How to Use 'Estimate Value' In Your Card Ladder Collection
- Chris MacRae
- Mar 21
- 5 min read
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I jumped on Card Ladder early because it made updating and tracking my collection’s value a breeze. As the platform grew and added new features, collectors got more ways to customize how they value their cards.
Valuing cards is like a “Choose Your Own Adventure” game — more art than science. Different approaches work better for different types of cards, and after years of experimenting, I've got some pretty strong opinions about what works and what doesn’t. And I'm here to share it all with you.
In this guide, I’ll walk you through the six methods available to value your collection within the your Card Ladder Collection. By the end, you’ll have a much better handle on the options at your disposal.
Things to Know Before Jumping In
Before we dive into the valuation methods, there are a few key concepts and terms you need to know.
The “Ladder”
Cards actively tracked and updated by the Card Ladder team are known as being on the “Ladder.” These cards get the white-glove treatment — verified sales data, regular updates, and adjustments for accuracy. It’s as close as you can get to a reliable, up-to-the-minute value for your cards.
Indexes
Indexes give you a broader look at the market, whether it’s through a specific player’s market or the sports card market as a whole. Here’s how they work:
Player Indexes: These track the performance of cards tied to a particular player. Think of them as mini stock indexes that provide a snapshot of a player’s card market. But here’s the catch: Not every player has an index. And even if they do, the cards in that index might not accurately represent the type of cards you collect.
CL 50 Index: The big one. This index is Card Ladder’s version of the S&P 500 for sports cards — 50 cards spanning various sports, eras, and levels of popularity. It gives you a high-level view of where the market is trending. Compare your collection’s performance against this, and you’ve got yourself a reliable benchmark.
The current list of Card Ladder Indexes
CL Value
Here’s where Card Ladder flexes its muscle. The “CL Value” is calculated using a mix of the last sales price and percentage changes in an index’s value. It’s especially handy if the card you’re looking at is actively tracked on the Ladder. If you want the deep-dive details, Card Ladder’s reference article is worth a read.
With those concepts covered, let’s break down each valuation method.
The “Estimate Value” Methods
To access the six valuation methods, navigate to your Card Ladder Collection and click on the card you want to value. Then, click the three vertical dots in the top-right corner and select the 'Estimate Value' button. You'll then be presented with this screen:
Begin by clicking any of the methods to get started!
Graded Card Automatic
Requirements: The card needs to be graded by PSA, BGS, SGC, or CGC.
How It Works: Card Ladder uses Gem Rate to pull relevant data about your card and runs a custom sales query to figure out the price of the last sale. From there, it estimates the current value by factoring in the growth or decline of the “CL 50” index.
Best For: Graded cards that aren’t represented on the Ladder or in a Player Index.
Potential Pitfall: The CL 50’s movement might not correlate with your card’s true value. If the player has a robust Player Index, you’re better off using the “Index + Purchase Price” method.
Index + Purchase Price
Requirements: The player featured on the card needs a Player Index actively tracked by Card Ladder.
How It Works: Card Ladder tracks how the Player Index has changed since the date of your purchase. It then applies that percentage change to your original purchase price to estimate the card’s current value.
Best For: Cards of players with strong Player Indexes (I’d say 25+ unique cards) or cards similar in style and era to those in the Player Index.
Potential Pitfall:
The Player Index may not cover the type of card you’re looking to value.
Recent sales might provide a better snapshot than this method, especially if your card has spiked or dipped significantly.
Index + Manual Sale
Requirements: Nothing besides knowing your purchase price.
How It Works: You enter your purchase price, the purchase date, and select a Player or Card Ladder index. Card Ladder then estimates your card’s value similar to the “Index + Purchase Price” method.
Best For:
Cards you want to value using an Index other than the CL 50 or a Player Index.
Cards you bought raw and graded, where the initial purchase price doesn’t tell the whole story.
Potential Pitfall:
You can’t select any custom indexes you’ve created.
The available indexes might not match well with your card.
Custom Sales Query (The MVP Method)
Here’s the goldmine. The Custom Sales Query is my favorite tool because it gives you maximum control and pulls from the most recent sales.
Requirements: None.
How It Works: You write your own query to pull sales into the card profile and choose whether to value based on the last sale or an index. Bonus: You get a quick link to see if anything is currently listed on eBay.
Best For: Cards that don’t fit well with any of Card Ladder’s predefined indexes. Niche cards, player collections, you name it.
Potential Pitfall: If you’re new to writing sales queries, expect some trial and error before getting the results you’re looking for. Refer to our guide on how to improve your search queries before jumping in here.
Ladder + Multipliers
Requirements: At least one comparable card is being tracked on the Ladder.
How It Works: You select comparable cards on the Ladder, and Card Ladder automatically determines a multiplier using your purchase price, purchase date, and the comparable sale.
Best For:
Parallels on the Ladder that aren’t listed.
Cards from players that aren’t on the Ladder but have cards from the same set that are actively tracked.
Potential Pitfall: Multipliers change over time. Just look at how much the BGS vs. PSA price ratio has shifted over the past decade.
Manual
Requirements: None.
How It Works: You set the value yourself. No automation, no calculations — just your best estimate.
Best For: Cards that don’t fit any other method.
Potential Pitfall: This approach is tedious if you have a lot of cards to track. If you’re planning to use this method for most of your collection, you’re better off with a spreadsheet.
Wrapping It Up
Valuing your collection with Card Ladder is all about finding the right tool for the job. Whether you’re using Graded Card Automatic, tapping into Indexes, or crafting your own Custom Sales Queries, each method has its strengths. The key is knowing what works best for your cards and being willing to adapt.
Mix, match, and experiment. With Card Ladder’s flexibility, you can value your collection on your own terms. Now that you’ve got the playbook, go make the most of it.