Guide · updated November 2026
Craigslist for business
Craigslist is still one of the cheapest places to find local customers and hourly workers. Most posts are free or $5, jobs run $10–75 depending on the city, and every post stays up 30 to 45 days. This guide covers which section fits your business, what it costs, and the rules that keep ads live.
Pick the right section
Jobs
Employers and recruiters hiring for ongoing roles: drivers, warehouse, CNAs, retail, trades.
- Craigslist fee
- $10–75 per post, by city
- Stays up
- 30 days
Services
Movers, cleaners, contractors, handymen, landscapers and other local service businesses.
- Craigslist fee
- $5 per post
- Stays up
- 30 days
Housing
Landlords, property managers and agents listing rentals, rooms and commercial space.
- Craigslist fee
- Free; $5 for NYC, Boston and Chicago apartments and for commercial
- Stays up
- 45 days in most markets, 30 in the biggest (paid: 30)
Gigs
Short-term and per-task work: event staff, one-day crews, research panels, promo shifts.
- Craigslist fee
- $3–10 per post, by city
- Stays up
- 30 days
For sale (vehicles and dealers)
Car lots, equipment dealers and anyone selling vehicles or selling as a business.
- Craigslist fee
- $5 for vehicles by owner and anything by a dealer; most other items free
- Stays up
- Paid: 30 days
Community and pets
Classes, events, groups, volunteers, and rehoming a pet (never selling one).
- Craigslist fee
- Free
- Stays up
- 45 days in most markets, 30 in the biggest; events until the event date
The basics every poster should know
- Craigslist posting fees in 2026, section by section
- How long Craigslist ads last: 30 days or 45
- How long a Craigslist ad stays on page one
- Your Craigslist post isn't showing up: why, and what to do
- Why posting on Craigslist got so hard
- Craigslist posting service: what it costs and how it works
Free tools and data
Fee calculator
Exact Craigslist fee for any section and city.
Ad expiration lookup
When your post comes down, by city.
Market report
Monthly lifespan, page-one and activity data.
Fees, subareas and lifespans for each market: all 413 cities.
Questions
Is Craigslist still worth it for businesses?
For local leads and hourly hiring, often yes. Most posts are free or $5, so a lead from Craigslist usually costs far less than from paid job boards or lead marketplaces. The work is in the posting, which happens one city at a time.
Which Craigslist section should a business post in?
Hiring for an ongoing role goes in jobs; a one-off task or event goes in gigs; a local service goes in services; rentals and commercial space go in housing; vehicles and dealer listings go in for sale. Posting in the wrong section is one of the most common reasons ads are removed.
Can I post the same ad in many cities?
Yes, but each city is a separate post: Craigslist only lets you post to one site at a time, and each post should be relevant to that city. Duplicate posts within one city get flagged.
What does Craigslist prohibit for businesses?
Among other things: affiliate marketing and MLM, posts whose main purpose is driving traffic to a website, miscategorized or overposted ads, keyword spam, nonlocal content, and pet sales.
Rather not do the posting?
Scale Classifieds posts your ad in any of 413 cities and emails you every live link within 24–48 hours. Craigslist's fee + $15 per post.
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