Used microwaves in the UK typically sell for £20 to £90 (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 the UK
| Condition | Typical | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £90 | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £76 | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £58 | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £40 | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £22 | 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
- Combination models with grill or convection
- Clean interior with undamaged waveguide cover
What pulls it down
- Rusted interior cavity
- Missing turntable plate, which is size-specific
Selling a microwave 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.
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.
Second-hand demand peaks in January, in the weeks before Christmas, and at the start of the academic year in September.
Working out what yours is worth
- Heat a cup of water and time it to confirm output
- Check the waveguide cover on the cavity wall is intact
Getting it ready
- Clean the interior thoroughly, including the roof and the waveguide cover, and wash the turntable and roller ring.
- 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.
Postable but bulky and easily damaged, so a well-padded box and a taped door are essential. Local collection is usually the sensible route at this price point.
It costs nothing to list
There is no listing fee, no selling fee and no commission, so the £90 a buyer pays is the £90 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 microwaves.
Common questions
Where can I sell a microwave 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 wattage is it?
Read the rear plate rather than guessing. It is the number people search on and the one that decides whether their usual cooking times will work.
Are used microwaves worth selling?
They sell, but for small sums since new ones are inexpensive. Combination models with grill or convection are worth noticeably more.
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 the United Kingdom.