Best Things To Pawn – Pawn Stuff For $500, $300, $200, And $1,000!
If you’re in need of some quick cash, then pawning could be a good way to get it!
Even if you’re just cleaning out a closet with old valuables, you can easily get $100 to $500 from pawning if you know the best items to pawn.
So if you’re wondering, what can I pawn for $500, you’re in luck! We’ll be going over a ton of different items that could bring in some serious cash.
Stick around to the end to see if you can squeeze more money out of the smaller items you may have or even get $1,000 or more for high-end products.
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What Is Pawning & How Does It Work?
Pawning involves taking out a collateral-based loan from a pawn shop by giving them an item of value in exchange for a cash loan.
In other words, when you pawn something, you're using it as collateral against the loan you're borrowing from the pawn shop.
If you've ever watched shows like Pawn Stars, this concept should be pretty familiar. But the main point is you're using something of value that you own as collateral.
Once you pawn something, the pawn shop holds onto that item until you finish repaying your loan.
But, here are few other things you should know about pawning things for money:
- Loan Value: The total loan you get is almost-always much lower than the actual value of your collateral. So, if you want to pawn something for $500 or more, that's going to be a pretty expensive item.
- Pawn Ticket/Proof: Pawn shops usually give you a ticket or some documentation that proves you're the owner of your collateral, so you need to hold onto this!
- Repayment Terms: Different pawn shops might work a bit differently, but you generally have a few months to repay your loan, plus interest, in-full. If you don't repay your loan on time, the pawn shop keeps the item you're pawning to cover their loss.
- Interest Rates: Pawn shops are actually very heavily regulated, and many states regulate the maximum interest they can charge on loans. But don't be surprised if you see pawn loans in the 10% to 20% range, which is quite steep.
Pawn shop owners are also known for haggling, and you might have to provide proof of ownership if you're pawning something very valuable.
Don't be alarmed by this, and the media has actually made pawn shops sound a lot shadier than they are in reality because of all the regulations surrounding the industry.
Anyway, long story short, if you need to make money fast and don't want to take out a regular loan or find a new side hustle, you can potentially find things to pawn for money instead.
What Are The Best Things to Pawn?
Pawn shops generally pawn the same sorts of goods because they want high-value items that are easy to store and are easy to resell if you default on your loan.
Here is a list of the best things to pawn:
- Electronics (like smartphones, headphones, TVs, tablets, and laptops)
- Expensive tools
- Expensive sports gear
- Jewelry
- Firearms
- Antiques
- Cars and motorcycles
- Cards
- Consoles
- Gold, silver, and other precious metals
- Diamonds
- Designer clothing and handbags
- Musical instruments
- Coins
- Watches
These are amongst the most popular items that actually make you money when you pawn.
Of course, how much you get can depend on the total value, age, damage, and a few other factors.
What Can I Pawn for $500?
If you need money in a pinch, there are certain high-value items that can fetch a decent amount of money at a pawn shop.
Here are several things to pawn for $500 you can consider.
Collectibles
Collectibles are a popular thing to pawn because they often have a large and active market of buyers, making it easy for the pawn shop to resell that item if you default.
Here are a few collectibles that can pawn for $500:
- Vinyl sets
- Sports cards, especially for baseball, basketball, and hockey
- Retro video games
- Original edition board games
- Vintage advertisements
- Old comics
- Dolls & toys like Beanie Babies or rare collectibles
- Collections like rare coins, Pokemon cards, Magic cards, or Yugioh cards
Dig out that old closet and look for some of these items. They could make you money fast!
Jewelry
Another popular thing you can pawn for 500 dollars is jewelry. In fact, jewelry is one of the most popular things to pawn since it's high-value, easy to store, and very easy to sell quickly.
Check out some of these pieces of jewelry that pawn easily:
- Rings
- Necklaces
- Wedding rings
- Diamonds
- Gold
- High-End Watches
Just note: don't be afraid to ask around at a few different pawn shops before accepting an offer, or to even get your jewelry appraised if you're pawning a collection.
This is a general rule of thumb to keep in mind, but it's particularly important for jewelry since it's so easy to pawn (so you don't have to be desperate.)
Also note that you can use online websites like Worthy to sell your diamonds and jewelry!
Firearms
Believe it or not, you can easily pawn firearms for $500 at a local pawn shop.
Of course, this depends on the value of the firearm and its condition, but if it's an expensive model and not too old, you might be able to pawn it for $500, or a close amount.
Designer Bags
Some designer bags are worth thousands of dollars, and if you have one of these luxury pieces, you can definitely pawn it for money.
