The Most Valuable Old Toys
First Edition 1959 Barbie When the Barbie doll first released in 1959, she instantly became an icon with her striped swimsuit and sunglasses. Barbies have only gotten more popular and more valuable over the years, so the original dolls now sell for a lot of money. Estimated value: $800 USD (unboxed), $27,000 USD (boxed) Recent sale prices: $6,952 USD A lot of other recent Barbie dolls are worth a lot of money too! Check out our Barbie value guide to see if you have any at home. Meet the wikiHow Experts Reyne Hirsch is an antiques expert and appraiser with more than 25 years of experience and has appeared on 13 seasons of Antiques Roadshow. Jeff Friesen is a LEGO artist who has published 6 books and been featured on The LEGO Group’s official feeds.
Fisher-Price Push Cart Pete Push Cart Pete was one of the first toys released by Fisher-Price in 1936. Even though the toy is pretty simple in design, it has only gotten more valuable because there aren’t very many that have survived. Estimated value: $3,000–5,000 USD Recent sale prices: $9,200 USD
Hot Wheels cars Original Hot Wheels cars were really popular and they had full metal construction, so they were built to last. Complete sets of Hot Wheels usually bring in the most money when you sell them, but some of the individual cars are worth a small fortune on their own. Check your collection to see if any of the Hot Wheels you have are worth anything. Estimated value: $200–10,000 USD Recent sale prices: $8,987 USD
G.I. Joe figures G.I. Joe figures featured the U.S. Armed Forces and became one of the most popular “boy’s” toys. The classic line of action figures from the '60s is really valuable, the rebooted line from the '80s is also worth a fair amount of money. Estimated value: $100 (loose), $10,000 (boxed) Recent sale prices: $7,000 USD
Garbage Pail Kid cards Garbage Pail Kids were trading cards that featured cute but gross illustrations that made for a unique collection. While the cards are usually most valuable when you sell the entire set, some of the individual cards are worth a lot of money on their own. Check out our value guide to see which valuable cards are in your collection. Estimated value: $1,000–3,500 USD Recent sale prices: $3,500 USD
Captain Action figures Captain Action was a line of action figures from the '60s that came with multiple wardrobe changes and masks so you could customize him. Because of the popular tie-ins with heroes like Superman, Batman, and Captain America, the original releases and wardrobes are valuable to toy and comic collectors. Estimated value: $200–3,400 USD Recent sale prices: $3,383 USD
Transformers action figures Transformers was one of the coolest toys because they were cars and action figures at the same time. The series has only gotten more popular since it premiered in the '80s, and fans are still looking for some of the classics, like Optimus Prime and Megatron. Estimated value: $500–3,000 USD Recent sale prices: $3,000 USD
Royal Blue Peanut Beanie Baby A lot of Beanie Babies are worth money, but the royal blue version of Peanut the elephant was a limited release. Even though royal blue was the initial color for Peanut, they quickly changed him to a lighter shade. Because there are only a few royal blue Peanuts in the world, their value has skyrocketed. Estimated value: $100–2,500 USD Recent sale prices: $2,500 USD
American Girl Molly Doll American Girl dolls were a big hit for collectors, and the Molly McIntire doll from 1986 is one of the most valuable. Molly represents a girl during World War II, and she became more popular through books and a movie featuring her. Now that the doll has been retired, her original release is worth a lot of money. Estimated value: $1,000–10,000 USD Recent sale prices: $2,495 USD
1980s Care Bears The Care Bears were a line of teddy bears that came in all colors of the rainbow and each had their own personality. The original line of Care Bears was released in the early 1980s, but there have been multiple TV specials and movies since then. Because their fandom is still so popular, the vintage bears are worth the most. Estimated value: $150–700 USD Recent sale prices: $2,200 USD
LEGO Trains The vintage LEGO Trains let you build railways and model trains that you can run around the tracks. LEGO collectors and train enthusiasts both look for old sets of LEGO Trains to add to their collection, and they’re willing to spend a bit of money to do it. Estimated value: $500–3,000 USD Recent sale prices: $2,192 USD
Strawberry Shortcake Berry Happy Home Strawberry Shortcake is a stuffed doll known for smelling like strawberries, and her Happy Home playset was one of the first released. The character is still popular and has new toys and TV series today, but people are still really nostalgic for the classic dolls. Estimated value: $100–2,000 USD Recent sale prices: $2,000 USD
Original Monopoly The oldest known version of Monopoly game sold for a whopping $146,000 USD at an auction. While the later prints of this game won’t go for quite as much, the classic release of the game is still sought after by both collectors and board gamers. Estimated value: $600–3,000 USD Recent sale prices: $1,775 USD
1978 Luke Skywalker action figure Star Wars originally came out in 1977, and the Luke Skywalker figure from the following year became a hot toy off of the movie’s popularity. While they’re more valuable if they’re in mint condition, toy collectors and fans of the movie will still pay a lot for the figure out of its package. Estimated value: $200 USD (used), $25,000 USD (sealed) Recent sale prices: $1,700 USD
Vintage My Little Pony dolls My Little Pony has only boomed in popularity with the release of the TV show. The original dolls released in the early 80s looked like more realistic horses, and they have a lot of vintage charm about them. MLP fans and toy collectors are both willing to pay top dollar for them. Estimated value: $300–2,000 USD Recent sale prices: $1,625 USD
