The short answer
Sell or give away a working TV. For a dead one, SOCRRA's drop-off center in Troy takes electronics by appointment for residents of its member cities, and other cities have their own options. Or book a pickup: TV under 42 inches $62, 42 to 65 inches $68, 65 inches and up $73. Orders under $100 are billed at the $100 minimum, so pair the TV with the stand or another item: a TV and entertainment center is $68 + $96 = $164.
Option 1: sell it or give it away
A working flat screen less than about five years old has real resale interest. List it with the model number, a photo of it turned on, and whether the remote and stand are included.
An older working TV is usually only worth giving away. Post it free and put it on the porch.
Nobody wants a cracked screen. Do not bother listing one.
Option 2: SOCRRA's drop-off center
If you live in one of SOCRRA's 12 member cities (Berkley, Beverly Hills, Birmingham, Clawson, Ferndale, Hazel Park, Huntington Woods, Lathrup Village, Oak Park, Pleasant Ridge, Royal Oak and Troy), the drop-off center at 995 Coolidge in Troy takes electronics, along with household hazardous waste and shredding. It is by appointment, and it is a residents' service, so bring proof of address and book ahead.
This is a good option for someone in Royal Oak with a car and a free morning. It does not help in Detroit, Dearborn, Warren or Livonia.
Option 3: your city's program
Detroit: weekly bulk pickup, in place since June 3, 2024, up to 2 cubic yards a week, set out by 7 a.m. Check the city's bulk page for whether TVs and electronics are accepted on your route.
Warren: the city's recycling center takes electronics for Warren residents.
Dearborn: residents can check what the free DPW yard drop-off at 2951 Greenfield accepts; it runs the third Saturday of each month, 8 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Elsewhere: check your city's public works page for electronics collection events or drop-off days.
Before it leaves the house
- Sign out of everything. Smart TVs keep streaming accounts logged in. Do a factory reset from the settings menu.
- Keep the remote and power cord with it if you are selling or giving it away; nobody wants a TV without them.
- Leave the wall mount or take it down. If the TV is wall-mounted, unbolting the TV from the bracket is usually two screws and a lift with two people. Taking the bracket off the wall and patching the holes is a separate job, often part of a move-out.
- Bag the cables. HDMI cables, old cable boxes and soundbars can go in a box of electronics on the list.
The old tube TV in the basement
Plenty of Detroit basements still have a big CRT television from the 1990s, because nobody wanted to carry it up the stairs. These are a different object from a flat screen. A large console or rear-projection set can weigh far more than its size suggests, and the glass tube should not be dropped or cracked.
- Two people, always. The weight sits at the front, near the screen.
- Strap it to a dolly and take the stairs one step at a time.
- Do not lay it screen-down.
Or leave it where it is and book a pickup. The crew carries it up from any floor at the list price for its size. In a Livonia or Dearborn Heights ranch, the CRT in the basement den is often sitting inside an old wood entertainment center, which is $96 on the list.
Three common TV jobs
- A Downtown or Midtown apartment move-out: a 65-inch TV, its stand and a soundbar from a building that needs a COI and an elevator booking. $73 + $96 + $52 = $221, with the certificate of insurance emailed within 1 hour.
- A Grosse Pointe or Birmingham house upgrade: the old 55-inch from the family room and a 40-inch from a bedroom. $68 + $62 = $130.
- An estate cleanout on Detroit's west side: a console CRT, a stereo cabinet and two boxes of tapes and cables. $68 + $52 + $77 + $77 = $274, priced by the CRT's screen size.
TV and electronics prices
| Item | Flat price |
|---|---|
| TV (Under 42") | $62 |
| TV (42" to 65") | $68 |
| TV (65"+) | $73 |
| Entertainment Center / TV Stand | $96 |
| Stereo / Sound System | $52 |
| Speaker System (Large) | $57 |
| Box of Electronics | $77 |
Two TVs from a living room and a bedroom: $68 + $62 = $130. A basement den with a TV, stand and speakers: $73 + $96 + $57 = $226.
Where it goes
We route electronics to recyclers and recycle whatever we can. Working TVs in good shape may be donated when local charities accept them. Get a price from a photo or pick items online, choose a 2-hour window, and book by 4 PM for same-day pickup. For computers, monitors and printers, see TV and electronics disposal in Detroit.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I drop off an old TV near Detroit?
Residents of SOCRRA's 12 member cities can book an appointment at the drop-off center at 995 Coolidge in Troy, which takes electronics. Warren residents can use the city's recycling center. Dearborn residents can check whether the free third-Saturday DPW drop-off at 2951 Greenfield accepts TVs. Detroit residents should check the city's bulk page for their route.
How much does TV removal cost in Detroit?
Under 42 inches $62, 42 to 65 inches $68, 65 inches and up $73. Orders under $100 are billed at the $100 minimum. A single TV on its own is under that line, so most people add the stand, a second TV or a box of old cables to the same booking. Two TVs, for example, are $68 + $62 = $130.
Can you take an old tube TV from the basement?
Yes, at the list price for its size. Crews carry items from any floor with no stairs fee. Big CRT sets are one of the most common things left behind in Detroit basements because they are so heavy at the front. Tell us if it is a console or rear-projection set so the crew knows what to expect.
Do you recycle TVs?
We route electronics to recyclers and recycle whatever we can. A working TV in good condition may be donated when local charities accept it. Cracked screens and dead sets go straight to recycling.
Can you take the TV stand too?
Yes. A TV and entertainment center together are, for example, $68 + $96 = $164. Empty the drawers and shelves first. Older solid wood entertainment centers from the 1990s are heavy, and they are priced the same whether they sit in the living room or the basement den.
Can you take a TV off the wall?
Unmount it from the bracket before the crew arrives, or tell us when you book. The TV is priced by screen size either way. In condos and managed buildings Downtown or in Midtown, check whether the building wants the bracket left in place or removed before move-out.