How to sell a used games console for the right price and ship it safely

It happens to lots of people. You buy a new console, maybe over the holidays, and the old one ends up under the TV with its cable coiled around it, or in a box on top of the wardrobe with two controllers and a stack of games. Selling your used console is a good idea, because consoles hold their value better than a lot of other electronics and there's always someone looking for one without paying full price. Here's what yours is worth, how to get it ready and how to ship it without any risk.

How much a used console is worth

Price depends on the model, on what you include in the box and on condition. A console with its original box, two controllers and a few games sells better and faster than a bare console with a spare cable. The state of the controllers matters too, because sticks that drift on their own are the most common fault and buyers know it.

Below are some market estimates for consoles in good condition, with one controller and the cables. They're ballpark figures and they move a lot, for example when a new model comes out.

To work out where you sit, look for listings of the same model with a similar bundle to yours. If you have the box, the receipt and a second controller, you can aim high. If the console has obvious scratches or a noisy fan, start lower and say so clearly.

Selling the console with games or separately

It depends on the games. Very recent or popular titles are worth more sold on their own, because people who already own the console want them too. Older games are usually worth little individually and work better as part of the bundle. A console with three or four games included is easier to sell to a parent buying it as a present, because it sorts everything in one go.

A middle way that often works is to list the console with the less popular games included, and sell the two or three most valuable titles separately.

Get the console ready before you sell

A console is full of your stuff, your account, your saves, sometimes even a payment method linked to the store. Before you ship it, go through these steps:

• back up your progress to the cloud or an external drive, if you care about it;
• deactivate the console as your primary one in your account, so it's no longer linked to you;
• remove any saved cards or payment methods;
• do a factory reset from the console menu;
• take out any memory cards or external drives you want to keep.

Then spend ten minutes cleaning it. A soft brush for the air vents, a slightly damp cloth for the casing, and clean controllers between the buttons. It sounds trivial, but it shows a lot in photos.

Photos and listing

Photograph the console from the front, the side and the back with the ports visible, then the controllers and everything you're including, laid out neatly on a table. If there's a scratch, photograph it. In the description, give the exact model, storage, how many controllers, which games and cables are included and whether you have the box.

On Lendmates this part is quick. You take a few photos, the listing more or less fills itself in, you check the details, adjust the price and publish. Questions come in through the in-app chat, where you can reply without giving out your number.

Shipping a console without nasty surprises

A console ships fine as long as it's packed properly. The original box is ideal, placed inside a bigger carton with paper or bubble wrap all around. If you don't have it, wrap the console in several layers of bubble wrap, put it in a sturdy box and fill every gap so nothing moves. Controllers and cables go in a separate bag so they don't scratch the casing on the way.

On Lendmates selling has no distance limit, so your console can leave Cagliari and arrive in Trento. The buyer pays in the app and you get the money once the purchase goes through. No trusting promised bank transfers or photos of receipts, and the buyer knows the payment is protected until the console arrives. On top of that, every seller and buyer is a person with a verified identity.

Sell the console or rent it out?

If the console is gathering dust because you got the new model, selling it makes the most sense. If you still play now and then and don't want to let it go, you could rent it out for the odd weekend, for example to someone planning a games night or a tournament with friends. We cover that in our guide to renting out video game consoles. And if you do decide to upgrade, the money can go towards buying the new console second hand, from the same account.

For tips on light and photos, our guide on how to photograph an item well is worth a look too.

Frequently asked questions

How much is a used PS5 worth?

A PS5 with a disc drive in good condition usually sells for €280 to €340, the Digital edition for €220 to €270. The box, a second controller and included games push the price up.

Should I sell my console before the new model comes out?

Generally yes. When a new model arrives lots of people list their old console at the same time, and second hand prices drop.

Do I need to sign out of my account before selling a console?

Yes. Sign out, deactivate the console as your primary one and then do a factory reset, so the buyer can set it up from scratch.

Can I sell a console with a faulty controller?

Yes, just say so in the listing and factor it into the price. Buyers often prefer to know upfront and replace the controller themselves.

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