28 Basement Items Worth Selling Instead of Storing

Every basement has a corner where good intentions go to wait. The treadmill became a coat rack, the records have not spun since the Carter administration, and a box of ornaments carries a warning in marker not to toss it.

Storage feels free, but it costs you space and, as damp air and dust do their slow work, sometimes the value of the item itself.

Plenty of what sits down there has a real market right now. Collectors, hobbyists, and practical buyers are hunting for it, and they will often pay more than you expect.

Vinyl Records From the 1960s and 1970s

Records are one of the few basement items that may have gained value since you boxed them up. U.S. vinyl sales have climbed for well over a decade, and original pressings of classic rock, jazz, and soul albums draw steady interest on Discogs, where you can match your exact pressing using the catalog number printed on the label. Common titles might bring $5 to $20, while a clean first pressing of a sought-after jazz record can sell for hundreds. Prices depend heavily on condition, so grade both the vinyl and the sleeve honestly before listing. Warped or deeply scratched copies of mass-market hits rarely sell at all.

Cordless Power Tools With Working Batteries

Drills, impact drivers, and circular saws from DeWalt, Milwaukee, and Makita resell quickly because buyers are often already invested in that brand’s battery platform. A bare tool is worth far less than a kit, so keep batteries and chargers together when you list.

Test each battery before selling, since a replacement pack can easily cost $50 to $150 and buyers know it. Lightly used gear often brings somewhere around half of current retail, while worn or discontinued models bring less.

Contractors and weekend builders on Facebook Marketplace move fast, especially in spring.

Vintage Stanley Hand Planes

Old woodworking planes sitting in an inherited toolbox have a loyal following among hand-tool woodworkers. The Stanley No. 4 smoothing plane is the most common bench plane ever made, and clean examples typically sell for about $95 to $150, with fine early examples reaching more than $300.

Rusty user-grade planes still bring $70 or so, because restorers buy them to clean up and use. Photograph the logo on the lever cap and any patent dates cast into the body, since collectors use those details to date a plane.

Condition and completeness drive the price far more than age alone.

Machinist and Mechanic Tool Chests

Steel rolling cabinets and wooden machinist chests hold value long after the tools inside have scattered. Kennedy Manufacturing’s steel chests and the oak chests made by Gerstner in Dayton, Ohio, are familiar names to buyers, and a Gerstner in good shape can sell for several hundred dollars.

Craftsman rolling cabinets often move at $100 to $400, depending on size, rust, and whether the drawer slides still glide. Empty the drawers and wipe out the liners before you take photos.

A chest that looks cared for sells for noticeably more than one full of greasy clutter.

Dumbbells and Iron Weight Plates

Free weights barely depreciate, because iron is still iron twenty years later. Used dumbbells and plates generally sell for around $1 to $2 per pound, and rubber hex dumbbells from brands such as York and Troy tend to hold value best.

Matching pairs sell far faster than orphans, so round up every piece before listing. Surface rust lowers the price but rarely kills a sale, while cracked coatings and loose handles will.

Weigh the full set, put the price per pound in your ad, and let buyers do the math.

Concept2 Rowing Machines

Few pieces of home fitness equipment hold resale value like the Concept2 RowErg, long sold as the Model D. Used units commonly sell for $600 to $900, compared with roughly $990 to $1,100 new, because the design has barely changed in decades and parts are cheap and easy to find.

The monitor matters to buyers, since the current PM5 syncs with apps over Bluetooth while the older PM3 does not. Check that the chain runs smoothly and the seat rolls freely before listing.

Price toward the low end if the machine shows wear, and it will still likely sell quickly.

Peloton Bikes and Treads

Connected fitness gear flooded the used market after the pandemic boom faded, so your old Peloton still sells but faces real competition. In 2025 Peloton expanded its official resale marketplace, Repowered, which lets owners sell equipment and gives buyers extra confidence.

Prices vary widely with model, age, and condition, and the original Bike typically sells for far less than the newer Bike+ with its swivel screen. Wipe down the screen, reset it to factory settings, and include shoes or weights if you have them.

A clean bike with accessories stands out in a crowded field.

Retro Video Game Consoles and Cartridges

The Nintendo Entertainment System reached U.S. stores in 1985, and the kids who grew up with it now drive the retro market. Consoles such as the NES, Super Nintendo, Nintendo 64, and Sega Genesis sell steadily, and individual cartridges can be worth more than the hardware.

Check sold listings on eBay or a tracker such as PriceCharting before pricing anything, because a common sports title might bring a few dollars while a sought-after role-playing game can bring well over $100. Complete-in-box copies command a premium, and scuffed labels lower value.

Test every system on a TV before you list it.

Retired LEGO Sets

LEGO sets often become more valuable once the company stops producing them, and retired sets in sealed boxes can sell well above their original retail price. Even built sets hold value if every piece and minifigure is present, which you can check against the free inventories on BrickLink, the marketplace the LEGO Group acquired in 2019.

