How much is my laptop worth? Roughly what the same model sells for used today, minus the cost of anything that needs fixing. Original price matters less than processor generation, condition and battery health, so start with the exact model, then check local asking prices.
Find your exact model and specs
Buyers price laptops by model and specs, not by brand alone. Note:
- Model number: on the sticker underneath (HP, Dell and Lenovo all print it there) or in Settings > System > About.
- Processor and generation: “Core i5 8th gen” sells very differently from “Core i5 4th gen”. See how to check your processor generation.
- RAM and storage: 8 GB or more and an SSD add real value; 4 GB and a hard disk lower it.
- Windows 11 support: laptops that meet the Windows 11 requirements (roughly Intel 8th gen or AMD Ryzen 2000 and newer) are much easier to sell.
The depreciation rule of thumb
As a rough guide, a working laptop in good condition is worth about:
| Age | Share of its original price |
|---|---|
| Under 1 year | 60–75% |
| 2–3 years | 40–60% |
| 4–5 years | 25–40% |
| 6+ years | 10–25%, or parts value |
These are approximate. Business models (ThinkPad, Latitude, EliteBook) and MacBooks hold value better; budget consumer laptops and gaming laptops with worn fans drop faster.
Condition and battery adjustments
Subtract what a buyer would have to spend:
- Battery below about 80% health: knock off the price of a replacement. Check it with these battery health steps.
- Cracked screen, dead keys, broken hinge: subtract the repair quote from a fundi.
- Missing charger: subtract the cost of a genuine one.
- Heavy scratches or a worn keyboard: expect buyers to push the price down further.
Check local asking prices
Search the exact model and processor generation on Kenyan online marketplaces and Facebook groups, and check what ex-UK shops charge for the same machine.
A simple calculator: take the typical shop price for your model, multiply by about 0.7–0.8 for a private sale, then subtract repairs. Shops offering trade-in or buy-back usually pay less again, because they need a margin and a warranty buffer; you trade cash for convenience.
Remember that asking prices are not selling prices. Listings that sit for weeks are overpriced.
Selling safely
- Back up your files first: see how to back up your computer.
- Sign out of your Microsoft account, Apple ID (turn off Find My) and browsers, then reset the laptop to factory settings.
- Meet in a busy public place, such as a mall food court, ideally in daylight.
- Confirm M-Pesa payment in your own M-Pesa app or balance, not from an SMS or screenshot the buyer shows you. Fake payment messages are a common scam.
- Hand over the laptop only once the money is in your account.
Quick answers
About what the same model and processor generation sells for used locally, minus any repairs. A rough rule is 40–60% of the original price after two to three years.
Find the exact model and specs, compare asking prices for that model on Kenyan marketplaces, then adjust for battery, screen and charger.
A laptop six or more years old is usually worth 10–25% of its original price, or just its parts if it can’t run Windows 11 or has faults.
