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Sell your electricals

It’s never been easier to sell second-hand electronics – whether a laptop, your old headphones, hair dryer or kitchen appliances. Time to turn all that electrical clutter into hard cash.

Do you have a drawer crammed with electrical bits and pieces that you no longer use, but which still work? You’re not alone. But did you know your unwanted tech could be worth over £1,300 – and as much as £6,331? With market places like Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace and eBay making it a breeze to find a buyer, now’s the perfect time to cash in your electricals. Read on for advice on selling second-hand electronics and keeping your data safe.

Moneygami electricals created by Peter Buchan-Symons

Get the year off to a great start – make some extra cash

We did the numbers so you don’t have to

child with walkie talkie and other electrical toys

31 gadgets

The average number of electricals in working order that are gathering dust in UK homes – from old phones and headphones, to hairdryers, kitchen appliances and children’s toys.

15 minutes

The time it takes to put something up for sale using an online peer-to-peer site like Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace or eBay. What are you waiting for?

woman holding phone in origami bank notes

£554

That’s how much you could get for an unwanted mobile phone – depending on its age and brand. Even electric toothbrushes could fetch up to £105, while at the lower end an electric iron could make £15. It all adds up.

finding recycling points using the recycling locator

£1,304

How much you could earn by selling unwanted tech that’s in working order. And for recent models and expensive brands, it could be as much as £6,331. Check out our used electronics price guide.

Get ready to sell second-hand electronics

Three simple steps

With a little preparation you could make over £1,300 and as much as £6,330

person at desk with electrical items made from origami bank notes

Sort it

Separate your unwanted electricals into 3 piles: sell, donate, or recycle. It makes the rest so much easier.

hands reaching for headphones made from origami bank notes

Prepare it

Before bagging up your old items, remove batteries, bulbs and memory cards, and delete data from smart devices and IT. See our guides to preparing your gear and deleting your data.

hands with games controller made from origami bank notes

Let it go

Check out online market places like Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace or eBay, where you get to keep most of the sale price. Or, if you’re replacing a product, some retailers will buy back your old one.

“Before you recycle your electricals make sure you destroy the data on them – don’t just delete it.”

– Tony Sales, We Fight Fraud

Keep your personal data safe – read our guide to safely deleting personal data from your smart devices, with guidance from We Fight Fraud and the Government’s National Cyber Security Centre.

How to delete your data

It’s easy to sell your unwanted electricals on these peer-to-peer sites

Or get cash for your old electricals from a reseller that refurbishes

Recycle everything else

Can’t sell, repair or donate it? You can recycle anything with a plug, battery or cable – find your nearest drop-off point using our locator.

What’s the best place to sell second-hand electronics?
And other frequently asked questions.

How do I sell electronic products?

‘Online’ is the quick answer. For the detail see How to start selling your electricals online: nine top tips – written with help from some of the main online marketplaces.

What’s the best place to sell electronics?

Glad you asked. Check out our article on how to make money from your electricals – including online marketplaces, peer-to-peer platforms and reseller sites. This should help you find a good deal for your unwanted electronics.

How do I protect my personal data if I sell my smart devices?

Briefly, you need to completely erase your personal data from any electronic device before passing the item on to a third party – whether you’re selling or donating it. The precise method differs between products. For details see our in-depth guide to data deletion.

Do I have to pay tax when selling second-hand electronics?

If you earn more than £1,000 in a year from selling goods you need to declare it to HMRC. And from January 2025 online marketplaces will be providing more information to HMRC about individuals’ earnings – in other words there will be greater scrutiny and you should bear this in mind. If you originally bought the goods at a higher price, which you probably did, you won’t have to pay tax, but you do still need to declare it. For more information, visit HMRC’s Selling online and paying taxes – information sheet.

How do I make sure electrical products are safe?

When listing electrical products for sale do these four things to help make sure your products are safe, and to give potential buyers confidence:

Provide comprehensive instructions and make sure all necessary parts are included: Your listing should include clear and detailed instructions and all the components required to help buyers use the product safely and effectively.
Display the CE Mark prominently in photos: This tells potential buyers that your items comply with European safety standards.
Be clear about your product’s safety features and assurances: When potential buyers ask about your product’s safety, be open: tell them about the safety standards it meets, and provide relevant details about safety features.
Verify the product’s recall status: Take the initiative to check whether your electrical product is subject to any recalls by using the official Electrical Safety First Product Checker. Being proactive shows you’re committed to selling safe products and that you’re taking all necessary precautions.

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