Which Pokémon booster boxes are worth opening?
For each Pokémon set with a large published pull-rate study, we multiply how often each hit rarity appears by the average market price of those cards, then compare the value of a 36-pack box's hits with what the sealed box costs. Over 100% means the hits are worth more than the box on average. Prices update daily.
| # | Set | Box price | Hits value / box | Value vs. price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Perfect Order POR · March 27, 2026 | $172.02 | $48.19 | 28% |
| 2 | Scarlet & Violet Base Set SVI · March 31, 2023 | $297.31 | $77.87 | 26% |
| 3 | Phantasmal Flames PFL · November 14, 2025 | $390.26 | $96.43 | 25% |
| 4 | Chaos Rising CRI · May 22, 2026 | $179.59 | $42.85 | 24% |
| 5 | Mega Evolution MEG · September 26, 2025 | $302.73 | $68.71 | 23% |
| 6 | Surging Sparks SSP · November 8, 2024 | $298.57 | $66.96 | 22% |
| 7 | Journey Together JTG · March 28, 2025 | $208.51 | $45.52 | 22% |
| 8 | Destined Rivals DRI · May 30, 2025 | $384.03 | $73.65 | 19% |
| 9 | Ascended Heroes ASC · January 30, 2026 | — | $131.73 | — |
| 10 | Scarlet & Violet 151 MEW · September 22, 2023 | — | $279.98 | — |
How we calculate it
Pull rates come from the TCGplayer Authentication Center's opening studies (2,000 to 8,500+ packs per set, linked on each set's page). Hit rarities are Double Rare and above; commons, uncommons, rares and reverse holos count as bulk and are left out.
Value per pack = sum over hit rarities of (odds per pack × average near-mint TCGplayer market price of that rarity's cards). A box is 36 packs. The box price is the current TCGplayer market price of the sealed booster box.
This is an average over many boxes. A single box varies a lot — most of a box's value usually comes from one or two big hits — and selling cards costs fees and time, so treat anything near 100% as break-even at best.
- TCGplayer pull-rate study — Perfect Order (3,500+)
- TCGplayer pull-rate study — Scarlet & Violet Base Set (8,000+)
- TCGplayer pull-rate study — Phantasmal Flames (5,000+)
- TCGplayer pull-rate study — Chaos Rising (8,500+)
- TCGplayer pull-rate study — Mega Evolution (5,000+)
- TCGplayer pull-rate study — Surging Sparks (8,000+)
- TCGplayer pull-rate study — Journey Together (8,000+)
- TCGplayer pull-rate study — Destined Rivals (8,000+)
- TCGplayer pull-rate study — Ascended Heroes (2,000+)
- TCGplayer pull-rate study — Scarlet & Violet 151 (1,500+)
Booster box value FAQ
Which Pokémon booster box has the best value right now?
Perfect Order has the best ratio of the sets we track: its hits are worth about $48.19 per box on average against a box price of $172.02 (28%).
Which Pokémon booster box is the worst value to open?
Destined Rivals is the weakest: about $73.65 of hits per box on average against a box price of $384.03 (19%). Buying the singles you want is usually cheaper.
Is it cheaper to buy singles or open booster boxes?
If you want specific cards, buying singles is almost always cheaper and certain. 8 of the 8 boxes we track return less than their price in hits on average. Opening makes sense for the fun of it, for sets whose ratio is clearly above 100%, or if you value the bulk and the chance at a big hit.
What does booster box EV mean?
EV (expected value) is the average value of the cards you'd pull from a box, based on pull rates and current card prices. It's a long-run average, not a prediction for any single box.
How often is this updated?
Card and box prices refresh every day from TCGplayer, so the rankings change as prices move. Pull rates change only when a new study is published.