Collecting
How to trade Pokémon cards fairly and safely
A fair trade is one where both sides are worth about the same today. Price every card on each side, at its real condition. Our Trade Table does the sum and shows the gap.
Pick one
Who are you trading with?
A friend
Be fair and keep the friendship.
- Price both sides together, on one screen.
- Even out a gap with a small card, not with cash.
Someone online
Assume nothing.
- Ask for a photo of the cards with today's date written beside them.
- Check their record of past trades.
- Use tracked mail, and photograph what you send.
At a card show
Know your prices before you sit down.
- Traders value cards below what they sell them for.
- Have your own cards priced on your phone.
A child at school
Check the trade when they get home.
- Look both cards up together.
- A rare card swapped for a few shiny commons is the common mistake.
Trade TableIs the trade fair?Lay both sides out card by card. The table prices each side at today's values.Open a table →- Price both sides at today's values, not at what they cost.
- Condition counts. A worn card is not worth its mint price.
- Trading by mail, the newer account sends first, with tracking.
- Never trade with someone who rushes you.
- A child's trade deserves the same check. Many bad trades happen at school.
Working out a fair trade
- List both sides.Every card, with its set and number.
- Price each card.Use the price for its real condition, not for a perfect copy.
- Add each side up.The side with less adds a card to close the gap.
- Agree before you swap.Say the deal out loud or write it down, so nobody is surprised.
What to check before you agree
- Is each card real? Run the checks in our guide to fake cards.
- Is the condition what was promised? Our condition guide names it.
- Is it the printing you think? Reverse holo and first edition change the price.
Trading by mail
- The person with the newer account or fewer past trades sends first.
- Sleeve the card, put it in a toploader and seal that in a team bag.
- Send anything of value by tracked mail, and keep the receipt.
- Photograph the cards and the sealed envelope before it leaves.
Charizard$334 rawOur scannerScan cards onto the tableOpen a table and press scan. Each card lands on your side with its value.Scan a card →Trades that go wrong
- The other side never sends. Tracking proves what you sent, and nothing more.
- A fake comes back. Compare it with a real card the day it arrives.
- The deal changes at the last minute. Walk away from pressure.
Live from our price tracker
In stock today below its usual price
Sealed products on sale right now, ranked by how far each sits under its usual price. Tap one for its price history.
Lumiose City Mini Tin
Lumiose City Mini · Tin
$9.99 41% under$17.00 across 3 international shops
Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex League Battle Deck
Team Rocket's Mewtwo ex League Battle Deck · Sealed Product
$14.99 40% under$24.95 across 1 international shop
Destined Rivals Booster Pack
Destined Rivals · Booster Pack
$8.99 31% under$12.98 across 3 international shops
Mega Lucario ex League Battle Deck
Mega Lucario ex League Battle Deck · Sealed Product
$14.49 31% under$20.99 across 2 international shops
Every tracked product and its price →Common questions
How do you know if a Pokémon card trade is fair?
Add up what each side is worth today, at each card's real condition. If the totals are close, the trade is fair.
Who sends first in a Pokémon card trade?
The person with the newer account or the shorter record of trades. Both sides use tracked mail and keep photos.
Is there a site that values a Pokémon trade?
Our Trade Table. Put the cards for each side on the table and it prices both at today's values. It is free to use.
Should I trade one expensive card for several cheap ones?
Only if the cheap ones add up and you want them. One valuable card is easier to sell later than a stack of small ones.
Is trading Pokémon cards at school allowed?
That is up to the school. Many ban it because of unfair swaps. Check any trade your child makes at home, together.
More guides
Card valuesWhat is my Pokémon card worth?Find the exact card, judge its condition, and see what it sells for raw and graded.Raw and graded, priced today
Card valuesPokémon card condition guide: Near Mint to DamagedWhat each condition means, with a checklist that names your card's condition.A checklist names the condition
Fakes and resealed productsHow to spot a fake Pokémon cardThe back, the light, the feel and the print: ten checks, added up for you.Ten point check
CollectingHow to scan Pokémon cards with your phonePoint a phone at a card for its name and price, then add it, sell it or trade it.Reads raw cards and slabs
Use our tools
Trade TableLay two sides of a trade out and see whether it is fair at today's prices.Open →
Scan a cardPoint your phone at a card. It tells you which card it is and what it is worth.Open →Card pricesLook up any card: raw price, graded prices and how many exist in each grade.Open →
Track your collectionA free binder that values your cards and sealed products as prices move.Open →Master set bindersA binder with a numbered slot for every card in a set. Fill it as you collect.Open →
Pack GameOpen packs of a set for free and see what the cards are worth today.Open →Get the daily deals in your inbox
The best international Pokémon deals, free, every morning. No spam, unsubscribe anytime.