Best Buy Recycling Fee: What You'll Actually Pay [2026]

Best Buy's recycling fees depend on the item type and whether you're dropping off in-store or requesting home pickup. Most small electronics are free to recycle. TVs and monitors cost $29.99 each. Large appliances require the haul-away service.

• •Small electronics (phones, tablets, cables, ink cartridges, batteries): Free at all stores
• •Computers, laptops, printers: Free at all stores
• •Tube TVs 31 inches and under: $29.99 per item
• •Flat-panel TVs (LCD, LED, plasma) 49 inches and under: $29.99 per item
• •Best Buy-branded TVs (Insignia, Dynex) 49 inches and under: Free
• •TVs over 50 inches: Not accepted for in-store drop-off
• •Computer monitors (CRT and flat-panel): $29.99 per item
• •Large appliances: Not accepted in-store — must use haul-away service

The $29.99 fee applies per item, so recycling three monitors costs $89.97. One Reddit user reported paying $90 to recycle three old monitors. Best Buy limits you to three items per household per day, with a separate limit of two TVs per day.

California, Connecticut, and Hawaii have no in-store TV recycling drop-off fees at Best Buy. These states passed e-waste recycling laws that fund the program through advance fees collected at the point of sale when you buy a new device.

Pennsylvania, Wisconsin, and Michigan have a special arrangement: Best Buy charges the $29.99 drop-off fee but gives you a $30 Best Buy gift card — effectively making it free.

In total, 25 states plus Washington D.C. have some form of e-waste recycling legislation, though not all eliminate retailer fees. Colorado, Oregon, Illinois, Nevada, New York, Vermont, and Washington enacted new recycling and battery EPR laws taking effect in 2026. Check your state's environmental agency website for free local recycling options — many counties run monthly or quarterly e-waste collection events at no charge.

Best Buy offers three levels of haul-away service, each at a different price point:

• •$49.99 haul-away with delivery: When you buy a replacement TV or appliance and have it delivered by Geek Squad or Best Buy Home Delivery, they will haul away and recycle one old item of the same type for $49.99.

• •$59.99 relocation within your home: If you need an existing appliance moved to a different spot within the same delivery address, Best Buy charges $59.99 per item.

• •$199.99 standalone haul-away: No purchase required. Geek Squad will pick up and recycle up to two large items (TVs, appliances, all-in-one computers, monitors) plus an unlimited number of smaller eligible items. This is Best Buy's most expensive option but the only one that doesn't require buying something new.

For a single old TV you want gone, the $199.99 standalone fee is steep. LoadUp starts at $82 for TV pickup. Dropcurb charges $99 for curbside TV removal with same-day availability — $100 less than Best Buy's standalone haul-away.

No. My Best Buy Plus and My Best Buy Total members still pay the full $29.99 recycling fee for TVs and monitors. Best Buy confirmed this directly in their Q&A section: "members would still need to pay the recycling fee(s)." The membership benefits include free shipping, extended returns, and exclusive deals — but recycling fee waivers are not included.

My Best Buy Total (formerly Totaltech) members do get free Geek Squad services on purchases, but this does not extend to standalone recycling drop-offs.

Best Buy recycles dozens of product categories at no charge. The free list is longer than most people realize:

• •Cell phones and smartphones
• •Tablets and e-readers
• •Laptops and notebooks
• •Desktop computers and servers
• •Printers, scanners, and fax machines
• •Ink and toner cartridges
• •Cables, cords, and chargers
• •Batteries (rechargeable and single-use)
• •Small kitchen appliances
• •GPS devices
• •Cameras and camcorders
• •Game consoles
• •Portable audio (MP3 players, headphones)
• •VCRs and DVD/Blu-ray players
• •Car audio and speakers

The fee applies primarily to TVs, monitors, and items that contain hazardous materials requiring specialized processing. If you're recycling a laptop or printer, Best Buy is genuinely free. If you're recycling a TV, expect the $29.99 charge (unless you're in California, Connecticut, or Hawaii).

Best Buy is the largest electronics recycler among retailers, but it's far from the only option — or the cheapest one for TVs.

Staples offers free recycling for computers, laptops, tablets, phones, printers, and monitors. Larger items like monitors may have a $10 fee at some locations. The catch: Staples does not accept TVs at all. If you have a television to recycle, Staples is not an option. For everything else — especially printers and laptops — Staples is free and has no daily item limits like Best Buy does.

Most counties run free e-waste recycling events monthly or quarterly. These events accept TVs of any size at no cost. The tradeoff is timing and transportation — you need to drive to the collection site on a specific date and haul the TV yourself. Fort Lauderdale, for example, offers free curbside electronics pickup by appointment. Montgomery County expanded curbside recycling to include electronics in recent years. Search "[your county] e-waste recycling event" or call your city's public works department to find the next scheduled date.

If your TV still works, Goodwill accepts working flatscreen TVs as donations. Most Goodwill locations will not accept broken electronics or CRT tube TVs. Some Goodwill regions — like Goodwill Keystone Area in Pennsylvania — have partnered with electronics recyclers to accept all electronics including non-working items, but this varies by location. Call your local store before loading a broken TV into your car.

The $29.99 fee is transparent, but there are several costs people overlook:

• •Transportation: You have to get the TV to Best Buy yourself. For large or heavy TVs, this may require a truck or SUV, help from a friend, and 30–60 minutes of your time.

• •Size limits: Best Buy does not accept TVs larger than 50 inches for in-store drop-off. If you have a 65-inch or 75-inch TV, your only Best Buy option is the $199.99 standalone haul-away.

• •Daily limits: Maximum 3 items per day, maximum 2 TVs per day. Cleaning out a media room with 3 old TVs takes two separate trips.

• •Awkward loading: CRT tube TVs can weigh 60 to 150 pounds. Getting one from your basement to your car to the Best Buy customer service desk is a real physical challenge.

• •No large appliances in-store: Refrigerators, washers, and dryers cannot be dropped off. They require the haul-away service ($49.99 with purchase or $199.99 standalone).

When you factor in the drive, the loading hassle, and the per-item fee, curbside pickup services often come out ahead on total cost-per-effort. Dropcurb charges $99 for TV removal, picks up from your curb, and is available same-day.

Best Buy drop-off makes sense for small, light electronics you can carry in one trip — especially items they recycle for free like phones, laptops, and cables. For TVs and monitors, the math shifts.

Curbside pickup beats Best Buy drop-off when:

• •Your TV is too large for in-store drop-off (50 inches or bigger)
• •You don't own a vehicle that fits the TV
• •The TV is heavy (CRT tube TVs can exceed 100 pounds)
• •You have multiple items and don't want to make multiple trips
• •You value your time — driving to Best Buy, finding parking, waiting in the customer service line, and driving home takes 45–90 minutes

Dropcurb charges $99 for TV removal. You place the TV at your curb and a local hauler picks it up — often the same day you book. No driving, no lifting, no store lines. For a single old flatscreen, Best Buy at $29.99 plus your gas and time may be cheaper. For anything bigger or heavier, curbside pickup saves you real money when you value your time.