Are your 45s worth anything?
You found a box of old 7-inch singles and want to know if they're worth money — or just worth hauling to a shop. Here's the honest answer, and exactly who buys 45s and what they're looking for.
Most common 45s are worth very little — a lot of stores sell them for around a dollar and pay only cents to buy them. The value is in the exceptions: soul, R&B, garage rock, rockabilly, reggae and punk singles, especially original pressings with their picture sleeves. A small number are worth hundreds. Many shops won't buy common 45s at all, so the trick is finding the ones that specialize.
01Why most 45s aren't worth much
45s were made by the millions — the hits especially. A number-one single from the '60s or '70s sold so many copies that surviving ones are common, and common means cheap. That's why one shop owner told us plainly that 45s aren't very good sellers, and they sell them for about a dollar each unless it's something really special like an original Beatles.
The counterintuitive part: the big hits everyone recognizes are usually worth the least, because everyone has them. As a dealer in Alabama put it, non-hit 45s are of more interest than hits. Value hides in the records that didn't sell millions.
02What makes a 45 actually valuable
Three things move a 45 from the dollar bin to the display case: genre, pressing, and condition.
Genre is the biggest. Soul, R&B, garage rock, rockabilly, reggae, and early punk singles hold value where pop hits don't — these are the records collectors and DJs chase. An original first pressing beats a reissue, and a 45 with its original picture sleeve can be worth several times one without. Many stores will only buy 45s that still have their sleeves.
03In their own words
We asked record stores directly how they handle 45s. Here's what they said — each linked to the shop that said it.
“For 45 rpm records, we focus on local/regional R&B.”
“NON-hit 45s are of more interest than hits, and for 78s, we mostly look for obscure artists in Blues and early Rock & Roll.”
“We will not purchase any more 45s or 78s unless the 45s are punk rock singles or reggae.”
“45s aren't very good sellers; we sell them for $1 each unless they're something really special such as an original Beatles.”
“For 45s, we generally only buy those with picture sleeves.”
04Who buys 45 records
Not every store buys 45s, and the ones that do want specific things. These shops have told us they buy singles — sort by any column, or filter by state to find one near you.
| Store ▲▼ | Location ▲▼ | What they want in 45s ▲▼ |
|---|---|---|
| Andy's Records Buys, sells and trades across every format | Grayslake, IL | Every format: LPs, 45s, 78s, tapes, 8-tracks |
| Black Gold Records Carries and buys vinyl and 45s across a wide range | New York, NY | Punk, jazz, funk, hip-hop, reggae, rock |
| Breakaway Records Buys LPs, 45s and cassettes across genres | Austin, TX | Rock, pop, jazz, soul, hip-hop, punk, metal, country |
| Brush Creek Antiques "45s need to be in top condition with sleeves" | Lawrence, MI | Jazz and rock — top condition, with sleeves |
| Budget Music & Video "For 45s, we generally only buy those with picture sleeves" | Minot, ND | Rock, country, jazz (1960s on) — picture sleeves |
| Carolina Soul Records One of the world's biggest soul 45 dealers; buys LPs and 45s across these genres | Durham, NC | Rock, soul, jazz, blues, rap, reggae, gospel |
| ElWray Music and Records "For 45 rpm records, we focus on local/regional R&B" | Barberton, OH | Local/regional R&B |
| Fidelis Home Audio "We mainly buy LPs but will also buy 45s and 78s on occasion" | Nashua, NH | Mainly LPs, some 45s and 78s |
| Flip Side Records "Never know who will want 78s, 45s, LPs, 8-tracks" | Hermitage, PA | All genres and formats |
| Get Hip Records Mainly LPs and 45s in these genres | Pittsburgh, PA | Garage, rock, jazz, reggae, hip-hop |
| Instant Karma Records "We buy 45s and 12-inch LPs, but we do not purchase 78s" | Orleans, MA | Most genres |
| Mobile Records "NON-hit 45s are of more interest than hits" | Mobile, AL | Non-hit 45s; obscure blues & early rock |
| REB Records "Only buy 45s that have picture sleeves with them" | Bel Air, MD | 45s with picture sleeves only |
| Shady Dog Records "We will not purchase 45s unless the 45s are punk rock singles or reggae" | Berwyn, PA | Punk singles and reggae only |
| Som Records Buys 45s in these genres | Washington, DC | Soul, funk, jazz, Latin, hip-hop |
Policies come from each store and change over time — always confirm before you sell. This is a sample of shops that buy 45s; many more do, and plenty don't, so a quick call always helps.
05How to sell a box of 45s
- Sort by genre and lead with the good stuff. Pull your soul, R&B, garage, rockabilly and reggae to the front — that's what specialist buyers want.
- Keep them in their sleeves. Many shops only buy 45s with original picture sleeves, and loose singles are a hard sell.
- Call before you drive. 45 policies vary far more than LP policies — some shops love them, many won't touch common ones.
- Don't expect the eBay number. One rare single selling high online doesn't set the price for a whole box of common ones.
06Common questions
Are 45 records worth anything?
Most common 45s are worth very little - many stores sell them for around $1 and pay only cents to buy them. Value concentrates in specific genres (soul, R&B, garage, rockabilly, reggae, punk singles) and in condition, especially 45s with their original picture sleeves. A small number of rare singles are worth hundreds.
Who buys 45 records?
Some record stores buy 45s, but far from all - many decline them for lack of demand. The best places to sell are shops that specialize in soul, R&B, garage or reggae, or that explicitly buy singles. Stores like Carolina Soul in Durham, NC and ElWray in Barberton, OH actively seek 45s in specific genres.
What makes a 45 valuable?
Genre and demand matter most - soul, R&B, garage rock, rockabilly, reggae and punk singles hold value where pop hits don't. Original pressings, picture sleeves, and clean condition all raise the price. As one dealer put it, non-hit 45s are often more interesting than the hits everyone has.
Why won't some stores buy my 45s?
Many stores say plainly there's little market for common 45s, or they're overstocked - some have bought storage units with tens of thousands of singles. Others only take 45s with picture sleeves, or only in genres like punk and reggae. It's not personal; it's demand.
How should I sell a collection of 45s?
Sort by genre first and lead with any soul, R&B, garage, rockabilly or reggae - those are what specialist buyers want. Keep them in their sleeves, since many stores only take 45s with picture sleeves. And call ahead: 45 policies vary more than for LPs, so confirm a shop buys them before you drive over.
Got a box of 45s to sell?
Tell us what you have and roughly where you are, and we'll point you to the shops nearby that actually buy 45s — in the genres you've got. Find 45 buyers near you →