The short version
- Typical range: £120 – £700
- Biggest single factor: condition — see the table below
- Category: Electronics
- Cost to sell on WishThrift: nothing, at any price
What a used laptop is worth by condition
Condition does more to the price than anything else. These figures are worked from the top of the range for laptops, so treat them as a starting point and adjust for the specifics of yours.
| Condition | Typical price | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £700 | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £595 | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £455 | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £315 | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £175 | Not working or incomplete, sold as seen |
These are the five grades WishThrift listings use, and sellers set the grade themselves — see what each condition grade means. Figures are shown in pounds as a reference point. On WishThrift prices display in your own currency, and sellers set their own asking price.
What raises the value of a laptop
- A recent processor generation and an SSD rather than a mechanical drive
- 16GB of memory or more, which keeps a machine usable for years longer
- A clean, bright screen with no dead pixels or backlight bleed
- Original charger, and a battery that still holds a working day
What lowers it
- Mechanical hard drives, which make an otherwise fine machine feel obsolete
- A battery that only runs while plugged in
- Cracked hinges or a flexing chassis, common on older budget models
- Pre-installed manufacturer software the buyer has to clear out
How to work out what yours is worth
- Note the exact processor, memory and storage from the system information panel
- Run the battery down from full and time it honestly
- Search sold listings for that processor generation rather than the brand alone
Once you have those three answers you can place your own laptop on the table above with reasonable confidence. If it sits between two rows, price it toward the lower one — items priced honestly sell faster than items priced hopefully.
Ready to sell it? Listing on WishThrift is free, there is no commission, and you keep the full amount you agree with the buyer — see how selling works or create a free account.
Frequently asked questions
How much is a used laptop worth?
Most sell for a fraction of their original price, and the processor generation drives it. A five-year-old machine with an SSD and 16GB can be worth more than a newer one with a mechanical drive.
Is it worth upgrading a laptop before selling it?
Adding an SSD or memory to an otherwise sound machine often returns more than it costs, because it moves the laptop into a usable-today bracket. Anything more is rarely worth it.
What should I do with my data before selling a laptop?
Back up, then do a full factory reset rather than just deleting files. Deleted files are recoverable and buyers increasingly ask.
More value guides: electronics guides · all value guides · browse live electronics listings.