How Much Are My Action Figures Worth? A Guide to Valuing Modern Figures

Quick answer: Most modern action figures (Marvel Legends, Star Wars: The Black Series, McFarlane DC Multiverse, NECA and similar lines from roughly 2006 to today) resell for close to or below what they cost at retail. The ones that sell for more are usually still sealed, exclusive to one retailer or convention, part of a crowdfunded or limited run, or no longer made. To find what yours is worth, look up sold listings for the exact figure and packaging, not asking prices.

If you've got a shelf (or a closet, or a storage bin at your parents' house) full of figures, here's how to figure out which ones are worth selling and how to get the most for them.

What counts as a "modern" action figure?

Collectors usually split action figures into vintage and modern. Vintage generally means pre-2000 stuff like 1978–1985 Kenner Star Wars, original G.I. Joe and '80s He-Man. Modern covers the collector-focused 6-inch and 7-inch lines that took over in the 2000s and 2010s, including:

• Hasbro Marvel Legends: 6-inch Marvel figures, often sold in waves with Build-A-Figure parts
• Star Wars: The Black Series: Hasbro's 6-inch Star Wars line, around since 2013
• McFarlane Toys DC Multiverse: 7-inch DC figures, including many retailer-exclusive "Gold Label" and "Platinum" editions
• NECA: horror, movie and video game licenses, plus Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles
• Mattel Masters of the Universe Masterverse and Origins
• Import and premium lines: Bandai S.H. Figuarts, Mezco One:12 Collective, Hot Toys and similar high-end figures

These lines are made in huge numbers, so most figures in them are common. The ones worth money stand out from that crowd in specific ways.

What makes an action figure valuable?

1. Sealed vs. opened

Packaging condition matters more than anything else. A figure that's still sealed in its original box, sometimes called "mint in box" (MIB) or "new in box" (NIB), almost always sells for more than the same figure opened. Crushed corners, tears, price stickers and yellowed plastic windows all lower the price. If you opened it but kept every accessory and the box, you'll still do better than if you just have the loose figure.

2. Exclusives and limited runs

Figures sold only through one channel get made in smaller numbers. Typical examples:

• Convention exclusives (San Diego Comic-Con and others)
• Brand direct exclusives such as Hasbro Pulse and Mattel Creations
• Retailer exclusives from places like Target, Walmart, GameStop and Amazon
• Crowdfunded HasLab projects, which Hasbro only makes if enough people back them

HasLab pieces show this most clearly. Price-tracking site ActionFigure411 lists the HasLab Marvel Legends Sentinel selling for an average of around $760 against a $349.99 retail price, and Galactus averaging around $660 against $399.99. Treat those as snapshots, since prices move, but the pattern holds up: limited production plus big demand means strong resale.

3. Build-A-Figure parts

Many Marvel Legends waves include one piece of a larger "Build-A-Figure" (BAF) in each box. A complete BAF or a full sealed wave can be worth more than the figures sold one by one, because buyers want the whole set. On the other hand, a loose figure with its BAF piece missing is harder to sell, so check whether yours still has it.

4. Discontinued characters and early waves

Once a figure is gone from shelves and hasn't been re-released, prices can climb, especially for popular characters. Early waves of long-running lines tend to hold value too. For Star Wars: The Black Series, collectors pay extra for early "orange line" packaging and short-packed figures. The reverse also happens: when Hasbro or Mattel re-release a figure, prices on the original usually drop.

5. Character demand

Two figures from the same wave can sell at very different prices. Main characters, fan favorites and figures tied to a new movie or show tend to sell faster and higher than background characters. A figure that was hard to find in stores often stays in demand for years.

6. Variants and errors

Running changes, alternate heads, packaging misprints and factory errors can all add value, but only when collectors actually know about and track the variant. A random paint smudge is usually just a flaw.

How to check what your action figure is worth

1. Identify it exactly. Write down the line, character, wave or year, and whether it's an exclusive. The box usually has all of this, plus a UPC barcode you can search.
2. Look at sold prices, not asking prices. Anyone can list a figure for $300. What matters is what it actually sold for. On eBay, filter a search to "Sold Items." Price guides like ActionFigure411 also track sales for Marvel Legends, Black Series and other lines.
3. Match the condition. Compare sealed to sealed and loose to loose. A sealed figure's sold price tells you nothing about what a loose one with no accessories will get.
4. Check how many have sold recently. A figure that sells a few times a week is easy to price. One that sold once, eight months ago, is a guess.
5. Or just scan it. Moe identifies items from a photo and pulls current market pricing, so you can check a whole shelf without typing out every figure's name.

Where to sell modern action figures

No single marketplace dominates action figure sales the way StockX does for hype sneakers or TCGplayer does for Pokémon singles. Buyers are spread out, so where you list matters.

• eBay has the biggest audience and the best sold-price data. For most categories, eBay's final value fee is 13.6% of the total sale (up to $7,500) plus a $0.40 per-order fee on orders over $10, per eBay's seller fee page.
• Mercari works well for mid-priced figures and casual buyers.
• Facebook Marketplace and collector groups are good for local pickup, big lots and bulky items like HasLab pieces that are expensive to ship.
• Whatnot live auctions can move lots quickly, especially popular lines.
• Local toy shops and conventions will usually buy a whole collection at once. It's fast, but expect a lower price since the shop needs room to resell.

Listing on several platforms at once gets your figure in front of more buyers, but it's a pain to manage by hand. Moe lets you list once, push the listing out to multiple marketplaces, and handle buyer messages in one app.

Tips to get the most money

• Don't open sealed figures you plan to sell.
• Photograph every side of the box, especially corners and the plastic window, so buyers can judge the condition themselves.
• List every accessory: alternate hands, heads, weapons, effects parts and BAF pieces.
• Sell complete sets together when the full set is worth more than the parts, like a full wave with its complete BAF.
• Ship boxes in boxes. Collectors care about the packaging, so pad it well and never ship a sealed figure in a bubble mailer.
• Watch release news. If a re-release is announced, sell the original sooner rather than later.

Frequently asked questions

Are Marvel Legends worth anything?

Most Marvel Legends figures resell near their original retail price, and many common ones sell for less. The ones that go up in value tend to be HasLab projects, convention and Hasbro Pulse exclusives, figures from early or hard-to-find waves, and complete Build-A-Figure sets. Check sold listings for your exact figure to know for sure.

Are Star Wars Black Series figures worth money?

Some are. Early "orange line" figures, short-packed characters and exclusives (like Comic-Con releases) are the ones collectors pay extra for. Standard mass-market Black Series figures usually sell around or below retail, especially if they've been re-released.

Is it better to keep action figures in the box?

If you care about resale value, yes. Sealed figures in good packaging nearly always sell for more than opened ones. If you collect to display and enjoy them, opening them is fine. Just keep the box and every accessory in case you sell later.

How can I tell if my action figure is rare?

Check the packaging for an exclusive sticker or retailer logo, look up the figure's wave to see if it was short-packed, and search sold listings to see how often it comes up for sale. If it sells rarely and for well over retail, it's probably scarce.

What's the fastest way to sell a whole action figure collection?

Selling everything as one lot to a local toy shop or on Facebook Marketplace is the fastest, but you'll get less than selling each figure on its own. A good middle ground is to sell your few most valuable figures individually and bundle the rest into lots by line or character.