Mint vs Near Mint: How Big Is the Pokémon Card Price Gap?
Measured across hundreds of Cardmarket chase cards: what sellers actually ask for a Mint copy compared to a Near Mint one.
Data refreshed weekly · page generated on 2026-08-25.
A copy listed as Mint asks +80% over Near Mint on English cards — and +55.9% on French ones.
That is the cost of a single step on Cardmarket's condition scale.
What we measured
For every card in our catalog where Mint (MT) and Near Mint (NM) listings coexist in the same language, we compared the cheapest MT ask to the cheapest NM ask. On Cardmarket's condition scale the condition is declared by the seller. Our numbers measure what that declaration costs the buyer.
| Language | Cards with both MT and NM | Median MT premium | MT cheaper than NM |
|---|---|---|---|
| English cards | 647 | +80% | 6 |
| French cards | 625 | +55.9% | 9 |
How to read that number
The premium is a median: half the cards show a smaller gap, half a bigger one. The last column deserves a look too. Cards where a Mint ask undercuts the best Near Mint ask are very rare. When it happens it is usually a mislabeled listing or a seller in a hurry. Check before you celebrate.
What this means for you
Buying: for a copy headed to a binder, you will rarely spot the difference between MT and NM with the naked eye. Whether that is worth the premium is your call. Selling: if your card goes straight from booster to sleeve, listing it as NM instead of MT leaves a share of the price on the table. Overstating condition costs you too, in disputes. Floors for each card are on our set pages.
Method and limits
- MT vs NM compared within the same language and the same card, on active listings (Near Mint or better in our weekly capture).
- Seller asking prices with self-declared condition. No realized sales, no independent grading.
- Scope: chase cards from recent sets in our public catalog.