If you collected Pokemon cards in your youth, chances are you have an old shoe box storing your collection somewhere in mom’s basement. Rare Pokemon cards have been known to sell for hundreds if not thousands of dollars, but how can you tell if your cards are actually worth money? Here’s how to determine if your Pokemon cards are valuable collector’s items or just a pile of cardboard nostalgia.
We’re going to cover the two main factors that go into determining Pokemon card value (rarity and condition) and then explain how to learn a card’s worth and where you can exchange it for money.
How to Determine Pokemon Card Value
Pokemon Card Rarity
Anyone who has ripped open a Pokemon booster pack knows the thrill of flipping through the stack to see if a much sought-after rare card awaits them inside. Rare cards are the most valuable cards printed by Pokemon, and there have been quite a few different kinds released over the years. There are numerous factors that go into determining just how rare a card is.
The black symbol in the bottom corner of a Pokemon card denotes its rarity: a circle is common, a diamond is uncommon, and a star is rare. Traditionally the star is black, but a card with a star of an alternate color such as white or gold means it's ultra rare.
A card bearing a first edition mark on the side means it’s from the first print run of a card set, which gives it extra value.
If a card is holographic, it’s worth even more.
Over the years, new card types have been introduced that look quite a bit different than your standard Pokemon card. These rare cards have names like Pokemon EX, Pokemon GX and Pokemon V/MAX and are unmistakable thanks to the holographic art taking up the entire card.
There are standard versions of these cards, full arts, rainbow-colored secret rares, and shiny versions, all of which have their own set value.
All of these different card types can be a lot to process for the uninitiated, so you can easily figure out which card you have by searching for it online using the set number found in the bottom corner.
There are other factors that can make a card valuable aside from what symbol is printed on it. Cards featuring popular Pokemon are eagerly sought after by fans, creating a high demand that increases value. Some popular Pokemon include:
- Charizard
- Blastoise
- Rayquaza
- Pikachu
- Mewtwo
- Umbreon
- Lugia
Cards that are especially good in the game are often worth more, as well.
Then there are limited-edition cards only obtainable by attending special events, entering contests, and competing in tournaments -- these are some of the most valuable cards a Pokemon collector can obtain. We’ll cover these in more detail below.
Sorting your collection by these rarity types is a good starting point to identify the cream of the crop. These cards can then be appraised further to discover their true worth.
Don’t worry if most of your cards aren’t rares that are worth big money, that’s completely normal. If you find yourself with many cards not worth selling as singles, they can still be sold in bulk.
Pokemon Card Condition
Once you’ve figured out which cards in your collection are rare enough to consider selling, the next step is to assess their condition. Any card you think may have value should be stored in a protective sleeve and kept out of direct sunlight to preserve its condition.
A perfect mint or near-mint condition card will usually sell for full price, while any flaws will cause it to lose value.
There are obvious flaws such as scratches, bends, and tears, usually caused by playing with the cards or not storing them properly. This kind of damage can severely lower the value of a card.
Then there are minor imperfections, such as centering and chipping, that are a result of how well the card was printed. These flaws are less impactful on value and are usually only factored in when having the card professionally graded.
Special Cards to Keep an Eye Out For
Aside from the various rares mentioned above, there are a few unique traits worth looking out for that can mean a Pokemon card has high value. These are often printing errors or limited distribution that led to a card becoming extremely precious to collectors. Sometimes these cards look no different than others of the same kind at first glance and require special attention to identify, so look carefully!
Shadowless
You may have heard the term “Shadowless” tossed around when referring to extremely valuable Pokemon cards. For example, a Shadowless Base Set Charizard card typically sells for a few thousand dollars on eBay. But what does this term mean and how can you tell if your card is Shadowless?
After the first print run of Base Set Pokemon cards, a drop shadow was added to the art box to spruce up the design a bit. Therefore, all of the cards from the original print run are referred to as Shadowless. Shadowless cards have become collector’s items because only a small amount of them exist.
