What to do with bulk Pokémon cards
Bulk is the pile of common cards left after the good ones are pulled. Each is worth cents. Check the pile once, then sell it by the thousand or give it away.
How much bulk do you have?
A shoebox
Under a thousand cards.
- Pull the good cards first, with the list below.
- Give the rest to a child who is starting out.
- Or keep it. A shoebox costs nothing to store.
A few thousand
Enough to sell.
- Sort by set, then pull holos and reverse holos.
- Card shops buy bulk by the thousand.
- Ask two shops. Rates differ.
Tens of thousands
Treat it as a job.
- Sell in lots of a thousand, sorted by era.
- Sellers of single cards buy sorted bulk for more.
- Count before you sell. Buyers pay by the count.
- Check the pile before it leaves the house. Good cards hide in bulk.
- Holos, reverse holos and anything from before 2003 are not bulk.
- Card shops buy bulk by the thousand, for a small sum.
- Schools, clubs and children's wards take cards as gifts.
- Code cards have a small value of their own. Keep them apart.
Pull these out first
- Every holo and reverse holo.
- Every full art card, ex, V, GX and gold card.
- Anything printed before 2003, whatever its condition.
- Trainer cards that players use. Scan a handful to see.
- Promo cards, marked with a black star and the word PROMO.
Our scanner prices a card in a few seconds, so a doubtful pile goes quickly.
Charizard$334 rawOur scannerCheck a doubtful pile fastIt names the card and prices it in a few seconds. There is nothing to install.Scan a card →How bulk is sold
- By the thousand, counted or weighed.
- Sorted bulk sells for more: by set, or commons apart from uncommons.
- Reverse holos and holos sell as their own, dearer kind of bulk.
- Postage eats small sales. Sell in person where you can.
Where to give it
- A child who has just started collecting.
- A school club, a library or a youth group.
- A card shop's free box for new players.
- Hospital play teams, who ask for sealed or clean cards.
What is worth keeping
- One of each card, to fill a set binder.
- Basic energy, if anyone in the house plays.
- Cards of a favorite Pokémon.
Our storage guide covers boxes. Our free binder tracks a set as you fill it.
Master set bindersTurn bulk into a finished setPick a set and the binder lays out every card in order. The ones you still need show in gray until you add them.Start a master set →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.
Common questions
Are bulk Pokémon cards worth anything?
Each common is worth cents. A thousand together sell for a small sum to a card shop. The value is in the cards you pull out before selling.
How do I sell bulk Pokémon cards?
Count them into thousands, pull the holos, and ask two card shops for their rate. Sorted bulk sells for more than a mixed box.
Should I throw away common Pokémon cards?
No. Shops buy them, children want them, and schools and clubs take them. Check the pile for good cards first.
Are Pokémon energy cards worth keeping?
A stack of basic energy is useful if someone plays. Beyond that they have almost no value. Special energy with full art is the exception.
What should I do with Pokémon code cards?
Each code gives a digital pack in the online game. Use them, or sell them in batches. Players buy unused codes.
More guides
Use our tools
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