Your options compared
Fees and terms are as of September 2026 and can change. Check each platform before you list.
| Option | Speed | Price you get | Effort | Fees | Basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Facebook Marketplace (local pickup) | Days–weeks | Highest (you set it) | High: photos, messages, showings | None for local sales; 10% (min $0.80) applies only to shipped orders | official (Facebook Help Center) |
| Craigslist (for sale by owner) | Days–weeks | High | High | Free; $5 only for by-dealer and vehicle categories | official (craigslist) |
| OfferUp (in person) | Days–weeks | High | High | No fee on in-person sales; paid extras optional | official (OfferUp Support) |
| Nextdoor (For Sale & Free) | Days–weeks | Medium–high, neighbors only | Medium | No selling fee listed in its help pages | official (Nextdoor Help) |
| Used-appliance dealer that buys | Fast (offer by text or visit) | Low (wholesale) | Low | None, but you get a buyer’s price | dealer page |
| Utility recycling program | Scheduled pickup | $50–$75 (working fridges/freezers only) | Low: they pick up | Free pickup | official (utilities) |
| Retailer haul-away with a new purchase | Delivery day | $0 (you pay) | Lowest | Best Buy $49.99, Lowe’s $50 | official (retailers) |
| Donation (Habitat ReStore, charities) | Pickup or drop-off | $0 (possible tax deduction) | Low–medium | Some stores charge (e.g., $20 at Fort Collins) | official (Habitat affiliates) |
| Scrap or bulky-item collection | Depends on your town | $0 or a small fee | Medium | Varies by town | official (EPA) |
Speed and effort ratings are our own qualitative estimates. Fees and payments come from the official pages cited.
Selling it yourself: marketplaces
Facebook Marketplace. Facebook’s Help Center says its selling fee of 10% (or $0.80 minimum) applies to orders with shipping. Almost nobody ships a fridge, so a local-pickup sale costs you nothing in platform fees.
Craigslist. Craigslist says all postings are free except the categories it lists. The paid ones include $5 for “all for sale by-dealer categories in the US” and $5 for cars, trucks, RVs and motorcycles by owner. An appliance listed by its owner is free.
OfferUp. OfferUp says it doesn’t charge fees or take a commission on in-person transactions. It charges for optional extras such as promotions and additional listings once you’ve used your free monthly allotment. OfferUp ended nationwide shipping in October 2025 and now supports only local, in-person sales.
Nextdoor. Nextdoor’s For Sale & Free section is for personal items. Its rules don’t allow resellers or selling for a business. Its seller tips recommend leaving your phone number, email and home address out of the post and sharing contact details in chat.
On any marketplace, lead with what buyers check: the model number, the age (from the serial number), whether it’s working, and photos of the inside. See our buying checklist for the tests buyers will run.
Who buys used appliances for cash: dealers
Some used-appliance stores buy stock from the public. They’re fast, but they pay wholesale because they have to test, clean, warranty and resell the unit.
One example, a Reno and Sparks, Nevada buyer, publishes what it pays: washers $50–$75, refrigerators $50–$100, dryers $25–$50, and stacked units $75–$100. It takes only Whirlpool, Maytag, Amana, KitchenAid and some Kenmore brands, and says not every appliance will be purchased. Compare that with the $175–$500 a South Carolina dealer charges for used washers, and you can see the dealer’s margin. Details are on our used washer price page.
Retailer haul-away when you buy new
If you’re replacing the appliance, the store delivering the new one will usually take the old one away for a fee:
- Best Buy: $49.99 to haul away and recycle one major appliance when it delivers a replacement. Anything not being directly replaced with installation must be disconnected before the crew arrives.
- Lowe’s: $50 when your new appliance is delivered. It’s free for select MyLowe’s Pro Rewards members.
You get nothing for the old unit, but it’s the least effort.
Donating: Habitat for Humanity ReStore and charities
Habitat for Humanity says its ReStores accept “new and gently used appliances”. It notes that each ReStore is different and many offer free pickup of large items. Local rules vary a lot:
| ReStore | Appliance rule |
|---|---|
| Habitat Capital District (NY) | Good working order and under 10 years old; new dishwashers and water heaters only |
| Fort Collins Habitat (CO) | Full working order and clean; no plastic-tub dishwashers; $20 processing fee per large appliance |
Basis: official, each ReStore’s own page.
Call your local ReStore before you load the truck.
Utility recycling programs (old fridges and freezers)
Many electric utilities pay you to retire a working second fridge or freezer, and pick it up free:
| Utility | Payment | Main conditions |
|---|---|---|
| DTE Energy (MI) | $50 gift card (10–30 cu ft); $20 for units under 9.9 cu ft | DTE electric customer; working, clean, empty, defrosted |
| Consumers Energy (MI) | $50 | Consumers electric customer; empty, working, 10–30 cu ft |
| National Grid (MA) | $75 | Working, cooling and empty at pickup; 10–30 cu ft; max two per type per year |
Basis: official, each utility’s program page.
EPA’s Responsible Appliance Disposal (RAD) program partners with utilities, retailers and others to dispose of old refrigerated appliances using best practices. Search your own utility’s name plus “appliance recycling”.
For a fridge that’s old but still cold, the utility payment sets a floor. If a marketplace buyer offers less than your utility pays, take the rebate.
Scrap and bulky-item pickup
For appliances that don’t work, your town’s bulky-item collection or a scrap-metal recycler may take them. For refrigerators and freezers, EPA says the final disposer, such as a scrap recycler or landfill, is responsible for making sure the refrigerant is recovered. Some towns require it removed before pickup. EPA warns: do not try to remove refrigerant or compressors yourself. Only trained technicians with approved equipment should do it.
How to price it
Start with what it cost new, its age and its condition. Our used appliance value guide explains the method and the evidence. As a rule of thumb, resale marketplace Commonplace puts most everyday used goods at 20–40% of original retail, and 50–70% if like-new. Check local listings for the same style and size, then price to sell within a week or two.
Safety tips for sellers
- Check for recalls before you list. CPSC says it is illegal to sell any recalled product and that it’s the seller’s responsibility to check. A recalled product can be sold if it has been repaired in accordance with the recall. Use the appliance recall check.
- Take payment before the item leaves. OfferUp says cash is the safest method and warns against checks, gift cards, wire transfers and cryptocurrency.
- Refuse overpayments. The CFPB says a buyer who sends a check or money order for more than the price and asks for the difference back is running a common scam.
- Be careful with strangers at your home. Nextdoor’s guidance is to be appropriately cautious. Consider having someone with you when a buyer visits.
- Disconnect safely. Gas appliances and hard-wired units should be disconnected by a qualified technician before pickup.
Limitations
Fees, rebates and donation rules change and vary by location. The utility and ReStore examples above are specific programs, not national rules. Dealer prices come from single stores’ published pages.
What to do next
- Estimate a fair asking price: how much is my used appliance worth.
- Price bands for common sales: used washer price and used refrigerator price.
- Confirm it isn’t recalled: appliance recall check.
Checked against the sources below on 26 September 2026.