30 Best Places to Sell Used Laptops Online and Make Some Extra Cash

Why keep your old laptop laying around when you can make money off it?

Trade in old computers for cash instead.

You’ll be surprised by how easy it is.

I’ve done it myself with every laptop I’ve owned when I get an upgrade.

In fact, I use the cash I get back from my old laptop to help me pay for my new one!

I can usually get at least half of what I paid for it back, making it an opportunity I can’t afford to pass up.

The great thing about laptops is that even old ones can still benefit others.

Once it becomes a little too sluggish for you, you can still find someone who it will work well for, like a high school student who just needs one for simple word processing or research.

And, some people even buy old laptops to upgrade and resell for even more money.

Either way, there are buyers out there for just about any kind of computer – even your old laptop!

Before You Sell: Find Out What Your Laptop is Worth

Laptops can decrease in value rather quickly as new models get release all the time.

Electronics are one of those things that depreciate fast, so you’ll want to check your laptop’s value before you go to sell it.

That way, you’ll know if the offer you’re getting is worth your time, or what you should price your laptop at if you choose to sell it yourself.

GadgetValue is a site you can use to check the value of your computer.

Visit the site, plug in the information for your computer, and get its approximate value.

Unfortunately, the site only values laptops that are from 2014 and older, so you’ll have to go a different route for newer computers.

Another good option is to search eBay.

Type the name of your laptop, including its model number, into the search bar.

You’ll get an idea of what other similar laptops are selling for and how much they’ve recently sold for so that you’ll know a fair price for yours.

What’s the Top Way to Sell Your Used Laptop for the Most Money?

So, what’s the best site for selling your used laptop?

My personal preference is eBay.

Not only have I personally had a lot of positive experience selling my laptops here, but I’ve heard from others that they’ve gotten the highest amount back for laptops on eBay.

On eBay, you can either sell your computer in an auction or create a fixed buy-it-now price you feel is fair.

You can even open up your listing to allow others to offer their best prices for it.

You have the right to deny or accept any offer you choose.

If you decide to have an auction, you can set a reserve price, which ensures that your computer doesn’t sell for anything lower than a price you determine.

Basically, you’re in charge over how much your laptop sells for on eBay, which can give you the most cash back for your used computer.

And, people flock to eBay for used laptops to upgrade, refurbish, and resell.

You can even sell broken ones there (trust me, I sold one once for $50).

Some of the other options on this list only allow laptops in great condition.

Some also will give you an amount lower than your laptop might be worth so that the company can make a profit reselling it.

eBay doesn’t do either of those things, which is why I consider it the best option for you.

Not quite sure how to use eBay?

This ultimate eBay guide will teach you everything you need to know!

Other Options for Selling Your Used Laptop

Amazon Trade-In

Amazon comes in a close second behind eBay.

The only downfall of selling on Amazon is that, if you have a laptop you upgraded or modified in any way, you probably won’t be able to sell it here.

Amazon requires that what you sell be an exact match to the already-there listing for that item.

Amazon’s trade-in program is super easy to use, although you’ll likely get much less than your computer’s worth.

Still, it kind of makes up for it with how easy it is.

Search for your laptop model and click the ‘Trade’ button.

Let Amazon know the laptop’s condition, and you’ll get an instant offer.

You can get that money sent instantly as an Amazon gift code.

If you choose this option, you risk having to give that money back if Amazon determines that your laptop isn’t in the condition you stated when you send it in.

If the condition you chose is correct, though, you keep that money.

Alternatively, you can choose not to get paid until Amazon double checks everything.

The good news is that you send in your computer free of charge on Amazon’s dime with a prepaid shipping label!

That means more money in your pocket (even eBay doesn’t offer this!).

Apple Trade-In

Apple’s Trade-In program is the perfect service to use when you want a new Apple device and don’t want to pay full price for it.

You can, instead, trade in your previous Apple laptop and get a credit toward your new purchase.

A MacBook Air, for example, can give you up to $690 toward the purchase of a new Apple laptop or other device.

You’ll just need to use the website to answer some questions about your device and its condition.

Then, you’ll receive an online quote and can choose whether to act on it.

Apple also walks you through the steps of safely erasing all the data on your laptop before you send it in.

Best Buy Trade-In

Best Buy Trade-In focuses solely on electronics, just like the company.

So, you can sell several used electronics here, but laptops tend to give the most return.

You can choose to either visit your local store for a trade-in or ship the item to a warehouse for free for further processing.

You can even estimate how much you might receive for your trade-in before you go through with it.

Best Buy also offers helpful guides that teach you how to erase your important data before sending it off.

Craigslist

Craigslist is an online classifieds website.

Much like you would your local newspaper, you can create listings to sell your stuff on Craigslist.

