What do you do with your old laptop when it starts slowing down?
If you’re like many people, you scrap the old one and move on to something new. But if you let it collect dust in the closet, you may be leaving some cash on the table. That’s why it’s good to know your options for getting rid of your old Macbook or PC laptop.
To help, we’ve compiled a list of 18 of the best places to sell an old laptop online. You may be surprised how much cash you can get for a device you no longer need.
Table of Contents
- How Much Is an Old Laptop Worth?
- 18 Best Places to Sell an Old Laptop Online
- 1. Decluttr
- 2. Sellcell
- 3. eBay
- 4. Gazelle
- 5. Craigslist
- 6. Gizmogo
- 7. Facebook Marketplace
- 8. Staples Trade-In
- 9. Amazon Trade-In
- 10. Apple Trade-In
- 11. Best Buy Trade-In
- 12. Gadget Salvation
- 13. Mac of All Trades
- 14. Swappa
- 15. OfferUp
- 16. Letgo
- 17. ItsWorthMore
- 18. VarageSale
- Final Thoughts on Selling Your Laptop
How Much Is an Old Laptop Worth?
You’ve probably heard the saying that one man’s junk is another man’s treasure. It applies to laptops as much as anything else. For that reason, you owe it to yourself to at least try to sell your old laptop and generate some cash for a new one.
But how can you know how much your old laptop is worth?
A used laptop’s value can determined by a combination of factors. First and foremost is the make and model of your laptop. Some carry a higher resale value than others. Generally speaking, the higher the original purchase price, the more you’ll get upon resale.
Another major factor is the age of the device. The newer it is, the higher the price you’ll fetch. Age is also important because a unit may have no value if it is over a certain number of years old or if the model is no longer being sold or serviced.
Finally, there’s the laptop’s condition. The better the condition of your device, the higher the price it will command. Unfortunately, the condition is often subjective and not as reliable as the model or age in determining value.
We’ll look closer at the condition as a factor at the end of this guide. In the meantime, let’s get into the best places to sell your old laptop online.
18 Best Places to Sell an Old Laptop Online
1. Decluttr
Decluttr is a website where you can buy, sell, or trade refurbished electronics. That includes laptops, tablets, cell phones, iPads, Apple watches, and video game consoles. Unfortunately, they only act as a marketplace for Apple laptops (Macbook/MacBook Pro).
Decluttr claims to pay the most for any tech items, and you can sell your MacBook directly to Decluttr rather than waiting for a third-party seller on the site. In fact, you can get an instant price for your laptop. That price will be good for 28 days.
Decluttr also provides free shipping and will pay you the very next day after they receive your laptop. Payment is available either by direct deposit or by PayPal.
2. Sellcell
As the name implies, Sellcell specializes in selling and reselling cell phones. But they also make a market in tablets and other items, including laptops.
This may not be the best site to sell a laptop since they specialize in cell phones. But if you’re considering multiple sites for the best price, you may want to try Sellcell.
3. eBay
You can sell any type of computer hardware on eBay, including laptops. It’s an online marketplace to buy and sell just about anything you can think of. But there are pluses and minuses to using this platform.
On the plus side, eBay is an open market, enabling you to sell your laptop to the highest bidder. That creates the possibility of getting the highest price possible for your item.
But there are a few negatives. First, eBay is not a tech platform. Second, there are selling fees, and they can be steep. And if you’ve ever sold anything on eBay in the past, you know there’s a possibility that the item could be returned or the buyer can file a dispute.
4. Gazelle
Like Decluttr, Gazelle only provides a marketplace for MacBooks. But it’s otherwise a very popular site to sell used cell phones and electronics.
You can get an offer online in as little as two minutes. Should you decide to accept the offer, you can send the device to Gazelle free of charge so they can inspect it. Once they confirm the device matches the description, payment will be sent.
Gazelle accepts MacBook, MacBook Air, and MacBook Pro laptops. Once you are given a price on your laptop, the offer will be good for 30 days. Gazelle will send you a prepaid box to ship the laptop if you accept the offer. Once received, a check will be issued within 10 business days.
5. Craigslist
Craigslist is probably the most flexible platform to sell your laptop on. It’s an open marketplace, much like the classified newspaper ads a few decades ago. You can sell just about anything directly to the ultimate buyer.
Craigslist does have the advantage that you will most likely sell your laptop to a local individual or organization. That will eliminate the need for shipping and the cost associated with it. But it’s likely to require a face-to-face meeting with the buyer, which not everyone is comfortable with. If you’re not, you might want to consider using another method from this list.
6. Gizmogo
Gizmogo is another online platform where you can sell your laptop and other used electronics. They seem to favor Macbooks but also provide a market for Galaxy, Chromebook, LG Gram, MS Surface Book, and Dell, HP, and Lenovo laptops, among others.
Like other online sites, Gizmogo provides a free quote. You’ll ship your device, and they will pay you when it arrives. The price will be good for 15 days when you receive a quote. Gizmogo offers free shipping, and payment will be sent within one business day of receiving your device.
7. Facebook Marketplace
Much like eBay and Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace is a general online marketplace for all kinds of items, including electronics. But its advantage over eBay is that there are no listing or transaction fees to eat away at your sale price. It also has the advantage that you can likely sell your laptop to a local buyer, much like Craigslist.
