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.
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.
A star means the card is rare, while a star H or three stars are special, extra-rare cards. These rarities have the highest potential to be valuable, so separate them from the rest of your collection. Other symbols typically mean the card was sold as part of a special product, not a booster pack.
Look for rarity indicators such as the type of Pokemon, set symbol and shadow box (or lack thereof) and, of course, the holographic reflection. Pratte recommends getting your cards authenticated and graded if you know they're worth at least $100 each—and especially if you plan to see them.
Some collectors have earned hundreds of dollars — if not thousands — on a single Pokémon card exchange. Determining if your card is worth money can be done by searching card-selling websites and trading forums. Keep in mind that the condition of your card will be a large factor in the final price.
Collectors are willing to pay a lot of money to get their hands on rare Pokémon cards, and selling the ones in your collection is so easy. While Pokémon cards have different values based on rarity and condition, we'll walk you through how to find out how much they're worth and where to sell them to make the most cash!
It's important to note that your average Pokémon collection won't make you rich. Most common and uncommon cards are worth less than $1, and even rare cards are usually worth less than $5.
1. 1998 Pokemon Japanese Promo Pikachu Holo Illustrator. Logan Paul purchased the 1998 Pokemon Japanese Promo Pikachu Illustrato-Holo for $5.3 million in July 2021. The Pikachu Illustrator card is widely considered the rarest and most expensive Pokemon card in existence.
In April 2022, it was confirmed that Logan Paul paid $5.275 million for a PSA grade 10 Pikachu Illustrator card. The Illustrator card, given out to 39 winners of the 1997 and 1998 Pokémon illustration contests, is extremely rare. Only 23 have been certified by the PSA, and only one has been given a PSA rating of 10.
The average value of "charizard" is $78.69. Sold comparables range in price from a low of $2.99 to a high of $5,000.00.
The next highest rarity symbol in Scarlet & Violet is the double white star, which indicates an Ultra Rare. Ultra Rares correspond to the Japanese "Super Rare" rarity, which uses an "SR" rarity symbol. All Ultra Rare cards in Scarlet & Violet are either Full Art Pokémon ex or Full Art Supporters.
When the Pokémon trading card game was introduced in the US in 1999, the first print run of the first set, which is known as the Base Set, included a “First Edition” symbol on every card. On cards featuring Pokémon, the symbol is found on the left side of the card midway between the card's top and bottom.
Over the last five years, the Pokemon card has consistently sold around $195k to $200k. In 2020, one fetched a whopping $250,000, eclipsing the previous record of $243,000 that another one fetched back in 2019. Astonishingly in February 2021, a PSA 7 version of the card sold for $375,000 during a PWCC auction.
#1 Iono (Special Illustration Rare)
Small wonder that it's the most valuable Pokémon card of 2023 so far. Iono is a card the player base has been yearning to have for years. It places both players' hands at the bottom of the deck and then both players draw a card for each Prize card they have remaining.
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.
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. The brand-new rarity known as illustration rare will be represented by one shiny gold star.
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. Gold Star Pokémon cards are among the most valuable sets of Pokémon cards in existence and command an incredibly high value as a result.
Most modern Pokémon cards are worth less than $1, and the rare ones are worth less than $15. But vintage cards from the late 90s and early 2000s can sell for a lot more. If in good condition, many can sell for over $100.
Azelf, Mesprit, and Uxie
While our number one spot for the rarest 'mon is technically three Pokemon, that's also part of what makes them so rare. Each one only spawns in specific regions, and they don't show up often at all.
The advantages of getting your card (or cards) graded really come into play when you buy or sell cards. Pokémon cards that have been graded can fetch much higher prices than ungraded versions! That being said, collectors tend to only appreciate official gradings from companies they know.
Thus, those looking to make huge profits off of investing in Pokémon cards (hopefully not scamming) - even after paying for PSA grading and buying spaces at conventions and auctions to sell - should wait and monitor the Pokémon TCG for at least one to five years to ensure they make the most from their 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.
One of just 41 copies in existence. One of the rarest Pokémon cards of all time, Pikachu Illustrator, has gone under the hammer for close to a cool half a million dollars. Pikachu Illustrator is a legend among Pokémon collectors, and for good reason.