Thundercats Lion-O action figure Thundercats was a popular cartoon series about a hero team of cats, led by the fearless Lion-O. The figures that were released in the mid-'80s with Lion-O and his sword are valuable in or out of their box. Estimated value: $350–2,800 USD Recent sale prices: $1,500 USD
Micronauts figurines Micronauts were small action figures that were a lot more posable and movable than others at the time. Because they had a futuristic sci-fi theme, Micronauts developed a big fanbase in the '70s, and collectors are still looking for figures to complete their sets. Estimated value: $300–1,500 USD Recent sale prices: $1,495 USD
Masters of the Universe ETERNIA Playset Masters of the Universe are most well-known for the characters He-Man, Skeletor, and She-Ra. The ETERNIA playset was one of the biggest ones released in the 80s, and it had a lot of hidden secrets inside. The fanbase for the series has only grown, so the demand for the classic playset has gone up too. Estimated value: $500–1,500 USD Recent sale prices: $1,400 USD
Polly Pocket Jasmine’s Royal Palace When Aladdin came out in 1995, Polly Pocket released a tie-in playset featuring Princess Jasmine’s palace. Polly Pockets are already starting to increase in value, but the limited release also draws in fans of the Disney movie too. Estimated value: $50–1,300 USD Recent sale prices: $1,230 USD
Playmobil Victorian Mansion Playmobil made sets you could build with bricks, similar to LEGO. The Victorian Mansion was one of the largest sets, and it had a lot of expansions you could add on to make it even bigger. Whether it’s just the base set or including all the bonus rooms, collectors would pay a lot to get their hands on it. Estimated value: $100–1,250 USD Recent sale prices: $1,200 USD
Atari game cartridges The Atari is one of the original video game consoles that you could get. While classics like Pong, Breakout, and Asteroids are pretty common, some of the more obscure games are rarer and sought after. Estimated value: $100–1,900 USD Recent sale prices: $1,200 USD
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Technodrome Playset The Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles became a huge hit in the '80s when the cartoons, games, and movies were coming out. The Technodrome Playset was a large sphere that opened up so you could play with Leo, Donny, Mikey, and Raph inside. Estimated value: $125–1,200 USD Recent sale prices: $1,126 USD
Antique Raggedy Ann Doll Raggedy Ann is one of the classic ragdolls that was originally released in the 1920s. Even though it’s pretty hard to find a vintage Raggedy Ann doll in good condition, some of the ones made in the '80s are also worth money. Estimated value: $400–1,800 USD Recent sale prices: $1,125 USD
PEZ dispensers PEZ dispensers are known for their large heads that give out candy when you lift them up. Because there are so many PEZ dispensers in a lot of different fandoms, a lot of them sell for a lot of money to collectors. Check out our PEZ dispenser guide to see which ones will get you the most money. Estimated value: $50–1,000 USD Recent sale prices: $1,000 USD
My Pet Monster dolls My Pet Monster was a cute and creepy doll with a short-lived cartoon to go along with it. The large dolls became really popular when they released in the mid-'80s, but they disappeared off of shelves after the '90s. If you still have one of these handcuffed monster dolls at home, you could get a good chunk of money if you sold it. Estimated value: $300–1,000 USD Recent sale prices: $980 USD
Vintage Power Rangers action figures Even though there are so many iterations of Power Rangers now, the Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers from the '80s are still the most popular. These action figures and Megazords are still worth quite a bit of money if they’re in good condition. Estimated value: $300–1,800 USD Recent sale prices: $900 USD
Cabbage Patch Kids There have been a ton of Cabbage Patch kids released over the years, but the original line from 1982 still carries the most value. If you have a Cabbage Patch Kid that’s clean and undamaged, you could get a decent amount of money selling it. Check our guide on which Cabbage Patch kids are worth the most! Estimated value: $100–1,000 USD Recent sale prices: $899 USD
1973 Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle Evel Knievel was one of the world’s most prominent stuntmen known for doing huge jumps with his motorcycle. The Stunt Cycle toy that came out in 1973 let you control Evel Knievel’s bike and try any stunts you could imagine. While a lot of these toys got damaged from the stunts, a like-new cycle can be worth a pretty penny. Estimated value: $150–900 USD Recent sale prices: $850 USD
Original Furby Furbys are some of the strangest toys on this list: they look like a mixture of a bird and a teddy bear. While you probably remember Furby the most for being a little creepy and turning on by itself at times, people are still willing to pay a lot for the originals. Estimated value: $125–800 USD Recent sale prices: $765 USD
Original 1985 Teddy Ruxpin Teddy Ruxpin was a stuffed bear you could load cassettes into, and it would tell you a story out loud. A lot of collectors have good memories of hearing a bedtime story from Teddy Ruxpin, so the original version has only increased in value. Estimated value: $ 300–600 USD Recent sale prices: $465 USD
Rainbow Brite Dolls Rainbow Brite dolls were released by Mattel in the '80s as a tie-in to the animated series. These dolls have bright rainbow-colored clothing and long, yarn hair that made them stand out from other dolls around the same time. While new merch is still being made, the classic dolls have grown in value. Estimated value: $115–500 USD Recent sale prices: $450 USD
LEGO Space Command Center LEGO artist Jeff Friesen notes that older sets like the Space Command Center are worth more money because of nostalgia, scarcity, and fun theming. The original Command Center from 1979 was many people’s first set, so its value has only gone up over time. Estimated value: $200–250 USD (used), ~$4,300 USD (sealed) Recent sale prices: $450 USD Check our guide on other valuable LEGO sets to see if you have them in your collection.