With this site, you won’t be selling online.

Instead, you’ll use the website to find local buyers interested in your computer.

You can use the platform to communicate securely with interested buyers.

Then, set up a safe meeting place and time – in a public location only! – and sell your laptop!

You’re in full control over how much you accept for your used electronics when you use Craigslist.

Read More: 24 Websites Like Craigslist: (Most Let You Sell for Free!)

Decluttr

Decluttr lets you send in and sell your used technology online, like phones, tablets, and laptops.

You can either search by name for your laptop or type in the barcode to get an online quote to see how much your device would be worth on the site.

Decluttr sends you a free shipping label to ship your laptop with UPS.

In most cases, the site will also get your payment paid the next business day after receiving your computer!

Device Pitstop

Device Pitstop is a chain of stores that accepts used electronics, including laptops, for cash or trade-in.

You can use the website to find a location near you. The stores are located in several U.S. states.

And, if you’re really ambitious, you can even open your own Device Pitstop store!

Facebook Groups or Marketplace

The Facebook Marketplace is a newer feature that Facebook rolled out to use to sell items, from old to new.

You can list your laptop for free and local people interested in it can contact you to set up a sale.

Facebook groups can work much in the same way, and you can even use Marketplace features within groups.

Search for local buying and selling groups on Facebook and you can probably get your laptop sold quickly.

Flipsy

Flipsy claims that its offers usually are about 30% more than those you’d get if you were to use a trade-in program.

Shipping is free when you do decide to send in your device and you can usually get paid in about two days from the time Flipsy receives your laptop.

You’ll get paid by PayPal or check.

There are only a few laptops that Flipsy will accept, however, like Macs and the Microsoft Surface.

Gadget Salvation

Gadget Salvation may not be one of the most well-known sites for selling electronics, but it’s quickly becoming one of the most popular.

In fact, a lot of users say that Gadget Salvation gives them the best offers for used electronics compared to similar sites.

It’s worth a try!

Here, you can trade in your laptop for cash.

Plug in its make, model, and other details, and you’ll receive an offer.

The company even has a number you can text to sell items!

Send photos and a description to the number, and you’ll receive an offer from a Gadget Salvation agent after he or she checks it out.

Gadget Salvation gives you a prepaid shipping label to ship your item there, so you don’t even have to worry about an extra cost.

Gazelle

Gazelle is one of the pioneers in this industry,

This site is best for selling smartphones, but it also accepts other devices, including tablets and laptop computers.

Any item worth more than $1 (which your laptop likely will be!) can ship for free.

You choose to get your cash via Amazon gift code, PayPal, or a check.

Get Cash For Laptop

You can get paid with PayPal or a check in about a week when you send in your laptop to Get Cash For Laptop.

Your laptop will ship with FedEx for free with one of the company’s prepaid shipping labels.

LaptopNuts

LaptopNuts is a Chicago PC company that has expanded its laptop buyback program to the online world so that anyone from anywhere in the country can potentially sell their used laptops to them.

You can use the website to find your exact model, answer questions about its condition, and get a quote back within a few seconds.

The company pays for the shipping label so you won’t have to spend anything to send in your laptop.

Once LaptopNuts receives your laptop and inspects it, you should receive your PayPal payment soon.

Letgo

Letgo is a mobile app that lets you sell stuff to local buyers.

You can sell just about anything through the app, as it has a variety of categories, from baby gear to cars and other vehicles!

Electronics is a popular category, so if a lot of people in your area use the app, you’ll likely find a buyer quickly.

Letgo works a lot like Craigslist in that you can talk with interested buyers securely through the app and come up with a meeting place, date, and time.

You can even list your laptop within seconds using the app.

Add a photo and quick description, set your price, and you’re ready to roll.

Mac Me an Offer

Got a Mac to sell?

Mac Me an Offer is the place for you to find a buyer!

This site works much like the other trade-in sites, except that it’s strictly for Apple devices and computers.

After you accept an offer for your device, you’ll get a prepaid shipping label.

Just find a box and send your laptop in!

You can get paid by check or PayPal within three business days after Mac Me an Offer receives and approves your device.

Mac of All Trades

This site is a Mac refurbisher, so it’s no surprise that it looks for old Macs to refurbish!

If you have a Mac laptop, then this could be a good place for you to try to sell it.

You’ll get benefits like instant online quotes and free shipping for your laptop to make its way to the company for an inspection.

One perk about this company is that it also accepts bulk orders, which is good news if you own a business and want to get rid of a bunch of Macs for an upgrade.

Nextworth

Nextworth is a simple site to use if you’re ready to sell your used computer.

The site accepts various types of devices, but it rotates its accepted trades based on its current need.

