How to Sell Used RAM in the UK for the Best Price
RAM is one of the easiest PC parts to sell in the UK used market. It is small, light, reliably testable, and in constant demand from budget builders upgrading ageing systems. Whether you are sitting on a pair of DDR4 sticks after a platform switch or a fully saturated DDR5 kit following a build refresh, there is almost always a buyer — and the prices are healthier than you might expect.
This guide walks you through every step: assessing whether selling is worth it, identifying which sticks hold the most value, testing fully before you list, pricing accurately against real UK data, writing a listing that converts, photographing your RAM properly, packing it safely, and choosing the right platform to sell on. Every tip is specific to the 2026 UK market.
Already know your kit? Head straight to Koukan's sell page and list in minutes. Or read on to make sure you get the best price possible.
Is It Worth Selling Your RAM?
RAM holds its value surprisingly well compared to most PC components. Unlike GPUs, which depreciate sharply between generations, memory modules retain a meaningful fraction of their purchase price for several years — particularly when the broader market is tight on supply or when a speed tier is still actively produced and requested.
DDR4 value in 2026
DDR4 is now the mature mainstream standard. New DDR4 kits are cheap to produce, which pushes used prices down at the low end — a budget 2×8 GB DDR4-3200 kit might only fetch £20–£30. However, faster or higher-capacity DDR4 kits continue to command decent prices. A 2×16 GB DDR4-3600 kit from a well-regarded brand can reliably sell for £45–£65, while a 4×16 GB 64 GB kit at 3600 MHz still attracts workstation builders and is worth £80–£110.
DDR5 value in 2026
DDR5 has reached genuine mainstream adoption, but prices for fast kits remain elevated. A 2×16 GB DDR5-6000 kit that retailed at £120–£150 when new can still sell used for £75–£100, representing around 60–70% recovery. At the higher end, 2×32 GB DDR5-6400 kits can fetch £130–£160 on a good listing. Early DDR5 kits running at only 4800 MHz are less desirable and typically sell for £40–£55 for a 2×16 GB set.
Quick value summary
- • DDR4 2×8 GB 3200 MHz — £20–£32
- • DDR4 2×16 GB 3600 MHz — £45–£65
- • DDR4 4×16 GB 3600 MHz — £80–£110
- • DDR5 2×16 GB 4800 MHz — £40–£55
- • DDR5 2×16 GB 6000 MHz — £75–£100
- • DDR5 2×32 GB 6400 MHz — £130–£160
UK market estimates, April 2026. Vary by brand, condition, and platform.
Even if you only recover £25 on an old 16 GB DDR4 kit, that is meaningful money — especially compared to the £0 it would earn sitting in a drawer. The resale calculation almost always favours selling unless the kit is DDR3 and very slow (see the FAQ).
What RAM Sells Best in the UK
Not all RAM sells equally. Understanding what buyers are looking for in 2026 helps you price confidently and write a listing that stands out.
Speed tiers that move fastest
For DDR4, the sweet spots are 3200 MHz (high volume, quick sales at modest prices) and 3600 MHz (the most sought-after DDR4 speed, particularly for AMD Ryzen builds where it aligns with the Infinity Fabric sweet spot). Anything above 4000 MHz DDR4 is niche and will take longer to sell, though the price per kit can be higher.
For DDR5, 6000 MHz has become the benchmark speed for Intel 12th–14th Gen and AMD Ryzen 7000/9000 systems. Kits at 6000 or 6400 MHz sell quickly. Very early 4800 MHz DDR5 kits are slower-moving as buyers know they are underperforming the platform.
Brand preference
UK buyers recognise and trust a small handful of brands. In order of desirability: Corsair (Vengeance, Dominator), G.Skill (Trident Z, Ripjaws — slightly lower premium UK side vs US), Kingston (Fury Beast and Renegade), and Crucial (dependable but modest price premium). Lesser-known OEM brands sell, but expect 10–20% lower prices and longer listing times. RGB heatspreader kits add marginal value if they are from a reputable brand.
Capacity sweet spots
2×16 GB (32 GB total) is the fastest-moving capacity in 2026 — it is the mainstream gaming and productivity sweet spot, and demand is consistently high. 2×8 GB (16 GB) still sells, particularly to budget builders, but margins are slim. 64 GB kits (2×32 or 4×16) sell more slowly but attract higher prices from workstation and creative workload buyers. Single sticks are always harder to sell than kits and should be priced 15–25% lower per-GB to compensate.
