All the best TVs make tempting purchases, especially if there are great deals. If you get one, the question inevitably becomes: What do you do with your old TV? If you've clicked on this article, you've likely already run through the usual ideas: moving it to a bedroom, basement or garage, using it as a second computer monitor, or even putting it outside -- though that last option isn't a great idea.
You've also likely considered just throwing it out. In some areas, leaving a TV on the curb with a "take me" sign might be all you need. Check with your local trash service, since TVs aren't always accepted without a special request. You can also find retailers and recycling centers nationwide -- often as close as your local Best Buy -- that recycle used electronics.
If the TV still works, there are still ways to squeeze some life out of it. Most of these options apply to newer models, but even older TVs may be able to find a new home. We'll get to those later.
Donate
If your TV is working and relatively recent, consider donating it. Most charities aren't interested in old or nonworking TVs, which have limited -- if any -- use. Some organizations also won't accept TVs more than five to eight years old. That's understandable: If you can't plug it in and get it to work, they likely can't either.
It's worth checking donation guidelines before hauling it over. One drawback of this option is that you'll probably need to deliver it yourself, though some organizations may have volunteers who can pick it up.
Some potential charity options -- but contact them first to confirm acceptance -- include:
- Local homeless shelters
- Local DV shelters
- Local LGBTQ and youth shelters
- Local nursing homes
- Pickup Please (supports veterans)
- Boys & Girls Clubs (varies per region)
- Goodwill
- Habitat for Humanity (varies per region)
There are certainly a variety of other local options as well. Some might put your TV to use in their facilities directly, while others, such as Goodwill and Habitat's ReStore, will resell it to support people in need. Many charities that accept other types of donations will also accept TVs, so the list above is not comprehensive.
Give it a new (free) home
Let's assume this TV has, for whatever reason, been deemed ineligible for the standard life cycle: main TV to bedroom TV to guest or kids' room TV to in-laws' TV, and so on. Keep in mind that even if it's "just 1080p" or an older 4K TV, it can likely live on just fine somewhere else. You can even add a streaming dongle to it as long as the TV has HDMI connections (though some old HDMI TVs won't work with newer gear).
Another option is to directly give your old TV a new home using an online service. These modern takes on leaving the TV on your curb with a sign that says "free" amount to the same idea. You offer the TV online for free, and, hopefully, the "buyer" will come pick it up. You can do this on Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace and through organizations including the Buy Nothing Project and Freecycle.org, among others.
You'd be surprised what you can get and trade for free sometimes:
There's also a school of thought that you'll get better -- or at least less annoying -- responses by listing the TV for $10 or some similarly token amount, since it signals that the TV has value. Which, technically, it does: $10. And leaving it on the curb with a sign can also work, though that varies a lot. Older TVs, in particular, often go untouched even when they're free.
Even old TVs can find a new life
So far, this has assumed you're dealing with a fairly recent flat-screen TV. But what if you're trying to get rid of an old CRT, or "tube," TV? While these can be recycled, you may also be able to find them a new home with retro gaming enthusiasts. Some people specifically seek out CRTs to connect classic consoles and play games in their original analog format. Many CRT TVs that seem ancient today were built on mature, reliable technology and can still work with the right source. Even nonworking sets may be repairable with relatively minor fixes.
The trick, of course, is getting them into the hands of those enthusiasts. If you live in a big city, you can probably find someone willing to come pick it up. Small towns, perhaps not so much. Also, not every old CRT is worth its (considerable) weight in gold.
Can you sell it?
Don't get your hopes up. No matter what you paid for your TV when it was new, it's not worth anything close to that now. TV technology advances so quickly that a model you paid $1,500 for five years ago might now cost $500 -- and look brighter and better in the process. If your TV is relatively recent and you think the time spent taking decent photos, posting a listing and dealing with potential buyers is worth whatever you might get for it, go for it. But most of the time, the best you can hope for is someone coming to pick it up.
It's worth checking what your specific model and size are selling for online, particularly what similar TVs have sold for recently. Crucially, you'll almost certainly need to sell it locally. While shipping a TV is theoretically possible, even if you still have the original box (why?), it's usually prohibitively expensive.
For more about selling your old TV, check out How To Get Paid for Your Old TV.
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.
English (US) ·