For example, right now the only types of laptops you can sell are from the Apple brand.

You can bookmark it, though, and wait for your make and model to open up for trades.

Like other sites, you can ship it for free and receive PayPal cash or a check for your item.

OfferUp

OfferUp is another app for both Android and iOS devices that helps you sell locally.

Like Letgo, there are a lot of categories available, but electronics tend to sell well.

List your laptop with the app by adding a description and photo.

Then, wait for interested people to contact you to potentially buy it!

eBay

eBay is one of the most popular online marketplaces for buying and selling all sorts of items, including used laptops.

You can either auction off your laptop to the highest bidder or set a ‘Buy It Now’ price to sell it quickly. eBay’s vast user base means your laptop is exposed to a large number of potential buyers.

However, it’s important to remember that eBay does charge listing fees and final value fees.

Mercari

Mercari is a mobile app that makes it easy to sell just about anything, including used electronics like laptops.

Sellers simply take a few photos of their item, write a brief description, and set a price. The platform handles the financial transaction to ensure security, and once the sale is complete, you’ll just need to ship your item to the buyer.

Note that Mercari charges a 10% selling fee once your item is sold.

Back Market

Back Market specializes in selling refurbished electronics, but they also offer a platform for individual users to sell their used electronics, including laptops.

Each device sold on Back Market goes through a stringent quality check to ensure it’s in good working order, providing an added layer of trust and security for buyers.

As a seller, this means you may need to provide detailed information about your laptop’s condition.

Poshmark

Originally known for selling used fashion items, Poshmark has expanded into a variety of categories, including electronics.

The process of selling on Poshmark is quite straightforward – simply take pictures of your laptop, provide a detailed description, set your price, and wait for a buyer.

Once your laptop sells, Poshmark provides a prepaid shipping label. Note that Poshmark does take a commission fee for each sale.

QuickLaptopCash

Not many companies will willingly buy laptops that are broken, but this one apparently will.

You can sell used working or broken laptops here – although you can expect to make quite a bit less if your laptop isn’t fully functional.

Still, it can be a good option for someone who just wants the laptop off their hands and isn’t picky about how much they get paid for it.

Anyone who sells here can also become eligible for a weekly $50 drawing!

You’ll get a raffle ticket for the weekly drawing in your packing materials.

Send it back in and you could be the lucky winner that gets announced each Friday on the company’s social media channels.

SellBroke

SellBroke is a place where you can sell laptops and other devices.

When you send your laptop in, SellBroke will do all the erasing of your data so that your information stays secure.

And, that’s one less step you have to take (although you can if it makes you feel better!).

You’ll receive an online quote when you enter important information about your device.

You can also ship your item for free!

SellLaptopBack

SellLaptopBack is a sister site of SellBroke that focuses mostly on laptops, but also accepts some other popular devices.

You can receive your cash as soon as the company processes a quote.

Then, ship your laptop for free. If there’s any discrepancy with the condition you described, the company will let you know.

Staples Trade-In

Staples offers a trade-in program for your electronic devices.

You can either take advantage of it in person or sell your device online.

If you want to ship it, you’ll get a prepaid label to do so.

Once Staples checks over your device, you’ll receive an electronic gift card to spend at Staples stores or its website.

Swappa

Swappa is an alternative way to ‘sell’ your laptop online.

You won’t really be selling it here, though.

Instead, you’ll be swapping it for something else you’d rather have.

If you have your eye on a newer laptop or a different device, you can trade yours in and put its value toward something else, or simply trade with someone else for another device.

It’s still a good way to get something out of your old computer that you no longer use!

Techbuyer

Techbuyer is another place that will buy used laptops, but it’s more of a solution for businesses with a lot of IT devices on their hands that they want to get rid of.

You can also sell stuff like server memory and HDDs here.

Fill out the online form and let the company know what you want to sell to receive a quote.

The company even wipes your data for you when you send stuff in.

VarageSale

VarageSale is another handy app you can use to sell a computer.

It currently operates in all 50 U.S. states and some parts of Canada.

You have control over your pricing and can communicate with buyers securely through the app.

VarageSale helps you find local buyers, so you don’t have to worry about shipping or not getting your money online.

Another Option: Check with Local Computer Stores

If you aren’t getting the price you want with the places listed above, then there’s always another option: selling locally.

Many local computer stores will probably be open to buying your used laptop if it’s in good condition.

If it works and there aren’t any notable damages to it, then you can probably find a home.

And you might even make a little more money than you would using a buyback site, especially because you won’t need to purchase any packaging materials using this method.

Call around to computer repair or sales shops in your area to see if they can offer you a quick quote online.

Then, bring it in, have them check it over, and you should be able to get paid on the spot.

Some may offer you a store credit rather than cash, so be sure to ask about the form of payment on the phone.