Vintage Super Soaker When you think of water guns, Super Soakers are one of the most popular brands out there. These water guns have striking designs that stand out from the crowd, and the classic versions are still desired by collectors who want to add them to their arsenal. Estimated value: $100–350 USD Recent sale prices: $350 USD
Original Game Boy When Nintendo released the original Game Boy in 1989, the handheld system became an instant hit. Even though new and updated Game Boy consoles released throughout the '90s and 2000s, nostalgia for the original drives up its price. Estimated value: $50–250 USD (used), ~$1,866 USD (sealed) Recent sale prices: $150–300 USD
Original Lite Brite Lite Brite came with colored pegs you stuck into a board that lit up to display your design. Even though it may be a little tough to find a working one, a vintage Lite Brite from the '60s and '70s can give you a little extra pocket change. Estimated value: $ 45–300 USD Recent sale prices: $275 USD
Happy Meal Toys McDonald’s has been giving free toys out with their Happy Meals since the late '70s. Many of the toys tie in to a popular franchise, so diehard collectors look for complete sets. Some of the Happy Meal toy sets were more popular than others, so check our guide to find which ones will get you the most money. Estimated value: $100–250 USD Recent sale prices: $255 USD
Fisher-Price Little People Play Family House The Family House was one of the original releases in the Little People line. This dollhouse opened up so you could play with the figurines in different rooms. Because people have good memories of playing with the Family House as a kid, it’s gained a bit of popularity on the secondhand market. Estimated value: $100–300 USD Recent sale prices: $250 USD
Easy-Bake Oven Even though it’s technically a toy, you could bake simple recipes in an Easy-Bake Oven without setting foot in your kitchen. While they’re still releasing updated versions, the original vintage models have a lot of charm that collectors crave. Estimated value: $ 50–180 USD Recent sale prices: $180 USD
Bop It Extreme Bop It was a simple handheld game from the '90s where you had to follow the instructions to get a high score. While the original was popular, the Extreme version added more instructions and actions to complete. Estimated value: $50–150 USD Recent sale prices: $150 USD
1st Generation Tamagotchis Tamagotchis are some of the original virtual pets, and they instantly became a fad. Even though updated versions of Tamagotchis have been released since, the original lineup from 1996 is still sought after by nostalgic collectors. Estimated value: $30–100 USD Recent sale prices: $100 USD
What makes vintage toys valuable?
Condition, rarity, and popularity are the main factors that change value. Vintage toys are worth a lot more money if they’re in perfect condition and haven’t been played with very much. If people feel a lot of nostalgia for a certain toy, they may also be willing to spend more to add it to their personal collection. Condition: Older toys that are undamaged and still in good condition bring in more money than those with wear and tear Material: Toys made with sturdier materials or that are handmade are worth more than mass-produced versions Rarity: Toys that are hard to find or only have a few surviving copies are more valuable than common ones Popularity: Toys that are part of popular franchises or have a dedicated fan base have collectors who are willing to pay more
How to Check Antique Toy Value
Look up the selling prices of similar items online. Hirsch recommends doing your research and doing a basic search for the item on marketplaces like eBay or auction sites. She says, “Look for similar items, compare their conditions, and see how much they sold for” so you can get an idea of how much your toys are worth.
Where to Buy & Sell Vintage Toys
List your toys on online marketplaces. Hirsch says, “eBay is a great platform for selling antiques, vintage items, and collectibles” because it’s well established. For local sales, she recommends Facebook Marketplace, because you can list and sell items for free, you don’t have to ship anything, and you’ll find a wide audience of interested buyers, especially in big cities. Ready to sell? Check out our full guides for selling on eBay and Facebook Marketplace.
Try selling high-value items at a local auction house. Hirsch recommends auction houses for any high-value items that are worth more than $500 USD. She says, “They have large buyer bases through their catalogs” and can “give you a pre-sale estimate based on market trends” for the toys you’re trying to sell.
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