How to Test Your RAM Before Selling
Testing RAM before listing is one of the most important steps a seller can take. A passed test builds buyer confidence and protects you from returns. A failed test lets you discover a problem before the buyer does — and decide whether to disclose, discount, or discard.
MemTest86 (recommended)
MemTest86 is the gold standard for memory testing. Download the free version from memtest86.com, write it to a USB drive, boot from the USB, and run at least one full pass (usually 45–90 minutes depending on capacity). A second pass increases confidence significantly. A test with zero errors is a strong selling point you can mention explicitly in your listing.
Note: run MemTest86 with XMP/EXPO enabled in your BIOS if your kit supports it. This tests the RAM at its advertised speed, which is the speed the buyer will use. Passing at JEDEC (default speed) only is a weaker endorsement.
Windows Memory Diagnostic
Press Win + R, type mdsched.exe, and select "Restart now and check for problems." Windows Memory Diagnostic is faster than MemTest86 (10–20 minutes) but less thorough. Use it as a quick sanity check, not a replacement. If it finds errors, do not sell the kit without disclosing the fault.
Disclosure obligation
Under UK consumer law, you are required to accurately describe the condition of goods you sell. If your RAM has failed a test or you have experienced instability, you must disclose this in the listing. Selling faulty RAM as working may constitute misrepresentation. Faulty kits can still sell — many buyers want them for parts or testing — just price accordingly and be explicit.
After passing tests, note the result: "Tested with MemTest86 v10 — 2 passes, 0 errors, XMP enabled at 3600 MHz" is a genuinely compelling listing detail that faster-moving sellers routinely include.
How to Price Used RAM in the UK
Pricing used RAM correctly is a two-step process: anchor to market data, then adjust for condition and urgency. Never guess, and never use new retail prices as a reference — the used market sets its own rates.
Step 1 — Check Koukan sold listings
Start at Koukan — the UK-focused used PC parts marketplace. Search for your exact RAM spec (e.g. "Corsair Vengeance DDR4 3600 32GB") and look at recently completed sales. Koukan listings are UK sellers, UK buyers, and UK postage — making it the most accurate pricing benchmark for the UK market.
Step 2 — eBay sold listings
On eBay UK, search your RAM spec and then filter by "Sold items" in the left-hand panel. Focus on the last 30 days. Ignore Buy It Now listings that haven't sold — those are aspirational prices. The average of actual sold prices is your market rate. Expect eBay UK prices to be 5–12% higher than Koukan equivalents due to eBay fees and wider audience, but the gap is closing.
Step 3 — CEX trade-in as a floor
CEX.co.uk publishes trade-in prices for many RAM kits. These prices are always conservative — CEX needs margin to resell — but they represent the absolute floor you should accept. If peer-to-peer platforms won't get you more than CEX trade-in after fees and effort, walking into a CEX store becomes a rational choice. In practice, most RAM kits fetch 30–50% more sold directly versus CEX trade-in.
Example 2026 UK pricing — Kingston Fury Beast DDR4 32 GB (2×16 GB) 3600 MHz
- CEX trade-in (cash): ~£28
- CEX trade-in (voucher): ~£35
- Koukan / Facebook Marketplace: £48–£58
- eBay Buy It Now (sold): £52–£65
Tested, boxed, with XMP profile confirmed. Unboxed or untested: deduct £5–£10.
For a broader perspective on used PC component pricing across all parts, see our UK used PC parts price guide.
Writing a Winning Listing
A poorly written listing leaves money on the table. Buyers cannot physically inspect RAM before buying — your description is the product. Specificity builds trust; vagueness breeds hesitation.
Title formula
[Brand] [Range] [Capacity] DDR[gen] [Speed] MHz [Configuration] RAM — Tested, UK
Example: "Corsair Vengeance 32 GB (2×16 GB) DDR4 3600 MHz RAM — MemTest86 Passed, UK Seller"
Never omit the generation (DDR4 vs DDR5), speed, and total capacity. Buyers search on these exact terms.
Description essentials
- Exact speed: State the rated speed (e.g. 3600 MHz) and note if it is DDR4 JEDEC or requires XMP to reach that speed (almost all kits do).
- CAS latency: Include the full timing string if you know it (e.g. CL18-22-22-42). Enthusiasts search by latency.
- XMP/EXPO profile: Confirm whether the kit has XMP (Intel) or EXPO (AMD) profiles and that they work at advertised speed.