Star Wars, Harry Potter, and modular building sets are especially popular with adult collectors. Missing pieces and lost instructions cut value sharply, so condition and completeness set the price.

Mixed bulk bricks still sell by the pound if sorting feels impossible.

Silver-Faced Stereo Receivers From the 1970s

Silver-faced receivers from Marantz, Pioneer, Sansui, and Technics are prized by audio fans who like their warm sound and heavy build. The Pioneer SX-1980, introduced in 1978 and rated at 270 watts per channel, can sell for $4,000 or more in excellent working order, though most mid-range receivers from the era bring a few hundred dollars.

Condition drives everything, so note whether every light, knob, and switch works. Burned-out dial lamps and scratchy volume controls are common and fixable, but disclose them. Buyers pay far more for a unit that has been professionally serviced.

Canon AE-1 and Other Film Cameras

Film photography has made a comeback with younger shooters, which has turned old cameras into steady sellers. The Canon AE-1, introduced in 1976, was one of the first SLRs built around a microprocessor and became the first serious camera for millions of amateurs.

A working body with a standard 50mm lens often sells for a couple hundred dollars, depending on condition. The well-known shutter squeak is a common fault, so test the shutter and light meter with a fresh battery before listing.

Lenses sold separately can sometimes bring as much as the body.

Vintage Blow Mold Yard Decorations

Hollow plastic light-up Santas, snowmen, and nativity figures from the 1960s through the 1980s have become hot collectibles. Molds made by Empire, General Foam, and Union Products, the company best known for the pink lawn flamingo, are the names buyers search for.

A faded, cracked figure is worth far less than one with bright original paint, and complete sets such as a full nativity usually sell for more than single pieces. List them in September and October, when decorators shop.

Waiting until December means competing with every other seller in town.

Shiny Brite Glass Ornaments

Those glass ornaments in the faded cardboard box may be Shiny Brites, which Max Eckardt launched in 1937 with Corning producing the glass on its light bulb machinery. During World War II, metal shortages forced the company to replace metal caps with cardboard tabs, and collectors look for those wartime pieces.

Boxed sets in good condition often sell for $20 to $75 or more, with unusual shapes and striped designs bringing the most. Check for worn paint and cracked glass before listing, since both lower value.

Keep the original box, because it adds real money to the sale.

Lane Acclaim and Other Mid-Century Furniture

That old walnut dresser under a tarp may be worth serious money. Lane’s Acclaim line, designed by Andre Bus and made from the early 1960s, is recognizable by its dovetail inlay pattern in contrasting woods, and coffee tables in good condition can sell for $300 to $1,500.

Pieces from Broyhill, Drexel, and Heywood-Wakefield also attract steady buyers. Look for the maker’s label inside a drawer or on the back panel.

Water rings and veneer damage lower value, but refinishers will still pay for restorable pieces.

Schwinn Sting-Ray Bicycles

Schwinn introduced the Sting-Ray in 1963, and its banana seat and high-rise handlebars defined kids’ bikes for a generation. The Krate models, introduced in 1968 with names like Apple Krate, Orange Krate, and Lemon Peeler, are the most collectible, thanks to the stick shifter mounted on the top tube.

Original examples in strong condition can bring more than $1,000, while a rusted, incomplete Sting-Ray might sell for a couple hundred dollars. Original parts and paint matter enormously to collectors, so do not replace anything before selling.

Check the serial number to confirm the year.

Coleman Lanterns and Camp Stoves

Old green and red Coleman pressure lanterns and camp stoves have a devoted collector following, and many still work after decades. Turn a lantern upside down and look at the bottom of the fuel tank, where a stamped date code shows the month and year it was made.

Common models such as the 200A in working order often sell for $40 to $100, while rare colors and early models bring more. Clean off rust and grime and note whether the generator and mantles are intact, since condition sets the price.

A lantern that lights on camera sells faster.

Golf Clubs and Putters

Golf’s pandemic-era surge brought in new players looking for affordable gear, and resellers such as Callaway Pre-Owned and 2nd Swing buy and resell clubs from major brands. Recent drivers and irons from Titleist, TaylorMade, and Ping hold value best, while old persimmon woods are mostly decorative.

Scotty Cameron putters are a notable exception to fast depreciation, and some models sell for close to their original price. Clean the grooves and grips before photographing.

Worn grips and scratched faces pull prices down, so price accordingly.

Vintage Fishing Reels and Lures

Old tackle boxes can hide surprising value. The ABU Ambassadeur 5000 baitcasting reel, made in Svangsta, Sweden, reached the American market in 1954, and early examples with original boxes and paperwork are well collected. Wooden lures from Heddon, Creek Chub, and Pflueger from the early 20th century can also sell for far more than modern plastic baits.

Condition is critical, and chipped paint or missing hooks lower value quickly. Group modern tackle in one lot and list the vintage pieces individually.

Comic Books in Longboxes

A box of comics from childhood is worth sorting before it goes to the curb. Key issues, such as the first appearance of a popular character, can sell for hundreds or thousands of dollars, while most comics from the 1990s speculator boom were printed in huge numbers and bring a dollar or two.

