How to Wipe an SSD Before Selling It (NIST 800-88, Plain English)

By The Founder · Reviewed July 7, 2026 · About the author

Why a format is not a wipe

Deleting files removes the directory entry, not the data; a quick format rebuilds the file table and leaves nearly everything recoverable with free tools. NIST 800-88 — the federal standard for media sanitization — distinguishes Clear (overwrite-level) from Purge (the drive's own cryptographic or block-level sanitize, which is what actually ends the conversation).

NVMe drives

nvme format /dev/nvme0n1 --ses=1 (user-data erase) or nvme sanitize where supported. Windows users: the manufacturer tool — Samsung Magician's Secure Erase, Crucial Storage Executive's Sanitize.

SATA drives

ATA Secure Erase via hdparm --security-erase from a live Linux USB, or the same manufacturer tools. Enterprise SAS drives: sg_sanitize.

Why we re-wipe anyway

Because you should not have to trust that we did it — every SSD and laptop we buy is re-erased to NIST 800-88 Purge on our bench and you get a serialized certificate with a public verification link, free (data security). Wiping first is belt and suspenders, and we encourage it.

Selling? We buy PM983s, DC S4510s, 970 EVO Plus and much more — see the Payout Index.