- Kit completeness: State whether the original packaging and any accessories (sticker, manual) are included. Boxed kits sell for £3–£8 more.
- Why selling: "Upgrading to DDR5" or "switching to a new platform" eliminates buyer suspicion instantly.
- Test result: Paste the MemTest86 headline result or state passes completed.
- System it was used in: Briefly name the platform (e.g. "ran in an Intel Z690 build for 14 months").
Listing description template
Corsair Vengeance LPX 32 GB (2×16 GB) DDR4 3600 MHz (CL18) — Matched Kit Spec: DDR4 | 3600 MHz | CAS 18-22-22-42 | 1.35V | XMP Profile ✓ Used in: AMD Ryzen 5600X / B550 build for 18 months Tested: MemTest86 v10.6 — 2 passes, 0 errors (XMP enabled at 3600 MHz) Condition: Excellent — no damage, all fins/contacts clean Box: Yes — original packaging included Selling because: upgrading to DDR5. Happy to answer questions. Smoke-free, pet-free home.
Photography Tips for RAM Listings
RAM might be small, but bad photos kill sales. Most competing listings feature blurry, badly lit images taken on a carpet — a clean set of photos immediately signals quality and builds buyer confidence.
What to shoot
- Both sticks side by side, angled at 30° to show the heatspreader profile and any RGB elements.
- Label close-up — the spec sticker on the PCB or heatspreader with speed, capacity, and part number visible. Buyers zoom in.
- Gold contacts — flip the sticks and photograph the edge connector. Clean, undamaged contacts are visually reassuring.
- Box shot (if included) — original retail packaging alongside the modules adds perceived value.
- MemTest86 screen — a phone photo of the pass screen is remarkably effective at building trust.
Setup tips
Use a plain dark background — black foam, a dark t-shirt, or a piece of dark card. Natural window light from the side produces clean, shadow-free illumination. Avoid yellow artificial lighting which distorts the appearance of PCB colours. Modern smartphone cameras are more than sufficient; use portrait mode and tap to focus on the spec label. Clean the heatspreader with a dry microfibre cloth before shooting — fingerprints photograph horribly.
Packaging RAM for Safe Shipping
RAM is relatively robust compared to GPUs or CPUs, but static discharge can silently destroy memory modules during transit. Correct packaging is non-negotiable.
Anti-static first
Place each RAM stick in an individual anti-static bag — the metallic silvery ones, not plain clear plastic. You can buy 100 of these from Amazon for under £8; keep a stock if you sell regularly. Do not ship bare RAM in bubble wrap alone; static during transit is a real risk and static damage is almost never visible but often fatal to the module.
Inner and outer protection
After sealing in anti-static bags, wrap each stick in 3–4 layers of bubble wrap and place inside a small cardboard box with at least 2 cm of bubble wrap or crumpled paper padding on all sides. RAM shipped in padded envelopes (jiffy bags) alone is vulnerable to bending under sorting machines — always use a rigid cardboard box.
Royal Mail vs couriers
Royal Mail 1st or 2nd Class Tracked is the standard for RAM. A small parcel (under 2 kg) ships for £3.50–£5.00 and Royal Mail Tracked 48 covers up to £100 compensation. For high-value kits (DDR5 at £100+), consider Royal Mail Special Delivery (next day, up to £750 compensation for an additional £2–£4 premium). Couriers like Evri or Hermes are cheaper but have a poor reputation for small electronics among UK buyers — many will specifically ask you to avoid them.
Recommended shipping options, UK 2026
- Royal Mail Tracked 48 — £3.50–£4.50 | Up to £100 compensation | Most popular for RAM under £80
- Royal Mail Tracked 24 — £4.00–£5.50 | Next-day aim | Good for impatient buyers
- Royal Mail Special Delivery — £7.50–£9.00 | Up to £750 | Essential for DDR5 kits over £80
- DPD / ParcelForce — £6–£8 | Faster for remote areas, useful for heavier multi-kit orders
For a complete guide to packing and shipping PC components safely, see our dedicated article on how to ship PC parts safely in the UK.
Where to Sell Used RAM in the UK
Choosing the right platform is as important as the listing itself. Each option has different fees, audiences, and friction levels.
