How to Value Your Pokémon Cards (UK 2026 Price Guide)

Wondering how much your Pokémon cards are worth? Whether you’ve found an old collection or are thinking about selling, understanding the value of your cards is the first step.

This guide will walk you through how to check Pokémon card prices in the UK, what affects their value, and how to avoid common mistakes.

What makes a Pokémon card valuable?

A lot of things go into the pricing of a Pokémon card, and when you’re just starting, it can feel overwhelming. Don’t worry — once you understand a few basics, it becomes much easier.

The main things that affect value are:

• Rarity – Rare cards are generally worth more
• Condition – Better condition = higher value
• Set – Some sets are more desirable than others
• Demand – Popular Pokémon (like Charizard) tend to be worth more

Most rare Pokémon cards have a small star symbol, usually found in the bottom corner:

On older cards, you may also see a 1st Edition stamp, which can increase value:

To properly identify a card, you’ll want to know:

• The card name
• The card number (e.g. 4/102)
• The set it belongs to
• Whether it’s 1st Edition (older cards only)

For example, searching "Charizard 4/102" will usually give you a good starting point.

Modern cards sometimes use different rarity systems (like Illustration Rare or Hyper Rare), but the same idea applies.

How to check Pokémon card prices

Once you’ve identified your card, the next step is checking what it’s actually worth.

UK / EU:
eBay
Cardmarket
CardTrader

US:
eBay
TCGPlayer

The key thing here is to look at sold prices, not what people are asking.

If you’re using eBay, filter by “Sold” listings. This shows what people have actually paid, which is the true market value.

You can then take an average of recent sales to get a realistic idea of what your card is worth.

Common mistakes when valuing Pokémon cards

• Looking at listed prices instead of sold prices
• Ignoring condition
• Assuming all old cards are valuable
• Not checking the exact card number or set

It’s very common for people to see a Charizard and assume it’s worth hundreds or thousands — sometimes it is, but often it depends heavily on condition and the exact version.

How to check condition (this affects price a lot)

This is one of the most important parts of valuing Pokémon cards.

If your cards have been in a binder for years, handled without sleeves, or moved around a lot, the condition will have a big impact on the price.

Here’s a simple guide:

Pokémon Card Condition Guide

Condition	What it means
🟢 Mint (M)	Perfect condition, no marks, scratches or wear.
🟢 Near Mint (NM)	Very minor wear, small whitening, overall looks almost new.
🟡 Lightly Played (LP)	Light edge wear or small scratches, still looks good.
🟠 Moderately Played (MP)	Visible wear, scratches, slight bending.
🔴 Heavily Played (HP)	Heavy wear, scratches, possible creases.
⚫ Damaged (DMG)	Creases, tears, water damage or major defects.

Simple rule (if you’re unsure)

• Looks almost new → Near Mint
• Looks used → Lightly Played
• Looks very worn → Moderately/Heavily Played

Want a quick, fair valuation?

If you’d rather skip the hassle of checking prices yourself, we can help.

At PokePals, we offer fair and competitive valuations on Pokémon cards, whether it’s a single card or a full collection.

You can sell your cards to us here, or just get in touch and we’ll happily help you work out what they’re worth.

This way, you can be confident you’re getting a fair price without the guesswork.