How to Start Building a Trading Card Collection

Tips for first-time trading card collectors.

If you’re a first-time collector, the endless supply of trading card products can leave you wondering where to begin. If you collected cards as a kid and are returning to the hobby as an adult, it can be overwhelming to see how much has changed. Whatever your interest or budget is, there’s a place for everyone in the hobby! Use this guide to help you start building your trading card collection.

What to Consider When Starting a Trading Card Collection

Once you’ve decided to build a card collection, start by figuring out your goals. For many people, this comes down to one of two things: collecting or investing. Some sports fans may want to focus on an assortment of cards from their favorite players and teams. In contrast, some people may prefer to build a collection based on future resale value. These people see their trading card collection as an investment. Once you decide what your goal is, you’ll know where to begin.

If your goal is collecting rather than investing, consider answering these questions to help guide your collecting journey:

What sports do you want to collect? There are trading card products for a variety of sports, but the most popular are baseball, basketball, football, soccer, and hockey. If you want to collect baseball cards, Topps is the only company allowed to produce licensed baseball card products. Panini is the longtime favorite for basketball and football cards, but Topps will soon be producing them as well. Both companies produce licensed soccer cards. If you’re a hockey fan, Upper Deck has you covered.

How do you want to structure your collection? This is where you can really get creative. Some people are set collectors, collecting every single card in the base set of a release. Set collectors usually focus on flagship releases from whatever sports and years they’re interested in. Other collectors prefer to focus on specific players or teams. This can be achieved by purchasing singles or buying into team breaks.

How much are you looking to spend? Once you’ve got a better idea of what you want your trading card collection to look like, you’ll want to set a budget. The hobby can get expensive, so have an idea of your price range and stick to it. Knowing your budget will give you an idea of what types of boxes are best for you. The most popular releases come in both retail and hobby formats.

The least expensive products are retail boxes, such as blaster or mega boxes. These are easy to find at big retailers. There is usually no guarantee of hits in retail boxes, but that’s what keeps the price point affordable. Hobby boxes are where it gets more expensive. These can only be found at local hobby shops or certified online retailers. Hobby boxes typically come with a guarantee of pulling an autograph or memorabilia card, making them much more expensive than retail boxes.

You don’t just have to build your trading card collection through boxes, however. Although ripping packs is fun, it’s usually not the most economical way to build a collection. If you know what cards you want to buy, hunt for them at local card shops, trade shows, or online. This is usually the most budget-friendly way to collect cards.

What to Avoid When Starting a Collection

Now that you have the basics down, here’s what not to do when starting to build a trading card collection:

Avoid scams and fakes: If the deal seems too good to be true, it probably is. Online marketplaces give us a convenient way to expand our collection, but you’ve also got to be more aware of potential fake cards. For this reason, it’s important to buy from reputable sellers who guarantee the authenticity of their cards.

Avoid mishandling your cards: The value of a card is directly correlated to its condition, so handle them gently and store them safely. Stop by your local hobby shop to get advice about how to care for your cards, or check out our guide to the best trading card storage supplies.

Avoid burnout: To keep from getting overwhelmed at the beginning, stick to your plan and budget. You might have to hunt for deals on specific cards, but enjoy the journey of collecting. It’s supposed to be fun!

Start Your Very Own Trading Card Collection

Ready to join the hobby and start collecting? Stop by AA Mint Cards or check out our online store to start building your trading card collection today!