Used bookcase prices by age and condition
What to ask for a bookcase that cost $150 new. For a different new price, use the percentage: it is the share of the new price a mid-range one keeps in good condition.
| Age | Share of new price | Like new | Good | Fair |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under a year | 32% | $65 | $55 | $35 |
| 1 year | 28% | $60 | $45 | $30 |
| 2 years | 25% | $50 | $40 | $30 |
| 3 years | 22% | $45 | $35 | $25 |
| 5 years | 17% | $35 | $30 | $19 |
| 8 years | 12% | $25 | $19 | $13 |
| 10 years | 9% | $18 | $15 | $10 |
These are rules of thumb, not an appraisal. A well-known brand or solid build adds about 15%; budget or flat-pack takes off about 20%. More in how to price used furniture.
How to sell a bookcase
- Give the height and width and the number of shelves, and say whether they adjust.
- Flat-pack shelving rarely survives being taken apart twice. Sell it assembled, and say if it needs a van.
- If you have matching units, list them together. People furnishing a wall want all of them.
If it has to go by moving day
A price that drops on a schedule gets buyers to claim early instead of haggling. Starting at $35 and stopping at $15, a ten-day plan looks like this:
| Today | Day 4 | Day 7 | Day 10 |
|---|---|---|---|
| $35 | $28 | $22 | $15 |
Set your own dates in the price-drop planner, or let PieceOut do it: every listing drops each morning until you move.
Sell it or move it?
A typical bookcase takes about 20 cubic feet on a mover’s inventory and weighs about 140 lb. On a long-distance move charged by weight, that is about $112 at an example rate of $0.80 a pound, against the $35 it would sell for here. Put in your own quote and what a replacement costs in sell it or move it?