What Can I Pawn for $500 Dollars? [2025] 500 Fast

It seems like everyone is becoming an entrepreneur. 

The problem with that (and most new ventures) is that there’s uncertainty involved. Will I succeed? Will all of this time and effort pay off? 

In reality, 50% of small businesses fail within 5 years. 

Instead, consider trying something that actually works: Pawning stuff. 

It sounds old school, but you can make real money pawning – like $500. 

By now, you might be asking – “What can I pawn for $500 dollars?”

Below, I’ll answer that question and share more easy ways to make 500 fast. 

What Can I Pawn for $500 Dollars?

Pawn shops generally accept a wide variety of goods, but you can’t pawn just anything. 

Rare Coins

A standard penny might be worth just a single cent – but rare coins can be worth much, much more. In fact, the 1913 “Liberty Head” nickel has an estimated value of over $4 million.

It sure would be nice to find one of those stuck in your couch cushions!

Of course, you’re not likely to get that lucky. Still, coins can be a great answer to the question, “What can I pawn for $500 dollars?”

Pawn shops are interested in rare coins because they’re popular collectibles. If you’ve got a rare coin collection yourself, it could be worth pawning when you’re in a pinch. 

And remember, you don’t have to part with your collection forever. While selling your items to a pawn shop is an option, you can also use your belongings as collateral in a pawn shop loan. That’s actually what people often mean when they talk about “pawning” an item. 

To learn more about the process, read this article that answers, “How does a pawn shop work?” 

It’s also important to note that some pawn shops won’t accept a rare coin collection. Why? Because they simply don’t have the necessary expertise to assess a coin’s value. 

Other shops might reach out for an expert opinion, which could delay the process. That’s not always a big deal – but if you’re asking, “What can I pawn for $500 dollars?” It might be because you’re in a rush. So, a potential delay is something to be aware of. 

Jewelry

When people ask themselves, “What can I pawn for $500 dollars?” Their first answer is often jewelry.

And they’re right.

There are several reasons pawning jewelry can make sense:

1. It’s often valuable
2. Pawn shops are used to buying and selling it.
3. You don’t really need it.

Jewelry often contains precious metals, which is what gives it value. That means you can maximize your money by pawning pieces with gold, silver, or diamonds.

You can pawn pretty much any kind of jewelry, including:

• Necklaces
• Chains
• Watches
• Bracelets
• Earrings

Since jewelry is such a common thing to pawn, most pawn shops will have a jewelry expert on staff. When you bring your item to the shop, this specialist will look it over and then give you an assessment of its value.

If you’re not sure you can trust the pawnbroker, it could make sense to bring the jewelry to a reputable jeweler first for an evaluation. Some jewelers will even offer to buy the piece, which is sometimes more lucrative than pawning it.  

Electronics

When asking, “What Can I Pawn for $500 Dollars?” you need to think of which items have value. 

We live in a high-tech society, so what does pretty much everyone value? That’s right – electronics!

You can pawn all sorts of high-tech products, including:

• Smartphones
• Tablets
• TVs
• Video game consoles
• Digital cameras

The exact price depends on what you’re pawning. Some high-end computers can go for well over $500. Focus on selling Macbooks or HD TVs. Cheaper models won’t get you anywhere near as much money.

One issue with pawning electronics is that you need the items to be in good condition. Pawnbrokers are no dummies, and they won’t accept a piece of technology without making sure it works properly. 

So, if you’ve got high-end electronics in perfect working condition, an influx of cash could be just a pawn shop visit away. 

Sports Memorabilia

It’s no secret that sports are a big deal.

And where there’s passion, there’s value. That’s why sports memorabilia could be your answer to the question, “What can I pawn for $500 dollars?”

Sports memorabilia can mean all sorts of things, including:

• Posters
• Bobbleheads
• Balls
• Gloves, helmets, and other equipment
• Jerseys
• Cards

Certain features make an item more valuable. Is it signed by an athlete? Yeah, that will help. Is it “game-worn,” meaning a player actually played while wearing it? That will give you a boost, too.

If you’re a big sports fan, you may have some of these items sitting around your home. If you’re a sports memorabilia collector, even better. You almost certainly have something of value in your collection. 

Obviously, some pieces of memorabilia are worth much more than others. For instance, according to the History Channel, a rare Babe Ruth card once sold for over $4 million. But a random baseball card featuring an active player might be worth nothing at all. 

