How the Trade Calculator Works
List what you are giving on one side and what you are getting on the other, each card with its market value. Add any cash that changes hands. The calculator totals both sides and compares them.
The dollar figure is what you got minus what you gave, with cash counted at face value. If you hand over $80 of cards and take home $50 of cards plus $40 in cash, you are up $10.
How the Fairness Percentage Is Measured
The percentage is the gap between the two sides divided by the larger side. A trade of $4.30 against $3.44 is 20% in favor of the bigger side.
Dividing by the larger side keeps the number honest in both directions. Swapping the sides changes who is favored but never the size of the gap, and the figure can never go above 100%.
Use Real Market Values
A trade is only as fair as the prices you put into it. Use recent sold prices for the exact card, printing and condition rather than asking prices, which run high. A graded slab and a raw copy of the same card are different items with different values.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I know if a Pokémon card trade is fair?
Total the market value of every card on each side, add any cash, and compare. A trade within a few percent either way is generally considered even, since card prices move day to day.
How is the trade percentage calculated?
It is the difference between the two sides divided by the larger side, times 100. That makes it symmetric: swapping the sides flips who is favored but not the percentage.
Does cash count in a card trade?
Yes. Cash is added at face value to the side that pays it, so a $20 bill moves the balance exactly as much as a $20 card.
What prices should I use for each card?
Use recent sold prices for the same card in the same condition or grade. Asking prices and buylist prices both distort the comparison.