Used generators in Canada typically sell for C$150 to C$945 (about $110 to $675). Generators are judged on running hours and how they start, and a machine that has sat unused for years is often harder to sell than a used one.
What generators are worth in Canada
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | C$944 | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | C$802 | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | C$613 | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | C$425 | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | C$236 | 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
- Starts readily from cold
What pulls it down
- Hard starting from stale fuel and gummed carburettors
- High running hours with no service history
Selling a generator in Canada
Interac e-Transfer is the norm and is instant and traceable, which suits a private sale well. It is what most buyers will suggest before anything else.
Canada’s resale market is concentrated in a handful of metro areas separated by very long distances, which makes it unusually collection-led — most buyers are looking for something they can pick up the same week.
Canada Post, Purolator and UPS cover the country, but rates change sharply between provinces and remote postcodes carry surcharges.
Two practical things shape a Canadian sale. Interprovincial shipping costs can exceed the value of a mid-priced item, which is why so much trade here is collection-only. And winter genuinely interrupts handovers in much of the country, so agree a window rather than a fixed day between December and March.
Working out what yours is worth
- Start it from cold and run it under load
- Note the running hours if a meter is fitted
Getting it ready
- Start it and run it under some load, and note the hours if it has a meter.
- 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 control panel with every socket and the breaker visible
- The fuel tank, oil filler and any rust, leak or damage
Put in the description
- Fuel type, tank capacity and approximate run time
- Whether it is an inverter generator, and what sockets it has
- Running hours if known, service history, and that it has been tested under load
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.
Drain the fuel before transport — a fuelled generator on its side leaks and is a fire risk. Collection is usual given the weight.
It costs nothing to list
There is no listing fee, no selling fee and no commission, so the C$944 a buyer pays is the C$944 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 Canada
Canada is a big place and what sells well moves with it. These are the parts of Canada with their own page for generators.
- Toronto
- Montreal
- Calgary
- Ottawa
- Edmonton
- Winnipeg
- Vancouver
- Brampton
- Hamilton
- Surrey
- Quebec City
- Halifax
- Laval
- London
Common questions
Where can I sell a generator in Canada?
List it free on WishThrift and deal with the buyer direct. There is no selling fee, so the whole amount stays with you. Interac e-Transfer is the norm and is instant and traceable, which suits a private sale well. It is what most buyers will suggest before anything else.
What output is it?
Give continuous and peak figures. Buyers are matching it to a specific load, and quoting only the peak figure is misleading.
What should I check on a used generator?
That it starts from cold and runs steadily under load. Most problems are stale fuel and gummed carburettors rather than serious faults.
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 Canada.