How to price used machinery?

To price used woodworking machinery accurately, start with the current replacement cost of an equivalent new machine, then adjust that figure down based on the specific unit's age, condition, brand reputation, and included accessories, cross-checked against actual recent sale prices for comparable equipment rather than asking prices.

A workable approach follows a few steps:

• Establish a baseline. Find the current retail price of the same or closest comparable new machine (table saw, planer, jointer, CNC unit, etc.).
• Apply a condition adjustment. Well-maintained equipment from a respected brand often retains a meaningfully higher percentage of new value than a worn or heavily used machine; rust, missing tooling, deferred maintenance, and unusual wear all pull the figure down.
• Verify against real sales. Asking prices on listing sites are unreliable; what similar machines actually sold for, adjusted for included accessories like fences, outfeed tables, mobile bases, or blades, gives a far more accurate number.
• Factor in demand and rarity. A hard-to-find or discontinued model in working order can hold value above what a simple age-and-condition formula would suggest.

This kind of desk-research approach works reasonably well for a single, common machine when you just need a ballpark figure. It becomes much less reliable for estate settlements, insurance claims, tax filings, or litigation, where the number needs to hold up under scrutiny from the IRS, a court, or an insurance adjuster. In those situations, a USPAP-compliant woodworking equipment appraisal documents the methodology, comparable sales data, and condition assessment behind the number, rather than relying on a rule-of-thumb percentage.

If you're trying to determine whether older tools or machinery carry real resale value in the first place, see our answer on whether old woodworking tools are worth anything.