{
  "url": "https://www.moonstonehq.com/articles/the-float",
  "slug": "the-float",
  "title": "The Float: 1.1 Million Copies on the Shelf, a $17.5 Million Shelf Price, and the $3,500 Card With Nobody Selling It",
  "summary": "Every card page shows a price. Almost none show how many copies are for sale behind it. We now record the active TCGplayer listing count for every card in our graded universe, 6,527 English cards, and the shelf is deeper than most people assume: the median card has 95 copies listed, 3,158 have a hundred or more, and the whole shelf sums to 1,096,886 listings worth $17.5 million at market. It is also thinner where it matters: 52 of the 120 cards priced $500 and up have fewer than ten copies listed, and a $3,500 Mew Star has none. A week of float changes tracked nothing in the same week's price. Here is the supply side of the market, counted.",
  "section": "Market Structure",
  "published": "2026-09-15",
  "readMinutes": 9,
  "publisher": "moonstone",
  "findings": [
    {
      "value": "95",
      "measures": "median active listings per card",
      "basis": "6,527 English cards; 10th percentile 22, 90th percentile 396"
    },
    {
      "value": "1,096,886",
      "measures": "listings on the shelf, summed",
      "basis": "$17.5 million at market price"
    },
    {
      "value": "52 of 120",
      "measures": "cards at $500+ with fewer than ten listings",
      "basis": "four have none at all"
    },
    {
      "value": "r = -0.06",
      "measures": "correlation of a week's float change with the week's price change",
      "basis": "6,035 cards; the shelf does not predict the price"
    }
  ],
  "tables": [
    {
      "title": "Active TCGplayer listings by price tier, English cards in the graded universe (2026-09-15)",
      "columns": [
        "Price tier",
        "Cards",
        "Median listings",
        "10th percentile",
        "90th percentile",
        "Under 10 listings",
        "500+ listings"
      ],
      "rows": [
        {
          "Price tier": "Under $1",
          "Cards": "232",
          "Median listings": "631",
          "10th percentile": "230",
          "90th percentile": "1,535",
          "Under 10 listings": "0",
          "500+ listings": "151"
        },
        {
          "Price tier": "$1 to $5",
          "Cards": "1,829",
          "Median listings": "200",
          "10th percentile": "64",
          "90th percentile": "565",
          "Under 10 listings": "0",
          "500+ listings": "236"
        },
        {
          "Price tier": "$5 to $25",
          "Cards": "2,204",
          "Median listings": "97",
          "10th percentile": "36",
          "90th percentile": "278",
          "Under 10 listings": "4",
          "500+ listings": "41"
        },
        {
          "Price tier": "$25 to $100",
          "Cards": "1,408",
          "Median listings": "54",
          "10th percentile": "18",
          "90th percentile": "157",
          "Under 10 listings": "30",
          "500+ listings": "1"
        },
        {
          "Price tier": "$100 to $500",
          "Cards": "734",
          "Median listings": "26",
          "10th percentile": "7",
          "90th percentile": "91",
          "Under 10 listings": "105",
          "500+ listings": "0"
        },
        {
          "Price tier": "$500 and up",
          "Cards": "120",
          "Median listings": "13",
          "10th percentile": "2",
          "90th percentile": "54",
          "Under 10 listings": "52",
          "500+ listings": "0"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Active listings by era, English cards in the graded universe. 6,319 of the 6,527: the 208 cards on prefixes outside these ten eras are omitted and carry a median of 76.5 listings",
      "columns": [
        "Era",
        "Cards",
        "Median listings",
        "90th percentile",
        "Under 10",
        "Median price"
      ],
      "rows": [
        {
          "Era": "Mega Evolution (2025 to 2026)",
          "Cards": "293",
          "Median listings": "449",
          "90th percentile": "808",
          "Under 10": "0",
          "Median price": "$5.20"
        },
        {
          "Era": "Scarlet & Violet",
          "Cards": "1,215",
          "Median listings": "181",
          "90th percentile": "560",
          "Under 10": "2",
          "Median price": "$7.83"
        },
        {
          "Era": "Sword & Shield",
          "Cards": "1,233",
          "Median listings": "154",
          "90th percentile": "344",
          "Under 10": "1",
          "Median price": "$5.07"
        },
        {
          "Era": "XY",
          "Cards": "407",
          "Median listings": "98",
          "90th percentile": "211",
          "Under 10": "4",
          "Median price": "$21.37"
        },
        {
          "Era": "WotC",
          "Cards": "951",
          "Median listings": "84",
