Used generators in Australia typically sell for A$155 to A$960 (about $110 to $675). Generators must be run outdoors only, and that is worth stating in your listing rather than assuming — carbon monoxide from a generator used in a garage or indoors kills people every year.
What generators are worth in Australia
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | A$958 | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | A$815 | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | A$623 | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | A$431 | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | A$240 | 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
- Low running hours with documented servicing
- Clean fuel system with no stale petrol residue
What pulls it down
- Hard starting from stale fuel and gummed carburettors
- Noisy open-frame models in residential use
Selling a generator in Australia
Bank transfer via PayID is instant and is what most private buyers will offer. Cash on collection remains common for larger items.
Australia’s second-hand market is strongly local and strongly seasonal, with most activity concentrated in the eastern capitals and buyers who expect to collect.
Australia Post covers everywhere, but distance pricing is real and interstate parcels cost meaningfully more than local ones.
Australia is a pre-launch market, so it is worth saying what a seller here should expect when it does open. Distance dominates everything: interstate parcels cost several times a metro delivery, and bulky items effectively only sell within a city. Most trade concentrates in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane and Perth, and buyers in those cities expect to collect rather than wait. Seasons run opposite to the northern hemisphere, so listings that follow UK or US timing arrive exactly half a year out of step — warm weather items want September, not March, and winter gear moves from around May.
Working out what yours is worth
- Start it from cold and run it under load
- Drain and refresh the fuel before demonstrating
Getting it ready
- Check the oil, drain the fuel before transport, and note the fuel type and tank capacity.
- Test every socket with something you can see working, and check the RCD or breaker if fitted.
Photograph
- The whole generator from a three-quarter angle
- The engine, plate and hours meter if fitted
- The fuel tank, oil filler and any rust, leak or damage
Put in the description
- Continuous and peak output in watts
- Fuel type, tank capacity and approximate run time
- Whether it is an inverter generator, and what sockets it has
Output, type and fuel: “2.5kW Petrol Generator, Inverter, 4 Stroke”. Output in watts or kilowatts is the search, and inverter models are a distinct and higher bracket because they produce clean power for electronics. Say the fuel type and whether it has been serviced.
Lifts in autumn and winter around storm season and power cuts, and in summer for events and camping. Tested working machines sell quickly whenever demand spikes.
It costs nothing to list
There is no listing fee, no selling fee and no commission, so the A$958 a buyer pays is the A$958 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 Australia
Australia is a big place and what sells well moves with it. These are the parts of Australia with their own page for generators.
- Selling a generator in Sydney
- Selling a generator in Melbourne
- Selling a generator in Brisbane
- Selling a generator in Perth
- Selling a generator in Adelaide
- Selling a generator in Gold Coast
- Selling a generator in Canberra
Common questions
Where can I sell a generator in Australia?
List it free on WishThrift and deal with the buyer direct. There is no selling fee, so the whole amount stays with you. Bank transfer via PayID is instant and is what most private buyers will offer. Cash on collection remains common for larger items.
Does it start easily?
Start it from cold and answer from that. Stale fuel is the usual reason a stored generator will not start, and a machine that starts readily is worth substantially more.
Are inverter generators worth more?
Yes, noticeably. They are quieter and produce cleaner power for electronics, which matters to most buyers.
Should I drain the fuel before selling?
Run it on fresh fuel to demonstrate it, then drain for transport. Stale fuel is the most common reason these will not start.
More: how to sell a generator, what generators are worth, or Tools & DIY across Australia.