What is my Pokémon card worth? Lists, scanners and prices explained

It is common knowledge by now that Pokémon cards can reach a high value: collectors pay millions to own particularly rare examples. But how do you tell what a Pokémon card is worth, and how do you turn such treasures into money? We have the answers!

The key points in brief:

• The value of a Pokémon card can range from almost nothing to several million francs
• What is decisive is supply and demand, which are driven above all by the rarity and condition of the cards
• Current prices can be looked up on various internet platforms
• To determine and protect the value reliably, PSA Grading is recommended

How does the value of a Pokémon card come about?

The most expensive Pokémon cards are worth several million francs. But how do such dramatic prices come about? What is decisive is of course not the material value – even the best Pokémon card is ultimately just a piece of cardboard – but supply and demand!

• The cards only have a real value if people are willing to pay the high prices
• If there are a great many interested buyers, they have to pay higher amounts to get hold of an example
• With rare Pokémon cards, too, demand exceeds supply. Here as well, interested parties have to dig deep into their pockets

The supply side is basically very easy to understand: the number of available cards is limited. Some variants are available tens of thousands of times over, other cards are very rare indeed. Some examples are even unique worldwide!

Things are considerably more complex on the demand side. It is influenced by numerous factors:

The most important factors for the value of a Pokémon card

How much a collector has to pay for a particular card depends on numerous influencing factors. Two aspects stand out clearly, however:

1. Rarity

The number of available cards is of central importance for the value. Examples that are frequently encountered generally achieve lower prices. That is because many collectors already own them and only few people are still looking for one.

Investors looking for an attractive investment are less interested as well. They are aware of the lower chances of an increase in value and prefer to opt for rarer variants. So demand remains limited.

2. Condition

Rarity alone is of little use if an example is marked by stains, creases or even tears. To establish the condition and create a basis for the value of a Pokémon card, PSA Grading has become established as the assessment system.

The US company analyses cards and awards a grade from 1 to 10, with a higher number certifying a better condition. PSA then seals the graded examples in secure, transparent plastic cases. Protected in this way, the value is not only preserved but also immediately and permanently visible thanks to the grading.

3. Age

The age of a card, i.e. when it was produced, is very important. This factor is closely linked to rarity, because many cards are lost over the years and so become scarcer. As a rule: the older, the more valuable. The most expensive Pokémon cards are all at least 25 years old!

4. Misprints and other special features

Numerous misprints and copies that were never intended for sale have been produced over the years – no wonder, considering the huge number of Pokémon cards in circulation worldwide! Some seemingly small errors can increase the value enormously.

The most famous example is without doubt Charizard Topsun Blue Black (1995/1997). Charizard cards are repeatedly among the most expensive, rarest and best Pokémon cards, and with this copy several fascinating factors come together.

In the 90s the Japanese brand Topsun included a card as a gift with its chewing gum. Demand for this particular Charizard is enormous today, because it is also a misprint that fascinates collectors: the year is given as 1995, but the actual year of production is 1997.

Today only one card with PSA Grade 10 is known worldwide! So it is a one-off. You have to dig accordingly deep into your pocket for it: the most recent auction price was around half a million US dollars!

5. Emotional value and media attention

Players and collectors often have an emotional connection with certain cards or with the Pokémon shown on them, and that influences the value. Examples are copies that were only handed out as prizes for tournaments or competitions. One of them is the most expensive Pokémon card of all, the Illustrator Pikachu.

Increased attention or genuine hype on social media or among collectors can also push up the value of a Pokémon card quickly. An internet personality known only as “Kabuto King” is currently buying up every copy of the Kabuto cards from the first edition Fossil set.

Word has got around: within a few months the price rose from just CHF 1 to over 50 today! If the Kabuto King keeps buying up Kabuto cards in bulk, the value is likely to climb further.

How to determine the value of a Pokémon card

Do you own a Pokémon card whose value you want to determine precisely? Then several websites are available where you can look up prices. Once you have a first overview and have found that you are holding a valuable card, you should obtain a PSA Grading.

That lets you establish the condition beyond doubt and determine the exact value. Without such a grading, only rough guide values can be determined at first.