          "90th percentile": "759",
          "Under 10": "60",
          "Median price": "$17.73"
        },
        {
          "Era": "Black & White",
          "Cards": "252",
          "Median listings": "50",
          "90th percentile": "123",
          "Under 10": "21",
          "Median price": "$22.85"
        },
        {
          "Era": "Diamond & Pearl",
          "Cards": "313",
          "Median listings": "46",
          "90th percentile": "86",
          "Under 10": "12",
          "Median price": "$36.29"
        },
        {
          "Era": "Sun & Moon",
          "Cards": "711",
          "Median listings": "45",
          "90th percentile": "125",
          "Under 10": "12",
          "Median price": "$20.77"
        },
        {
          "Era": "EX era",
          "Cards": "789",
          "Median listings": "42",
          "90th percentile": "94",
          "Under 10": "65",
          "Median price": "$22.10"
        },
        {
          "Era": "HeartGold SoulSilver",
          "Cards": "155",
          "Median listings": "36",
          "90th percentile": "67",
          "Under 10": "9",
          "Median price": "$47.51"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Largest dollar float: active listings multiplied by market price (2026-09-15)",
      "columns": [
        "Card",
        "Set",
        "Listings",
        "Market",
        "Shelf value"
      ],
      "rows": [
        {
          "Card": "[Charizard](/card/base1-4)",
          "Set": "[Base Set](/set/base%20set)",
          "Listings": "146",
          "Market": "$869.02",
          "Shelf value": "$126,877"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Umbreon VMAX](/card/swsh7-215)",
          "Set": "[Evolving Skies](/set/evolving%20skies)",
          "Listings": "53",
          "Market": "$2,368.34",
          "Shelf value": "$125,522"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Umbreon ex](/card/sv08.5-161)",
          "Set": "[Prismatic Evolutions](/set/prismatic%20evolutions)",
          "Listings": "67",
          "Market": "$1,423.30",
          "Shelf value": "$95,361"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Mega Gengar ex](/card/me02.5-284)",
          "Set": "[Ascended Heroes](/set/ascended%20heroes)",
          "Listings": "95",
          "Market": "$884.49",
          "Shelf value": "$84,027"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Charizard ex](/card/sv03.5-199)",
          "Set": "[151](/set/151)",
          "Listings": "209",
          "Market": "$368.71",
          "Shelf value": "$77,060"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Mew ex](/card/sv04.5-232)",
          "Set": "[Paldean Fates](/set/paldean%20fates)",
          "Listings": "83",
          "Market": "$877.13",
          "Shelf value": "$72,802"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[M Charizard EX](/card/xy2-108)",
          "Set": "[Flashfire](/set/flashfire)",
          "Listings": "41",
          "Market": "$1,501.23",
          "Shelf value": "$61,550"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Mega Charizard X ex](/card/me02-125)",
          "Set": "[Phantasmal Flames](/set/phantasmal%20flames)",
          "Listings": "85",
          "Market": "$703.78",
          "Shelf value": "$59,821"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Pikachu with Grey Felt Hat](/card/svp-085)",
          "Set": "SVP Black Star Promos",
          "Listings": "53",
          "Market": "$1,076.02",
          "Shelf value": "$57,029"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Mega Dragonite ex](/card/me02.5-290)",
          "Set": "[Ascended Heroes](/set/ascended%20heroes)",
          "Listings": "95",
          "Market": "$599.35",
          "Shelf value": "$56,938"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Gengar VMAX](/card/swsh8-271)",
          "Set": "[Fusion Strike](/set/fusion%20strike)",
          "Listings": "51",
          "Market": "$1,021.05",
          "Shelf value": "$52,074"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Latias & Latios GX](/card/sm9-170)",
          "Set": "[Team Up](/set/team%20up)",
          "Listings": "12",
          "Market": "$4,271.62",
          "Shelf value": "$51,259"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Every card priced $100 or more with zero or one active listing, all 23 of them",
      "columns": [
        "Card",
        "Set",
        "Market",
        "Listings"
      ],
      "rows": [
        {
          "Card": "[Mew ☆ δ](/card/ex15-101)",
          "Set": "Dragon Frontiers",
          "Market": "$3,500.00",
          "Listings": "0"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Treecko ☆](/card/ex7-109)",
          "Set": "Team Rocket Returns",
          "Market": "$2,400.00",
          "Listings": "0"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Mudkip](/card/np-5)",
