Household Goods Donation Values: Furniture, Appliances, and Electronics

Not tax advice. This article is general educational information. For advice about your situation, talk with a qualified tax professional. IRS rules can change, and your facts matter.

Household Goods Donation Values: Furniture, Appliances, and Electronics

Household goods donations can add up quickly—especially during moves, downsizing, or major cleanouts. The challenge is that FMV for household goods varies widely based on condition, age, and demand.

This guide gives you a structured way to estimate values for common household categories while staying conservative and organized.

Start with Understanding Fair Market Value if you want the IRS definition and the overall method.

What counts as “household goods” for donation tracking?

In everyday terms, household goods can include:

• furniture (tables, chairs, dressers, couches)
• appliances (microwaves, small kitchen appliances)
• electronics (TVs, laptops, printers)
• kitchenware (pots, pans, utensils)
• decor and home goods (lamps, rugs, frames)

The IRS applies the same FMV concept: open-market resale value, not replacement cost. (Pub. 561.)
Source: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p561.pdf

Condition is everything (especially for electronics)

For furniture:

• cosmetic wear is normal
• structural issues reduce value heavily

For electronics:

• model age and functionality dominate
• missing cords/remotes reduces value
• “works but outdated” often means low resale value

A practical condition rubric

Use a simple four-tier rubric:

• Like new: minimal wear, complete, fully functional
• Very good: light wear, fully functional
• Good: noticeable wear, functional, may be missing minor accessories
• Fair: heavy wear, still usable, low demand

If you’re on the fence, pick the lower tier.

Typical conservative FMV ranges (examples)

These examples are meant to help you build a consistent internal guide. Your local market may differ.

Furniture

• Dining chair: $10–$40
• Small table: $20–$80
• Dresser: $30–$150
• Sofa: $50–$300 (wide range; condition matters a lot)
• Bookshelf: $15–$75

Small appliances

• Toaster: $5–$20
• Coffee maker: $10–$40
• Blender: $10–$50
• Vacuum: $20–$120 (brand/condition important)

Electronics

• Flat-screen TV (older): $20–$150 (model age matters)
• Laptop (older): $30–$250 (specs and age matter)
• Printer: $10–$80

How to pick a value:
When uncertain, choose mid-to-low within the range and note condition.

The “bundle” approach that still stays defensible

Some categories are easier bundled:

• “Kitchen bundle: pots (2), pans (3), utensils (30), plates (12), good condition, total $80”
• “Decor bundle: lamps (2), frames (10), rugs (2), good condition, total $120”

Bundling is fine if you describe what’s in the bundle and avoid inflated totals.

The special rule for clothing/household items: “good used condition”

The IRS generally requires “good used condition or better” for clothing and household items for a deduction. (Pub. 561.)
Source: https://www.irs.gov/publications/p561

If items are broken or unusable, treat them as non-deductible.

Documentation and thresholds

Recordkeeping that reduces stress later

For charitable deductions, the IRS focuses on substantiation—proof you made the gift and a reasonable basis for the amount you claimed. A practical system includes:

• Date of donation
• Donee/charity name (and location if helpful)
• Description of what you gave (specific beats vague)
• FMV method (value guide range, sold comparables, appraisal when required)
• Receipt or written acknowledgment when required

For $250 or more, you generally need a contemporaneous written acknowledgment from the charity with specific details (see IRS pages and Pub. 526).
Source: https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/charitable-organizations/charitable-organizations-substantiation-and-disclosure-requirements

Key non-cash thresholds (common checkpoints)

These are commonly-cited non-cash documentation checkpoints in IRS materials (see Pub. 526 and Form 8283 instructions):

• $250 or more: contemporaneous written acknowledgment required (in many cases)
• Over $500: Form 8283 is generally required for non-cash contributions (and for groups of similar items over $500)
• Over $5,000: a qualified appraisal is often required (with exceptions, e.g., publicly traded securities), and Section B of Form 8283 is used
• Clothing/household item not in good used condition: special rule—deduction generally not allowed unless you meet the “good used condition or better” requirement; if claiming more than $500 for a single such item, Section B/appraisal rules can apply (see Pub. 561 & 8283 instructions)

Sources:

• Form 8283 instructions: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i8283.pdf
• Pub. 561 (clothing/household condition): https://www.irs.gov/publications/p561

Common household donation scenarios (and how to log them)

Scenario: Moving/downsizing

When donating many items at once:

• break into 3–6 bundles (furniture, kitchen, electronics, decor, linens)
• list large items individually (couch, dresser, TV)
• keep the donation receipt for the trip

Scenario: Garage cleanout

Tools and equipment can have resale value, but condition matters. Grouping works well:

• “Hand tools bundle (20), good condition, total $60”
• “Power drill, working, good condition, $25”

Scenario: Electronics with missing parts

Missing remotes, cords, batteries reduce value. Note that in your description and choose a lower value.

How Deductible Duck helps

A structured tracker helps you:

• standardize categories and ranges
• keep condition notes consistent
• database to help lookup common items and provide solid, defensible estimates
• export a clean report for tax time

Next reads

• Goodwill donation value guide
• Household Goods, Items, & Furniture: Understanding IRS Non-Cash Donation Rules
• Why good recordkeeping matters: Keeping Audit-Safe Records