, lacking a uniform for economic reasons cannot deprive a student of academic activities. The Ministry's page on Directive 07 of 2010 adds that it is also not grounds for denying enrollment or attendance.

Textbooks work similarly: at non-official schools they cannot differ from the previous year's unless they have stayed the same for at least three years. The school can ask for a specific title by a particular author and publisher, because that is part of the curriculum, but it cannot require you to buy it at a specific store. That's why buying a used book from another family is a legitimate purchase.

Fines of 50 to 200 SMMLV for unauthorized fees or vouchers fall on the institution, not on the family selling a used uniform. If your school's list seems irregular, the complaint goes to the education secretariat, not to a resale price. More detail in the Ministry statement.

What you can resell (and what you can't)

Under Law 1915 of 2018, the distribution right for a physical copy is exhausted with the first authorized sale: whoever legally bought a printed book can resell it without new permission from the author. What is not allowed is photocopying it, selling a PDF, renting it commercially, or lending it to the public.

If someone who habitually sells a used product does not disclose this and has the buyer accept in writing that it is sold without warranty, Law 1480 of 2011 sets a three-month warranty. A family that occasionally sells their children's uniforms or textbooks does not, for that reason alone, fall under that definition of a habitual supplier: describe the real condition and don't promise a procedure.

If the textbook includes a platform code or digital license, don't treat it like a printed book. Say whether the access has already been used and don't promise the code is still valid. A used code sold as new is the fastest way to get a complaint.

For the book listing, take four photos: cover, credits page showing the edition, a couple of pages with highlighting or underlining, and the spine. Write grade, subject, title, author or publisher, year of edition, and whether it has markings. For novels and books that are not on school lists, see the used books guide.

How to show the uniform so another family recognizes it

Someone looking for a used uniform already knows which school it is; what they want to check is that it's the right one and that it will last another year. My advice: photograph each garment on a flat surface in daylight.

• Size label in close-up, the one the garment actually has, not the one we "think" it is.
• Whether it's everyday or physical education.
• The embroidery or crest already on the garment, up close, so a family from the same school can recognize it.
• Stains, knee wear, zippers that snag, and whether the fabric washes well.

Don't copy or embroider the crest onto new fabric; sell the original garment as it is. One listing per size and per school works better than a jumbled bag. School shoes have their own sizing and wear logic: they're in the used shoes guide.

An honest drawback: the uniform is very specific. If the school changes its design, that sweatshirt loses almost all its market, so don't keep it two years waiting.

The same-grade bundle

Here's the advantage over selling loose items: a family with a child entering the grade your child just left needs exactly the uniform and textbooks on that list. Put together a closed bundle by grade and describe what it includes, with subject, edition, and condition of each book.

Simple rules: don't mix sizes or grades in the same bundle, and if something is missing, say so. For non-uniform clothing sold by size, use the children's clothing lot guide; don't repeat that method here.

Pricing without a magic number

There is no official price for a used uniform or a secondhand textbook, so be wary of anyone offering a fixed percentage. Check what is being asked today for a comparable garment and for the same book edition, and adjust based on the wear visible in your photos. If you leave the condition in plain view, you'll haggle less.

Delivery and payment

Agree on a public, busy meeting place, and don't release the bag until you see the payment credited to your account. If the buyer is in another city, agree on shipping in writing before packing. And remember: the calendar is set by each certified education secretariat. In 2026, according to the Ministry, classes started between January 5 and early February; Bogotá D.C. falls in the window from January 26 to February 1. That start has already passed, so today the business is the garment that became too small and the textbook that stays useful under the three-year rule.

The general guide to selling without paying commission is at Where to sell used items in Colombia.

According to active listings on Colombia Move (November 6, 2026), the children's clothing category has 1 active listing.

Frequently asked questions

❓ Can the school require me to buy the uniform from a specific brand or store?

At a non-official school, Circular 002 of 2026 says it cannot require brands, suppliers, or places of purchase. The two-uniform rule comes from Directive 07 of 2010. If they require it, the complaint goes to your education secretariat (verify with the official source).

❓ Can I sell the textbook my child already used?

Yes, a legally purchased printed copy can be resold under Law 1915 of 2018. Photocopies and PDFs cannot be sold, nor can it be rented commercially. Honestly state whether it is highlighted or underlined (verify with the official source).

❓ Is last year's textbook still useful to another family?

Often yes: a non-official school cannot change the textbook unless it has been in use for at least three years. Even so, the other family should confirm the current list, title, and publisher with the school before buying (verify with the official source).

❓ How much should I ask for the uniform or the grade bundle?

There is no official price. Compare with what is being asked today for a garment or equivalent edition, lower it based on wear, and keep the condition visible in the photos. Avoid copying fixed percentages from other guides (verify with the official source).

❓ What photos are needed if the uniform has the school crest?

A clear photo of the embroidery, the size label, and any stains. Write the school name and grade in the text. Sell the original garment as is and don't copy the crest onto other fabric (verify with the official source).

❓ How do I sell safely and avoid scams?

Hand over the item in a public, busy place, and don't release the bundle until you see the payment credited to your account. Describe the real condition of the garment and the book to avoid complaints later (verify with the official source).

❓ Where can I post the uniform without paying commission?

In the children's clothing category of a free classifieds section, with size, school, grade, and condition. In the listing text, include whether it is everyday or physical education, the visible embroidery, and whether the bundle includes textbooks from that list.