Look closely at the border of your Base Set cards. If there’s no shadow visible along the edge, then you have a Shadowless card.
Tournament and Promo Cards
Not all Pokemon cards come from booster packs. Some of the rarest Pokemon cards were only given out as tournament prizes or promotional giveaways. These cards usually bear a stamp on the art to identify where they came from or have a special promo star in the bottom corner, so make sure to keep your eyes peeled for these sorts of markings on your cards.
Some of these special cards were quite commonplace back in the day--such as the promotional Mew card given out in 1999 to those who bought tickets for Pokemon: The First Movie-- so they’re not worth more than a few dollars now.
But some, like the 2011 and 2012 Tropical Beach card from the Pokemon World Championships, can easily fetch hundreds of dollars.
Error Cards
Certain cards have spelling errors, formatting issues, misprints, or other mistakes that turn an otherwise unremarkable card into a rare collector’s item.
For example, an unlimited 1999 Pokemon Base Blastoise with “Stage” missing in the top right corner is referred to as “Stage Error Blastoise” and can go for thousands.
There are dozens and dozens of various error cards that have popped up over the years, so it may take you a while to check your collection for them, but it may be worth it if you wind up finding one. While some errors are common and not worth much, certain ones are extremely valuable to collectors.
Check out this list to see if you have a particularly rare error card.
How to Cash in On Your Pokemon Cards
Now that you’ve gone through your cards and identified which may have value, it’s time to see how much they’re actually worth and put them up for sale.
As you might expect, one of the easiest ways to check the value of a card is to look it up on an auction site like eBay. Make sure to look at completed listings to see how much the card actually sold for.
Other useful sites are ones like TCGPlayer and TrollAndToad, which act as digital storefronts for game shops and individuals selling cards. Once you look up a card, you can check the Market Price for an idea of how much it’s currently worth. Like eBay, these sites allow you to sell your cards for a fee.
Once you know how much your cards are worth, you can either make a listing on one of these sites to sell them, or you could visit a card shop or flea market to haggle in person, whatever it takes to get the very best price for your Pokemon cards.
Joshua is a Senior Editor and Producer of Features at IGN. If Pokemon, Green Lantern, or Star Wars are frequently used words in your vocabulary, you’ll want to follow him on Twitter @JoshuaYehl and IGN.
FAQs
How can I find out how much my Pokémon collection is worth? ›
The easiest way to get an estimate of the value of Pokemon cards is to see how much they are currently going for on the Pokemon TCG marketplace. Reliable websites include TCGPlayer.com and TrollandToad.com, which are also where collectors can put their cards up for sale should they choose to part ways with them.
How do you find out how much a Pokemon card is worth? ›TCGplayer Pokémon Market Price
Most cards have multiple listings, letting you get a great idea of the value range for a card (including the card's condition, which could be relevant for your more heavily played childhood cards), and a helpful graph that tracks the price history in the marketplace.
TCGplayer
The TCGplayer is an easy-to-use app and one of the best for checking the prices of Pokemon cards. This app has over a million downloads in Google Play Store alone. The app comes with a scanner feature to scan your Pokemon cards. You can scan multiple cards at a time.
A marker near the bottom of the card or near its name will indicate rarity: a circle means the card is common, a diamond means it's less common, and stars mean it's rare. More stars or with combinations of letters or symbols mean extra rare, including if those symbols are in the name or elsewhere on the card.
How do I check my Pokémon collection online? ›How to view your collection. Currently, there is no dedicated “collection” area in Pokémon TCG Live, but you can view your entire collection of cards and deck accessories by selecting Decks from the main menu and then choosing Edit Deck.
What is the rarest 1995 Pokemon card? ›1) First Edition Holographic Charizard
The #4 Charizard is by far the most desirable of all the first edition Pokémon cards.