Pawning it for $500 might be a stretch unless it's very expensive, but some handbags are immensely pricey and are also easy to sell, so it's possible.
Just make sure you can prove the authenticity of the bag since there are many fakes out there.
What Can I Pawn For $20?
Pawning stuff for 500 dollars is great if you need a decent amount of money fast.
However, it can be difficult to find things with enough value to pawn for this amount, and sometimes, you don't need that much money!
But, there are lots of things you can pawn for $20. Plus, a lot of them are easily accessible in your house!
Power Tools
Old power tools that you no longer need can pawn for $20 if they’re still in working condition.
Take a look at some of the power tools that sell:
- Drills
- Miter Saws
- Sanders
- Grinders
- Other Rotary Tools
Prices will likely vary depending on which tool you decide to sell. You might have a tool in your garage that pawns for even more.
And, while pawn shops don't like this as much, you might be able to just sell your tools for $20 to $50 if you need some quick cash and don't mind parting ways.
Extra Reading – How To Make $40 A Day.
Old Video Games & Gaming Systems
Video games that used to be popular back in the day can pawn for a nice amount if they're a bit of a collectable item these days.
Old game cartridges are pretty hot right now and pawn shops are looking for them.
New video games won't really pawn for $20 since they're worth about $60 at most in-store or online, so again, focus on the older classic or gaming systems like an Xbox or PS5.
Electronic Accessories
Accessories such as headphones, keyboards, speakers, used DVDs and DVD players, stereos, etc. are all popular items that you can pawn for $20.
One item alone might be a bit under this price tag, but you can bundle a few together if the pawn shop is alright with that.
You can also read my post on how to get free electronics for some ideas to snag free tech and gadgets.
Things to Pawn For $100
If you need a bit more money and you're in a bind, this list of stuff to pawn for $100 is for you.
Televisions
If you have a flat screen TV that's relatively new and in good condition, there's a chance you can pawn it for $100 or slightly more.
Older models aren't likely to pawn for this much since the value isn't high enough, and televisions are also a little bit tricky to store since they take up space.
But again, if it's a decent model and size, you can probably pawn it for a quick hundred bucks.
Laptops
Laptops are another popular item to pawn, provided your laptop is in decent condition, doesn't have any major damage, and still runs smoothly.
Apple MacBooks are particularly popular since they have a higher price tag and are very popular.
Just note: you might get a bit low-balled on your laptop, but if it's a newer laptop and has a high MSRP, you should be able to pawn it for $100.
Extra Reading – The Best Ways To Make Money With A Laptop.
Instruments
Instruments are quite expensive. After they’ve been used for a while, you can usually pawn them in the hundreds.
Take a look at some of the instruments that pawn well:
- Guitars
- Bass Guitars
- Saxophones
- Violins
- Cellos
- Trumpets
Larger instruments like drum kits or pianos are still something you can pawn, but because of the size, they might not be a favorite for pawn shop owners.
Guitars are always being pawned and sold in stores though, so this should be an easy one to try.
Fitness Equipment
If you have some valuable fitness gear or equipment laying around, this is another category of things you can pawn for $100.
Granted, not every pawn shop accepts fitness gear or weights.
However, the price of metal is expensive these days, so a good set of weights or a premium fitness machine can be worth hundreds of dollars, making a $100 pawn a far valuation.
What Can I Pawn For $200?
A lot of high end sports equipment can pawn for $200 if you’ve got them lying around. Vintage and antique goods are also within the $200 pawn price range a lot of the time.
Snowboards And Surfboards
If you participate in snowboarding or surfing, then you know how expensive these boards can get.
And, if your gear is in great shape and is quite expensive, you might be able to pawn it all for a few hundred dollars of cash.
This is probably easier if you're visiting a pawn shop that's in a surfing town or snowboard/skiing town than if you're in the middle of nowhere, so just keep this in mind!
Golf Clubs
Similar to other expensive sports, golf clubs can literally destroy your bank account to keep playing golf.
And, like a lot of expensive hobbies, a lot of people end up buying really expensive clubs when starting out but then barely find the time to golf.
So, if you have a nice set of quality clubs that are still in good condition, you might be able to pawn them for $200.
Again, condition is critical, and you need the bag and an entire set of clubs to get the most value.
Vintage Goods
A lot of vintage merchandise can pawn for $200 or in that ballpark, as long as it's in good condition.
For example, a lot of people pawn things like old antique furniture or artwork. Even vintage clothing can pawn for $200 or more if it's something like a luxury coat or something with fur or real leather.
A Sports Bike
Mountain bikes or expensive beach cruisers hold a ton of value if they’re still rideable.
