If you want cash for a laptop, the calendar is working against you. Windows and ChromeOS notebooks drop faster than most people expect. The first year is the steepest: a new chip generation, a thinner design, and a round of OS requirements all hit at once. After that the curve flattens, but battery wear and missing chargers keep taking bites.
Live catalog: 16,847 laptops · offers $1–$2,770 · average $145 (displayed listings, working-condition quotes).
Typical first-year loss for a working laptop: about 45%. Year two lands near 65%; year three near 78%.
| Time owned | Value lost | On a $1,000 device | Est. on average offer |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3 months | −14% | $860 | $125 |
| 6 months | −27% | $730 | $106 |
| 9 months | −37% | $630 | $92 |
| 1 year | −45% | $550 | $80 |
| 1.5 years | −55% | $450 | $65 |
| 2 years | −65% | $350 | $51 |
| 2.5 years | −72% | $280 | $41 |
| 3 years | −78% | $220 | $32 |
| 5 years | −88% | $120 | $17 |
“Est. on average offer” applies the curve to today’s average catalog offer — a sketch of age, not a quote for your serial number.
Why laptops lose value
- Business and school refresh cycles are 3–5 years. Once IT departments move on, used demand is mostly consumers hunting a deal.
- RAM and storage that felt generous at launch become the minimum a year later. Upgradability helps some business lines; soldered ultrabooks cannot catch up.
- IRS rules treat computers as 5-year MACRS property for accounting. That is a tax schedule, not what a buyer will pay you next spring.
What still holds a price
- Business-class machines (ThinkPad, Latitude, EliteBook) with documented specs and a power adapter.
- Higher RAM / SSD configs. A 16 GB / 512 GB unit is easier to resell than the 8 GB base model.
- Clean keyboard, intact hinges, and no BIOS or firmware password.
When to sell
Sell before back-to-school (July–August) or before a major Windows/hardware keynote if the machine is still current. If the battery is already weak, waiting rarely recovers the difference.
How this is built
Percentages are category research (resale studies + typical buyback movement), not IRS MACRS. Dollar ranges are live from our displayed laptops. Your instant quote still depends on exact model, storage, cosmetic grade, and defects — including account locks.
Sources
- Growrk laptop depreciation rate guide
- AssetPanda IT asset depreciation guide
- IRS Publication 946 (MACRS 5-year property)
- IRS Publication 946 — computers as 5-year property (accounting contrast, not a street bid).
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FAQ
How much value does a laptop lose in the first year?
Working Windows laptops typically lose about 40–50% of original retail in year one on the resale/buyback market. Premium business models sit on the slower side of that range; budget consumer models sit on the faster side.
Is it better to sell now or wait for a new model?
Waiting usually costs more than it saves. New launches reset demand for last year’s hardware. If you already plan to replace the device, selling before the announcement typically beats selling after it.
Does cosmetic wear change the depreciation table?
The percentages describe typical working devices in good shape. Heavy wear, missing parts, account locks, or dead boards are extra deductions on top of age. A clean, unlocked unit tracks the curve much more closely.