How to determine price to sell used furniture?

Determine a fair asking price by starting with what the piece cost new, applying a depreciation range based on age and condition, then checking that figure against comparable listings in your local market.

For everyday, non-antique furniture, a common starting point is roughly 50% of original retail after the first year, with an additional 5% or so subtracted per year after that. Well-known or solid-wood brands hold value better and can sell closer to 50-70% of retail if the piece is only a few years old and in excellent condition, while budget or particle-board furniture typically trades in the 20-40% range even when well cared for. Older, everyday pieces (nine to ten years) often settle around 25-33% of their original price.

Once you have a rough number, refine it by:

• Searching resale platforms for similar items in your area (same type, size, and brand tier) and using the midpoint of five to ten comparable listings as your anchor.
• Inspecting frame stability, surface wear, drawer and door function, odors, and upholstery condition, since these drive the biggest swings in price.
• Adjusting upward for solid wood, recognized brands, or design pedigree, and downward for damage, wobble, or dated materials.

This approach works well for ordinary furniture, but it breaks down quickly for antiques, mid-century modern, designer, or studio-crafted pieces, where age and provenance can add value rather than subtract it. In those cases, a percent-of-retail formula won't capture true market value. An online furniture appraisal from a certified appraiser gives you a documented, defensible value based on real comparable sales rather than a guess, which is especially useful before selling a higher-value or period piece. If you're weighing this for a specific item, our answer on how much a 20 year old couch is worth walks through a real depreciation example.