Don’t just throw out your old TV. First, that’s against the rules in most places. Second, it might be worth something! If you don’t want to give it away or move it to another room, you might be able to get a little bit of money for it. How much will depend greatly on how old it is and how good it was when new. Older flat-panel TVs usually aren’t worth much, but it varies.
Depending on which option you choose, you might not even need to drop it off. Someone might pick it up. That’s good, because even if you still have the box (for some reason), shipping previously owned TVs isn’t a great idea. The boxes they came in were only designed to make it to your house, not anywhere else after that.
That brings me to the first and most important question: How much is it worth?
Is your TV actually worth anything?
Most people remember what they paid for a TV and assume it’s still worth something like that years after they bought it. This just isn’t true. The fact is, TVs have gotten so inexpensive there isn’t much of a market for used televisions, especially if the TV wasn’t that expensive to start. There are some exceptions, however.
It probably IS worth something if:
- It’s a high-end TV from the last five years or so
- It’s an OLED TV, except perhaps the earliest models
- It’s larger than 65 inches
- It’s a CRT «tube» TV (in very specific situations, see below)
It’s PROBABLY NOT worth much if:
- It was a budget or even midrange LCD
- It’s 10-plus years old
- It’s a plasma
- It’s an early smart TV (unless the streaming apps miraculously still work)
- It’s an old CRT TV (outside of very specific situations, see below)
It’s DEFINITELY NOT worth anything if:
- It’s a rear-projection TV
- It’s a CRT RPTV (heed this advice: lift with your knees, not your back)
- It doesn’t have HDMI (though, again, some analog CRTs might be worth something)
There are exceptions to these rules. You might be able to find a collector for your 500-pound RCA console TV. Maybe an archeology major is doing a project on early flat-panel TVs and finds your mint Fujitsu a prime candidate for their dissertation.
TVs with early HDMI versions like 1.4 aren’t useless, but they do have less potential use. They might not play nice with modern streaming devices or game consoles.
There is a specific situation where a CRT could be worth something. Hardcore retro gamers prefer playing early video game consoles on CRTs, and these are getting harder to find, for obvious reasons. However, they’re not just looking for any CRT, and if you have one of the huge ones from any era, it might be more trouble than it’s worth just getting it out of your house. And forget about shipping one.
If the CRT has component (red, green, blue, plus two for audio) or even S-Video inputs, that’s promising. If it doesn’t have at least composite (yellow, plus red and white for audio), it’s probably not going to sell for much. Before you consider sending it to the great recycle bin in the sky (not your local landfill, they’re full of toxic metals), it’s worth checking online if your specific model has sold anywhere.
Before doing anything else, wipe the data
No matter what you intend to do with your TV, make sure you log out of all your streaming accounts. Then go one step further and do a factory reset, which you can find buried in the user menu. Obviously, having somebody freeload your Netflix is only an issue if your old TV is a smart TV, but wiping your passwords and personal information is a good habit to get into with any of your old electronics.
Try to sell on Craigslist or Facebook Marketplace (if it’s worth anything)
While selling the TV may seem as obvious as moving it to another room, the specifics are a little less obvious. First of all, you need local pickup for a TV. No matter how well you pack a TV, even if you have the original box, it’s probably not going to survive the trip. Modern TVs are far too fragile. Now the seller has to deal with a broken TV, and you have to give the buyer their money back.
Even if you do sell it locally, the same issue applies. Inevitably, the buyer is going to show up to get your 65-inch TV in a 1990 Honda Civic and ask you to help stuff it in the back, strap it to the roof or use some even less ideal mounting options. If you’re getting rid of a big TV, be sure to specify its dimensions and weight in the ad.
Also read: 5 Reasons You Should Use Facebook Marketplace Instead of Craigslist
Alternatively, just list it for free or some price close to free, with the stipulation that the «buyer» will have to pick it up. Don’t worry: Only 90% of the inquiries you’ll get will be about you delivering it to them, despite what the ad says.
Sidewalk or garage sale
A yard or garage sale is another option. Again, it’s easier than hauling it away yourself. You might even get away with a really, really small yard sale that just includes one item, and that item is free.
I hesitate even mentioning this one, since if you live in an area where people will take stuff on the sidewalk, you probably know it. And if you don’t know, it’s not a great look leaving your trash out on the sidewalk for days or weeks. So your mileage may vary on this one. I’ve certainly seen some of my neighbors trying to get people to take old RPTVs, and look, no one wants those.
Donate your TV to charity (for a potential tax deduction)
An easier option is to donate it to a local charity. Some might even have volunteers who will come pick it up. Many local charities might be registered as 501(c)(3), so you might be able to get a tax deduction for your donation.
There’s also Goodwill, Habitat for Humanity ReStore and others. You’ll need to bring the TV to one of their locations. Check their website to see if they’ll accept your TV’s type and size. For instance, they probably won’t take an old rear-projection TV since most people don’t want them. Often TVs more than 5-8 years old aren’t wanted.
Also, contact your local library, public schools or various shelters. Many are always in need of donations, though a 20-year-old TV might not be what they’re looking for.
If that doesn’t work: Give your TV (back) to Best Buy
If you’re not able to sell it for any reason, it might be cheap or free to get rid of. Best Buy will take your used electronics, sometimes for free. They’ll also take old phones, tablets, batteries and even cables. Depending on the state and size of the TV, it might incur a $30 fee. If you can’t easily get the TV to a Best Buy, they’ll pick it up at your house for $200. Not ideal, but perhaps better than renting a van and throwing out your back.
If you’re buying a new TV and having it installed, for $50 it’ll haul away the old one or move it somewhere else in your home.
Have your TV professionally recycled
Some cities and local jurisdictions offer TV recycling, either drop-off at a recycling center or as part of your regular curbside pickup. Some areas will even let you schedule a free large pickup that includes TVs. Contact your local government/waste service for details.
There are a number of organizations that will help recycle your electronics, including TVs. Check out the Environmental Protection Agency’s page for more info. MRM Recycling also has a page to help you locate options in your area.
A number of manufacturers have their own programs or partner with companies that do. Keep in mind that just because a manufacturer has a program, it doesn’t mean there will be a drop-off location near you. For example, the closest LG drop-off point to Los Angeles, the second largest city in the US, is over 350 miles away.
If you’re now thinking about all the smaller electronics around your house you could recycle, check out our guide to recycling phones, laptops, batteries and cameras for free.
Note: This story was first published in 2022 but has been updated with new links and info.
In addition to covering audio and display tech, Geoff does photo tours of cool museums and locations around the world, including nuclear submarines, aircraft carriers, medieval castles, epic 10,000-mile road trips and more.
Also, check out his books Budget Travel for Dummies and the bestselling sci-fi novel about city-size submarines. You can follow him on Instagram and YouTube.