Selling guide
Where to sell your used phone
Every way to sell a phone trades speed against money. Here's what each option really pays and costs, what your phone is worth right now, and how to sell it without getting burned.
Prices updated October 3, 2026
Your options, side by side
| Option | What you get | Cost | Effort | Damaged phones |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carrier or store trade-in | Usually store credit toward a new phone, often well below what the phone would sell for. | No fee: the cost is the lower value. | Lowest. Done at the counter or by mail. | Often a small fixed amount, or not accepted. |
| Instant buyback sites | A fixed quote up front, which can be cut after they inspect the phone. | No fee: their margin is built into the quote. | Low. Print a label and ship it. | Much lower quotes, and some won’t take them. |
| General online marketplaces | Close to market value. | Around 13.6% of the sale on phones at the largest one. | Medium. Photos, questions, shipping. | Allowed, but hard for buyers to judge condition. |
| Selling locally | Close to market value, in cash. | No fee. | Meetups, haggling and no-shows. Watch for fake payments. | Easy to sell, hard to price. |
| Honest Phones | Market value, set by you. | 3% seller fee. No listing fees. | Medium. List with condition fields, ship when it sells. | Built for it: cracked, water damaged, locked and parts only. |
The short version: trade in if you want it done today, sell it yourself if you want the money. When you sell it yourself, the fee is the biggest difference. On a $300 sale you keep $291 here, against $259.20 at a 13.6% marketplace fee. Full fee breakdown
What used phones are selling for
Ranges cover every storage size, carrier-locked and unlocked. Tap a model for its exact price by storage and lock.
| Model | Working | Cracked or damaged | Parts or locked |
|---|---|---|---|
| iPhone 17 Pro Max | $715–$1,210 | $450–$730 | $200–$220 |
| iPhone 17 | $450–$670 | $220–$345 | $75–$85 |
| iPhone 16 Pro Max | $530–$740 | $285–$425 | $160–$170 |
| iPhone 15 Pro Max | $390–$560 | $220–$335 | $115–$125 |
| iPhone 15 | $215–$380 | $120–$215 | $60–$70 |
| iPhone 14 Pro Max | $285–$460 | $150–$250 | $90–$100 |
| iPhone 13 | $145–$250 | $80–$145 | $40–$50 |
| iPhone 12 | $95–$190 | $50–$85 | $25–$35 |
| iPhone 11 | $75–$160 | $35–$70 | $30–$40 |
| Samsung Galaxy S25 Ultra | $330–$530 | $180–$235 | $80–$90 |
| Samsung Galaxy S24 Ultra | $275–$445 | $150–$170 | $80–$90 |
| Samsung Galaxy S23 | $115–$160 | $45–$70 | $30–$40 |
How to sell your phone safely
- 01
Check what it’s worth
Look up your model, storage and lock status in the price guide so you know a fair asking price before anyone quotes you.
- 02
Back it up
Copy your photos, messages and 2FA codes to a new phone or the cloud.
- 03
Sign out and turn off the lock
On an iPhone, sign out of your Apple Account, which turns off Find My and Activation Lock. On Android, remove your Google account. A phone still signed in can only be sold for parts.
- 04
Reset it and take out the SIM
Erase all content and settings, then remove the SIM card or delete the eSIM.
- 05
Note the IMEI and photograph it
Dial *#06# for the IMEI. Take clear photos of the screen, back and any damage, so the listing matches the phone exactly.
Phone cracked, water damaged or won't turn on? Here's where to sell a broken phone.
Sell it here for 3%
No listing fees. The buyer's payment is held until they accept the phone, then it goes straight to you.
Common questions
- Where is the best place to sell a used phone?
- It depends whether you want speed or money. A trade-in is fastest but usually pays the least. Selling to a person gets close to market value, and then the fee decides what you keep: on a $300 sale you keep $291 at a 3% seller fee, against $259.20 at a 13.6% marketplace fee.
- How much is my used phone worth?
- Check your model in the Honest Phones price guide. It shows prices for every condition, from like new to parts only, split by storage size and carrier lock, and is updated weekly.
- Is it safe to sell a phone online?
- On Honest Phones, the buyer pays before you ship and the money is held until they accept the phone, or their 72-hour inspection window closes. You never ship to someone who hasn’t paid.
- Can I sell a carrier-locked phone?
- Yes. A carrier-locked phone is worth less than an unlocked one, and the lock is shown on the listing so buyers know. Phones reported lost or stolen can’t be listed: every IMEI is checked before a listing goes live.
- Do I need to remove my Apple or Google account before selling?
- Yes. Until you sign out, the phone is activation locked and the next owner can’t use it, so it can only be sold for parts. Sign out on the phone, or remove it from your account online if it won’t turn on.