Remember that Facebook Marketplace is a huge marketplace, so the competition with other laptop sellers will likely be heavy. It’s a good place to sell your laptop quickly, but you may not get top dollar.
8. Staples Trade-In
Staples sells laptops, so it’s hardly surprising that they offer a trade-in capability. This is done through Staples Trade-In Tech. You can either bring your laptop to a Staples store or send it to the designated location. It will be evaluated, and you will be paid with a Staples eCash Card.
The obvious disadvantage is that the card can only be used for purchases at Staples. But it’s an option to consider if you’re a regular Staples customer.
9. Amazon Trade-In
Amazon Trade-In works much like the Staples Trade-In program in that you will receive an Amazon gift card for your laptop. But if you are a regular Amazon shopper, that shouldn’t be a problem.
Like other online laptop platforms, you need to answer a few questions about your device, and if accepted, you’ll be able to ship it using a free prepaid shipping label.
10. Apple Trade-In
As you may have guessed, Apple Trade-In is a platform where you can trade in your Apple device. Like Staples Trade-In, you can trade your laptop at an Apple Store or online.
You’ll get a trade-in estimate, then choose a new Apple product and trade your laptop for a credit on purchasing that item. Once again, this is a good option if you frequently purchase Apple products.
11. Best Buy Trade-In
Like other proprietary trade-in programs, Best Buy Trade-In lets you trade in your laptop for a credit to purchase other items available at Best Buy. But since Best Buy has such a wide range of products, it may be one of the better trade-in programs available.
Similar to other trade-in programs, you can present your laptop for evaluation in-store or online. You’ll be given an estimated value, and then you can turn in your device for a Best Buy gift card.
12. Gadget Salvation
Gadget Salvation is another online platform where you can sell your used laptop for cash. They offer both free shipping and fast payment for your laptop.
You’ll answer a few questions online, and an estimate of value will be provided. They’ll provide a prepaid shipping label to apply to your package and you can drop it off at any UPS store. Within two business days of receiving the laptop, your payment will be sent by either check, PayPal, Venmo, or Zelle, depending on your preference.
13. Mac of All Trades
Mac of All Trades is another website that specializes in Apple products. In fact, the platform specializes in refurbished Apple products, including laptops. But their advantage is enabling you to sell your Apple product for cash rather than restricting you to a trade-in against the new Apple product.
The selling process is similar to other websites and includes a free prepaid shipping label, with payment issued by check or Zelle within three business days of item delivery.
14. Swappa
Swappa is another of the more popular sites to sell an old laptop online. Much like eBay, you’ll create a listing for your laptop. You’ll need to include a description of the item, a few photos for your ad, and set a price. You’ll then be able to sell the laptop to the highest bidder.
Swappa does charge a fee of 3% of the sale price of the laptop. Think of Swappa as an eBay for technology, though they also offer sneakers on the platform. Go figure!
15. OfferUp
OfferUp works more like a general online marketplace, like eBay, in that you will sell your laptop and other merchandise directly to individual buyers. They offer various products on the site, including clothing, vehicles, toys and games, sporting equipment, and even collectibles and art. But they also offer electronics and media, including computers. In fact, they even have a category for HP laptops.
The site does have a no-fee selling option. But you can add selling features for a fee. There are several categories of upgrades, each with its own fee structure.
16. Letgo
Letgo was once a standalone marketplace, but OfferUp has since taken it over. It now functions strictly as a mobile app. So, in effect, it is the mobile version of OfferUp and a viable option for selling your laptop in a general merchandise marketplace.
17. ItsWorthMore
ItsWorthMore is an online marketplace where you can sell cell phones, tablets, or laptops. As is the case with all online marketplaces, you can get an instant quote online based on the make and condition of your laptop. The site provides a free, trackable prepaid shipping label, and you can get paid directly from ItsWorthMore, so you don’t have to wait for your item to sell to a third party.
ItsWorthMore supports several laptop manufacturers, including Apple, Microsoft, Dell, Lenovo, HP, and Asus.
18. VarageSale
VarageSale – as its name implies – is an online garage sale. They sell all kinds of merchandise, including some tech items. It functions much like Craigslist, focusing on buying and selling locally. This may be an option if you prefer selling locally and want to diversify beyond Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace.
Final Thoughts on Selling Your Laptop
When shipping or delivering a laptop, ensure it is securely packaged. That means making generous use of shipping insulators, like bubble wrap or packing peanuts. A laptop damaged in transit may be worthless when the buyer receives it, and you don’t want that.
Just as important, you must wipe all data from your laptop before shipping it. This is critical because any information remaining on your laptop after shipping will be available to the recipient. You’ll have one opportunity to wipe the data, after which it will be fair game. Don’t rely on a purchaser’s representations that they will wipe the laptop for you – do it yourself to ensure it gets done.
Consumer Reports has instructions on how to wipe your computer clean.
Be sure you have the right address for delivery. If the package goes to the wrong destination, you may not get it back. It may be worth adding delivery insurance equal to the agreed-upon value of the laptop before shipping.
Lastly, most laptop buyers will require that you rate your device’s condition. That can be excellent, good, fair, or something less. Be completely objective in this process, as if you were buying the laptop yourself. A superb rating should be reserved for devices that are in something close to showroom condition. If the condition falls short of that description, but the unit is still good, then list it as “good” instead.
You owe it to yourself to get as much money for your laptop as possible. Get quotes from several sources before deciding which you will sell your device to or on.