Lotus ScanHow to Value Your Magic Card Collection
A step-by-step guide to help you value your magic card collection quickly and accurately.
Whether you're considering selling your collection, insuring it, or just curious what your cardboard is worth, getting an accurate value requires more than eyeballing a few cards. A proper valuation accounts for every card, its condition, and current market prices. The process is much simpler than it used to be thanks to scanning apps that automate the pricing lookup. Follow these steps to get a realistic number for your collection.
Step-by-Step Guide
Separate high-value cards from bulk
Start by pulling out anything you know or suspect is valuable - rares, mythics, foils, and older cards. These are the cards that will make up the vast majority of your collection's total value. A collection of 5,000 cards might have 90% of its value concentrated in just 50-100 cards.
Scan your valuable cards first
Use Lotus Scan or another MTG scanner to catalog your high-value cards. Pay attention to getting the correct set and edition for each card, as the same card name can vary enormously in price between printings. A Revised Dual Land is worth hundreds more than its Commander reprint.
Tip: Take extra time on cards worth over $20. Double-check the set, verify the condition honestly, and note if it's foil.
Grade card conditions honestly
Condition has a huge impact on value, especially for cards over $10. Examine each card for edge wear, surface scratches, centering, and corner damage. Near Mint cards command full price, but Moderately Played copies can be worth 30-50% less. Use TCGPlayer's condition guide as a reference standard.
Tip: When in doubt, grade one step lower than you think. Buyers are more forgiving when a card arrives in better condition than expected.
Estimate bulk value separately
Commons and uncommons that aren't individually valuable are considered "bulk" and typically sell at flat rates. Buylist stores pay around $3-5 per thousand for bulk commons and $5-8 per thousand for bulk uncommons. You don't need to scan every bulk card - just count or weigh them and apply the bulk rate.
Calculate your total and apply a reality check
Add up the scanned card values and bulk estimates. This gives you the TCGPlayer market value total. Understand that this is a retail replacement cost, not what a buyer will pay you. If you're selling, expect to receive 50-70% of TCGPlayer market value from a dealer, or 70-85% selling directly to other players.
Document the valuation
Export your collection data as a CSV or take screenshots of the value summary. Having a dated record of your collection's value is useful for insurance purposes, estate planning, or simply comparing against future valuations to see how your collection has grown or declined.
Make It Easier with Lotus Scan
Lotus Scan for iPhone simplifies this entire process with AI-powered card recognition, real-time price tracking, and intuitive collection management. Just point your camera and scan.
Pro Tips
- Revalue your collection every 3-6 months. MTG prices fluctuate enough that a valuation from a year ago may be significantly off.
- For insurance purposes, use the TCGPlayer market price as your replacement value. Some homeowner and renter policies cover collectibles up to a certain amount without a special rider.
- If you're valuing a collection you inherited and don't play Magic, consider consulting a local game store. Many offer free appraisals if you're potentially selling to them.
- Foreign-language and misprint cards require manual research - scanner apps may not capture their true premium.