Many people still have old VHS tapes packed away in bins, cabinets, or closets. These tapes were once part of daily routines—movies for the kids, favorite holiday films, exercise videos, or shows recorded from TV.
But now, VCRs are hard to find, and the tapes just take up space. They sit untouched for years, often forgotten until it’s time to clean out a shelf or storage box.
You might wonder what to do with them. Should you keep them? Donate them? Are any of them still worth something?
This guide will help you make those decisions clearly. You’ll learn why these tapes are hard to let go of, where they usually build up, which ones might be worth keeping, and how to start clearing them out.
Why It's Hard to Let Go of Old VHS Tapes
Most people kept old VHS tapes just because they’re connected to personal moments. These tapes may include movies your kids watched over and over, holiday favorites, or shows you recorded before everything was online.
It’s not just the movie. It’s what it reminds YOU of.
Maybe you remember your child curled up with a blanket watching their favorite cartoon, or your family laughing through the same holiday film every year. These memories can make it feel hard to part with the physical item.
Some tapes are kept because you’re not sure if they might be worth something. A few rare ones are, but most store-bought tapes (especially popular titles sold everywhere) were made in huge quantities. That means they usually don’t have much resale value today.
Another reason they stay in the house is that they’re easy to ignore. Once they get packed into a cabinet or shoved into a bin, they’re out of sight. You might not use them anymore, but because they’re not in the way, it’s easy to keep postponing the decision.
You might not even own a VCR anymore. Or maybe it’s packed away and hasn’t been plugged in for years. Still, the tapes are sitting there because going through them feels like a hassle, or something you’d rather avoid.
Where Old VHS Tapes Get Stored and Forgotten
Old VHS tapes tend to land in places you don’t look at very often.
Over time, they get pushed aside and forgotten. You may have a few still sitting on a low shelf in the TV cabinet, even though you haven’t used that VCR in years. Others might be packed in cardboard boxes from your last move, now sitting in the back of a closet or under the stairs.
Basements and garages are common spots, especially when you’re trying to make room elsewhere in the house. You may have set them aside, thinking you'd go through them later, but later just kept getting postponed. Now they’ve been there so long, it’s hard to remember what’s even in the box.
It’s also easy to mix VHS tapes in with other things. You might find them next to old DVDs, cassette tapes, or burned CDs from the early 2000s. Sometimes they’re tossed in a bin along with extra cords, remote controls, or other electronics you don’t use anymore.
If you have a spare room that turned into storage, there’s a good chance there’s a tote or drawer full of tapes in there too out of sight and out of mind. You may even come across them during seasonal cleanups or when rearranging a room and wonder why do you still have those. (story of my life before 😅)
The truth is, we often stop noticing the things we don’t use. But just because something has been sitting quietly doesn’t mean it should stay. Once you come across these tapes again, it’s the perfect time to ask if they still deserve a place in your home.
How to Decide Which VHS Tapes Are Worth Keeping
When you finally pull out that old box of VHS tapes, the first thing to ask yourself is:
Do I even have a way to watch these?
If you don’t own a working VCR anymore, and you’re not planning to buy one, then most of those tapes are likely just taking up space.
But even if you still have a VCR tucked away somewhere, think about how often you actually use it. If it hasn’t been plugged in for years, that tells you something. You’re probably not reaching for those tapes anymore and you might not miss them if they were gone.
Next, look at what’s in the collection.
You might find a favorite Christmas movie or a workout video you used to enjoy. Maybe there’s a cartoon your grandkids used to love watching during visits. These types of tapes might still hold personal value. If that’s the case, you could consider converting them to digital or finding the same movie on DVD or a streaming service.
However, it’s very common to have stacks of tapes that haven’t been touched in ten, fifteen, or even twenty years. You may not even remember owning some of them.
There could be duplicates, movies you now own in other formats, or tapes you picked up at garage sales that never got watched. Holding on to them just because they’re still good doesn’t mean they’re still useful.
It’s also okay to keep one or two for sentimental reasons. For example, maybe you want to hang onto the original copy of your kids’ favorite Disney movie, not because you’ll watch it, but because it reminds you of that time in their lives.
And that’s fine. Just don’t let one or two meaningful tapes turn into six boxes in the garage.
Be honest with yourself. If you forgot a tape existed until today, or if you know deep down you’re not going to watch it again, it’s probably time to let it go. Keeping fewer things makes it easier to enjoy the things that actually matter.
What You Can Do With VHS Tapes You No Longer Need
Once you’ve decided which tapes aren’t worth keeping, the next step is figuring out where they should go. You don’t have to toss everything in the trash. There are a few practical options that can help you clear the space without feeling guilty.
Start by checking with local donation centers. Some thrift stores, libraries, or secondhand shops will still accept VHS tapes, especially if they’re in good shape and have the original cover.
It’s always a good idea to call first and ask. If you’re in a smaller town, your local church or community center might be interested as well.
Another option is to list your tapes online. While they may not sell for much, you can offer them for free on Facebook Marketplace or in a local Buy Nothing group.
There are people who still enjoy collecting tapes, using them for art projects, or sharing them with grandkids who want to see how movies used to be played.
For example, someone might be looking for a classic holiday cartoon or an old workout tape they remember from the 90s.
If you come across broken tapes or ones that are badly damaged, it’s best to throw those out. Unfortunately, VHS tapes can’t go in your regular recycling bin.
However, some electronics recycling centers do take them. You can search online for one near you or check with your local waste service to see if they have a special drop-off day.
The goal is to keep what still matters and find the best way to move on from the rest. Whether that means donating, giving away, recycling, or tossing, there’s always a way to let go without feeling like you’re losing something important.
Letting Go of Tapes Without Letting Go of the Memories
Holding on to old VHS tapes because they’re connected to family, childhood, or special moments is fine. Maybe it's the cartoon your kids watched every weekend or a home-recorded tape of a favorite show.
But keeping a memory doesn’t mean keeping a whole shelf of tapes you’ll never play again. Over time, those bins and boxes just take up space in the closet, the garage, or the spare bedroom. And the truth is, you probably haven’t watched most of those tapes in years.
When you let go of the tapes you no longer use, you’re not losing anything important. You’re giving yourself a lighter home, less to manage, and more room to enjoy the things that really matter to you now.
If going through your VHS tapes feels emotional or overwhelming, the What To Do With Memorabilia Guide can help. It gives you a clear, step-by-step way to sort through sentimental items without feeling stuck or unsure.
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