Best Buy Recycling Program 2026: What They Take, TV Fees, and Limits
How Best Buy electronics recycling works in 2026: what you can drop off for free, the $29.99 TV and monitor fee, state exceptions, daily limits, haul-away prices, and what Best Buy will not take.
Best Buy runs the biggest retail electronics recycling program in the country. Almost every store has a drop-off at the customer service desk, it takes products of any brand whether or not you bought them there, and most items cost nothing to recycle. For a lot of people, it is the easiest way to clear out a closet full of old tech.
The program has a few rules that catch people off guard, though. TVs and monitors usually carry a fee, there are daily limits per household, and some common household items are not accepted at all. This guide covers what Best Buy recycling takes, what it costs, the state exceptions, and what to do with the things it turns away.
How Best Buy Recycling Works
Bring your items to the customer service desk at any Best Buy store. You do not need an appointment, a receipt, or a purchase. An employee checks that each item is accepted, collects any fee, and takes it from there. Best Buy then passes the items to its recycling partners.
The program is for household customers only. Businesses and organizations clearing out an office are not supposed to use it, so look for a commercial e-waste recycler instead.
What Best Buy Recycles for Free
Most consumer electronics are free to drop off. According to Best Buy’s recycling page, that includes:
- Computers: desktops, laptops, all-in-ones, tablets, hard drives, memory, keyboards, mice, and webcams
- Printers and supplies: printers, scanners, and ink and toner cartridges
- Networking: modems, routers, and battery backups (UPS)
- Phones: cell phones, smartwatches, landlines, chargers, and headsets
- Home theater: DVD and Blu-ray players, projectors, remotes, soundbars, speakers, and streaming devices
- Cameras and gaming: digital cameras, camcorders, drones, game consoles, controllers, and VR headsets
- Small appliances: vacuums, fans, space heaters, pod coffee makers, hair tools, shredders, and smart thermostats
- Cables and cords of almost every kind
If something has a plug or a battery and fits in your hands, there is a good chance Best Buy will take it for free.
Does Best Buy Take Old TVs?
Yes, but most TVs now cost $29.99 each to drop off. Here is how the TV rules work in 2026:
- Flat-panel TVs 50 inches and smaller (LCD, LED, OLED, and plasma) are accepted for $29.99 each.
- Tube (CRT) TVs 31 inches and smaller and portable TVs are accepted for $29.99 each.
- Insignia and Dynex TVs 50 inches and smaller, Best Buy’s own brands, are free.
- Anything larger is not accepted at the store and has to go through haul-away.
- Limit: two TVs per household per day.
Broken TVs are fine. Best Buy does not need the set to turn on, but a shattered screen should be taped or wrapped so it is safe to carry.
Monitors follow the same rules
Computer monitors 50 inches and smaller cost $29.99 each, except Insignia and Dynex monitors, which are free. The limit is two monitors per household per day.
State exceptions
| State | TVs | Monitors |
|---|---|---|
| California | No store fee | No store fee |
| Hawaii | No store fee | $29.99 fee |
| Connecticut | No store fee | Only Insignia and Dynex accepted |
| Pennsylvania, Michigan, Wisconsin | $29.99 fee, refunded as a $30 Best Buy gift card | $29.99 fee, refunded as a $30 Best Buy gift card |
| All other states | $29.99 fee (Insignia and Dynex free) | $29.99 fee (Insignia and Dynex free) |
In Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin the gift card means recycling a TV is effectively free if you shop at Best Buy anyway.
Is the fee worth it?
Often, yes. Thirty dollars to get rid of a heavy TV the same day is a fair deal compared to a private junk removal service. But you may not have to pay anything. Many counties run free electronics collection events, and some local e-waste recyclers take flat screens at no charge. Our guide to disposing of an old TV covers every free option by TV type.
Daily Limits
Best Buy limits how much one household can bring in per day:
- Up to 10 items per household per day at most stores
- Up to three items per category per day
- Two TVs and two monitors per day
- Five laptops per day
If you are clearing out a whole house, split the haul across a few visits or take the bulk of it to a local recycler that has no item limit.
Best Buy Haul-Away Service
If your TV is too big to carry or larger than 50 inches, Best Buy can pick it up from your home:
- $49.99 to haul away an old product when Best Buy delivers a replacement, such as a new TV or appliance.
- $199.99 for standalone haul-away with no purchase, covering up to two large items such as TVs or major appliances, plus smaller electronics.
