Maybe you’re a student cramming for finals.
Or maybe you’re working a 9-to-5 but want some extra cash.
Whatever your situation, you don’t have much spare time.
Luckily, though, all you need is 60 minutes.
If you’re wondering how to make money in one hour, let’s dive in.
To get you started, we’ve created a list of actionable ideas that you could put into motion immediately, including a variety of both online and in-person concepts.
When you’re willing to get creative, you can earn cash quickly and turn your downtime into dollar signs.
Give User Feedback for Websites
Love giving reviews and sharing your opinions? Sites like UserTesting.com will pay people to navigate websites and digital products.
Users then provide feedback, which will be implemented to improve a site’s interface or customers’ experience with a product.
After going through a screening process, you can complete tests on your own time at whatever hours work best for you.
Payments per test will add up quickly, and you could find yourself with a handy chunk of change depending on your testing availability.
Deliver Food & Packages
If you have access to some mode of transportation—be it a car, a bicycle, or even a scooter—you can get into the delivery game.
Delivering for DoorDash, Uber Eats, Instacart, or Grubhub simply requires picking up and dropping off food, ideal for the introverts among us.
The exact requirements vary by app, but in general, delivery drivers must meet minimum age requirements and have a valid ID.
Drivers also cover their own fuel costs. So, this might not be a full-time income stream, but you could still make a few extra bucks here and there.
Drive People Around
Rideshare services like Uber and Lyft have skyrocketed in popularity in recent years, and you could get in on the boom by becoming a driver.
Most people can start with little more than a working car and a driver’s license, though you may have to wait to be approved first.
Since apps take up to 30% in commission fees from drivers, the profit margins are lower than they once were.
But you can maximize your time by driving during peak hours when surge pricing takes effect.
You might even meet some interesting passengers as you work.
Run Errands
Dropping off a friend’s sweater, moving heavy boxes, or assembling furniture—there are about a thousand little chores that most of us would rather avoid, and you stand to profit.
Get paid to handle those pesky to-do list items by becoming a “Tasker” on the TaskRabbit app.
My old company often used Taskers to run quick, easy errands that paid well.
Sometimes, you’ll need to do nothing more than spend an hour in line for the next iPhone.
TaskRabbit only operates in a few dozen cities, though, so check the list before you get too excited.
Land a Pet Sitting or Dog Walking Gig
Speaking as an occasional sitter, I can confirm that pet sitting is just as fun as it’s cracked up to be.
You can find pet care gigs on sites like Rover and TrustedHousesitter and get paid to spend some quality time with clients’ furry (or scaly, or feathered) friends.
We have a more detailed guide to pet sitting here, but we should state the obvious: sitting gigs usually last longer than an hour.
So, if you can only spare 60 minutes, dog walking may be a better fit. Or, spend your hour applying to sitting gigs to create future income.
Host a Garage Sale
As the adage goes, one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.
Take inventory of any items you may not need and put them out on the curb with price tags.
You probably won’t make a ton of money (unless you have some amazing stuff), but a little extra cash is better than none.
I often buy and sell at garage sales, so here’s some advice: Know your audience.
Most people expect to find bargains, not vintage items going for top dollar.
Set your prices realistically, and if in doubt, look at eBay’s Sold section to see how much people will pay.
Sell Your Stuff to a Consignment Shop
Okay, a garage sale sounds a little time-consuming to you.
Instead, bag up all those old items and take them to a consignment shop (or online) to exchange for cash.
Depending on the store and what you have to sell, this could be a very lucrative way to clean out your closet.
Chances are, you have some decent clothes, shoes, or even pieces of furniture lying around.
That said, shops typically pay 70 to 50% of an item’s worth to leave some room for resale.
So, go for quantity over quality and don’t expect to get the full retail price.
Sell Your Stuff to a Pawn Shop
Big-ticket items like musical instruments and jewelry generally do best at pawn shops, but there’s no real limit to what you can pawn.
Take a look at the back of your closet, your attic, or your basement and see how much you can get for that old necklace or unused guitar.
To avoid accepting lowball offers, do your research beforehand.
At the same time, you shouldn’t overprice—remember, pawn stores also have to resell your stuff.
A fair sale is better than no sale, and if you stay flexible and negotiate well, you could make good money.
Find Odd Jobs Online
Whether you can mow lawns, clean windows, or even just dispose of pet waste, there’s likely someone out there willing to pay you for your help.
Check Craigslist and local Facebook pages to find odd jobs, and you can make money from just a few simple chores.
Of course, you’ll have to exercise caution when selecting online jobs—after all, you can’t trust just anyone who’s looking for a gardener on Facebook.
You should carefully screen all clients and agree on your rates well in advance to avoid any unpleasant disputes.
Donate Plasma or Blood
As of 2024, both plasma and blood are in short supply across the U.S., so you can earn cash while saving lives.
The Red Cross pays up to $350 for collections through the Specialized Donor program, and the process usually takes about an hour (excluding recovery time).
Before signing up, look into the health requirements for donors and talk to your doctor.
You’ll have to wait a while between donations, too, so don’t depend on donating regularly to cover the rent.
Oh, and make sure you’re not afraid of needles or blood, of course.
Rent Out Your Possessions
Peer-to-peer platforms have revolutionized today’s rental equipment industry.
You can rent out your car on Turo, your camera on ShareGrid, or your pop-up tent on GeerGarage.
No matter how niche the item, you can likely find a site or app to post it on.
On that note, many sites and apps do take a cut of your profits.
But renting through an official marketplace means a lower chance of your items being damaged or stolen and provides security in those worst-case scenarios.
Babysit
For those who like spending time with children, babysitting can lead to a sizable paycheck.
Sitters can make anywhere from $15 to $30 an hour depending on their location, experience, and skills, and you can generally set your own schedule by picking your jobs right.
Like pet sitting, babysitting usually takes more than one hour.
You might also deal with difficult clients from time to time.
However, if you have what it takes to be a babysitter, childcare can be a hugely lucrative gig.
Some sitters even make hundreds of dollars per job.
Ready to make quick cash?
No matter how you want to make money in one hour, you can earn online or in person in just 60 minutes.
Granted, these are actionable ways to make quick cash—not get-rich-quick schemes.
But since time is money, your extra income will go much further than you think.
If and when you have more hours to yourself, you might want to turn one of these side hustles into a full-time business of your own.
I want to earn money for my study