Popular Pokemon
One of the first things I do when assessing an old collection is to look for the chase cards. This is usually a Charizard card, but I'm also on the lookout for other popular characters such as Pikachu, Blastoise and Gengar too. If lots of people like the characters, then lots will want the card too.
Most common and uncommon cards are worth less than $1, and even rare cards are usually worth less than $5. However, holographic rare Pokémon cards often go for $15 and up—especially for older cards that have been sitting in your self storage unit for years.
What does 2 stars on a Pokemon card mean? ›Ultra rare cards are represented by two shiny foil stars and are used for the more exclusive full-art foil versions of Pokémon ex and even some Supporter cards. Double rare. Ultra rare.
Are Pokémon cards loosing on value? ›True collectibles are guaranteed to increase in value
Pokémon cards are collectibles, and many sets went out of print years ago. The inherently limited supply of each card type means that as time goes on and cards become more difficult to obtain, the value will steadily increase.
Do Pokémon cards lose value? ›
Pokémon cards only hold their value if they remain in 100% pristine condition. If a PSA 10 Charizard drops to PSA 9 while it's in your possession, it loses 80% of its value. Demand for rare collectibles is extremely fickle.
How do I scan my Pokémon cards? ›- Open the app and navigate to the Shop.
- Select Redeem.
- Either manually enter the code or use a webcam to scan the card's QR code.
- Once a code has been submitted and validated. you must check each item and then select Claim Now.
The Pokémon TCG Card Dex lets you browse and scan your Pokémon TCG collection with your mobile device.
What is the app that scans Pokémon code cards? ›PokeScan is a lightweight, fast and effective app which allows you to quickly scan the QR's from your Pokemon Code Cards to enable easy redemption in the Pokemon Trading Card Game Online. The app will bleep when you've succesfully scanned a code and will notify you if it's something you already scanned.
Is there an app to track Pokémon card collection? ›Dex is an application to help you keep track of your card collection, find new cards and figure out how much your collection is worth.
What is the 2 rarest Pokemon card? ›The Gold Star Pokémon cards are one of the most valuable Pokémon sets ever produced, with Espeon and Umbreon two of the rarest cards in the set.
What is the #1 rarest Pokemon card? ›1. 1998 Pikachu Illustrator Card. What is this? There's no better place to start than what many consider to be the rarest Pokemon card in existence, the Pikachu Illustrator card.
Are Pokémon cards from the 90s worth money? ›A 1999 first edition shadowless charmeleon can be worth up to $500, while a Nidorino shadowless first edition base set card in mint condition could fetch you up to $160. There's even an Australian card collectors site where Pokemon cards can fetch anything from $5 to $800.
How do I sell all my Pokemon cards? ›- eBay.
- Troll and Toad.
- Cardmarket.
- Card Cavern.
- TCGplayer.
- CGC Castle.
- Facebook Marketplace.
Selling your Pokémon Cards in Person
Find a store that specializes in trading card games. Bring your well preserved cards and see how much they'll pay you for them. Be sure to know the value of your cards and how much you'll accept for them before doing business. Call ahead to make sure the store accepts Pokémon cards.
What is the rarest Pokemon card in the world 2023? ›
We've put together the best ones to consider investing in 2023. From Ash's Pikachu to First Edition Charizard, these are the rarest and most sought-after Pokémon cards of all time.
How do you know if a Pokemon card is first edition? ›On Trainer cards, it is in the bottom left corner. The symbol is the number “1” on a solid black circle with the word “EDITION” in all capital letters arching around the top of the circle.
Who owns the most expensive Pokemon card? ›Paul purchased the PSA 10 card in exchange for a Mint 9 copy of Pikachu Illustrator - claimed to be worth $1.275m - plus an additional $4 million, making the total sale reportedly worth $5.275m. Paul was later given a Guiness World Record for the most expensive Pokemon trading card sold at a private sale.
