The trading card market reached a historic milestone in October 2026, with total monthly sales surpassing $1 billion for the first time, according to data published by industry tracking platform Card Ladder.
Sales volume reached approximately $1.07 billion across 9,212,668 transactions, establishing new monthly records for both total sales value and transaction count.
The figures cover the broader trading card market, including sports cards, non-sports cards and sealed wax.
Trading Card Sales More Than Double Since January
Card Ladder’s data highlights the significant growth in trading card activity throughout 2026.
January recorded $445.06 million in sales, with monthly volume climbing above $900 million in August before reaching October’s record $1.07 billion.
The number of transactions has also increased considerably.
October’s 9.2 million transactions represented a rise of approximately 65% compared to the roughly 5.6 million recorded during the same month in 2025.
The average transaction value was approximately $116, demonstrating that the market’s record-breaking volume was not solely dependent on high-end sales.
eBay accounted for the largest share of tracked sales, generating $633.4 million during October.
Other major platforms included Fanatics with $213.5 million, Alt with $124.9 million in confirmed paid sales, Goldin with $80.8 million and Heritage with $21 million.
Major Sports Card Sales Highlight Record-Breaking Month
October also featured several significant transactions involving some of the biggest names in sports.
A one-of-one 2025 Topps Dynasty Black Logoman Autograph Shohei Ohtani card, graded PSA 9, reportedly sold for $3.42 million through Fanatics Premier on October 23.
Another major transaction involved a 2017-18 Panini Flawless Kobe Bryant Logoman Autograph 1/1, graded PSA 9 with a perfect 10 autograph.
The card was reportedly sold privately for $4.2 million on October 28, according to Secure Collectibles. However, Card Ladder had not independently verified the transaction at the time of its report.
These high-value deals illustrate the continued demand for premium sports cards, particularly rare, game-used memorabilia autograph cards featuring iconic players.
However, the broader sales figures suggest that the market’s growth extends well beyond its most expensive collectibles.
Card Ladder also reported positive monthly performance across 30 of the 42 market segments it tracks, indicating growth across a substantial portion of the wider trading card market.
With monthly sales more than doubling since January and transaction volume reaching an all-time high, October 2026 represents a significant milestone for the hobby.
The $1 billion threshold provides a new benchmark for the trading card industry, although the figures alone do not establish whether the current pace of growth will continue.
