As a collector you naturally want to know how much your Pokémon cards are worth. The value can vary depending on a number of factors. Follow this step-by-step guide to quickly estimate the value of your cards. Let’s get started!

Step 1: Look at the condition of the card

Condition is one of the biggest factors determining the value of a Pokémon card. The better the condition, the higher the value. There are several grades used to describe condition:

• Mint (perfect): no damage, sharp corners, no scratches or creases.
• Near Mint (almost perfect): small, almost invisible flaws may be present.
• Lightly Played (light damage): a few visible flaws such as small edge wear or surface scratches.
• Moderately Played (moderately used): visible damage such as creases, larger scratches or corners that are starting to fray.
• Heavily Played (heavily damaged): major damage, tears or folded corners.

Make sure you look at your cards closely and judge the condition honestly. The value differs enormously between a Mint card and a Heavily Played card. We ourselves always use this guide to check condition.

Step 2: Look up the value on Cardmarket

Now that you know the condition of the card, you can look up its value on Cardmarket.
We use Cardmarket because it reflects the European market value well.

This is how you look up a card:

1. Type the name of the Pokémon, for example “Charizard”.
2. Add the first part of the card number.
   If the card has the number “183/165”, for instance, you only search for 183.
3. So you search for “charizard 183” — that way you find the right card quickly.

Step 3: Apply the right filters

Found the right card? Then it is time to set the right filters.
Filter on at least:

• Language
• Condition

Now you see all the cards on offer that match your copy. That already gives you a good idea of the average market value of your card.

Step 4: Determine the value accurately

Although you now have an impression of the value, it is important to look a little deeper.

Pay attention to the following:

• Number of cards on offer: when only a few copies are for sale, the price can be higher.

• Sales graph: on Cardmarket you can see when and for how much cards have been sold.
  Do bear in mind that this graph does not automatically take your filters into account — so it also shows sales of cards in other languages or conditions.

• Price comparison: look at the lowest prices in your language and condition. That often gives the most realistic market value.

We ourselves use the sales graph to see roughly what price cards are actually selling for. If the cheapest cards sit around €100 and most sales also happen around that amount, that is usually the real value.

Extra: the value of graded cards

For PSA graded cards you are better off using PriceCharting and Alt.
These sites show recent sales on eBay — ideal for working out the current market value of graded cards.

Search here in almost the same way as on Cardmarket: enter the name of the card (for example “Charizard ex 183”) and look at the results. PriceCharting shows you:

• the average price of the card;
• an overview of recent sales, perfect for getting a realistic picture of the current market.