Calculate a range, not a single confident number. Start with recent sold evidence for the exact phone, then adjust for features a buyer can verify.
1. Identify the exact variant
- Model and generation.
- Storage capacity.
- SIM or regional variant where it matters.
- Colour only if current evidence shows a real difference.
- Unlocked or compatible status.
- Condition, repairs and included accessories.
2. Build a sold-price sample
Use several genuinely completed sales from a recent period. Exclude bundles, parts-only phones, suspiciously incomplete listings and trader sales with materially different warranties. A median or central cluster is usually more useful than the single highest sale.
3. Adjust for condition with evidence
| Factor | Potential effect |
|---|---|
| Cracked display, damaged frame or faulty camera | Material repair cost and narrower buyer pool |
| Weak battery with model-specific evidence | Buyer anticipates replacement cost |
| Documented professional repair | May reassure or reduce value depending on part and buyer |
| Account lock, unclear ownership or mismatched identifiers | Do not sell until resolved |
| Original box or cable | Usually a modest convenience benefit, not proof of condition |
4. Compare trade-in offers
A trade-in quote provides a useful floor only after you understand whether it is provisional, cash or credit and what condition rules allow a reduction.
5. Calculate net private-sale value
Illustrative example: comparable sales cluster around £280. You expect £18 in fees, £10 delivery and £4 packaging. The estimated net is £248 before allowing for your time and dispute risk. A verified £240 cash trade-in may therefore be competitive even though its headline figure is lower.
Example of a valuation range
Illustrative only: suppose six comparable private sales are £245, £255, £260, £265, £270 and £295. The £295 result may include unusually good condition or accessories. A defensible starting range could be £255–£270 before adjusting for your battery, repairs and selling costs. If a verified trade-in is £240 cash with free postage, the private-sale premium may be smaller than the top sold result suggests.
6. Set a review point
If the listing receives no serious interest, do not keep reducing randomly. Recheck comparables, improve the description, confirm the variant and decide whether the market has moved.
Continue with Where to Get the Best Price for a Used Phone.
Related guidance: For the wider selling and trade-in decision, use Selling and Recycling. The Selling and Trade-In Guide brings the main costs, checks and trade-offs together.
Sources and editorial method
Information checked 26 July 2026. The comparisons in this guide are editorial methods, not current market averages or guaranteed valuations. Recheck seller, platform and provider terms before acting.