What Pokémon cards are worth $500? ›Are Pokémon cards from the 90s worth anything? A 1999 first edition shadowless charmeleon can be worth up to $500, while a Nidorino shadowless first edition base set card in mint condition could fetch you up to $160. There's even an Australian card collectors site where Pokemon cards can fetch anything from $5 to $800.
How much can you sell a Pokémon collection for? ›You will generally get about 40-60% of the total value of your collection if you sell it all at once. The exact amount depends on the average value of your items and how popular those items are.
How much should I sell my Pokemon card collection for? ›On average, Pokémon cards are worth $1.20. Most “Rare” Pokémon cards are valued under $10 and cards that are classified as “uncommon” or below are often worth less than $1. Older and promotional Pokémon cards have a much higher value on average, with some cards being worth over $300,000.
What is the most valuable Pokémon set to collect? ›The Skyridge Booster Box is one of the rarest and most expensive Pokémon TCG boxes out there. What makes this pack so special (apart from the insanely cool artwork) is that nearly every card in the box can fetch a pretty penny. This explains why the Skyridge Booster Box can go for over $30,000 on eBay!
Who has the most valuable Pokemon card collection? ›The most valuable Pokémon card collection is owned by Gary Haase (USA) and is worth an estimated $10,000,000 (£8,345,000.00). Gary has always been a collector of random items including bottle caps, comic books and trading cards.
How to make money selling Pokémon cards? ›Selling your Pokémon Cards in Person
Find a store that specializes in trading card games. Bring your well preserved cards and see how much they'll pay you for them. Be sure to know the value of your cards and how much you'll accept for them before doing business. Call ahead to make sure the store accepts Pokémon cards.
The value of bulk Pokemon cards varies depending on the card type and condition. A good rule of thumb is that bulk cards are worth about 10% of the value of individual cards in the same set. So, if a set of Pokemon cards is worth $100, then bulk cards from that set would be worth around $10.
Are Pokémon collections worth it? ›
Investing in Pokémon cards can be profitable if you focus on rare cards in good condition. The age, aesthetic, rarity, and popularity of the card all impact its value. Grading is important to assess the card's condition and potential value accurately.
What to do with useless Pokémon cards? ›Make a Donation
If you are a Pokémon card collector, enthusiast, or retailer, and you have a collection of unused unlimited Pokémon cards, you can simply donate them to us and we will sleeve them, repack them, and donate them to one of the many organizations that we partner with.
The Blastoise Commissioned Presentation Galaxy Star Hologram card is the rarest Pokémon card in existence. Only two of these cards were ever made, created by Wizards of the Coast in order to obtain the contract to produce Pokémon cards for The Pokémon Company.
What is the most priceless Pokemon card? ›2. 1999 First Edition Shadowless Base Set Charizard. A card that needs no introduction, and what is for many, the pinnacle of the hobby. This Charizard card is by far the most valuable and sought by Pokemon card collectors, and for good reason too…
What is a good Pokemon collection? ›- Crown Zenith Special Collection - Pikachu VMAX. See on Amazon.
- Sword & Shield Silver Tempest Booster Bundle. ...
- Pokemon GO Elite Trainer Box. ...
- Scarlet & Violet Booster Display Box. ...
- Pokemon TCG: Crown Zenith Elite Trainer Box. ...
- Pokemon TCG: Shining Fates Elite Trainer Box. ...
- Pokemon TCG: 3 Booster Packs.
The incredibly rare Trophy Pikachu card, with a PSA-8 grading, was put up for auction for only the most hard-core collectors to bid on, selling to a lucky (and loaded) bidder for $300,000.
What Pokemon card is worth 500000? ›The Pikachu Illustrator card from 1998 is back on the market. The highly sought-after Pikachu collectible is now up for auction on eBay, and the starting bid is a whopping US$500,000 (RM2. 24 million).
What Pokemon card is worth $10000? ›This Shadowless Charmander card from the Base Set is in excellent condition and has been sold for an incredible $10,000. This skyrocketed value is just proof of how early versions of Charmander Pokemon cards are valuable.