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Which Records Are Worth Money?
Vinyl records have two main factors that determine their value:
1️⃣ The title (what record it is, who the artist is)
2️⃣ The condition (how well it has been preserved)
Every record has a different value—sometimes VERY different—based on these two factors.
Important: This page provides general information on record values. For those looking to sell their collections, please contact us directly. We do not offer individual record appraisals.
Vinyl Records Appraisal Tool
This is a basic estimator that will more-or-less show you if the records you have are going to have good value or not - it is not going to give you any specifics. That said, figuring out whether it will be worth your time to try and sell them (hopefully to us at We Buy Records Chicago!) or not. NOTE: If you have new (21st Century) vinyl this tool will not work well for you, those titles I would recommend looking up (with the knowledge of the specific pressings you have) on Discogs. This tool is more for the 60s/70s/80s used vinyl collections that many people need to sell when they move, etc.
Records That Are Typically Worth Money
💰 If your records are in good condition, certain genres tend to have higher value. These include:
High-Demand Vinyl Genres
✅ Classic Rock – Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Rolling Stones
✅ Jazz – Blue Note, John Coltrane, Miles Davis
✅ R&B & Funk – James Brown, Prince, rare 70s soul
✅ Disco & Fusion – Underground dance floor classics
✅ Rap & Hip-Hop – Early pressings of 80s/90s rap albums
✅ Punk & Heavy Metal – Rare pressings, limited releases
✅ New Wave & Alternative – The Cure, The Smiths, Talking Heads
✅ Indie & Underground – Small-label releases with cult followings
📌 Rule of thumb: The rarer the pressing and the better the condition, the more valuable it is.
Records That Typically Have Low or No Resale Value
🚫 While there are exceptions, some genres generally don’t sell for much, even in great condition.
Low-Demand Vinyl Genres
❌ Country – Most common releases from the 50s–mid 80s hold little value (late 80s and 90s can be good though)
❌ Classical – Even legendary recordings were mass-produced. Exceptions are audiophile are early UK pressings.
❌ Easy Listening – Instrumental albums, lounge music
❌ Children’s Records – Kids’ storybooks, sing-along albums
❌ Christmas Albums – Unless it’s a rare pressing, holiday records are everywhere
❌ Opera & Showtunes – Most have little to no collector demand
📌 Exceptions do exist! If you think you might have a rare pressing, text or call us for a free evaluation.
Vinyl Record Title
Vinyl Record Title – Does It Affect Value?
What record is it? Who is the artist?
Early pressings are usually more valuable.
Popular artists like The Beatles or Prince sold millions of records, meaning most copies are not rare.
The ultra-expensive records you see on TV are extremely rare releases—not the common ones your brother bought in high school (but hey, you never know! 😉).
Vinyl Record Condition
Vinyl Record Condition – The Key to Higher Value
The condition of a vinyl record greatly impacts its price:
✅ For LPs (the big records): Both the cover and record surface matter.
✅ For 45s (the small records): The playing surface is the main factor (unless the label is badly damaged).
📌 Rule of thumb: The cleaner the record, the higher its value.