How to Sell Old or Broken Phones for Cash (Even If They Don’t Work)

If you’ve got an old phone sitting in a drawer, there’s a good chance it’s worth money. And yes, that still applies if it’s cracked, battered, or barely hanging together. In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how I sold a broken phone for £72, why people buy phones in poor condition, and the easiest way to turn your unused handsets into cash.

We’ve got into the habit of recycling phones in our house. I’d love to say it’s for the environment, but the truth is I’m too tight to buy my kids brand-new phones. I upgrade, they inherit my cast-offs. It works well… until the phone comes back in a state.

A few years back, I gave my son my old Apple iPhone 8 Plus. At the time, it was in great condition. Two years later, it definitely wasn’t.

The home button and fingerprint scanner had stopped working
The charging port was unreliable
Battery health had dropped below 80%
The rear camera glass was slightly cracked

On the face of it, it looked knackered. But broken doesn’t mean worthless.

Why broken phones still sell

There are two main reasons people buy damaged phones. Some buyers repair them and resell for a profit. Others strip them for parts to fix other phones. Screens, housings, cameras and batteries all have value on their own.

Despite the damage, my phone still had a few positives.
The screen itself was in good condition
The rear casing was unmarked
The phone powered on and worked

That alone is enough to attract buyers.

How much can you realistically make?

My phone sold for £72 on eBay. Because private sellers no longer pay selling fees on phones, the sale price was mine (minus postage). Not bad for something that had been sat in a drawer for over a year.

Who pays fees?

As a private seller, you don’t pay selling fees when selling phones. Instead, buyers pay a Buyer Protection Fee at checkout, which eBay adds automatically. This doesn’t come out of your sale price.

Buyers also pay postage unless you choose to offer free delivery. In short, you keep what you sell it for.

Best places to sell old or broken phones

There are a few options out there, but selling directly to buyers usually gets the best price. Marketplaces work well for damaged phones because buyers know exactly what they’re getting.

In my experience, eBay is one of the easiest and most reliable options, especially for broken phones or phones being sold for parts. Here’s how to do it properly.

How to sell old or broken phones for cash

If you’ve got one phone or a pile of them, this process is the same.

First, check if your phone is worth selling
Not every phone is worth your time. iPhones and higher-end Android phones tend to hold value far better than cheap or very old models.

Search for your phone’s make and model on eBay and use the “Sold items” filter. This shows what people have actually paid. If phones in good condition are selling for £50 or more, broken ones are usually worth listing.

Create your listing the easy way

The fastest method is to find an existing listing for the same phone and click “Sell it yourself”. Most details will already be filled in. You just adjust things like storage size, colour and condition.

Photos matter more than you think

Add plenty of photos. Front, back, sides and close-ups of any damage. If the phone powers on, include a photo of it switched on. If it’s an iPhone, include battery health. Buyers expect faults on broken phones, but they want to see them.

Write an honest description

Be blunt. List everything that works and everything that doesn’t. Mention cracks, battery health, faulty buttons and charging issues. Buyers don’t mind damage. What they hate is surprises.

Auction or Buy It Now?

Auctions work well for broken phones. Starting at £10–£20 often attracts bidders, but there’s always a risk it only gets one bid. Buy It Now gives you control, but price it too high and it may not sell.

Postage and delivery

eBay will suggest delivery options, but you can change them. I usually go with Royal Mail as they’ll collect from my house. Wrap the phone well and use a snug box so you’re not paying more than you need to. And make sure the insurance you buy covers the cost of the whole phone.

After the sale

Once the buyer pays, send the phone promptly. Mark it as dispatched and upload tracking if you have it. It keeps buyers calm and protects you if anything goes wrong.

When do you get paid?

Once delivery has been confirmed, it usually takes several days for the funds to be released to your eBay account. When you withdraw, the funds should be in your bank within an hour.

What if the buyer doesn’t pay?

This can happen if you sell as an auction, rather than a Buy It Now item. Send a reminder. If there’s still no response, cancel the sale and relist. You won’t lose anything. Well, except time.

Final thoughts

If you’ve got an old or broken phone gathering dust, it’s probably worth money. Even badly damaged phones can sell. Sell one, then check your drawers again and repeat.

Further reading

If you don’t fancy eBay, why not take a look at other great places to sell your old phone?