Used acoustic guitars in the UK typically sell for £50 to £250 (about $67 to $335). Acoustic guitars are bought on playability, and the number that decides it is the action — measure it, state it, and photograph the bridge and neck honestly.
What acoustic guitars 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
- Solid top construction rather than laminate
- A flat bridge with no lifting, and a stable neck angle
What pulls it down
- Cracks in the top or sides, even if repaired
- High action caused by a rising neck angle
Selling an acoustic guitar 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.
Royal Mail, Evri and InPost cover the whole country, and InPost lockers mean neither side has to be in for a delivery. Tracked 48 is the usual default for small parcels.
Two practical things shape a UK sale. Bank holidays and the run-up to Christmas slow collections right down, so build a few extra days in. And postage from mainland Britain to Northern Ireland, the Highlands and the islands carries surcharges that catch sellers out — quote for the buyer’s actual postcode rather than a flat rate.
Working out what yours is worth
- Look into the soundhole at the edge to see whether the top is solid or layered
- Check the bridge sits flat with no gap at the back edge
Getting it ready
- Check the neck for relief by sighting down it from the headstock, and measure the string height at the twelfth fret.
- Fit a fresh set of strings if the current ones are dead. It is a few pounds and it makes the guitar sound and photograph far better.
Photograph
- The full guitar front on, against a plain background
- The neck sighted down its length, and the headstock showing the brand
- The action at the twelfth fret, plus any dings, buckle rash or repairs
Put in the description
- Brand, model and body size or shape
- Whether the top is solid wood or laminate
- Action height at the twelfth fret, and any neck relief issues
Brand, model and body shape: “Yamaha FG800 Dreadnought Acoustic Guitar, Solid Top”. Whether the top is solid or laminate is a genuine value driver and worth stating. If it is a three-quarter or parlour size, put that in the title — buyers searching for a smaller guitar need to find you.
Post only in a hard case, with the strings slackened and the headstock well padded — that is where guitars break in transit. Local collection lets the buyer play it, which sells a guitar far better than photographs.
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 acoustic guitars.
Common questions
Where can I sell an acoustic guitar 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.
Is the bridge lifting?
Slide a thin piece of paper under the bridge edge. Lifting is a serious and expensive repair, so buyers check it first and honesty here protects your rating.
How much is a used acoustic guitar worth?
Mostly a question of construction. Solid-top instruments hold value well and can improve with age; laminate beginner guitars sell for modest sums.
What is the difference between solid and laminate tops?
A solid top is one piece of timber and matures tonally over decades; laminate is layered and does not. It is the single biggest factor in what an acoustic is worth.
More: how to sell an acoustic guitar, what acoustic guitars are worth, or Music & Instruments across the United Kingdom.