Grading companies such as CGC evaluate condition on a 10-point scale, and the grade can change the price dramatically. Store them upright in bags and boards until you sell.

Look up each key issue individually rather than pricing the box as one lump.

Trading Cards From Before the 1980s

Sports cards from the 1950s through the 1970s can be valuable, especially rookie cards of Hall of Fame players. Cards from roughly 1986 to 1993, known to collectors as the junk wax era, were printed in massive numbers, and most are worth very little.

The 1989 Upper Deck Ken Griffey Jr. rookie remains a notable exception, though only high-grade copies command strong prices. Handle cards by the edges and keep them in sleeves.

Corners, centering, and surface condition all determine value, so have older stars professionally graded before selling.

Sony Walkman and Cassette Gear

Cassettes have enjoyed a small revival, and the portable players that went with them sell well. Sony launched the original Walkman, the TPS-L2, in 1979, and working vintage models from the 1980s often sell for $50 to $200, with rare versions bringing more.

Many units have dried-out rubber belts, so test yours with a tape before listing. Buyers will still pay for non-working units as repair projects, but at a steep discount. Home cassette decks from Nakamichi are especially prized by audio fans.

Singer Featherweight Sewing Machines

The Singer 221 Featherweight, first produced in 1933, weighs about 11 pounds and remains one of the most sought-after vintage sewing machines. Quilters love it for its reliable straight stitch and portable size, which keeps demand strong.

Working machines with the original case and accessories commonly sell for several hundred dollars, while rarer versions and professionally restored machines bring more. The serial number lets buyers date the machine, so include a clear photo of it.

Cosmetic wear matters less than whether it sews, so run a test seam before listing.

Olivetti and Smith-Corona Typewriters

Manual typewriters have a devoted following among writers who want a distraction-free machine. The Olivetti Lettera 32, designed by Marcello Nizzoli and introduced in 1963, is a favorite, and Cormac McCarthy’s personal Lettera 32 sold at Christie’s in 2009 for $254,500.

Your machine will not bring that, but working portables from Olivetti and Smith-Corona in good condition often sell for roughly $100 to $300. Test every key, the ribbon, and the carriage return. Cleaned and serviced machines sell faster and for more.

Snowblowers and Lawn Mowers

Outdoor power equipment sells best just before the season when people need it. Snowblowers from Toro, Ariens, and Honda draw the most interest in October and November, while mowers sell fastest in early spring.

Change the oil, drain or stabilize old gas, and confirm the engine fires up before listing. A machine that runs well can often bring half or more of its original price, though condition and age matter a great deal.

Include the manual if you still have it, since buyers read that as a sign of good care.

Hot Wheels Redlines

Hot Wheels made from 1968 through 1977 are known as redlines for the red stripe on their tires, and they are the most sought-after cars in the hobby. Loose, played-with redlines typically sell for $10 to $100, while mint examples can bring much more.

The rear-loading Volkswagen Beach Bomb is the legendary rarity, with estimates reaching well into five figures. Look for the red wheel stripe and a metal base marked USA or Hong Kong.

Chipped paint lowers value, so resist the urge to touch it up.

Kenner Star Wars Action Figures

Kenner made the original Star Wars figures from the late 1970s through 1985, and characters such as Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker, and Boba Fett remain in high demand. Loose figures typically sell for $10 to $50, depending on the character, condition, and whether the original weapons are included.

Figures still sealed on their original cards, especially the early 12-back cards, can sell for hundreds or even thousands. Original vehicles and playsets also have buyers.

Check for paint wear and loose limbs before listing, because collectors will.

Electric Guitars and Amplifiers

Instruments bought for a teenager who quit after a year are some of the easiest basement items to sell. Fender and Gibson guitars hold value well, and American-made models from the 1960s and 1970s can be worth thousands, depending heavily on condition and originality.

Tube amplifiers from Fender and Marshall also have strong markets. Reverb, the online music gear marketplace, publishes price guides based on real sales, so you can see what your model actually brings.

Restring the guitar before photographing it, and note any cracks in the finish.

Neon Beer Signs and Breweriana

Beer signs, trays, and advertising pieces are known to collectors as breweriana, and they sell well to people building home bars. Hamm’s, Schlitz, and Pabst Blue Ribbon signs from the 1950s through the 1970s are especially popular, and Hamm’s lighted motion signs with their moving lake scenes draw strong prices.

Working neon signs bring more than non-working ones, so plug yours in before listing. Reproductions are common, so be honest about what you have. Faded or cracked pieces bring much less than clean ones.

The Real Price of Keeping Things

Storage feels like a neutral choice, but it rarely is. Rubber belts dry out, cardboard soaks up moisture, and the market for a particular item can shift before you get around to selling it.

Everything in your basement is either being used, holding its value, or quietly losing it.

Selling does more than clear floor space. It puts working tools, bikes, and cameras back into the hands of people who will actually use them.

The best time to learn what something is worth is before the next damp spring decides for you.

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