How Much Is an AR 15 Worth? (2026 Value Update)

What Are AR15 Rifles vs. AR15-Style Rifles?

What are AR 15 rifles, exactly?

Strictly speaking, AR-15 rifles are those made by ArmaLite and Colt.

Colt even has the term “AR-15” trademarked! The actual rifle design was patented too. It belonged to ArmaLite, which sold the patent to Colt in 1959.

When those design patents expired in 1977, other manufacturers began making AR-15-style rifles. Examples are the Daniel Defense DDM4, the FN 15 Patrol Carbine, and Palmetto State Armory PA-15.

In today’s guide, we focus on the originals: the Colt rifles.

How We Calculate Used AR15 Values

Variant, rarity, condition, manufacturing date, and customization affect the value of a used AR-15. Even market trends and politics can drive up AR-15 pricing.

Condition and Value

If you’re trying to sell an AR15, condition matters. Better-condition guns always sell for better prices.

Determining the exact condition of an AR15 can be subjective. To see how we professionally evaluate your firearm and turn that condition into a payout, view our 3-step selling process for a guaranteed FFL offer.

Once you know your gun’s condition, this key may help you answer the question “How much is my AR15 worth.”

Like-New or Mint

• Worth the most for secondhand guns
• Never fired or used, no handling marks
• Flawless form and function

Excellent

• Around 10% less than mint
• Barely used, some handling marks
• Near-perfect form, flawless function

Very good

• Around 20% less than mint
• Occasionally used, mild wear
• Wear is limited, function is perfect

Good

• Around 30% less than mint
• Used often but cared for
• Worn but not ugly, function is flawless

Fair

• Around 40% less than mint
• Used often and not cared for
• Wear is ugly, mostly intact function

Poor

• Around 50% less than mint
• Damaged, scratched, dented, or rusted
• May not even work any longer

How We Appraise Colt AR 15 Models

There have been many AR15s over the years. Obviously, used prices for these will vary.

Based on recent sales, we’ll give you the usual ranges for popular AR 15 models. They generally follow these pricing rules:

• Rarer models or configurations cost more.
• Smaller guns (like the shorter carbines) cost less.
• Guns tweaked for improved performance cost more.

Colt AR15 Model 601 Value

The average used Colt AR15 Model 601 or Model 01 is worth $8,000 and up, but prices vary and are very sensitive to condition.

The first AR 15 produced by Colt after buying the AR 15 patents from Armalite, also called the AR 15 Model 01. These started production in 1959 and were made specifically for the armed forces.

Only about 14,000 of these were made and most are fairly beat up from use now. So, good-condition ones with provenance are extremely collectible. Don’t ask how much is an AR 15 Model 601 unless you have a lot of disposable income!

Because this is a premium firearm in the line, we use a secure gun shipping and buying system to ensure every transaction is fully insured and legally compliant.

Category: Discontinued

Colt AR15 SP-1 Value

The average used Colt AR15 SP-1 is worth $850 to $2,100, but prices vary.

This is technically a Sporter but it’s so important that we chose to give it a solo entry! The first AR 15 rifle available to civilians, the SP-1 was made from 1964 to 1982.

The gun was a semi-automatic version of the military M-16 rifle. This is the great grandad of the commercial AR 15s you know today.

Category: Discontinued

Colt AR15 Sporter Value (Pre-ban AR 15 Rifles)

The average used Pre-ban Colt AR15 Sporter is worth $800 to $2,000, but prices vary.

There were a lot of Colt Sporters from 1964 to the late 1980s. They’re identified by the R-prefix in the model number, e.g. R6001 for the SP-1 Carbine.

AR-prefix guns replaced these after the Federal Assault Weapons Ban in 1994. We’ll explain the ban later. For now, let’s just say Sporters are sought-out in states regulating assault weapons. They’re also most valuable when unmodified!

Category: Discontinued

Colt Match Target AR15 Value

The average used Colt Match Target AR15 is $420 to $1,250.

The Match Target AR 15 rifles were designed for competition shooters. So, they offered some tweaks to improve their accuracy and performance, like match-grade barrels and triggers.

You can identify these with the MT-prefix in their model names, e.g. MT6400 and MT6601. Note that factory upgrades to these are more valuable than aftermarket ones.

Category: Discontinued

Colt AR15 A2 Government Carbine Model Value

The average used Colt AR15 A2 Government Carbine Model is worth $600 to $1,300.

A classic Colt that had a limited production run. These are scarce, especially in certain configurations.

The standard-weight barrel was rarer than the HBAR or heavy barrel, for instance. Thus, despite HBARs being better for accuracy, a standard weight rifle is worth more for this model.

Colt also made more of these rifles without the bayonet lug, so bayonet-lug ones get more.

Category: Discontinued

Colt AR15 / AR15A4 Value

The average used AR15A4 or standard Colt AR15 is worth $475 to $1,000. A new Colt AR15A4 sells for $1,300 at retail.

