Pokémon card value: how to estimate it
Last verified: November 8, 2026
A Pokémon card has no single price: the same card in another language, another version or another condition sells for a different amount. To estimate yours, compare it with identical copies, in four steps.
1. Identify the exact card
- The card number and the rarity symbol are printed at the bottom of the card, on the left or the right.
- The number reads “number / cards in the set”. A number above that total, such as 224/198, marks a secret rare, outside the set’s normal numbering.
- Note the card’s language: a French card and the same card in English or Japanese are sold separately.
2. Read the rarity
| Symbol | Rarity |
|---|---|
| Black circle | Common |
| Black diamond | Uncommon |
| Black star | Rare |
| Two black stars | Double Rare |
| Two silver stars | Ultra Rare |
| One gold star | Illustration Rare |
| Two gold stars | Special Illustration Rare |
| Three gold stars | Hyper Rare |
The silver and gold star symbols arrived with the Scarlet & Violet series. Check the version too:
- Holo: only the artwork shines.
- Reverse holo: the whole card shines except the artwork. Reverse holos are more common than holos.
- 1st Edition: first-print cards from the Wizards of the Coast era carry a 1st Edition symbol and are generally worth more than later prints.
3. Judge the condition
Cardmarket sorts cards into seven conditions, best first: Mint (MT), Near Mint (NM), Excellent (EX), Good (GD), Light Played (LP), Played (PL) and Poor (PO). Cardmarket does not use “Gem Mint” and advises against in-between grades such as NM- or EX+.
Look at the corners, edges, surface and centering, then compare only with copies in the same condition as yours.
4. Compare prices
- Cardmarket: filter offers to the same language, version and condition as your card.
- eBay: current listings show asking prices, not sale prices. A card listed at a high price has not necessarily sold at that price.
- Compare several offers: one seller does not set the price.
For the rare cards of recent sets, our card price table shows the median eBay asking price, updated daily.
What about grading?
A grading company rates the card’s condition and seals it in a case. The service costs money and takes time, so it mostly makes sense for a card in very good condition whose value is well above that cost.
To keep your cards in good shape, see our binder comparison.