45% of Americans still have their old phones

We surveyed 1,001 adults in the US through YouGov Surveys: Self-serve to understand what they do with their old cell phones. Here's what we found.

The most common action is keeping old cell phones, with 45% of Americans saying they still have their old handsets. Nearly a quarter (24%) have given their cell phones to someone they know. Another 24% trade in their phones for money off a new device.

About 8% of Americans sold their cell phones to a retailer or service for recycling in exchange for money. Some 7% recycled their cell phones through other means, such as taking them to a recycling center. The same percentage (7%) simply discarded their old cell phones.

Additionally, 6% sold their cell phones to someone they know, while another 6% donated their cell phones to charity. About 5% sent or took their cell phones to a retailer or service for recycling without receiving payment. Another 5% sent or gave their phones to a cell phone network for recycling without receiving money. Lastly, 4% sent or took their cell phones to a mobile network for recycling without receiving any payment.

Methodology: YouGov polled 1,001 US adults online on July 26, 2024. The survey was carried out through YouGov Surveys: Self-serve. Data is weighted by age, gender, race, political affiliation, education level and region. The margin of error is 1% for the overall sample. Learn more about YouGov Surveys: Self-serve.