Tips to Sell Old Laptop Online for the Best Price

How can you sell your old laptop online and get the most money out of your sale?

These tips should help!

Wipe It

The most important thing you need to remember before selling any tech device is to wipe your information from it before sending it in.

Some places say they’ll do this for you, but it’s always in your best interest to do it yourself, just for that extra layer of safety.

The tricky part is that there are many ways to do it depending on your laptop and operating system, so you’ll need to look up information specifically for your system to figure it out.

Some computers have built-in wipes that erase all your data to ensure that nothing is stored on your hard drives.

The last thing you want is to have someone else get a hold of sensitive information that was stored on your laptop.

So do yourself a favor and take some time to read through how to wipe your hard drive before you sell your computer.

Give It a Fresh Install

After wiping your laptop, you’ll want to give it a fresh installation of its operating system.

Again, this is something you’ll want to look up how to do before doing it to make sure you follow the proper steps to do it correctly.

Most operating systems are digital now instead of loaded onto a disc, so you may need to contact your laptop’s manufacturer to get the information for your digital version to reinstall it.

You’ll need a serial number, for example, that proves you own the operating system for that computer.

Most places will want only laptops that are all set up and ready to go, so ensuring that your operating system is in place will give you a better chance of getting a fair amount for your laptop.

Repair Anything That’s Not Working Properly

This isn’t always a plausible option, but you might want to consider repairing stuff that isn’t working on your laptop.

For example, if keys are missing or sticking, it’s not too difficult to get some replacements or do a full cleaning of your keyboard to get it all functional again.

However, if the screen on your laptop is cracked, it’s likely that you’ll spend more repairing it than you’d get from selling your laptop.

For anything that seems like a small fix, though, you can always bring your device into a local repair shop to get a quote for repairs.

Then, weigh whether you think that cost is worth it based on how much you could get from your laptop with and without the repairs getting done.

Remember to research some potential values using eBay or online laptop valuation tools so you can get an idea of how much it’s worth in different conditions.

Clean It Up

Over time, any laptop can get dusty and dirty.

But most people and places won’t want to buy them when they’re dusty and dirty!

Take some time to get it as clean as you can.

It’s actually not as hard as you might think.

You can’t use water or soap on a laptop of course, but you can use a can of compressed air to help blow away dust and particles safely from the screen, keyboard, and laptop crevices.

You can also use a cotton swab with just a touch of isopropyl alcohol to swap around the keyboard keys to remove any stickiness or dust that tends to get trapped in between the keys.

Use a soft, dry, microfiber cloth to polish up the screen and the outer case of the laptop.

Don’t forget to check the power cord, too, which can sometimes get dirty, sticky, or dusty over time.

You can use a slightly damp cloth to clean your unplugged cord, followed by a thorough dry with a dry cloth.

Take Photos of It On and Off

If the site you’re selling to wants you to take photos of your laptop as part of its quote process, be sure to take photos with it both off and running.

Picture of it off can help others see if there are any cracks in the screen and how the laptop looks regularly.

Powering it on and snapping some photos lets them see the clarity of the screen and that the laptop does, indeed, power on and run.

Photos like this are especially helpful on eBay, Letgo, and any other place where you’re in charge of selling the laptop.

It’s always best to have several photos from different angles instead of just one or two pictures that don’t let buyers get a good feel for your laptop.

Include Every Spec You Can in the Details

Whether you’re filling out an online quote form or placing your laptop on eBay to sell yourself, don’t be afraid to get into the details.

A company buying your laptop will want to know basics, usually, so that it can get the rest of the information from its database.

But knowing as much as you can about your computer doesn’t hurt because some places will want as much detail as you can give.

When selling yourself, you should always prepare to list the specs of the laptop in the description area.

Buyers shouldn’t have to look up this information themselves; they should know what they’re buying, and you providing that information could help them choose your listing over a similar one.

Pay Attention to Packaging and Shipping

Shipping a laptop isn’t easy.

Most companies give free shipping labels to ship the laptop for free, but you’ll usually still need to come up with the packaging materials yourself.

If your laptop isn’t packaged well and gets damaged during shipping, it could arrive in a different condition than what you were originally quoted, meaning less money for you.

Plus, you needed to purchase a box for it to fit in and packaging materials to keep it packaged securely, which all comes out of your profits.

When selling on eBay or another marketplace site, be sure to figure in the potential costs of packaging and shipping when deciding how to price your laptop.

Conclusion: Best Place to Sell a Laptop Online

Now you have a whole list of places to sell that used laptop that’s sitting on your desk collecting dust.

No more excuses – make some money from it!

Have you used any of these places to sell laptops?

What one’s your favorite?

Let us know in a comment below!

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