This is the modern version of the base AR 15. Equipped with a 20” chrome-lined barrel, it also comes with an A2 buttstock and classic 5.56 chambering.

Category: In production

Colt AR15 6920 / 6940 Value

The average used Colt AR15 6920 or 6940 is worth $400 to $800 (add around 10% for the LE models). A new Colt 6920 sells for $1,000 at retail.

These are mil-spec semi-automatic carbines of the M4-type. The main difference is that the 6940 has a monolithic upper.  Both come in two versions:

• Colt AR 15 LE6920 / LE6940 (older “law enforcement” version)
• Colt AR 15 CR6920 / CR6940 or Monolithic Carbine (in-production “Colt rifle” legacy version)

Most collectors prefer the LEs to the CRs because they think them to be of higher quality. The roll markings are also deeper and often look better on LEs than CRs.

Category: In production (for CR versions)

Manufacturing Date (Pre-ban AR15 vs. Post-ban AR15)

Pre-ban AR15 rifles (made before 1994 or 1986, depending on the ban) are usually worth more than post-ban ones.

This is due to the Federal Assault Weapons Ban of 1994 (AWB).

The AWB banned manufacture, transfer, and possession of AR-15s. It also had a grandfathering clause to allow already-owners of those weapons to keep theirs lawfully.

The ban expired in 2004. However, some states emulated it by legislating their own state-level AWBs. These still generally provided exceptions for weapons made before 1986, however.

As a result, pre-ban AR 15s are collectibles that are easier to own in states with AWBs compared to the post-ban ones.

How Upgrades Affect What We Pay for an AR15

AR-15s are modular guns, so they allow easy swap-in and swap-out upgrades. Some of these upgrades can add to the gun’s value.

Of course, this is dependent on you finding a buyer interested in them. If you can’t, try us. We buy just about everything, from accessories to ammo.

Anyway, here are the usual rules for valuing customized AR15 rifles:

• Older AR 15 models (e.g. 601 and Sporter) are worth more unmodified.
• Only quality upgrades from known brands add value.

Here are some popular upgrades. The estimates are for upgrades in good condition!

Optics

These often keep 30% to 50% of original value.

• Sig Romeo 5 - $140 new, $42 to $70 used
• Sig Juliet 3 3X - $360 new, $108 to $180 used
• Aimpoint Pro Patrol Optic - $497 new, $149 to $248.50 used

Weapon Lights

These often keep 30% to 50% of original value.

• Streamlight ProTac Rail Mount 2 - $132 new, $39.50 to $66 used
• SureFire M640U Scout Light Pro - $323 new, $97 to $161.50 used
• Cloud Defensive REIN 3.0 - $377 new, $113 to $188.50 used

Triggers

These often keep 25% to 50% of original value.

• LaRue Tactical MBT-2S - $115 new, $28.75 to $57.50 used
• Geissele Automatics SSA-E - $245, $61.25 to $122.50 used

Slings

These often keep 20% to 50% of original value.

• T.REX Sling - $58 new, $11.50 to $29 used
• Blue Force Gear Vickers Sling - $62, $12.50 to $31 used

Handguards

These often keep 20% to 50% of original value.

• Magpul M-LOK Hand Guard MAG424 - $36.95 new, $7.50 to $18.50 used
• Aero Precision AR15 Enhanced M-LOK Handguard, Gen 2 - $140 new, $28 to $70 used
• STNGR USA M-LOK Free Float Handguard - $155 new, $31 to $77.50 used
• Midwest Industries Gen2 Free Float Handguard - $178 new, $35.50 to $89 used

Grips

These often keep 20% to 50% of original value.

• Magpul MOE Grip MAG415 - $21 new, $4 to $10.50 used
• Luth-AR A1 Pistol Grip LR-25A1 - $14 new, $3 to $7 used
• Griffin Armament A3 Grip - $15 new, $3 to $7.50 used

Stocks

These often keep 30% to 50% of original value.

• Magpul MOE Carbine Stock - Mil-spec MAG400 - $45 new, $13.50 to $22.50 used
• MFT Battlelink Minimalist - $50 new, $15 to $25 used
• Bravo B5 System Stock - $60 new, $18 to $30 used

Market Trends and Politics

Market trends can affect the value of AR-15s. A film or other popular media can boost a gun or brand’s value quickly.

The way politics affects AR-15 values may be less immediately obvious. It stems from the popular association of AR15-style rifles with mass shootings.

So, AR-15 values go up when people are afraid another AWB is coming. In response to the fear of that happening again, people often panic-buy the gun.

This means that Democrat governments (which are often more supportive of gun control) tend to make AR-15 demand and prices go up.

The Process for Selling an AR15 to Us

Selling a Glock 19 shouldn't be complicated. Whether you have a standard one or the rarest model, we provide a streamlined process that handles the heavy lifting for you.

• Step 1: Get an instant quote based on your gun's specific model and condition.
• Step 2: Accept our offer and ship your gun with our prepaid label.
• Step 3: Get paid the same day we validate it.