MTG card value depends on the exact card, set, finish, language and condition. An early reserved-list print and a later reprint of the same name are different markets. Photograph the set code and collector number, then compare current public listings for that printing.
The app scans faster, keeps a history of your items and gives free weekly scans.
Example
A hand of Magic: The Gathering cards
The exact set, finish, and whether the card is raw or graded all split the market
A player looking at Magic: The Gathering cards. Reserved List cards, later reprints, foils, and graded copies are different sales. Card artwork is the property of Wizards of the Coast. If a takedown request arrives, we will swap this photo. Photograph by 1st Lt. Casey Staheli, U.S. Army. Public domain (U.S. government work). Cropped to the cards in hand. Source: US Army photo of a Magic: The Gathering tournament (cropped to the cards). See also photo credits.
How to identify the card
A Magic: The Gathering card is identified by its name, its set, its collector number, its finish (including whether it is a foil), its language, and its condition. The set code and number, often in a small line on the card, are the details that stop two cards with the same name being treated as one market. Photograph the front and back, and crop so those marks are readable. Not sure which set you have? Snap it and the app reads it for you.
This page sits with the other non-sports guides, including the trading card guide and the Yu-Gi-Oh card guide. We will not invent a most-valuable list or a reserved-list price chart.
Condition and edition
Wear on corners, edges, and the surface moves the price, and so does whether the card is foil or non-foil. Some early cards are on the reserved list, which means they have not been reprinted on that list; that is a publishing fact, not an automatic price. Later reprints of a famous name can be far more common. A graded slab and a raw, played copy should not share one listing set. Do not clean a card to improve a photo.
Proxies and fakes exist, especially for expensive early cards. Compare the back pattern, the font, and the card stock with a known genuine copy if a price looks too good. A photo is a first look, not a laboratory authentication.
Listed vs sold
Lookup databases are useful after you know the exact printing, but they still need that identification first. The range we show comes from current public listings, which are asking prices. A sold price can be lower. Trading card prices in the app use PokéWallet for supported card games, shown with a source credit where that data appears. If listings are thin, we label a rough estimate rather than inventing a precise number. See How we price.
Where to sell
Local game stores, events, specialist dealers, and public marketplaces are the usual routes. The app can draft a listing for eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or Gumtree. A shop buy quote is often lower than a patient private sale and may be faster.
Scan and list
- Photograph the front and back so the set code, collector number, and finish are readable.
- Confirm the identification, including language, foil, and whether the card is raw or graded.
- Review the Worth about figure and the listed range when we find enough current public listings.
You can start with a free web scan in the box on this page.
The app scans faster, keeps a history of your items and gives free weekly scans.
What makes How Much Is It Worth different
One photo is enough to start, and you can add up to two more angles. We identify the item first, you confirm or correct it, then we look up a Worth about figure and a listed range from current public marketplace listings. Those are asking prices, which can sit above what a piece finally sells for. You see the listings themselves when we find enough of them.
Coins and banknotes also draw on Numista. Trading cards use PokéWallet, with a source credit where that data appears. Gold and silver use a live metal price as a floor. If listings are thin, we show a clearly labelled rough estimate rather than inventing a precise number. The app can draft a listing for eBay, Facebook Marketplace, or Gumtree once you are ready to sell. For the short version of this process, read How we price.
FAQ
How much is an MTG card worth?
MTG card value depends on the exact card, set, finish, language, and condition. An early reserved-list print and a later reprint of the same name are different markets. Photograph the set code and collector number, then compare current public listings.
What is the reserved list?
Some early Magic: The Gathering cards are on a reserved list, which means they have not been reprinted on that list. That is a publishing fact, not an automatic price. We do not invent a reserved-list chart.
Does foil or language change the price?
Often yes. A foil and a non-foil, or two language editions of the same card, can sit in different listing sets. Confirm those details before you trust a range.
Can I scan an MTG card with the app?
Yes. Photograph the front and back, confirm the identification, and we will look at current public listings. Trading card prices use PokéWallet for supported card games, with a source credit where that data appears.
Related card guides
Sources
- Trading card prices use PokéWallet for supported card games, shown with a source credit where that data appears. See How we price.
Magic: The Gathering and Wizards of the Coast are trademarks of Wizards of the Coast LLC. This site and the How Much Is It Worth app are not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by Wizards of the Coast or Hasbro. Card artwork remains the property of its owners. We do not claim otherwise.
Updated 11 November 2026. Written by Harris, who built How Much Is It Worth. Figures that we cite include a source and a date. They are not a certified appraisal. See How we price.
The app scans faster, keeps a history of your items and gives free weekly scans.
See all guides on the homepage, or read how we price.