You’ve got a giant black rectangle taking up space in your living room and you want it gone. Maybe you finally upgraded to a 77-inch OLED, or perhaps you're just tired of looking at that old 1080p Sony that’s been gathering dust in the guest room. Honestly, figure out where to sell used TV units is harder than it used to be. Shipping a television is a nightmare—they're fragile, heavy, and the boxes are always long gone. If you try to mail a 55-inch screen, there is a roughly 90% chance it arrives as a box of expensive glass shards.
Local is the way to go. But which platform actually works?
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I’ve spent years flipping tech and helping friends clear out their electronics. The "best" place depends entirely on whether you want the absolute highest price or if you just want the thing out of your house by dinner time. You've got options ranging from the chaotic wild west of Facebook Marketplace to the buttoned-up corporate safety of Best Buy Buy Back.
The best local spots for where to sell used TV right now
Facebook Marketplace is currently the king of the hill, for better or worse. It’s replaced Craigslist for most people because you can actually see a person’s profile. You know they aren't (usually) a bot. If you list your TV there, expect a flood of "Is this available?" messages within six minutes. Most of those people will never reply again. It’s annoying. However, the sheer volume of buyers means you’ll probably sell it within 48 hours if the price is fair.
Contrast that with Nextdoor. Nextdoor is great if you live in a suburban area where people value convenience over a bargain. You're selling to your neighbors. There is a higher level of trust here. I’ve found that you can often list a TV for $20 or $30 more on Nextdoor than on Marketplace because the buyer feels safer coming to your driveway.
Then there’s OfferUp. It’s a bit of a mixed bag. Since it merged with Letgo, the user base is huge, but it's also full of lowballers. If you list a TV for $300, someone will 100% offer you $80 and a slightly used air fryer. Just ignore them. Stick to your guns.
Don't forget the pawn shops (but bring your expectations down)
If you need cash in the next twenty minutes, go to a pawn shop. But listen, they have to make a profit. They are going to offer you maybe 30% to 50% of what the TV is actually worth on the street. If a used LG C2 is going for $600 on eBay, a pawn shop might give you $200. It’s the "I need rent money today" tax.
Why your 4K TV isn't worth as much as you think
People get really emotional about what they paid for their tech. I get it. You dropped $1,200 on that Samsung four years ago. It felt like a massive investment. But here’s the cold reality of the 2026 tech market: brand new, high-quality 4K TVs are incredibly cheap now. You can go to a big-box store and get a decent 55-inch screen for $350.
Why would someone buy your four-year-old used TV for $300 when they can get a brand new one with a warranty for $350? They won't.
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Unless you have a high-end OLED (LG C-series, Sony A-series) or a specialty gaming monitor, your TV has likely lost 70% of its value the moment the return window closed. To actually find where to sell used TV and get a bite, you have to price it against the current retail market, not what you paid in 2021.
A good rule of thumb? Find the current price of the closest equivalent model at Best Buy and cut that price in half. That’s your starting point. If your TV has "smart" features that are now slow and laggy, mention that you're including a Roku stick or Chromecast. It adds $20 of perceived value for almost no cost to you.
Safety and the "Scam" Factor
Selling electronics is a magnet for weirdos. When you’re looking at where to sell used TV, safety has to be the priority. Most police stations now have "Safe Trade Zones" in their parking lots. They are covered by 24/7 surveillance. If a buyer refuses to meet you at a police station or a very busy grocery store parking lot, cancel the deal. It’s not worth the risk.
Cash is king. Period.
Venmo and Zelle are "fine," but scams involving reversed transactions are becoming more sophisticated. If you do use an app, make sure the money is actually in your balance before they load the TV into their truck. Never, ever ship a TV to someone who "sent you a check for more than the amount" and asks you to pay their "mover." That is the oldest scam in the book, yet people still fall for it because the "buyer" seems so nice.
The Best Buy Trade-In loophole
If you don't want to deal with strangers at all, check the Best Buy Trade-In program. They don't take every model, and they usually pay in gift cards, but it is incredibly easy. You walk in, they test it, they give you a credit, and you walk out. No haggling. No "is this available" pings at 3:00 AM.
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Decluttr is another option, though they are much pickier about TVs because of the shipping logistics. Usually, they prefer smaller electronics, but for certain high-end displays, they might provide a shipping kit. Honestly? For a TV, it’s usually more hassle than it’s worth compared to just selling it to someone in your city.
Preparing the TV for sale (The 5-minute glow up)
You would be shocked at how many people try to sell a TV covered in greasy fingerprints and dust. It looks gross. Take a microfiber cloth and some distilled water (don't use Windex, it can ruin the coatings on modern screens) and wipe it down.
Take photos with the screen on.
Show a vibrant, colorful scene from a 4K YouTube demo video. This proves there are no dead pixels or weird vertical lines. Take a photo of the back ports to show they aren't busted. Mention in the ad if you have the original remote. Losing the remote is a dealbreaker for a lot of people, or at least a reason for them to knock $40 off your price. If you lost it, buy a $10 universal replacement on Amazon before you list it. It makes the sale much smoother.
Factor in the "Old Tech" Problem
If you're trying to sell a "dumb" TV—one without built-in apps—market it to gamers. Retro gamers love older sets because they often have less input lag or specific ports like component inputs that newer TVs have abandoned. If you have an old plasma TV, those things are heavy as lead and power-hungry, but movie buffs still love the black levels. Target your description to those niches if you have older, high-end gear.
Your Move: How to actually get it sold
Ready to clear the space? Don't overthink it.
- Check the competition: Open Facebook Marketplace, search for your TV model, and filter by "Sold" listings if possible, or just look at what others are asking. Price yours $20 lower if you want it gone today.
- Factory Reset: Go into the settings and wipe your data. You don't want the next owner having access to your Netflix, Amazon Prime, or YouTube accounts.
- The "Everything" Photo: Take one clear shot of the TV on, the remote, the stand, and the power cord. People want to see the whole package.
- Write a "No BS" Description: "Works perfect. Upgraded to a larger screen. Pick up in [Your Neighborhood]. Cash only. No trades."
- Set a Deadline: Tell yourself if it doesn't sell in 5 days, you’ll drop the price by 15%. Don't let it sit in your hallway for a month.
If all else fails and the TV is really old, check your local e-waste recycling rules. Some places like Staples or specialized recyclers will take them for free, ensuring the heavy metals don't end up in a landfill. But usually, if it turns on and has an HDMI port, someone on Marketplace will give you at least $50 for it. Go list it now.