Koukan — best for UK PC parts sellers
Koukan is a UK marketplace built specifically for used PC parts. Every buyer on the platform is looking for exactly what you are selling — there is no friction from confused non-technical buyers, no category mismatch, and no shipping to international buyers by default. Listings are straightforward, fees are low, and the audience is genuinely in-market. For RAM sellers, Koukan is the starting point.
eBay UK
eBay UK has the largest audience of any secondary market platform in the country. For RAM, auction-style listings can occasionally generate competitive bidding on popular DDR4 and DDR5 kits. The downsides are seller fees (typically 12.8% for electronics), the risk of fraudulent returns under eBay's buyer protection policy, and the generic audience that includes non-technical buyers who may be confused by the spec detail in your listing. Best suited for high-value kits where the wider audience justifies the fee.
Facebook Marketplace
Facebook Marketplace is free to list and reaches a very large local audience. For RAM it works best as a local collection option — buyers who want to collect in person and inspect before paying. The buyer quality for technical items can be inconsistent, and you will need to field enquiries from buyers who do not understand DDR generations or slot compatibility. No payment protection of any kind — cash on collection only is strongly advised.
Hardware forums and Reddit
The r/HardwareSwapUK subreddit and AVForums (Classified section) both have active communities of technical buyers who understand precisely what they are purchasing. Prices here tend to be slightly lower than eBay but transactions are often smoother and faster. Good for moving unusual or niche kits (very fast DDR5, ECC, server RAM) that may not find a ready audience on mainstream platforms.
For a broader look at maximising your returns when selling used PC components, see our complete guide to selling used PC parts in the UK.
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I sell my RAM as a kit or split the sticks individually?
Almost always sell as a matched kit. Buyers prefer kits because they know the sticks are validated to work together at speed. Splitting a 2×16 GB kit into individual sticks will rarely net you more money and will take significantly longer to sell. The only exception is if one stick is faulty — sell the working stick individually, disclosed as a single, and discard or separately list the faulty one.
Does mixing RAM kits affect their resale price?
Yes, significantly. A matched pair — same brand, same part number, same batch where possible — commands full market price. A "mixed kit" (e.g. two sticks of different brands or slightly different speeds) should be disclosed as such and priced 20–30% lower than a matched equivalent. Experienced buyers will spot the mismatched part numbers in your label photos and adjust their offer accordingly. Always be transparent.
Is DDR3 worth selling in 2026?
DDR3 has very limited resale value in 2026 — the platforms that used it (Intel Haswell, Ivy Bridge; AMD AM3+) are largely obsolete for modern use. Low-speed DDR3 kits (1333–1600 MHz) may not be worth the effort of packaging and shipping. However, if you have DDR3L (low voltage) laptop modules or faster DDR3 (1866+ MHz), those still attract buyers restoring older workstations. Expect £5–£15 for most DDR3 desktop kits; more for rare high-speed or ECC variants.
Can I sell RAM that doesn't have its original heatspreader?
Yes, but disclose it obviously. Some custom builders remove heatspreaders to fit tight clearances. Bare-PCB RAM is functional, but buyers will pay 10–20% less and some will simply not bid. Photograph the bare PCB clearly so there is no misunderstanding. Never reattach a heatspreader with inappropriate adhesive and try to pass it off as original.
What if my RAM only works at JEDEC speeds, not XMP?
Disclose it clearly in the listing. RAM that is rated as, say, 3600 MHz but only runs stably at the JEDEC 2133 MHz default is effectively a defective XMP profile — buyers who need 3600 MHz will not get it. You can still sell it, but price it as "2133 MHz confirmed stable, XMP unstable — sold as-is" and set the price accordingly (typically 30–40% below the working equivalent). Hiding this will lead to a return claim.
How do I handle a buyer who claims the RAM arrived faulty?
First, ask them to run Windows Memory Diagnostic or MemTest86 and share the result. Many claimed faults are actually compatibility issues on the buyer's end — a B350 motherboard that doesn't support 3600 MHz without a BIOS update, for instance. If a genuine fault is confirmed and you tested before shipping, something went wrong in transit — your Royal Mail Special Delivery insurance should cover it. For Koukan sales, document your pre-shipment test screenshots. For eBay, respond within 3 days and follow the resolution process to avoid automatic decisions going against you.
Ready to sell your RAM?
List your used DDR4 or DDR5 kit on Koukan — the UK's dedicated used PC parts marketplace. Reach genuine UK buyers in minutes. No listing fees, no category confusion, just PC enthusiasts ready to buy.
Also see: Buy Used RAM in the UK · Used PC Parts Price Guide