Rummaging around the attic in mom and dad’s house might yield some valuable toys you discarded from your youth. Although the 80s and 90s weren’t that long ago, many toys from these eras are worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars! Before you declare millionaire status, research reselling tips.
Laurie Anderson Dowell, a toy collector in California says: “The most important feature to a toy’s value is usually whether it is in its original packaging, and what kind of condition the box, card, or bubble is in. MIP (mint in the package) and MIB (mint in box) toys are more highly covetable.” Below is our list of valuable toys with their estimated original and potential selling prices. Perhaps you got one of these for Christmas and never opened it?
1. Sky Dancer
AVERAGE OG PRICE: $9.99
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $80
Twin brothers, John, and Anthony Gentile came up with the idea for Sky Dancer. The twins wrangled an aviation expert and a sculptor that worked on Tim Burton’s “Nightmare Before Christmas” to create the flying doll’s design. They flew high and twirled with a pull of a string.
Companies that rejected the Gentiles’ pitch missed out…The toy became wildly popular among young children, especially when they found out they could launch the toy at their siblings. Many of the toys were recalled for safety reasons which just increased their value.
NEXT: Cash in your Happy Meal toys.
2. Happy Meal toys
AVERAGE OG PRICE: Free (with purchase of a Happy Meal)
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $100
McDonald’s removed Happy Meals from its value menu, thus hiking up the price to $3.99 in most locations. The older toys that came with Happy Meals are skyrocketing in value, despite the meal no longer being considered ‘valuable.’
They easily sell on eBay for $100, some for a lot more. Mental Floss said that a whole set of “McFurbys” was recently put up for sale for $899. Seems like embracing the whole Furby craze was the right call for Mc’D’s.
NEXT: Reselling your Skip-It might get you over $100.
3. Skip-It
AVERAGE OG PRICE: $12.89 (new)
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $120 (vintage)
It was the infamous 1990s Skip-It commercial filmed at Ravinia elementary school in Highland Park, Illinois that helped make this toy a success. The advertisement played during children’s programming. Kids had to have it when they saw that apparatus swinging around other kids’ ankles.
Skip-Its are still available for sale, but definitely lost a bit of its cool factor with children today (iPads are the new hip thing). However, collectors might buy your old Skip-It for $120 on eBay. Might have to be in the original packaging, however!
NEXT: Lite Brites will make your bank account bright.
4. Lite Brite
AVERAGE OG PRICE: $9.97
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $130-150
How magical and calming it was to make brightly lit and coloured designs with a Lite Brite. Time Magazine named it one of the top 100 toys of all time in an article, due to the toy’s continued popularity since its release in 1967.
Having you been hanging onto your Lite Brite? If it’s a vintage set still in its box, you could slang it for $130 to $150. Lite Brites are still sold through retailers like Best Buy — new versions would not be worth that much obvi.
NEXT: Did you own a pair of Moon Shoes? We’ll tell you how to get a couple hundred for them.
5. Moon Shoes
AVERAGE OG PRICE: $37.52 (new)
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $200 (vintage)
These shoes look super weird, but they make you feel like you’re walking on the moon! Stomping around in these shoes with built-in trampolines mimics what the creators think walking on the moon is like. We can’t confirm the accuracy of the imitation but they’re fun either way.
These were first introduced in the 1950s and had success well into the 1990s. If you have any vintage pairs, you might be able to resell them for a couple hundred on eBay. As we’ve mentioned before, mint condition Moon Shoes in that original packaging will get you the most cash.
NEXT: Dear Diary used to be every kid’s best friend. Now it can get you some moolah.
6. Dear Diary
AVERAGE OG PRICE: Unknown
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $200
Kids have secrets too! Dear Diary provided youngsters a place to store their thoughts away from the prying eyes of adults. Tiger Electronics released this electronic diary in the 1990s which became an instant hit. Dear Diary could only be opened with a secret code.
The handheld device made kids feel so much cooler than using a notebook. These electronic secret-keepers are still circulating on eBay, going for a couple hundred in some cases. Remember, they usually will go for the most if you’re in original packaging and in mint condition.
NEXT: Originally this was made for adults, but contemporary versions were then geared towards children.
7. View-Master
AVERAGE OG PRICE: $12.50 (new)
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $430 (vintage)
This toy was first introduced in 1939. Children (and adults) could look through the binocular-like device to view photos and other images. Tourists attractions and travel images made up the bulk of the reels that you could get from View-Master.