          "Set": "Nintendo Black Star Promos",
          "Market": "$1,500.00",
          "Listings": "0"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Registeel ☆](/card/ex12-92)",
          "Set": "Legend Maker",
          "Market": "$500.00",
          "Listings": "0"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Champions Festival](/card/smp-SM231)",
          "Set": "SM Black Star Promos",
          "Market": "$262.99",
          "Listings": "0"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Raichu](/card/ecard3-H25)",
          "Set": "[Skyridge](/set/skyridge) H25",
          "Market": "$251.05",
          "Listings": "0"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Tropical Wind](/card/dpp-DP48)",
          "Set": "DP Black Star Promos",
          "Market": "$249.00",
          "Listings": "0"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Marshtomp](/card/np-11)",
          "Set": "Nintendo Black Star Promos",
          "Market": "$212.60",
          "Listings": "0"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Champions Festival](/card/xyp-XY27)",
          "Set": "XY Black Star Promos",
          "Market": "$200.00",
          "Listings": "0"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Metang](/card/np-23)",
          "Set": "Nintendo Black Star Promos",
          "Market": "$200.00",
          "Listings": "0"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Arcanine](/card/ecard3-H02)",
          "Set": "[Skyridge](/set/skyridge) H02",
          "Market": "$159.98",
          "Listings": "0"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Raikou ☆](/card/ex10-114)",
          "Set": "Unseen Forces",
          "Market": "$1,600.00",
          "Listings": "1"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Regice ☆](/card/ex12-90)",
          "Set": "Legend Maker",
          "Market": "$1,250.00",
          "Listings": "1"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Rayquaza](/card/bw6-128)",
          "Set": "Dragons Exalted",
          "Market": "$1,250.00",
          "Listings": "1"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Houndoom](/card/ecard3-H11)",
          "Set": "[Skyridge](/set/skyridge) H11",
          "Market": "$1,000.00",
          "Listings": "1"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Champions Festival](/card/xyp-XY176)",
          "Set": "XY Black Star Promos",
          "Market": "$420.00",
          "Listings": "1"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Lugia](/card/col1-SL7)",
          "Set": "Call of Legends",
          "Market": "$346.48",
          "Listings": "1"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Mew](/card/ex13-111)",
          "Set": "Holon Phantoms",
          "Market": "$335.54",
          "Listings": "1"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Articuno](/card/ecard3-H03)",
          "Set": "[Skyridge](/set/skyridge) H03",
          "Market": "$325.00",
          "Listings": "1"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Empoleon](/card/bw9-117)",
          "Set": "Plasma Freeze",
          "Market": "$293.33",
          "Listings": "1"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Garbodor](/card/bw9-119)",
          "Set": "Plasma Freeze",
          "Market": "$234.09",
          "Listings": "1"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Sudowoodo](/card/ecard2-H24)",
          "Set": "Aquapolis",
          "Market": "$165.00",
          "Listings": "1"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Victory Cup](/card/bwp-BW31)",
          "Set": "BW Black Star Promos",
          "Market": "$155.24",
          "Listings": "1"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Deepest shelves in copies",
      "columns": [
        "Card",
        "Set",
        "Era",
        "Listings",
        "Market"
      ],
      "rows": [
        {
          "Card": "[Cynthia's Gabite](/card/sv10-103)",
          "Set": "[Destined Rivals](/set/destined%20rivals)",
          "Era": "SV",
          "Listings": "2,262",
          "Market": "$0.26"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Energy Search](/card/base3-59)",
          "Set": "[Fossil](/set/fossil)",
          "Era": "WotC",
          "Listings": "2,099",
          "Market": "$0.26"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Poké Ball](/card/base2-64)",
          "Set": "[Jungle](/set/jungle)",
          "Era": "WotC",
          "Listings": "2,022",
          "Market": "$0.32"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Mysterious Fossil](/card/base3-62)",
          "Set": "[Fossil](/set/fossil)",
          "Era": "WotC",
          "Listings": "1,980",
          "Market": "$0.35"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Bellsprout](/card/base2-49)",
          "Set": "[Jungle](/set/jungle)",
          "Era": "WotC",
          "Listings": "1,853",
