Donation Value Guide For 2024-2025

Image by GettyImages; Illustration by Bankrate

Not only can giving away items you no longer use provide happiness to others, but it can also help you lower your tax bill. That’s because you get a tax break for your charitable contributions if you donate to a qualifying organization and itemize your deductions.

Here’s what you need to know before donating your items, how to figure out the value of your donated items and how to deduct your donations. 

What to know before you donate and deduct  

The first thing to keep in mind is that it’s your job to keep track of the items you give to charity so you can report their value to the IRS. Some tax software programs such as TurboTax will allow you to track your donations year-round on the platform.

Note-taking apps can also be used to scan and upload receipts, or you can go the old-school route and keep records in a folder. Of course, you can also consult with a tax preparer. The best method for you is the one that will keep you organized and that you’ll stick to. 

You’ll also have to make sure the items you’re ready to part with are in good enough shape to be donated. Donated clothing and other household goods must be “in good used condition or better,” according to the IRS charitable contribution guide. If you claim a deduction of $500 or more for a used item that’s not in good condition, the IRS says you’d better get an appraisal.

How to figure out the value of your donated items for taxes

Several of the most popular tax software programs will help you figure out the value of your donated items. If you need a quick estimate, the lists below give you an approximate value of commonly donated items as suggested in the Salvation Army’s donation value guide.

If you don’t see your item in the list below and an appraisal isn’t required, Goodwill recommends using 30 percent of the item’s original price as a good starting point for determining tax value.

Remember, you must itemize your deductions on your tax return to be able to claim a tax break for your donations, and you must choose between claiming the standard deduction and itemizing your deductions. With the standard deduction worth $14,600 for a single filer in 2024 and $15,000 in 2025 ($29,200 for a married couple filing jointly in 2024 and $30,000 in 2025), your total itemized deductions must add up to more than that amount for it to make sense to itemize deductions. In other words, these days only people with hefty itemized deductions get a tax break for charitable contributions.

How to deduct your donated goods

You don’t have to send in a list of donated items with your tax return. Just keep the information with your personal records and put the total contribution amount on your Schedule A, Itemized Deductions (or your tax software will do it for you).

Be sure to get a receipt from the charity when you donate your goods — again, for your personal records. The nonprofit won’t put a dollar value on the receipt, but the paperwork will help you prove that you did, indeed, donate the property if the IRS asks.

If you make a single non-cash gift worth between $250 and $500 (for example, if you donate a vehicle), you’re required to have a receipt or a written acknowledgment of your gift from a qualified charitable organization.

If the total of all your contributed property comes to more than $500, you must file IRS Form 8283 with your tax return.

Donation value guide for 2024 and 2025

Men’s clothing

Women’s clothing

Children’s clothing

Household goods

Miscellaneous items

Appliances

Furniture