Used microwaves in Australia typically sell for A$38 to A$170 (about $27 to $120). Microwaves are cheap, plentiful and sold on cleanliness — but the one thing a buyer genuinely needs to know is whether the door and seal are undamaged.
What microwaves are worth in Australia
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | A$172 | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | A$147 | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | A$112 | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | A$78 | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | A$43 | 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
- Clean interior with undamaged waveguide cover
- Larger capacities and higher wattage
What pulls it down
- Damaged or missing waveguide cover, which is a safety issue
- Missing turntable plate, which is size-specific
Selling a microwave 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 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.
Seasons are inverted relative to the UK and North America: warm-weather items move from September, and winter gear from around May.
Working out what yours is worth
- Heat a cup of water and time it to confirm output
- Confirm the turntable plate and roller ring are present
Getting it ready
- Check the door closes squarely and the seal and latch are undamaged, since that is the safety-critical part.
- Heat a mug of water for a minute to confirm it works, and note the wattage and model from the rear plate.
Photograph
- The unit front on, door closed, clean
- The door seal and latch close up
- The rating plate showing make, model and wattage, plus any dent, rust spot or scratched panel
Put in the description
- Wattage, internal capacity in litres and external dimensions
- Type — solo, grill, convection or combination
- Whether the turntable, roller ring and any accessories are included
Wattage and type: “800W Solo Microwave, 20L, Silver” or “Combination Microwave Oven and Grill, 900W”. Wattage is the search term and combination models are a separate market. Include the external dimensions, because most buyers are fitting it into a specific gap.
Steady, with lifts in September when students move and around house moves. Clean, tested units sell within days because they are usually the cheapest working option a buyer can find.
It costs nothing to list
There is no listing fee, no selling fee and no commission, so the A$172 a buyer pays is the A$172 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 microwaves.
- Selling a microwave in Sydney
- Selling a microwave in Melbourne
- Selling a microwave in Brisbane
- Selling a microwave in Perth
- Selling a microwave in Adelaide
- Selling a microwave in Gold Coast
- Selling a microwave in Canberra
Common questions
Where can I sell a microwave 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.
Is the turntable included?
Say so and photograph it in place. Replacement plates are model specific and surprisingly expensive relative to a used microwave.
What is the waveguide cover and why does it matter?
A small panel on the cavity wall that protects the internals. If it is burnt or missing the microwave should not be used until it is replaced.
Is a missing turntable plate a problem?
Yes, more than you would think — plates are size-specific and often cost a meaningful fraction of the microwave’s value.
More: how to sell a microwave, what microwaves are worth, or Kitchen & Appliances across Australia.