Your Complete Guide to Selling Dell Laptops
Do you have an old Dell laptop sitting around gathering dust in a forgotten junk drawer? Instead of leaving it there or throwing it in the trash, why not sell it to get some extra cash? With the right resale platform, the process can be simple and stress-free, while also protecting the environment by e-cycling.
Resale values can vary considerably depending on your Dell laptop model and its condition (both physical and functional), and your chosen sales platform can affect your final payout as well. Let’s walk through some crucial details of selling used Dell computers and figure out the best option for you.
A Brief Overview of Dell Laptop Models
Along with Lenovo and HP, Dell is part of the Big Three of laptop manufacturers. These three companies make nearly 60% of all laptops sold in the world per year, with Dell accounting for a roughly 15% market share.
The resale value of your used Dell laptop depends greatly on its specific model. Dell currently offers four different system models of laptops: Inspiron, Latitude, Precision, and XPS. It’s worth noting that Dell plans to retire all of these brands in 2025, in favor of one overarching brand. Starting sometime in 2025, all Dell laptops will simply be part of the “Dell” product line, with Apple-esque model names like the “Pro” and “Pro Max.” However, if you’re looking to sell an old Dell laptop, it’s overwhelmingly likely that it belongs to one of these four model types.
Here’s a brief breakdown of what each type has to offer.
Inspiron
The Dell Inspiron line was introduced in 1998. Ever since, it has been known as a personal computing line, made for consumers to use at home. Depending on the exact model, new Dell Inspiron laptops have base model starting prices of $279.99 to $949.99. These devices are versatile and secure, while still remaining affordable enough for the average consumer.
Latitude
The Latitude is Dell’s business line of laptops, marketed to large corporations, health care systems, and government entities. Starting in 1994, the Latitude lasted for 31 years until its retirement in 2025. You can buy a new base model Dell Latitude laptop for between $719 and $2,649, with a wide variety of customizable options in between.
Precision
The Precision is Dell’s workstation laptop product line, and they’re often used as servers for small businesses. Precision laptops are also popular among design, graphics, and architecture professionals. If you want to buy a brand-new Dell Precision laptop, you can expect to pay between $1,559 and $2,499 for a base model configuration.
XPS
Finally, the Dell XPS debuted in 1993. XPS stands for “Extreme Performance System,” and these models are aimed at consumers with demanding requirements for laptops, such as gaming or video editing. You can expect to pay between $959.99 and $1,499.99 for a base model Dell XPS laptop.
How to Sell Used Dell Laptops
Collect Important System Information
First, you’ll want to gather some important system details before starting the selling process for your Dell laptop. This helps you get an accurate valuation. You can start by finding the service tag, which is a unique form of model number that Dell uses to keep track of system details.
You can find the service tag in one of two places: either on a sticker on the underside of the laptop or in the System Information window. If you don’t have a sticker, you can open the Windows Run dialog to find your service tag (click the Windows key and the R key, then type “msinfo32” and press Enter.
Back Up Your Personal Files
Using a cloud service like Google Drive or an external hard drive, transfer your documents, videos, photos, software, and more to a backup file. This helps make sure you don’t lose any important files in the process of selling your Dell laptop.
Perform a System Reboot in the UEFI Settings
Next, perform a full reset to restore the laptop to its original factory settings. Access the UEFI settings (which is Dell’s version of a BIOS system), which will allow you to securely reset the drive, restoring your Dell laptop to its factory state.
Sell Your Old Dell Laptop to ecoATM
You could always sell your Dell laptop on an online marketplace like eBay or Facebook Marketplace, but these platforms have lots of scammers and fraudsters. In addition, they require quite a bit of effort to create product listings, haggle with potential buyers, and wait for delivery confirmation before receiving payment.
Dell’s official trade-in program is another option, but this platform only offers credit to use toward another Dell device. If you aren’t 100% certain your next purchase will be within the Dell ecosystem, there’s no reason to sell your current laptop for Dell store credit.
How about ecoATM? We offer the best of both worlds when it comes to a convenient process paired with great rates for used Dell laptops. Start by getting a pricing estimate using our handy online tool. Then, back up and erase your personal data from the computer before shipping it to us so we can evaluate its condition. Once we’ve finished our assessment, we’ll provide payment for your old Dell laptop within one to three business days.
The other big advantage of using ecoATM is our dedication to protecting the environment. We’ve already helped recycle 50+ million electronic devices — help us reach our next goal of 100 million devices recycled by selling us your old Dell laptop today! Your wallet and the planet will both thank you.