If you are buying a new TV anyway, adding haul-away at checkout is the simplest way to get rid of the old one.
What Best Buy Will Not Take
Some everyday items are turned away at the desk:
- Loose batteries. Best Buy does not accept stand-alone batteries in most states. Small rechargeable batteries are accepted only in California and New York. See our battery recycling guide for where to take them instead.
- Microwaves, air conditioners, air fryers, blenders, and kettles
- Vapes and e-cigarettes
- E-bikes, scooters, and hoverboards
- Satellite dishes, large antennas, and projector screens
- CDs, DVDs, VHS tapes, and records
- Recalled products on the Consumer Product Safety Commission list
- Business and office equipment from companies and organizations
For anything on this list, a local certified e-waste or household hazardous waste center is usually the right place. Search your city on RecycleOldTech.com to find one.
Trade In Before You Recycle
If your device still has value, check Best Buy’s trade-in program first. Phones, tablets, laptops, game consoles, and smartwatches in working condition can be traded for a Best Buy gift card. Best Buy also has a mail-in recycling option for people who do not live near a store.
Not sure whether to trade in, sell, or recycle? Our article on trade-in vs. recycling walks through when each makes sense.
Before You Drop Anything Off
Best Buy does not guarantee data destruction on recycled devices. Wipe them yourself before you go:
- Phones and tablets: sign out of your Apple or Google account, then do a factory reset.
- Computers: back up your files, then use the built-in reset option to erase the drive. Our laptop and computer recycling guide has step-by-step instructions.
- Printers: reset to factory settings to clear saved Wi-Fi passwords and contacts.
Best Buy vs. Other Options
| What you have | Best Buy | Better alternative |
|---|---|---|
| Laptop, phone, or tablet | Free | Trade in or sell if it still works |
| TV 50“ or smaller | $29.99 (free in CA, CT, HI) | County collection event, often free |
| TV over 50“ | Haul-away only ($49.99 to $199.99) | Local e-waste recycler |
| Printer or ink cartridges | Free | Staples gives rewards for cartridges |
| Loose batteries | Not accepted in most states | Home Depot, Lowe’s, Staples, or a local center |
| Microwave | Not accepted | Local recycler or scrap metal yard |
Compare: Best Buy vs Staples vs ecoATM. Our Staples recycling program guide covers the other side of that comparison in detail.
Quick Answers
Is Best Buy recycling free? For most electronics, yes. Computers, phones, printers, cables, small appliances, and gaming gear are free. TVs and monitors cost $29.99 each in most states, unless they are Insignia or Dynex.
Does Best Buy take old TVs? Yes. Best Buy accepts flat-panel TVs up to 50 inches and tube TVs up to 31 inches for $29.99 each, with a limit of two per household per day. California, Connecticut, and Hawaii have no store fee.
Does Best Buy take broken TVs? Yes. TVs do not need to work, as long as they are within the size limits and safe to carry.
How much does Best Buy charge to recycle a TV? $29.99 per TV in most states. In Pennsylvania, Michigan, and Wisconsin you pay the fee and get a $30 Best Buy gift card back.
How many items can I recycle at Best Buy? Up to 10 items per household per day at most stores, with a cap of three per category, two TVs, two monitors, and five laptops.
Does Best Buy recycle batteries? Not loose batteries, except small rechargeables in California and New York. Batteries inside a device you are recycling are fine.
Does Best Buy take microwaves? No. Microwaves are on Best Buy’s not-accepted list. A local e-waste recycler or scrap metal yard is the usual option.
Can businesses use Best Buy recycling? No. The program is for household customers only.
Policies can change by store and state. Check Best Buy’s recycling page or call your local store before you load up the car.
Related guides
- Staples Recycling Program 2026: What You Can Recycle, Fees, and Rewards How the Staples recycling program works in 2026: the electronics it takes for free, the new fees for printers, monitors, and batteries, which states are exempt, ink cartridge rewards, and what Staples will not accept.
- How to Dispose of an Old TV for Free (or Recycle It) Near You in 2026 How to dispose of an old TV in 2026: free drop-off options, Best Buy TV recycling fees, what to do with a broken or flat screen TV, CRT disposal, and the states where throwing a TV in the trash is illegal.
- Best Buy vs Staples vs ecoATM: Where to Recycle Each Device Best Buy vs Staples vs ecoATM compared for 2026: what each one takes, current TV, monitor, printer, and battery fees, daily limits, and which retailer to use for each device.