The short version
- Typical range: £40 – £250
- Biggest single factor: condition — see the table below
- Category: Cameras & Photography
- Cost to sell on WishThrift: nothing, at any price
What a used telescope is worth by condition
Condition does more to the price than anything else. These figures are worked from the top of the range for telescopes, so treat them as a starting point and adjust for the specifics of yours.
| Condition | Typical price | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| New with Tags | £250 | Unused, tags or seals intact |
| Like New | £212 | Barely used, no visible wear |
| Good | £162 | Light signs of use, complete and working |
| Fair | £112 | Heavily used, or a described fault or missing part |
| For Parts | £62 | 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 telescope
- Larger apertures, which drive most of the price
- Solid equatorial or computerised mounts
- Clean optics with no fungus or coating damage
- Eyepieces, finder and original tripod included
What lowers it
- Fungus or coating damage on mirrors and lenses
- Flimsy mounts that cannot hold the tube steady
- Missing eyepieces and finderscopes
- Collimation so far out that it needs specialist work
How to work out what yours is worth
- Note the aperture and focal length from the tube
- Inspect the optics with a torch for fungus and coating marks
- Check the mount holds position without drifting
Once you have those three answers you can place your own telescope 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
What makes a telescope valuable?
Aperture first, then the mount. A large tube on a flimsy mount is much less useful, and buyers know it.
Does a telescope need collimating before selling?
If it is far out, adjusting it makes the instrument demonstrably usable. Basic collimation is straightforward on most designs.
Are the eyepieces worth much?
Good ones are, sometimes a large share of the total. List what you have, since they are valued separately.
More value guides: cameras & photography guides · all value guides · browse live cameras & photography listings.