Which Polaroid pieces hold their value
- SX-70 folding cameras, which are the most admired design the company made and still have film available
- 600-series cameras, which are the most common vintage type and take film that is still manufactured
- Cameras tested with film and confirmed working, since so many stored examples do not fire at all
- Original boxes, manuals and cases, which matter on a camera bought as much for its looks as its function
And what pulls the price down
- Cameras taking discontinued formats such as the old peel-apart pack film, which cannot be used however good their condition
- Dirty or seized rollers, which streak every photograph the camera takes and are the commonest fault on stored cameras
- Failed electronics on 600-series bodies, which draw power from a battery inside the film pack, so a dead camera can only be tested with fresh film
- Perished light seals and bellows on folding models, where pinholes fog the film and the repair is specialist
Identifying and dating yours
These are the checks that decide which end of the range a piece sits in, and they are the facts a serious buyer will ask for:
- State the format the camera takes and whether that film is still produced — it is the first thing an informed buyer checks
- Open the film door and photograph the rollers, since their condition determines whether pictures come out clean
- On a folding model, shine a light inside the bellows in a dark room and photograph any pinholes rather than leaving the buyer to find them
WishThrift does not authenticate or inspect anything. Condition and origin are described by the seller against five grades — what each one means — so photograph the markings above rather than asserting them.
What Polaroid items are worth
The most-searched Polaroid items on the site, with the band the label typically commands against the generic range for the same item:
| Item | Polaroid range | Any brand |
|---|---|---|
| Vintage Camera | £34–£345 | £30–£300 (~$45–$460) |
| Film Camera | £34–£288 | £30–£250 (~$45–$384) |
| Action Camera | £57–£230 | £50–£200 (~$76–$306) |
Sterling guide ranges with an approximate US dollar equivalent at £1 ≈ $1.33 (July 2026). Sellers set their own asking price.
Every Polaroid value guide
Selling Polaroid on WishThrift
Listing is free and there is no commission on either side — the price you agree with the buyer is the amount you keep, whatever the label is worth. Create a free account, or read the selling guides for what to photograph and how to price.
Frequently asked questions
Is used Polaroid worth buying?
It depends far more on the line than the label. A vintage Polaroid is only worth what it is if film is still made for it. Some formats are still in production and some ended decades ago, and that single fact separates a usable camera from a shelf ornament. Each guide below says which Polaroid lines hold their value for that item and which have almost none, so you are comparing like for like rather than paying for the name alone.
How do I check a piece is genuine Polaroid?
State the format the camera takes and whether that film is still produced — it is the first thing an informed buyer checks. WishThrift does not authenticate, inspect or grade anything — condition and origin are described by the seller, so ask directly and expect an answer. A seller who has the item will send a photograph of the marking in minutes.
What is used Polaroid worth?
Across the 3 guides here, from about £34 to £345 (roughly $45 to $460) depending on the item and its condition. Grades run New with Tags, Like New, Good, Fair and For Parts.
See also: value guides by brand · all value guides · buying guides · selling guides · condition grades.
Buying or listing rather than valuing? Used Polaroid sizing, labelling and prices covers how this maker’s ranges actually run. All brands.