CD Price Guide: Discover the Value of Your CDs | Discogs Digs (2024)

CD Price Guide: Discover the Value of Your CDs | Discogs Digs (1)

Photo By: Lucía Garó

How do you appraise a CD? Perhaps you’re curious about the worth of your CD collection. Maybe you have some old music that could use a new home. No matter your reasons, we’ll teach you how to price CDs. Discogs is a crowdsourced database featuring more than 13 million music releases and 4 million CDs. It’s also a marketplace where users can buy, sell, and evaluate CDs, cassettes, vinyl records, and more. We are committed to being an open-source site and a resource for collectors, which includes making our data public. Follow this guide to determine the current value of a CD based on recent sales in one of the largest CD marketplaces in the world.

How to Determine the Value of Your CDs

1. Identify the CD

Most albums have been issued more than once, resulting in different release versions. The CD could be from a unique label, have bonus material, or feature unique artwork. Some releases sell for hundreds of dollars. Some are worth less than $5. To determine the value of your CD, you must first identify it.

Start by looking for a Catalog Number, which is often found on the back cover of the CD case. Next, search for a barcode number. Lacking either of these options, make note of other identifying details: country of release, track titles, etc. For a more comprehensive guide, here’s where to find identifying information on CDs.

2. Navigate to the Discogs Release Page

Once you have your identifying info about the release version, you will need to find it on Discogs. You can do this by typing in the Catalog Number, barcode number, or other details into the search bar. If the CD has a barcode, you can also scan it with the free Discogs app which can be found in the Apple and Google Play app stores.

All releases are lumped under a Master Release in the Database. When in doubt, simply search for the album title, navigate to the Master Release page, and use the “Find Your Version” function to locate your specific release. Once you do, double-check your info to make sure it’s a match.

Search for Your CD

3. Find Prices in the Statistics Section

Look for the Statistics heading. On a desktop, it will be on the right-hand side; on mobile, you will need to scroll down.

Immediately available will be the lowest, median, and highest prices that the release has been sold for on Discogs. By clicking on the Last Sold date, you can view the full sales data, including the average CD price and a chart to track trends over time.

If you’re using the Discogs app, this information will be labeled as Sales History. Click on Sales History for the same order history and price information.

Additional Tips

How to Determine the Condition of Your CD

Condition is a major factor in the true value of your CD. Discogs uses the Goldmine Standard, a universally-accepted guideline for representing the condition of physical music. The levels range from Mint (perfect) down to Poor/Fair (badly damaged). Here’s a complete guide to determining the condition of your CDs and grading them accurately.

Use Shortcut for Evaluating More Than One CD

If you have more than one CD to evaluate, use the Collection tool, which is available with a (free!) Discogs account. Once you navigate to the release page, click the Add to Collection button and your CD will be dropped into your virtual Collection on Discogs.

From your Collection, you can:

  • Get an estimated value of your whole collection.
  • Track the condition of individual CDs.
  • Mark items for sale.
  • Use the export feature to download a CSV for insurance purposes.
  • And more!

Add to Collection

Join the Community

Discogs is a global community of music fans that have built the largest physical-media Database in the world. We love to discover and purchase new music. If all this sounds great to you, then join us! Creating a Discogs account is free and gives you access to the Collection tool and much more.

Create an Account

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CD Price Guide: Discover the Value of Your CDs | Discogs Digs (2024)

FAQs

How do I find out how much my CDs are worth? ›

How to Determine the Value of Your CDs
  1. Identify the CD. Most albums have been issued more than once, resulting in different release versions. ...
  2. Navigate to the Discogs Release Page. Once you have your identifying info about the release version, you will need to find it on Discogs. ...
  3. Find Prices in the Statistics Section.

Is my old CD collection worth anything? ›

It really depends on what you're selling. Rarer CDs and CDs from more obscure genres such as metal or classical tend to be worth more than your average chart-topper, but most CDs are still worth something.

What is the rarest now CD? ›

Topping the collectable charts is the 'Now 4' CD, released in 1984, selling for up to £595 on the website.

What should I do with my old music CDs? ›

How to Recycle CDs & Tapes
  • Donate your old CD, DVDs and tapes to a secondhand store or music reseller for reuse. Even if the items are scratched, it's likely they can be repaired and resold. ...
  • Use them for a DIY art project.
  • Mail your media to a company like the CD Recycling Center of America or GreenDisk.

Who pays the most for used CDs? ›

8 Best Places to Sell CDs (That Pay the Most)
  • Best Places to Sell CDs for Cash. Music Magpie. eBay. Amazon Marketplace. WeBuyBooks. Facebook. GameXchange. CeX. Ziffit.com.
  • How Much Money Can You Earn From Selling Old CDs?
  • Best Places to Sell CDs for Cash Summary.
Jan 30, 2023

Should I keep all my old CDs? ›

If you're wondering “are CDs worth anything”, you should know there's a lot of value in those old CDs, especially if you're an audiophile. These days, some streaming services are losing their luster – with some famous artists like Neil Young taking down entire catalogs.

Should I throw away old music CDs? ›

Can I Throw Old CD's in the Trash? The short answer is yes but that's really not a great option. You could put them in the trash but CDs and their plastic cases do not decompose in a landfill and if you put them in an incinerator, they'll give off toxic fumes. Neither are good ways to dispose of old CDs.

How can you tell if a CD is vintage? ›

Look for a manufacture date: Some CDs will have the date of manufacture printed on the disc or on the packaging. Check the CD design: The design of a CD can sometimes indicate its age. For example, older CDs may have a different color scheme or graphic design than more recent CDs.

What is the most popular CD ever sold? ›

Michael Jackson's Thriller, estimated to have sold 70 million copies worldwide, is the best-selling album ever. Jackson also currently has the highest number of albums on the list with five, Celine Dion has four, while the Beatles, Pink Floyd, Madonna and Whitney Houston each have three.

What are the most expensive single CDs? ›

Topping the list is 'Falling Hearts' by heavy metal band Runner, sold for $3000 via Hee Jee Records. Michael Jackson's 'Smile' and Eastside's 'The Battlefield' also sit amongst the top 10 most expensive CDs ever sold on Discogs.

How much are used CDs worth? ›

Recent releases in good condition might average $2.00 to $10.00 STORE CREDIT, with some being worth more. For titles that do still sell strongly and are in very good condition, we typically offer between $2 and $4 STORE CREDIT (or 50% of the credit value in cash).

Are music CDs worth selling? ›

You can definitely sell them as a lot for crafters. If you have several by the same artist, sometimes selling them in lots is worth the money even for the more common CDs. Don't chuck them!

Are CDs making a comeback? ›

Although vinyl has made plenty of headlines in recent years, the CD remains a popular choice for collectors. According to the Recording Industry Association of America, 111 million CDs have been purchased over the last three years, and 2021 saw the first increase in new CD sales in 17 years.

Are CD accounts worth anything? ›

CDs typically offer a higher interest rate than savings accounts, meaning you can earn more money on your deposit. This can be helpful if you are trying to save for a specific goal, such as a down payment on a house or retirement. Another benefit of CDs is that they are a low-risk investment.

How do I know if my CD is first edition? ›

One way is to check for SID codes (Source Identification Codes) on the CD's hub. They were introduced in September 1994, so anything with a SID Code can't be older than that. You will find more of an explanation on them at RSG §5.2. d., so give that a look.

What happens to unclaimed CDs? ›

Garrity says if a bank issues a CD and if it's not redeemed within three years, it gets turned over to the Unclaimed Property Division.

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