How much is my Pokémon card worth?

Most Pokémon cards are worth cents; a few are worth thousands, and two copies of the same card can differ tenfold because of the print or the condition. These five steps take you from the card in your hand to a fair price, using the free card pages on this site. For example, the Base Set Charizard 4/102 is at $674.34 today for an ungraded Near Mint copy.

1. Find the set and the card number

Look at the bottom of the card. Since 1999 almost every card carries a number such as 4/102: the card's place in the set, then the size of the set. A first number larger than the second (199/165) marks a secret rare, printed beyond the main list and usually worth more. The small set symbol near the number (or beside the art on the oldest cards) tells you which expansion it belongs to; Base Set cards have no symbol at all. Type the name into the card search, then pick the result whose number and set match.

2. Identify the exact print

1st Edition stamp. A small black "Edition 1" circle at the left edge of the art box on Wizards of the Coast era cards (1999 to 2002). The same card without it is the Unlimited print, and usually worth far less.
Holofoil, reverse holofoil, normal. A holo has foil in the art box; a reverse holo has foil everywhere except the art. Each card page shows a price for every finish the card was printed in.
Reprints. Popular cards come back: Base Set 2, Legendary Collection and the 2021 Celebrations Classic Collection reprinted early favourites, the last with a 25th-anniversary stamp. Same name and number, different card, different price.
Language. Prices here are for English cards. Japanese and other languages are priced separately and the numbers differ.

3. Judge the condition honestly

Buyers grade with five words: Near Mint (looks unplayed: sharp corners, clean edges, no scratches), Lightly Played (a little edge wear or a light scratch), Moderately Played, Heavily Played and Damaged (creases, bends, writing, water). Check the back first: white flecks along the dark blue edges show wear before the front does. Then tilt the front under a light to find scratches on the foil. The market price on every PokeClaw card page is for an ungraded Near Mint copy; a Lightly Played copy usually sells for noticeably less, and a damaged one for a small fraction.

4. Compare three prices

The three prices and what they mean
Price	What it is	How to use it
Market price	TCGplayer's figure from recent sales of ungraded Near Mint copies.	Your anchor for a clean, ungraded card.
Asking prices	What sellers list the card for right now (the eBay rows on each card page).	A ceiling: a card is not worth what someone asks, only what someone pays.
Sold prices	What copies actually sold for (on eBay, tick "Sold items" in the filters).	The reality check, especially for graded and rare cards.

If the three disagree, trust sold prices for the exact print and condition you hold, then the market price, then asking prices.

5. Decide whether to grade

A grading company seals the card in a slab with a 1-to-10 grade, and a high grade can multiply the price. Grading costs a fee, shipping and weeks of waiting, and the grade is not guaranteed. Grade when the price of the card at the grade you can realistically expect, minus fees and shipping, clearly beats the ungraded price. The grading guide explains the scales.

The most valuable cards right now

The ten highest market prices in the catalog today (ungraded Near Mint). See the most valuable card in every set.

The ten most valuable cards
#	Card	No.	Set	Rarity	Market
1	Shining Tyranitar	113/105	Neo Destiny (2002)	Rare Shining	$4,250
2	Charizard ★ δ	100/101	Dragon Frontiers (2006)	Rare Holo Star	$4,000
3	Shining Charizard	107/105	Neo Destiny (2002)	Rare Shining	$3,999
4	Pikachu ★	104/110	Holon Phantoms (2006)	Rare Holo Star	$3,200
5	Latias & Latios-GX	170/181	Team Up (2019)	Rare Ultra	$2,969
6	Rayquaza ★	107/107	Deoxys (2005)	Rare Holo Star	$2,501
7	Treecko ★	109/109	Team Rocket Returns (2004)	Rare Holo Star	$2,400
8	Latias ★	105/107	Deoxys (2005)	Rare Holo Star	$2,300
9	Umbreon VMAX	215/203	Evolving Skies (2021)	Rare Rainbow	$2,276
10	Lugia	149/147	Aquapolis (2003)	Rare Secret	$2,225

Common mistakes

Pricing a reprint as the original, or an Unlimited print as 1st Edition.
Using the highest asking price as the value.
Calling a card Near Mint without checking the back edges.
Assuming every holo is valuable: most modern holos sell for a few dollars.
Buying a "too cheap" chase card without checking it is real: see how to spot fakes.

From PokeClawJoin the Poke ResistanceFree membership: the deck lab, price watches and the lot scanner when it lands.

Open