How to sell vinyl records in the UK
A box of old records can hold anything from 50p bargain-bin LPs to a pressing collectors will pay real money for. The difference is in the details, so here's how to find them and list them properly.
Identify exactly what you have
Two copies of the same album can be worth very different amounts, depending on the pressing. Note down:
- Artist, title, record label and catalogue number (on the spine, the back of the sleeve and the label).
- The country it was pressed in.
- The matrix or runout numbers etched in the smooth area between the last track and the label. These identify the exact pressing.
- Any inserts, posters, lyric sheets or the original inner sleeve.
Searching the catalogue number and matrix numbers on a record database shows which pressing you have and what copies have sold for.
Grade the record and sleeve
Record buyers use a standard grading scale, and grading honestly is what gets you good feedback. From best to worst, the common grades are Mint (M), Near Mint (NM), Very Good Plus (VG+), Very Good (VG), Good (G) and Poor (P).
- Grade the vinyl and the sleeve separately.
- Look at the record under a bright light for scratches and scuffs, and play it if you can: some marks don't affect play, and some light-looking ones do.
- For sleeves, check for ring wear, seam splits, writing and stickers.
- If in doubt, grade down. Buyers forgive a record that's better than described, never one that's worse.
Pricing
Price from sold data, not asking prices: record databases show what each pressing actually sold for, and eBay's Sold items filter does the same. Original pressings, first editions, rare singles and records in top grades fetch the most. Common reissues and well-worn copies of big-selling albums usually sell for a few pounds.
Singles or as a collection?
List valuable records one by one, with the pressing details and grades. Sell the common ones as bundles or lots ("Box of 40 1970s rock LPs"), which saves you time and postage. Selling a whole collection to a record shop or dealer is quickest, but you'll usually get less than selling the best ones yourself.
Photos
Photograph the front and back of the sleeve, both labels on the record, the matrix numbers if you can capture them, inserts, and close-ups of any wear on the sleeve or vinyl. Use daylight and avoid glare on the record.
Posting records safely
- Use a proper record mailer (a stiff cardboard LP box), with extra card on each side.
- Take the record out of the outer sleeve and pack it alongside, in its inner sleeve, so the record can't split the sleeve's seams in transit.
- Use tracked postage for anything valuable, and keep the receipt.
Specialist record marketplaces and eBay are the main places collectors buy; Vinted and Facebook Marketplace work well for common records and bundles.
Snap the sleeve, get the listing
Photograph the record and its sleeve, and Snappy writes the title with the artist, album and label, the description and a suggested price for eBay or Vinted. Add the pressing and grade and it is ready.
Try Snappy free → 3 free listings · no card neededFAQ
Look up the catalogue number and the matrix or runout numbers on a record database to find the exact pressing, then check what that pressing has sold for in a similar grade.
They are a standard scale from Mint (M) and Near Mint (NM) down through Very Good Plus (VG+), Very Good (VG), Good (G) and Poor (P). Grade the record and the sleeve separately.
Specialist record marketplaces and eBay for collectable records, and Vinted or Facebook Marketplace for common records and bundles.
Use a stiff LP mailer with extra card, take the record out of the outer sleeve so it cannot split the seams, and use tracked postage for valuable records.