How Much Are Your Old Pokémon Cards Worth? Here's An Easy Way To Find Out
If you remember having a Charizard or other holofoil cards, now's the time to dig 'em up!
By Jeremy Ng
Do you have a bunch of old Pokémon cards lying around at home?
Many of us grew up opening booster packs, building decks, trading them with friends, and having our own binder collections. But did you know that your childhood Pokémon cards could be worth some money? :O
Before you get all excited, there are a few things to consider:
Are my Pokémon cards real or fake?
If your cards are fake, unfortunately they have no value at all. Find out how to check if your Pokémon cards are actually genuine in this article.
What is the condition of my Pokémon cards?
A mint or perfect condition card will usually sell for full price, but its value drops the more imperfections it has. Here's an overview of all conditions, ranging from near mint (NM) to damaged (DMG).
What's the rarity and edition of my Pokémon cards?
You can find out the rarity by looking at the bottom left symbols: common (circle), uncommon (diamond), rare (star) — there are also holofoil/shiny versions called holo rare and reverse holo rare.
Certain cards, especially vintage ones, have multiple editions. For instance, this holo rare Base Set Charizard has a few versions, each with drastically different price points.
1. Search for your card on Troll and Toad
Head over to the search bar on Troll and Toad, then type the Pokémon name and corresponding set number, which is found on the bottom right of your card. In this case, you would search 'Vaporeon 12/64'.
And there you go, a NM Vaporeon from the Jungle Unlimited set has a value of around US$26 (RM108).
However, do note that this applies to an almost perfect condition card, and prices on Troll and Toad tend to be on the higher end. Nevertheless, it's a good starting point to gauge the value of your cards.
Pro-Tip: What is TNTx4?
This is one phrase you'll often see when people buy or sell Pokémon cards. What it means is that people are willing to buy or sell cards based on four times the dollar amount listed on Troll and Toad (which is more or less equivalent to the exchange rate).
However, not everyone will pay TNTx4 for a card. For example, assuming the Vaporeon card above is in lightly played condition, someone may offer TNTx2, which means they are willing to pay 26 x 2 = RM52.
2. Look through eBay to find recently sold listings
A more accurate way to find out the actual current price of a Pokémon card is through eBay. Here, you'll be able to discover how much people have recently paid for a certain card.
Similar to before, head over to the search bar and type 'Vaporeon 12/64'. However, this time, open the filter options and show only 'Sold Items'.
In general, eBay offers a more realistic valuation of your cards compared to Troll and Toad — it shows you how much people are actually paying right now. Look through recently sold listings and average them out to get a better idea of what your card is worth.
Another site that helps you check recently sold eBay listings is 130point.
Pro-Tip: What about graded cards?
Collectors often send cards to companies like PSA, BGS, and CGC, which will give a grading from 1 to 10. A high grade could greatly increase a card's value, for example, someone recently paid US$129.99 (RM544) for a PSA 9 version of the Vaporeon card above.
3. Get a friend who's into Pokémon to look through your collection
All this may seem a little overwhelming, especially if you have a bulk of Pokémon cards and no idea where to start. In this scenario, the best thing to do is get someone else to look through your collection for you. Usually, they'll be able to help you identify cards that are valuable and give you an accurate valuation.
There are also online Facebook groups where local users buy, sell, and discuss about Pokémon cards. Most groups will allow you to ask questions and share your collection.
Pro-Tip: Do your research before selling
There may be people who want to swoop up your cards at a low price, a.k.a. lowballers. Make sure you do you research, and only let go of your cards at a price you're comfortable with. Don't rush, the worst thing is losing all your nostalgic Pokémon cards and regretting later.
Now, you have a good idea of how much your Pokémon cards are worth. It's up to you whether you wanna keep 'em all or sell 'em all! ;P
If you're thinking of selling, check out these important FAQs:
Where can I sell my Pokémon cards?
You can list your Pokémon cards on Carousell or Facebook Marketplace, either as singles or as a collection. Make sure to give a clear description of your cards' condition and the price you are looking for.
Besides that, you can also list your Pokémon cards in certain Facebook groups. However, do read the instructions before posting a sale post. Here are a few groups to try out:
- Pokemon @ Toysbar
- 大马POKEMON TCG 小组（malaysia pokemon tcg group）
- Castelia City PokeMart
How do I package and deliver my Pokémon cards?
Once you've agreed on a deal, you can either deliver your cards via COD or postage. If you are posting cards through mail, it's important to protect valuable cards from being damaged in transit.
STEP 1: Carefully insert your Pokémon card into a penny sleeve
STEP 2: Slide it into a toploader (rigid plastic case that stops the card from being bent)
STEP 3: Place it into a bubble wrap envelope
STEP 4: Give it another layer of bubble wrap protection (optional)
STEP 5: Send it out and share the tracking number with buyer
If you are selling a big collection, you can consider shipping it out in a box. Just make sure that the valuable cards in the box are sleeved, and the cards don't move around. (Do NOT rubber band your collection!) Bubble wrap the box before shipping.
Thinking of getting back into the 'ol Pokémon card hobby? Here's everything you need to know to get you up to speed!