View-Master had various uses but its contemporary design is geared towards children. It’s also been used for Disneyland rides, TV shows and some blockbuster flicks like Jurassic Park and E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. View-Master has fancy upgraded versions but vintage is worth more.
NEXT: This toy originally cost between $10 and $50 but is worth much more now.
8. Super Soaker
AVERAGE OG PRICE: $10-50
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $600
This toy water gun operates using manually pressurized air to shoot water at your friends, mom, dad, neighbour, etc. It was the joy of many little kids, especially during summertime, much to the annoyance of many parents. Its popularity generated more than $1 billion in total sales.
Complex said the Monster XL and the original model, Super Soaker 50, were in the highest demand on eBay in 2015. Demand might be different right now for particular Super Soakers. If you sell the right water gun at the right time, you could look at a tidy sum.
NEXT: Stinky Pete’s value stinks of $$$.
9. Toy Story toys
AVERAGE OG PRICE: $30 (new)
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $700 (vintage)
If you’re like most millennials, you grew up watching Toy Story and probably have some of the toys in your boxes back at mom’s house. Some of the main characters will sell for a couple hundo’s — Buzz goes for $550 and Woody $580.
Supporting roles actually might sell for more. Take one of the villains, Stinky Pete, for instance. The little-known character’s action figure can sell for $700! If you have any of the annoying alien characters from the crane machine, those might retail for $690.
NEXT: Nintendo 64? More like Nintendo $750!
10. Nintendo 64 games
AVERAGE OG PRICE: $59.99
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $750
If you have the right ones that is. One of the most in-demand cartridges is Mario Kart 64. A mint condition one — in an unopened box — can get you $750. A rare one that’ll get you even more money is Harvest Moon 64.
No, it’s not a Neil Young game (he had a song called “Harvest Moon” — get it?), but a farming game that was never produced in large quantities. People weren’t into farm games back in the day, apparently. Its loyal fanbase inflated its worth to $900!
NEXT: How do you say “I’m rich” in Furbish?
11. Furby
AVERAGE OG PRICE: $35
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $900
Do you have an old Furby collecting dust in your attic? If so — dah noh-lah! In case you don’t speak Furbish, that translates roughly to: “It’s time to party!” And party you shall, because your Furby can be sold for $900.
The annoying fuzzy electronic critter became the “must-have” item for 90’s kids, much to the disdain of parents forced to listen to its incessant gibberish. To pull in the big bucks nowadays, your Furby needs to be in its original box.
NEXT: Have this pog set? You could get $1K for it!
12. Pogs
AVERAGE OG PRICE: Free (with purchase of Haleakala Dairy product on Maui, HI)
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $1,000
Pogs were originally round cardboard inserts in milk caps with which kids played a flipping game. It’s insane to think they could pull in $1,000 — that is, if you have the full Marilyn Monroe set. Its rarity has pumped up its value, possibly also the appeal of the blonde starlet.
If you have the complete Jurassic Park set, it could possibly be worth MORE than $1,000. One full set of pogs of the movie dinos, which included six holographic pogs, pulled in $1 million! More normal sets can do at least $100.
NEXT: Flip your Game Boy for this much.
13. Game Boy
AVERAGE OG PRICE: $89.99
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $750-$1,500
The most valuable toys are vintage ones, even if they’re not that old like Game Boy. Created in 1989, the Game Boy became a popular handheld game console. If you’re a 90’s kid, you’re likely to have one laying around your house.
How much can you resell it for? Surprisingly a lot — an OG Game Boy can get up to over $1K on eBay. Do you have the gold-plated, diamond-encrusted special edition Game Boy? You probably don’t, but if you do, you might be looking at $25,000.
NEXT: Skeletor could get you a lot of bones.
14. Skeletor action figure
AVERAGE OG PRICE: $4.99 (1982 price for He-Man toy)
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $1,600
If your formative years were in the 80s, you probably were a fan of the Masters of the Universe franchise released in 1982. Everyone loved the protagonist He-Man, but it’s actually his arch-nemesis Skeletor that’s worth the big bucks.
Anyone forced to play the villain during playtime will be pleasantly surprised: Diehard collectors are willing to shell out $1,650 for a Skeletor action figure. As with most toys in the reselling game, it has to be in its original box to be sold for that price.
