Used telescopes in the UK typically sell for £40 to £250 (about $54 to $335). Telescopes are sold on aperture and mount, and the honest truth worth stating is that a solid mount matters more than magnification — the wobbly-tripod department store scope is why so many end up resold.
What telescopes are worth in the UK
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £250 | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £212 | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £162 | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £112 | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £62 | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
Guide ranges converted from sterling at the 2 August 2026 rate, not quotes — sellers set their own price. Grades are seller-declared; WishThrift does not inspect or verify them.
What lifts the price
- Larger apertures, which drive most of the price
- Solid equatorial or computerised mounts
What pulls it down
- Flimsy mounts that cannot hold the tube steady
- Missing eyepieces and finderscopes
Selling a telescope in the UK
Most private sales settle by bank transfer or cash on collection. Faster Payments clear in seconds, which makes a transfer as safe as cash for the seller — wait for it to land before the item leaves your hands.
The UK has the deepest second-hand habit of any of our markets — charity shops, car boot sales and online resale have been mainstream here for decades, so buyers arrive already comfortable with used goods and already know roughly what things are worth.
Distance selling rules bind traders, not private sellers, but an item must still be as described and anything sold as working must actually work.
Second-hand demand peaks in January, in the weeks before Christmas, and at the start of the academic year in September.
Working out what yours is worth
- Note the aperture and focal length from the tube
- Inspect the optics with a torch for fungus and coating marks
Getting it ready
- Note the aperture and focal length from the tube, and identify the mount type and whether it is motorised.
- Gather every eyepiece, diagonal, finder and adapter, and check the tripod for stability and missing bolts.
Photograph
- The telescope assembled on its mount, whole
- All eyepieces and accessories laid out together
- The mount head and tripod, plus any fungus, scratch or missing part
Put in the description
- Aperture and focal length, and the optical design
- Mount type, and whether it is motorised or has a tracking drive
- Every eyepiece and accessory included, with focal lengths
Aperture, type and mount: “200mm Newtonian Reflector on EQ5 Mount” or “90mm Refractor Telescope with Tripod”. Aperture in millimetres is the search. Never lead with a magnification figure — experienced buyers treat that as a warning sign.
Collection is easier for anything sizeable, and the optical tube should travel padded and separate from the mount. Never post a telescope with the tube attached to the tripod.
It costs nothing to list
There is no listing fee, no selling fee and no commission, so the £250 a buyer pays is the £250 you keep. You and the buyer settle up and arrange the handover between yourselves; WishThrift does not hold the money or ship the item.
Where in the UK
The United Kingdom is a big place and what sells well moves with it. These are the parts of the United Kingdom with their own page for telescopes.
Common questions
Where can I sell a telescope in the UK?
List it free on WishThrift and deal with the buyer direct. There is no selling fee, so the whole amount stays with you. Most private sales settle by bank transfer or cash on collection. Faster Payments clear in seconds, which makes a transfer as safe as cash for the seller — wait for it to land before the item leaves your hands.
What eyepieces come with it?
List focal lengths and barrel size. Eyepieces are a real share of the value and buyers add them up.
What makes a telescope valuable?
Aperture first, then the mount. A large tube on a flimsy mount is much less useful, and buyers know it.
Are the eyepieces worth much?
Good ones are, sometimes a large share of the total. List what you have, since they are valued separately.
More: how to sell a telescope, what telescopes are worth, or Cameras & Photography across the United Kingdom.