Some mountain bikes go for thousands of dollars, so getting a fast $200 out of a pawn broker is a no brainer if you have nowhere else to get some quick cash.
You can also try selling a used Peloton bike or other high-end fitness bike if they're in good condition.
Note that you can also sell your used bike online or in-person and this might be a better way to get quick cash than trying to pawn stuff for $200 or so.
What Can You Pawn For $300?
If you're wondering: what can I pawn for $300, you actually have quite a few options that are similar to the $200 category.
Here are some excellent things to pawn for 300 dollars.
Expensive Electronics
Electronics like home entertainment systems, the latest Apple laptop, or very expensive sound systems might be able to fetch $300 at a pawn shop.
Again, it depends on the quality and price tag of the electronics you're bringing in, but a few items could get you this amount of money.
Rare Collections
Things like coins, sports cards, antiques, or anything collectors might pay a decent amount of money for are all things you can potentially pawn for $300.
The odds of this working increase if you're in a large city or somewhere like Vegas where pawn shops are known for selling these sorts of rare goods.
But you'd be amazed at what kind of collections people are willing to pay for.
I mean, people make money selling everything from Funko Pops to old postcards and stamps, so there's plenty of opportunity out there.
You can read our post on things you didn't know you could pawn for even more examples of some collector items that are easy money-makers.
Precious Metals
One simple thing to pawn for $300 are precious metals like gold and silver.
Depending on the value of your metals, you can get this amount of cash through a direct sale or by using it as collateral for pawning.
And pawn shops are almost always ready to buy precious metals since they can sell it quickly if they end up acquiring it from you, so it should be an easy negotiation.
What Can You Pawn For $1,000?
Finding stuff to pawn for $1,000 is pretty tough since, as mentioned, pawn shops always give you a loan that's way lower than the value of your collateral.
So, if you're pawning something for $1,000, that means the item is definitely worth several thousand dollars at least.
But, if you have these items in your house, it's possible to pawn them for $1,000 or more at the right shop!
Diamonds
A quality diamond is in high demand by every pawn broker. But if you’ve got an old ring from a past relative, go get it appraised before walking into a shop.
You can pawn diamonds for $1000 if it is large enough and has enough quality to back it up.
Pawn shops might also be more interested in buying diamonds from you if they think they can get a good deal. A relative of mine recently sold a diamond ring for nearly $40,000!
💎 Use Worthy to safely sell your diamonds, jewelry, and watches instead of turning to pawn shops.
Watches
Like diamonds, high-end watches are another thing you can pawn for $1,000 if the watch in question is worth several thousand dollars.
Watches are also a popular thing to pawn or sell to shops since a lot of people buy watches from pawn shops to save money.
Smart watches are also one of the best things to pawn, but don't expect $1,000 or anywhere close. Only designer watches can fetch this kind of value.
Again, make sure you know the actual value of your watch before using it as collateral or offering it up for sale.
Motorcycles
Not every pawn shop deals in motorcycles and vehicles, but if you find one that does, you can probably pawn your motorbike for $1,000 or more.
Vehicles are big-ticket items, and shows like Pawn Stars highlight vehicle owners pawning or selling classic bikes and cars for tens of thousands of dollars all the time.
Of course, your bike's condition determines how much it can pawn for, but getting $1,000 isn't out of the question at all.
Riding Lawn Mowers
Riding lawn mowers are the ones that you can sit inside of and drive around while it cuts grass underneath.
These things go for upwards of $4000 brand new. If you’re pawning it, expect less than that, but $1,000 is still in the right ballpark.
If everything works well, you can easily get $800 – $1500 or so for a riding lawn mower!
My post on what to sell for $1,000 has even more ideas for things you can sell that are in this price range.
How Do I Find Pawn Shops Near Me?
The best way to find local pawn shops is to use Google Maps to find pawn shops in your area. This is also useful since you can read reviews from customers about each pawn shop to find potential complaints or positive experiences from other people.
Most major cities also have pawn shops in downtown areas. In my experience, shopping around at a few pawn shops is a good idea if you're pawning something expensive so you can compare offers and get the most money.
Also note that pawn shops require a license to operate in most states. If you get the impression something shady is going on or don't feel comfortable with the owner or employees, trust your gut and move on.
Tips for Making Money Pawning Things
Most cities have a couple of pawn shops, and really, walking into one and getting some money isn't rocket science if you have something of value.
But you don't want to get ripped off, so here are some pawning tips to keep in mind!
