Item guides
How pawn shops value each item, what to bring and what a loan on it costs:
Items that get the best offers
- Gold, silver and platinum jewelry. The metal has a known price per gram, so offers are fast and predictable. Karat stamps (10K, 14K, 18K) matter. See the gold calculator.
- Coins and bullion. Valued by metal content and, for some coins, collector demand.
- Watches. Well-known brands with papers and boxes get better offers.
- Power tools. Name brands with batteries and chargers.
- Electronics. Recent phones, laptops, tablets, game consoles and TVs. Older models get small offers.
- Musical instruments. Guitars, amplifiers, keyboards and brass instruments.
- Firearms. Only at shops licensed to deal in firearms. You must pass a federal background check to get a pawned gun back.
Items most shops refuse
- Anything with a serial number removed or altered.
- Phones that are locked to an account or reported lost.
- Clothing (except some designer items), mattresses and most furniture.
- Items they cannot test or that are missing essential parts.
- Anything you cannot show you own. Every state requires the shop to record your ID, and most send transaction reports to the police.
Prepare the item
- Clean it and charge it. A working, clean item is easier to value.
- Bring the accessories. Chargers, cases, boxes, manuals and receipts raise offers.
- Sign out of accounts. For phones and laptops, remove locks so the shop can check the device.
- Know the price. Look up recent sale prices for the same model, and for gold weigh it and check the karat.
Shops that specialize
Many pawn shops also buy gold or sell firearms. On every city page you can filter shops that are also listed as gold or jewelry buyers or as gun shops, for example in Houston, Las Vegas or San Antonio.
Next: how much will a pawn shop give me and what ID you need.
Questions
Can I pawn a car?
Some pawn shops lend on vehicles and keep the car, while others offer title loans where you keep driving. Title loans follow different rules in most states and are not covered by the pawn calculators here.
Can I pawn something that is still financed?
Generally no. You must own the item outright, and the shop will ask you to confirm it in writing.