Second-hand tools & DIY in Des Moines typically sells for $20 to $675. Brand and whether it is corded or battery decide most of it. Battery tools are worth far more when the batteries are healthy and worth surprisingly little when they are not.
Buying tools & DIY in Des Moines
Des Moines is the state capital and the insurance and financial centre of the region, with a gold-domed capitol above the city and a national reputation for its state fair. It sits in the middle of intensive farming country.
Tools are heavy, valuable for their size and awkward to post, so almost all of the second-hand trade in them is local. Buyers also want to hear a motor run before they hand over money, which settles the question immediately.
What to check in person
Check the guards, catches and safety cut-outs all still work, since these are the first things removed and the most expensive to put right. Look at the casing for cracks and at the fixings for the rounded heads that show it has been apart.
Collecting it in Des Moines
It needs a car boot rather than a bag, so agree somewhere you can actually stop for a few minutes. That is easier away from the centre than in it.
The city is flat and easy to drive in, and the skywalk system connects much of downtown, which is genuinely useful in winter. Parking is straightforward.
Selling your tools & DIY in Des Moines free
Insurance and financial employment moves households on relocation cycles, and the agricultural region around the city keeps equipment circulating. Winters are severe enough to give warm clothing a real season.
List every bit, blade, case and charger that is included, and say plainly what is missing. Be honest about a worn chuck, a tired battery or a repair, and make sure guards and safety fittings are in place before you hand anything over. Busiest through spring and summer, when outdoor and building work picks up.
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.
Tools & DIY worth listing in Des Moines
Elsewhere in United States
If nothing in Des Moines suits, New York, Los Angeles and Chicago each have their own tools & DIY page, and a seller will often meet part of the way for something worth the trip.
More in Des Moines: everything second hand in Des Moines, or Tools & DIY across the United States.
Prices converted from sterling at the 2 August 2026 rate; sellers set their own price.