How Much Are My Pokémon Cards Worth?

Pokémon cards are quite a valuable commodity these days. In fact, a Shadowless Holo Charizard can go for around $507,000. While most people don’t have those extremely rare cards in their collections, you may have something worth a few hundred or even a few thousand dollars.

Think you may have some valuable cards in the old collection? Below, you’ll find plenty of information on determining the value of Pokémon cards.

How can I price my Pokémon cards?

There are many resources when it comes to pricing Pokémon cards. For example, the website Mavin has an easy-to-use card-searching feature. You simply need to type in the name of your card, and Mavin will give you a list of similar products and their current values. You could also look up your cards on a site like eBay.

In the bottom right-hand corner of your Pokémon card, there should be two numbers. They usually appear as something like 20/82. You can use these numbers to look up the value of your cards.

How popular is the Pokémon on your card?

A Pokémon’s popularity can often dictate the value of your card. Simply put, cards featuring popular Pokémon will often fetch a better price. Examples of extremely popular Pokémon include Charizard, Blastoise, Rayquaza, Pikachu and Mewtwo.

What’s the condition of your card?

Rare Pokémon cards in good condition are always worth more than those with scratches, bends and other damages. If your valuable cards aren’t already stored in protective sleeves, it’s time to invest in some. Protective sleeves are usually inexpensive and available in bulk.

If your card is in pristine condition, it can go for full price. If not, the buyer will likely offer you something lower. You should consider getting any extremely rare cards in your collection graded by Certified Guaranty Company (CGC).

Look for the black symbol

Pokémon cards feature black symbols in the bottom right-hand corner to show how rare they are. For example, cards with a black circle are common, while those with black diamonds are rare. If your card features a star that’s white or gold, it’s considered ultra-rare and may go for a lot of money.

You should also check for a first edition symbol, which would be located right underneath the picture of the Pokémon, on the left. This shows your card was from the first printing of a card set, meaning it’s more valuable.

Other features to look out for

Check for any holographic Pokémon cards in your collection. Holographic cards are rarer and, thus, more valuable. Another thing to look out for is a shadow behind the picture of the Pokémon. Shadowless cards come from the original print run, making them much more valuable than those with shadows.

Errors skyrocket a card’s value. These errors could come in the form of misspellings, misprints, formatting issues and more. Errors are rare, so if you think you’ve found one, be sure to look it up.

Still wondering, “How much are my Pokémon Cards worth?” If you can, try and consult an expert. Just be sure to consult with someone you trust.

If you’re interested in buying rare Pokémon cards, come see what we have at The Book Broker.