When pawning your memorabilia, make sure you bring proof of its authenticity. Many items come with some sort of certificate. If you don’t have proof, the pawn shop won’t be able to give you the money you deserve. 

Power Tools

Power tools might be a surprising answer to “What can I pawn for $500 dollars?” Although, if you’ve bought tools yourself, then you know that they can be expensive. Lucky for you, high-quality tools can retain a lot of their initial value.

Some especially pawn-worthy power tools include:

• Cordless drills
• Circular saws
• Air compressors
• Nail guns
• Wrench sets
• Generators
• Sanders

How much will you get for your power tools? That largely depends on the brand. 

These brands tend to fetch the highest dollar amounts:

• Stihl
• Milwaukee
• Bosch
• DeWalt

But the brand isn’t all that matters. You also need the tools to be in decent condition. 

Start by asking yourself some basic questions about each tool you’d like to pawn. Does it work? Is it in new condition? Is it a relatively recent model? If the answer to those questions is “yes,” then the item could fetch a pretty penny. 

Also, keep in mind that pawning a single power tool almost certainly won’t get you $500. To reach that amount, you’ll have to pawn multiple power tools or bring in a set. 

Alternative Ways to Get $500 Fast

If you’re wondering, “What can I pawn for $500 dollars?” it probably means you need money – and fast. Well, guess what? Pawning something isn’t the only way to access money in a pinch.

Here are some (cheaper and often easier) alternatives:

• Take online surveys. Websites like Branded Surveys and Swagbucks will pay you just for sharing your opinions.

• Play online games. There are platforms like Mistplay and Cashyy that reward gamers with cash and gift cards. 
• Babysitting. You can use Care.com to quickly find clients in your area. 
• Dog walking and pet sitting. Love animals? Download the Rover app and get paid while you make furry friends.
• Delivery driving. If you sign up for DoorDash, you can start earning money in just a few days.
• Open a new bank account. Some banks offer immediate sign-up bonuses.
• Donate plasma for money. It might sound intrusive, but it’s actually a legit way to make money fast. 

There are even more money-making options out there. Check out this article on how to make $1000 fast.

You could also try to land some “free money” – or money that’s accessible without having to do standard work. Learn more with this article on how to get free money now.

Commonly Asked Questions About What You Can Pawn for $500 Dollars

What Will Pawn Shops Pay Most For?

Here are the items that pawn shops tend to pay the most for:

• Rare coins
• Jewelry
• Electronics
• Sports memorabilia
• Power tools

What Will Pawn Shops Not Buy?

Pawn shops won’t accept everything. Here are some items that are likely to be denied:

• Stolen goods
• Outdated electronics (like VCRs and cassette players)
• Pets
• Perishable items (like food)
• Counterfeit items

Will I Get More Money If I Pawn or Sell? 

While there’s no set rule, you’ll usually get more money by selling an item than by pawning it. And if you sell outright, you won’t have to worry about paying back a loan with interest. The money you get from the pawnshop will be yours to keep.

And if you’re looking to make more money fast, check out these banks with immediate sign-up bonus.

How Much Can I Get For an Xbox One at a Pawn Shop? 

The amount of money you can get for an Xbox One (or any item) at a pawnshop depends on the condition of the system. That said, you can typically expect an Xbox One to get around $100 – $200. 

What Can I Pawn for 50 Dollars?

Here are some items you can pawn for decent money – typically over $50:

• Power tools
• Sports memorabilia
• Electronics
• Jewelry
• Rare coins

What  Can I Pawn to Get $400?

These items are often valued by pawn shops and could help you get $400:

• Jewelry
• Electronics
• Power tools
• Sports memorabilia
• Rare coins

Things Pawn Shops Always Buy?

While pawn shops don’t “always buy” everything (it depends on the condition and quality of the goods), these items are usually accepted:

• Jewelry
• Rare coins
• Sports memorabilia
• Electronics
• Power tools

What Can I Pawn For Quick Cash?

You can pocket some quick money by pawning these types of items:

• Electronics
• Jewelry
• Power tools
• Sports memorabilia
• Rare coins

What Can I Pawn For 20?

You can often pawn these items for $20 or more:

• Jewelry
• Sports memorabilia
• Electronics
• Rare coins
• Power tools