Sell Your Violin in the US

Used violins in the US typically sell for $61 to $405. Violin values run from student instruments worth very little to fine older instruments worth a great deal, and telling them apart needs care.

What violins are worth in the US

Condition	Typical	What it means
New with Tags	$404	Unused, tags or seals intact
Like New	$343	Barely used, no visible wear
Good	$262	Light signs of use, complete and working
Fair	$182	Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part
For Parts	$101	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

Older instruments with a documented maker or workshop
A sound post and bridge correctly fitted

What pulls it down

Open seams and cracks in the top
Missing or warped bows

Selling a violin in the US

Peer-to-peer payment apps dominate private sales, and buyers will usually offer one before they offer cash. Sales tax does not apply to a private sale between individuals.

USPS, UPS and FedEx all cover the country. USPS Ground Advantage is normally cheapest for anything under a few pounds in weight; above that the gap narrows quickly.

Distances are the real constraint. State plainly whether you will ship or collection only, because a buyer three states away will otherwise ask.

Working out what yours is worth

Look through the f-hole for a maker’s label and note what it says
Confirm the bridge stands straight and the sound post is in place

Getting it ready

Check the bridge is standing correctly, the soundpost is in place, and the pegs hold.
Inspect the top and back for cracks and open seams, and check the bow hair and stick.

Photograph

The bridge and f-holes, showing the soundpost through the hole
The scroll and pegbox

Put in the description

Any crack, open seam or previous repair
Whether a bow, case, shoulder rest and rosin are included

Size, contents and condition: “Full Size 4/4 Violin with Bow and Case, Ready to Play”. Size is the first filter, especially for children. “Ready to play” means bridge up, soundpost in, strings on — only say it if true.

Lifts in September as school lessons start, and before Christmas. Student sizes sell fastest in those windows.

It costs nothing to list

There is no listing fee, no selling fee and no commission, so the $404 a buyer pays is the $404 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 US

The United States is a big place and what sells well moves with it. These are the parts of the United States with their own page for violins.

Common questions

Where can I sell a violin in the US?

List it free on WishThrift and deal with the buyer direct. There is no selling fee, so the whole amount stays with you. Peer-to-peer payment apps dominate private sales, and buyers will usually offer one before they offer cash. Sales tax does not apply to a private sale between individuals.

What size is it?

Give the fraction and the body length. Parents buying for a child filter on size before anything else.

Are labels inside violins reliable?

Often not — many are aspirational copies rather than genuine attributions. Report what the label says without claiming it is authentic.

Is the bow worth much?

It can be worth more than a student violin. Good bows are valued separately, so mention what you have.

More: how to sell a violin, what violins are worth, or Music & Instruments across the United States.