NEXT: Pocket this much for your Polly Pocket.
15. Polly Pocket
AVERAGE OG PRICE: $14.99 (new)
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $1,926 (vintage)
These tiny doll portable sets popular in the 80s and 90s came in various themes — mermaid, princess, you name it! If you managed to keep track of every piece of your Polly Pocket set, you could get some cold hard cash.
Reselling sites, like eBay, are best for selling Polly. Got a Sparkle Surprise Polly Pocket set? Say hello to $449.99! If you have a complete version of one of the larger castle sets, you might be able to flip it for $1,926.
NEXT: Sell your Optimus Prime for an optimal price.
16. Transformers action figures
AVERAGE OG PRICE: $20
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $2,000
Transformers first came out on the scene in the 1980s. The franchise’s action figures’ values have skyrocketed since then, especially the very popular hero, Optimus Prime. Transformers are still sold at places like Target or Walmart but only vintage ones are valuable.
A vintage Optimus Prime action figure in its unopened box has sold on eBay for $2,000. That’s basically 100 times its original price! This might be hard to find lying around — most kids with Optimus action figures played with them relentlessly.
NEXT: Playmobil will get you more real money, not play money.
17. Playmobil
AVERAGE OG PRICE: $18-$26 (1990 price)
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $1,999-$2,322
In recent years, this toy has become a cult obsession for adults although it was originally created for children. The vintage sets have catapulted in popularity due to the toys’ wide array of unique sets and characters. You won’t believe how much some sell for…
A big collection of vintage Playmobil listed on eBay for $1,999. That’s not a crazy asking price — figurines in original boxes have gone for $2,322. You could sell them on eBay or Etsy without original packaging but for lower prices.
NEXT: This train is on its way to Rich Town!
18. Lego Trains
AVERAGE OG PRICE: $159.99 (new)
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $1,500-$3,000 (vintage)
Lego first hit the retail scene waaaay back in 1949, capturing children’s imaginations and even developing into theme parks. The Lego train made for a fun toy — not only could children build little scenes but they could also have an electric train chug through them.
There are many varieties within the Lego electric train categories, such as the High-Speed City Express Trains from 1985 and the Diesel Freight Trains. Those models in original, unopened boxes could yield about $1,500 to $3,000.
NEXT: Cabbage Patch Kids don’t look so creepy now do they?
19. Cabbage Patch Kids
AVERAGE OG PRICE: $24.99
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $3,000
The round-faced, soft-sculpted baby dolls first registered for their U.S. copyright in 1978 and exploded in popularity (more on that backstory here). Toy collector Laurie Anderson Dowell clarifies: “One didn’t buy a Cabbage Patch doll, one ‘adopted’ it. Hence you were paying an adoption fee.” Many a child begged their parent for a Cabbage Patch Kid doll for Christmas.
Rare dolls are still coveted, but worth waaay more nowadays. A James Dudley 1985 Cabbage Patch doll, for example, might go for $3,000 and a 1981 Blonde Girl Little People doll could fetch $2,000.
NEXT: People have gotten a few thousand from selling this toy.
20. Tamagotchi
AVERAGE OG PRICE: $17.99
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $3,000
Tamagotchis were the bane of many parents’ existence. The handheld, virtual pets required incessant care and attention (which often fell onto parents) just to stay alive. At the height of Tamagotchi’s craze, a frustrated mother told the Chicago Tribune: “I wake up every morning and something is dead.” Yikes.
Like most 90s trends, this toy has made a comeback. Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom were even spotted accessorizing their red carpet looks with some old school Tamagotchis. An original Tamagotchi in its unopened box can yield up to $3,000!
NEXT: Easy-Bake brings in easy money.
21. Easy-Bake Oven
AVERAGE OG PRICE: $10.97
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $4,000
Just about every kid begged for an Easy-Bake Oven when it came onto the market right before Christmas in 1963. It was modelled after 60s kitchens, in a then on-trend light yellow or teal colour. Got a vintage set? It might go for $4,000.
Its hefty value might have to do with how popular the toy became. It’s even part of the National Toy Hall of Fame! Forget the fact real ovens cost less than $4,000 — why not bake with incandescent light bulbs instead?
NEXT: This Garbage Pail Kid is worth more than the rest.
