Selling Old Vinyl Records on Discogs: A Simple Start
If you have a shelf or a box of old vinyl records, some of them may be worth more than you think. Discogs is a large website where record collectors buy and sell music. It also has a huge database of releases, which helps you work out exactly which version you own.
Step 1: Find your exact record
Records were often pressed many times, in different countries and years. Collectors care about these details. Discogs asks sellers to make sure the copy in their hands matches the database entry exactly.
Type the artist and album title into the search bar at discogs.com. Then compare the label, the catalog number printed on the spine or label, and the country. Take your time with this. A good pair of reading glasses helps.
Step 2: Grade the condition honestly
When you list, Discogs asks you to choose a condition for the record itself and for the sleeve, from a menu. Look for scratches, warping and worn or torn covers. Describe any flaws in the comments box. Honest grading leads to happier buyers and fewer returns.
Step 3: Set a price
Discogs suggests a price based on the condition you chose and recent sales. You can accept it or type your own. This suggestion is a helpful guide to what collectors have actually paid.
What it costs
As of October 2026, Discogs’s help center says listing is free. When something sells, Discogs charges 9% of the item price and the shipping charge combined, with a minimum of $0.10 and a maximum of $150. Payment processing charges are handled separately, so check the help pages for those.
A quick example: a record sold for $20 plus $5 shipping would carry a Discogs fee of about $2.25 (9% of $25), before processing costs. A few sales like that each month could, as a rough estimate, help toward a streaming plan. Results vary, and many common records sell for only a few dollars.
Before you list
- Discogs’s help page says sellers need a free account, completed seller settings, a verified PayPal account and shipping policies for each country they ship to.
- Records are heavy and break easily. Use a sturdy record mailer and add the weight of packing to your shipping price.
- If shipping sounds like too much, a local record shop may make an offer for a whole box. You will likely get less, but it is quick.
If you sell a lot online, payment companies may send you and the IRS a Form 1099-K. The IRS explains what to do in its guide to understanding your Form 1099-K. Money from selling can also matter, for some people, for benefits with income or asset limits, such as SSI or Medicaid. This is general information only, so check your own situation.
More on Replace a Bill
- Selling Your Used Books Online: Find the Ones Worth Money
- Taking Good Listing Photos With Your Phone: A Simple Guide
- Selling on eBay for the First Time: A Step-by-Step Guide
