Used generators in the UK typically sell for £80 to £500 (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 the UK
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £500 | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £425 | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £325 | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £225 | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £125 | 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
- Inverter generators, which are quieter and cleaner
- Low running hours with documented servicing
What pulls it down
- High running hours with no service history
- Noisy open-frame models in residential use
Selling a generator 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
- 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 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.
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 £500 a buyer pays is the £500 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 generators.
Common questions
Where can I sell a generator 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 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 the United Kingdom.