The grading is also required if you want to sell a valuable Pokémon card. Without such an assessment you will hardly find a buyer willing to pay the often high amounts!

The following websites have proven their worth for determining prices:

1. Cardmarket

On Cardmarket.de you will find a good overview of the most important cards and their value. Trading directly via the platform is also possible. Here, however, the greatest caution is called for: Cardmarket uses its own grading system, which can often lead to misunderstandings and even to legal disputes!

Cardmarket uses its own rating system with seven categories.

The website does not use the internationally recognised PSA Grading system and instead offers seven roughly outlined categories. Buyers and sellers therefore have to reach agreement before trading. If one of the two parties has a different idea of what “Slightly Played” is, problems are inevitable.

All in all, Cardmarket is well suited for getting a first overview of the value of a Pokémon card. Trading on the platform itself is not recommended, though, as the protection for trading partners is rather insufficient.

2. Pricecharting

The website Pricecharting.com combines many interesting features: here the value of a Pokémon card is determined on the basis of the official PSA Grading and the price development over time is shown. Completed sales on eBay serve as the basis for the calculation.

So these are prices actually paid, not a seller's wishful thinking, which greatly increases accuracy. That makes Pricecharting an excellent reference for determining the current value of your cards with a PSA Grading.

3. Collectr app

Collectr takes a different approach from the sites mentioned so far. The app lets you put together your own Pokémon card collection and track its value and how that value develops. So it is a kind of portfolio manager for cards.

Several similar sites and apps offer functions of this kind. What sets Collectr apart, though: you can scan your cards with your phone camera and add them to your portfolio automatically. Accuracy is generally very good; unfortunately you only have 35 scans available in the free version.

Selling high-value Pokémon cards

If you are in the fortunate position of wanting to sell a high-value Pokémon card, you should not make any compromises. Trading via online platforms seems simple, but it also comes with considerable problems.

• If you sell a card without a PSA Grading, disputes are not uncommon. In many cases the buyer rates the condition much more negatively than the seller. If opinions differ, claims for money back can follow.
• The far bigger problem, however, is security: sending valuable Pokémon cards by post always carries a high risk. Even with additional tracking and similar measures, delivery is not guaranteed.
• If a card goes missing in the post, owners fall back on the delivery service's insurance cover. To get a refund, however, you have to prove the value of the Pokémon cards beyond doubt. In practice this is almost impossible, despite PSA Grading and value tables.

We therefore recommend selling in person on site at a card shop like AMAZINGTOYS®. The higher the value of your Pokémon cards, the more important it is to handle the deal in person!

At AMAZINGTOYS®, selling works in three simple steps:

1. Book an appointment

Pick a suitable appointment from our list and call +41 43 333 22 02 (reachable on Fridays from 14.00 to 19.00) to secure a slot. You can only sell your collection or expensive single Pokémon cards with an appointment!

1. Come to the AMAZINGTOYS® Store

On the agreed Saturday you can come to the AMAZINGTOYS® Store in Zurich between 12.00 and 19.00 and have your cards valued.

1. Receive money or products

If you are happy with the offer, we handle the Pokémon card buyback right there on site. You can receive the equivalent value in cash or as credit for the AMAZINGTOYS® shop. Simple, fair, secure!

Conclusion: how to determine the value of your Pokémon cards

Pokémon cards can be worth several million CHF – or hardly a centime. The enormous differences come from these factors:

• Rarity
• Condition, i.e. which PSA Grading the cards have received
• Age
• Misprints and special features
• Emotional value and current trends

Do you think you own a valuable Pokémon card? Then various websites are available to you to determine the actual value. They give you the chance to get a first overview.

For an accurate assessment, however, a PSA Grading is required. Only then can the condition, and therefore the value, be determined precisely! Equipped with a PSA rating for your card, you can look up the exact price.

If you want to sell the treasure you have found, it is best to use the Buyback service from AMAZINGTOYS®. During a personal visit to the AMAZINGTOYS® Store in Zurich you can not only be sure of getting a fair price; you also avoid the risky shipping by post.

Frequently asked questions