Free tool
Stamp collection value estimator
Collection estimator
What is my stamp collection worth?
Rough value tier
Answer all 7 questions to see a tier and next steps. Nothing is stored or sent anywhere.
A rough tier from your answers, not an appraisal. No per-stamp dollar figure is given because no reliable source publishes one for common stamps.
Show your work
Every assumption behind the estimate
We only show a money figure where a dealer or collector organization publishes one. For common stamps, no reliable source gives a per-stamp value, so the tool uses tiers instead.
| Material | What the source says | How the tool uses it | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Common stamps at the catalog minimum | Stanley Gibbons: its 10p minimum signals a stamp has no real commercial value, and a dealer will not give such stamps any value at all. An APS article notes that a lot of stamps in the average collection carry Scott's 25¢ minimum, and that pricing hundreds of them is not economically practical. | No dollar value. These count toward the tier only. | Stanley Gibbons (2020); R. Colberg, The American Philatelist (May 2020) |
| Kiloware (stamps sold by weight) | A UK dealer's buying guide: non-UK mixtures often £12–15 per kilo, poorer mixes £4–6; UK general about £6; UK definitives and Christmas £1.75–2.25. The same shop sells 1 kg of US on paper for £32.50 and German for £17.50 (August 2026). | Weight × buying rate, shown in pounds sterling. | Robert Murray Stamp Shop, Edinburgh |
| Unused US stamps issued after 1940 | Most are bought by dealers as postage, below face value. Dealers advertise 55–65% of face; County Stamp Center pays 50%. An APS article says large holdings of post-1940 US mint sheets and plate blocks are worth less than face. | Face value × 50% to 65%. | County Stamp Center FAQ (March 2025); R. Colberg (APS, 2020) |
| First day covers | Post-1940 US first day covers have very little value (Colberg, APS). Stanley Gibbons says post-1960 covers are typically mass produced, with limited resale value. | Counted as common material. | R. Colberg (APS, 2020); Stanley Gibbons valuations |
| Childhood and beginner albums | Stanley Gibbons: childhood collections were built with quantity rather than value in mind, which is often reflected in their value today. In an example inventory in an APS article, an old 1954 worldwide album is listed at $25 fair market value. | Counted as common material unless older stamps are present. | Stanley Gibbons valuations; R. Colberg (APS, 2020) |
| Everything else (older stamps, specialized albums, covers) | The APS: most collections consist of relatively common material, and most of the value comes from a small portion. NZ Post: older stamps in particular can be worth more on cover. | No per-stamp figure. The tier tells you whether to look closer. | American Philatelic Society; NZ Post Collectables |
| Professional appraisal | A formal appraisal could cost $75 to $250 an hour. | Advice on whether an appraisal is worth paying for. | American Philatelic Society |
How the tier is chosen
- Tier 4, expert opinion: any stamps with certificates or expert opinions.
- Tier 3, closer look: stamps that may match famous ones, or 19th-century stamps in reasonable condition outside kiloware. Every rare stamp in our value guides was issued between 1843 and 1918.
- Tier 1, mostly common: kiloware or a childhood album without 19th-century stamps, or a collection entirely from after 1940.
- Tier 2, possible exceptions: everything else.
The rules are checked in this order and the first match wins. They are our editorial rules of thumb, built on the sources above, not a valuation method.
What makes a stamp collection valuable
A few good stamps, not the stamp count. Value concentrates in scarce issues in sound condition, interesting covers and certified items.
The size of a collection says little about its value. An APS appraiser's example inventory lists a cigar box of used US stamps on paper at $0 and a mint sheet folder with $122.50 of face value at $50, next to specialized collections listed at thousands of dollars in catalog value.
Condition matters as much as the issue. Thins, tears, creases and stains take a stamp down sharply, and older stamps in particular can be worth more on their original envelope than off it. Leave stamps on their covers until someone has looked at them, and don't bother soaking kiloware: it won't normally raise the price.
Catalog value is not what you will be paid
Adding up catalog values gives a number no buyer will pay. Catalog value is almost never the appraisal value.
That line comes from Richard Colberg, writing for the American Philatelic Society. Dealers sell below catalog for much material, so they must buy below their own selling price. Catalog minimums are not values at all: Stanley Gibbons calls its 10p minimum a sign that a stamp has no real commercial value.
For famous stamps, our stamp value checker shows indicative ranges by condition, and the stamp price guide covers broader categories.
Where to sell or appraise a stamp collection
Dealers for mid-priced material, public auction for valuable items, and a qualified appraiser when you need a formal valuation.
The APS says most material worth $1 to $100 an item is sold to dealers, while many sellers find public auction best for items worth hundreds or thousands of dollars. Check that a dealer belongs to the APS, the American Stamp Dealers Association or the National Stamp Dealers Association, and get more than one offer.
A formal appraisal can cost $75 to $250 an hour. Colberg lists the usual reasons to need one: estate tax, insurance, a donation or dividing property. Local stamp clubs can also point you to someone with the right specialist knowledge. Our stamp appraisal guide covers what an appraiser checks.
Start with the best 20 stamps in each album
You do not need to identify every stamp. Find the ones most likely to matter and start there.
Go through each album and pick the 20 stamps that look oldest, cleanest, most unusual or most like something famous. Identify those, check their perforation and watermark if the catalog splits the issue, and only then decide whether the rest needs more time.
Let the app do the identification
Stamp collection value FAQ
How much is a stamp collection worth?
Usually less than its catalog total. The American Philatelic Society says most collections consist of relatively common material, with most of the value in a small part of the collection. The way to find out is to identify the best stamps first, then get offers or an appraisal for those.
Are old stamp albums worth anything?
Some are, many are not. Stanley Gibbons notes that childhood collections were built for quantity rather than value. In an example inventory in an APS article, an old 1954 worldwide album is listed at $25. Albums with 19th-century stamps, specialized country collections or certificates deserve a closer look.
Is unused US postage worth its face value?
Not to a dealer. Most unused US stamps issued after 1940 are bought as postage below face value. One dealer reported paying 50% of face in March 2025, with other dealers advertising 55% to 65%.
Should I soak stamps off paper or sort them before selling?
Usually not. An Edinburgh dealer says soaking kiloware off paper will not normally increase the price, and that dealers may pay less for a lot because it has been sorted. Never remove stamps from envelopes or postcards before a valuation.
Who can appraise a stamp collection?
A qualified philatelic appraiser, an auction house or an established dealer. The APS suggests checking that a dealer belongs to the APS, the American Stamp Dealers Association or the National Stamp Dealers Association, and getting more than one offer. A formal appraisal can cost $75 to $250 an hour.
Sources & References
- Inherited a Collection - American Philatelic Society
- Appraising a Stamp Collection (Richard Colberg, The American Philatelist, May 2020), reprinted in Disposing of a collection - American Philatelic Society, reprinted by the American Helvetia Philatelic Society
- What does 'catalogue value' really mean? (November 2020) - Stanley Gibbons
- Stamp Collection Valuation - Stanley Gibbons
- FAQ: buying U.S. postage (March 6, 2025) - County Stamp Center
- Advice for charities collecting stamps (kiloware buying rates) - Robert Murray Stamp Shop
- Kiloware - bags of stamps! (retail prices, updated August 6, 2026) - Robert Murray Stamp Shop
- Valuations (updated August 25, 2026) - Robert Murray Stamp Shop
- Inherited collections - NZ Post Collectables
- How to sell your stamp collection - Warwick & Warwick
- StampSnap stamp value guides - StampSnap