22. Garbage Pail Kids
AVERAGE OG PRICE: $0.25 a pack
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $4,000
For all the young’uns out there: Garbage Pail Kids were collectable sticker cards first made popular in the 1980s. They featured child characters with terrible abnormalities or fates, told in a comical way. The cards were banned in schools, which cited them as “distractions.”
Any cards you have still might be valuable, especially one rare card: One man sold the rare Adam Bomb card on eBay for $4,000! We’re guessing that’s because Adam Bomb was the most iconic of the series. Less rare sets can still yield a couple of hundreds.
NEXT: This Star Wars action figure is particularly valuable.
23. Boba Fett action figure
AVERAGE OG PRICE: $24.99 (new)
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $5,000 (vintage)
“The Boba Fett action figure was a mail-away promotion, advertising a firing missile from his backpack,” says Anderson Dowell. “This was deemed unsafe, so this version wasn’t released.” Some did show up on the market, however. Anderson Dowell guesses they were prototypes that sold for a high price.
If you have the Star Wars villain Boba Fett action figure (mint condition, in an unopened box), you might be able to score a cool $5,000 for it. Opened Boba Fett toys might be able to score some good cash as well.
NEXT: Beanie Babies are valuable, especially this one.
24. Beanie Babies
AVERAGE OG PRICE: $5.00
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $5,000
Remember the Beanie Baby craze? Before Pokémon, these were the toys kids had to “catch ‘em all” much to their parent’s dismay. You can resell some Beanie Babies for more than others (*cue everyone checking their collections*), but there’s one that’s the most coveted of all…
There have only been 2,000 Peanut the Royal Blue Elephant Beanie Babies created, thus its value has skyrocketed into the thousands. Some can sell for $5,000. Beanie Babies with manufacturing flaws can sell for more than others too.
NEXT: This American Girl doll is worth more than the others.
25. American Girl dolls
AVERAGE OG PRICE: $82
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $5,000
We’re sure many parents hated being dragged into the American Girl store or thumbing through the catalogues to purchase the dolls’ multiple — and expensive — accessories. The 1950’s era bespectacled doll, Molly McIntire, is particularly valuable because of its rarity. A mint condition Molly can go for $5,000.
Molly is rare because the production of the doll stopped in 2013, after 27 years on the market. Other discontinued models like Kirsten, Samantha, and Felicity can rake in pretty pennies — especially if they were made by its original manufacturer, Pleasant Company.
NEXT: You’re rich, Harry!
26. Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone
AVERAGE OG PRICE: $10.99 (new)
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $6,500 (vintage)
Toys are not the only childhood items you can resell for a profit. Books can also be resold for a pretty penny, especially if they are a first edition copy of the wildly popular Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone. Those can sell for $6,500.
In general, first edition copies of books are the most valuable. A first edition of the magic-centric novel signed by author J.K. Rowling herself could go for a whopping $15,000. These books are especially valuable if you haven’t lovingly dog-eared all of its pages!
NEXT: This book is worth twice as much as Harry Potter.
27. Where the Wild Things Are
AVERAGE OG PRICE: $8.95 (new)
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $25,000 (vintage)
Before you hurry to sell your child’s favourite book, check that it is the 1963 first edition signed copy of Where the Wild Things Are. Such a copy was sold in 2012 for $25,000 on Abebooks.com. Got a mint first-edition copy without Maurice Sendak’s autograph?
Such a version might still rake in some cash! All you need to do is find the right collector – and when you do expect this well-loved book to fetch you a pretty penny. Where The Wild Things are has sold over 20 million copies and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 2013.
NEXT: This Star Wars action figure will sell for even more than Boba Fett does.
28. Luke Skywalker action figure
AVERAGE OG PRICE: $20 (new)
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $25,000 (vintage)
Not any ol’ Luke Skywalker action figure can sell for $25,000, only a limited edition 1978 figurine can. One was sold at a Sotheby’s auction for that price in 2015. It belonged to Tomoaki Nagao, the creator of the Japanese clothing line, The Bathing Ape.
With only 20 copies of the toy ever made, it has a rare “double telescoping” lightsaber that easily broke (thus, it was pulled from production.) Today, you might swipe a Luke Skywalker for around $20 at Target, but those lack in rarity and covetousness.
NEXT: PEZ dispensers dispense cash now.