- Walk in with confidence
- Understand that you’ll need to negotiate (and don't get defensive if you get asked a lot of questions)
- Do your research (know what your pieces are worth before ever stepping foot in a shop)
- Don’t be afraid to ask questions
- Go to multiple pawn shops before selling or pawning so you can get a few quotes
- Bundle multiple items if you're trying to pawn for a certain amount of cash but can't reach it with just one item
With these few ideas in mind, you’ll be much more likely to get your highest possible price and learn what to do next time you pawn something.
Pros & Cons of Pawning Things
There are lots of things you can pawn for money, and if you need money ASAP, it's not always the worst option to consider.
However, pawn shops have a bad reputation for low-balling and having high interest rates on loans. Sometimes, this reputation is warranted.
So, here are the pros and cons of pawning stuff for cash you should consider:
The Pros:
- A fast way to get cash
- The collateral might be something you're okay with risking
- Wide variety of things you can pawn
- Pawn shops are very common, especially in large cities
- Pawn shops are actually heavily regulated, and interest rates aren't always too high
The Cons:
- Loan repayment terms are usually short/only a few months
- You risk losing the item you're pawning if you can't repay the loan
- Pawn shops give you way for your loan than the value of your collateral
- Interest rates can be very high in some states
Just remember: never pawn something you can't bear to lose, and always compare prices and do your research so you know how much your item is worth!
Extra Reading – How To Double Your Money In A Day.
Pawn Shop Alternatives To Get Money
There are plenty of things you can pawn for $500 or various amounts of cash.
But, if the idea of taking out a loan and paying interest isn't appealing, there are several pawn shop alternatives that might be better to explore.
1. Using Various Selling Apps
If you just need quick cash and don't mind selling the item you're thinking of pawning for cash, you can try using different selling apps instead.
Some popular options include:
- The Facebook Marketplace – Great for in-person, cash selling.
- Mercari – An easy way to sell apparel, electronics, and even vehicles!
- Poshmark – One of the best selling platforms for apparel, handbags, and shoes.
- Sideline Swap – An online marketplace for selling new and used sports apparel and equipment.
- OfferUp – Another useful app for local selling that's similar to the Facebook Marketplace.
Tom has a YouTube video that covers some of the best selling apps and websites you can watch for even more ideas. And we also have a post on what to sell for $500 that you can check out.
The downside of this is you lose your item for good, but again, you can get money fast and probably way more money than you would with pawning.
Extra Reading – How To Make $500 A Day.
2. Credit Cards
Another pawn shop alternative is to put whatever expense you have coming up on your credit card.
Of course, this isn't always ideal, especially if you're trying to save more money each month. But for covering short-term expenses, credit cards are viable if you have the room on them.
3. Personal Loans
Another alternative to pawning stuff for money is to take out a personal loan instead.
This could be from a bank or company that specializes in personal loans; there are lots of providers out there you can turn to.
You can also turn to companies like BadCreditLoans that provide fast access to loans from $100 to $15,000.
Apps like Dave also let you borrow up to $500 and $250 in a free cash advance respectively. And Dave is nice since it doesn't charge interest and even has a nice side hustle section to help you find money-making ideas.
Again, be wary of high interest rates, and please avoid predatory payday loans if possible since they are incredibly difficult to pay off!
Extra Reading – How To Make $400 A Day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Pawn Shops Pay The Most?
How much money a pawn shop pays depends on what you're pawning and your negotiation skills. However, note that larger pawn shops and shops in larger cities might be able to pay more than very small shops in smaller towns.
If you have the time, consider shopping around or even checking out shops in different cities to get a few offers so you can pawn stuff for a lot of money if possible.
What Are Some Expensive Tools To Pawn?
Expensive tools to pawn include:
- Riding mowers
- Power tools
- Chainsaws
- Sanding belts
- Automotive tools
- Complete tool kits and sets
Extra Reading – How To Make $5,000 Dollars Fast.
What Are The Best Things To Pawn Around The House
If you're doing some Spring cleaning, some of the best things to pawn around the house include:
- Anything antique
- Furniture
- Gold and silver
- A vehicle
- Electronics you don't use
- Designer clothing
- Jewelry
- Vintage goods
- Firearms that are registered to you
What Are Things Pawn Shops Always Buy?
Pawn shops always buy precious metals like gold and silver, and most of them also buy jewlery and watches. Generally, anything that sells very quickly and is popular with collectors is something a pawn shop should buy from you.
Just note that you won't get full-price for your goods since the pawn shop needs to turn a profit.
Final Thoughts
I hope this list of things to pawn for money helps you get some cash if you're in a pinch.
There are lots of things you can pawn for $500, less money, or even more money. Just remember to always shop around and to know your bottom prices so you walk away feeling like you're happy with the exchange.
Best of luck in your pawning journey!
You can also read my post on how to get $500 by tomorrow for even more ideas.
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