          "Market": "$0.44"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Geodude](/card/base3-47)",
          "Set": "[Fossil](/set/fossil)",
          "Era": "WotC",
          "Listings": "1,791",
          "Market": "$0.55"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Mega Greninja ex](/card/me04-022)",
          "Set": "[Chaos Rising](/set/chaos%20rising)",
          "Era": "ME",
          "Listings": "1,777",
          "Market": "$0.95"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Horsea](/card/base3-49)",
          "Set": "[Fossil](/set/fossil)",
          "Era": "WotC",
          "Listings": "1,747",
          "Market": "$0.46"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Mega Starmie ex](/card/me03-021)",
          "Set": "[Perfect Order](/set/perfect%20order)",
          "Era": "ME",
          "Listings": "1,738",
          "Market": "$0.77"
        },
        {
          "Card": "[Rhyhorn](/card/base2-61)",
          "Set": "[Jungle](/set/jungle)",
          "Era": "WotC",
          "Listings": "1,708",
          "Market": "$0.46"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "title": "Price change over the SAME week as a change in listings, 6,035 English cards with 5+ listings at the start (median gap 7 days). This is a contemporaneous test, not a forward one",
      "columns": [
        "Listings changed by",
        "Cards",
        "Median price change",
        "Rose more than 2%",
        "Fell more than 2%"
      ],
      "rows": [
        {
          "Listings changed by": "Fell 20% or more",
          "Cards": "60",
          "Median price change": "0.0%",
          "Rose more than 2%": "14",
          "Fell more than 2%": "2"
        },
        {
          "Listings changed by": "Fell 5% to 20%",
          "Cards": "551",
          "Median price change": "0.0%",
          "Rose more than 2%": "144",
          "Fell more than 2%": "46"
        },
        {
          "Listings changed by": "Flat (within 5%)",
          "Cards": "3,241",
          "Median price change": "0.0%",
          "Rose more than 2%": "854",
          "Fell more than 2%": "693"
        },
        {
          "Listings changed by": "Rose 5% to 20%",
          "Cards": "1,981",
          "Median price change": "0.0%",
          "Rose more than 2%": "359",
          "Fell more than 2%": "368"
        },
        {
          "Listings changed by": "Rose 20% or more",
          "Cards": "202",
          "Median price change": "0.0%",
          "Rose more than 2%": "34",
          "Fell more than 2%": "12"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "charts": [],
  "sections": [
    "Cheap cards are deep, expensive cards are thin, and the line between them is steep",
    "The biggest shelf in the market is 146 Base Set Charizards",
    "Twenty-three cards over $100 with zero or one copy listed, seven of them four-figure",
    "Two thousand copies of a 26-cent card",
    "A week of supply change tracked nothing, measured over the same week",
    "The shelf is thousands of people with one copy each"
  ],
  "method": [
    "Universe: English catalog cards with an active TCGplayer listing count recorded in our graded snapshot series (the count rides the same provider response as the graded medians and is written for every card the cron visits; daily for every answered card since 2026-09-15, partial on 2026-09-14, and on a weekly rotation before that). Latest observation per card as of 2026-09-15: 10,304 cards with a count, 6,527 of them English catalog cards, which is the universe here. Market price is the LAST recorded daily TCGplayer market price for the flagship printing on or before 2026-09-15, which is the figure the card page shows for the same card. It is not a median over the window, and on thin cards the two differ sharply: Marshtomp is printed here at its last price of $212.60 against an eleven-bucket median of $85.17. the cheapest-printing column diverged from it for WotC cards on 2026-09-08 and would move the tier boundaries and the shelf total (to $20.1 million) without changing any conclusion here. Shelf value is listings times market price. Tiers and eras use that price and the set prefix. The float-change test pairs each card's latest count with its earliest count at least 7 days older (6,035 cards with at least 5 listings at the start, median gap 7 days) and the price change over the same two dates; flat means within 2%. Seller counts come from a one-day market-depth read of 1,602 cards on 2026-09-07, 937 of them English catalog cards. Listing counts are the provider's pass-through of TCGplayer's active listings at read time and can include listings at prices far from market. Not financial advice."
  ],
  "terms": "Figures are moonstone's own recorded measurements, dated as published. Quote them with the population stated beside them. The article at `url` is the human form of this file."
}