29. PEZ
AVERAGE OG PRICE: $1.79 (new)
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $32,000 (vintage)
The first PEZ candy dispenser was made in 1927, Austria. “The name is an abbreviation for the German word for peppermint, ‘pfeffermintz,’” says Anderson Dowell. “The dispenser was designed with sanitation in mind, so you wouldn’t be touching more than one sweet at a time.” You could find a dispenser in the shape of any of your favourite movie characters!
If you’re willing to part with your particularly rare PEZ dispensers, you could make lots of $$$. A vintage Rabbit Fat Ear PEZ is selling on eBay for $124. However, Astronaut B, a dispenser created for the 1982 World’s Fair sold for $32,000.
NEXT: Atari 2600? More like Atari $33,400!
30. Atari 2600 games
AVERAGE OG PRICE: $199 (introductory price for console)
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $33,400
If you have a stash of old Atari 2600 games, you might be sitting on a goldmine. One of the most valuable of all is the Air Raid — a used version brings in $13,900 while one in its original box might be worth $33,400.
Another rare game, Red Sea Crossing, sells for a bit less at $13,800. But who are we kidding — that’s still a lot! Its appeal stems from its limited promotion. Other than an ad in Christianity Today magazine, gamers didn’t know about it until 2007.
NEXT: If you caught them all, you can catch a lot of money…
31. Pokémon cards
AVERAGE OG PRICE: $10-$20
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $100,000
Your parents will be happy to know all the Pokémon cards you collected back in the day are finally worth something. The most valuable of all? Perhaps the Japanese-version Pikachu Illustrator card. In 1998, one sold on eBay for a large sum of $100,000.
The series was first created in 1995 by the Japan-based Satoshi Tajiri. The trading card game, which was based on the animated series, launched in the U.S. in 2003. Much like Beanie Babies, it drove kids to covet the entire collection. By March 2018, it had sold over 25.7 billion cards worldwide.
NEXT: Hot Wheels, hot cash.
32. Hot Wheels
AVERAGE OG PRICE: $0.59
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $125,000
Some of these mini cars are worth the same price as real cars. The 1969 pink rear-loading Volkswagen Beach Bomb Hot Wheels car sold for an incredible $125,000. Before you get hopeful, there was only one ever made of this toy — hence the high price.
Other Hot Wheels toys might be able to be sold for high prices on eBay, or if you’re ambitious enough, at the Annual Hot Wheels Collectors Convention in Los Angeles. Some other high rollers include a Volkswagen Minibus priced at $20,000.
NEXT: This Parker Brothers game is very valuable.
33. Monopoly
AVERAGE OG PRICE: $2
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $146,500
The money-centric board game was first released by Parker Brothers in 1933. “Ironically, it was based on another 1903 toy called ‘The Landlord’s Game,’ meant to show the greed of monopolization,” says Anderson Dowell. Creator Elizabeth Magie meant to demonstrate Ricardo’s Law of economic rent, Georgist concepts of economic privilege, and land value taxation.
Charles Darrow is often credited as the creator of the Monopoly we know today, but his version is derived from Magie’s The Landlord Game. Darrow originally made the game on oilcloth instead of stiff cardboard. A hand-drawn version of the game from the early ’30s is worth $146,500.
NEXT: If you are the 80s or 90s kid, you probably have this toy laying around.
34. G.I. Joe
AVERAGE OG PRICE: $2.54-$5.66
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $200,000
G.I. Joe first came onto the scene in 1964. The selling price for the figurines varied depending on the version purchased, but in 1968 a basic soldier toy sold for $2.54, a talking version could be $4.94, and a nurse action figure was $5.66.
Some vintage G.I. Joe action figures sell for much more now. In 2003, a prototype G.I. Joe sold at an auction for $200,000. Other toys have sold for less: The Missile Command Center sold for $17,500 while other action figures have sold for $10,000.
NEXT: Life in plastic, it’s fantastic — and rich!
35. Barbie
AVERAGE OG PRICE: $1.92-$3.96
MIGHT FLIP FOR: $302,500
This Barbie created by designer Stefano Canturi sold for an unbelievable price. The blonde doll is dressed in a black evening gown with a rare pink diamond necklace. At the auction, it sold for a whopping $302,500 with proceeds benefiting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation.
Barbie was first created in 1959 by the co-founder of Mattel, Ruth Handler. As Handler’s doll modernized, other designers began designing gowns for Barbie. Other vintage Barbies to sell for a lot include a first-edition doll, which sold for $23,000, and the De Beers 40th Anniversary Barbie, which sold for $85,000.