Some records are worth a few dollars. Others are worth more. Most fall somewhere in between. If you’ve inherited or built up a vinyl collection, it’s normal to wonder what it’s all worth.
In our own second-hand inventory, most records that sell fall in the $10–$30 range, with the typical LP selling for around $20. Only a very small percentage exceed $100, and expensive pieces are the exception rather than the rule.
Here’s a simple overview of what affects the value of vinyl records, and how we approach pricing when we buy collections.
What affects the value of a record?
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Artist & title – Some artists and albums are always in demand, others much less so.
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Pressing & label – Original pressings, certain labels and country-of-origin pressings can be more valuable.
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Condition – Clean, well-kept records and sleeves are worth more. Scratches, warps and mould reduce value.
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Rarity & demand – Limited pressings, out-of-print titles and cult favourites can be worth more if enough people want them.
How rare are rare records?
It’s natural to hope there might be something valuable in a collection, especially if it’s been built up over time or inherited. But genuinely rare or high-value records are less common than people expect. Most of what we see across collections are titles that were pressed in large numbers and still turn up frequently today.
Most collections tend to follow a similar pattern: a core of common records, a handful of more desirable or interesting titles, and usually a few “guilty pleasures” that might not have much monetary value but still have charm. And then, every so often, we do come across a genuine rarity or standout piece – but by definition these are the exception rather than the rule.
There’s also an important difference between what is valuable and what is simply interesting. We love seeing unusual, uncommon or musically curious records — even when they aren’t expensive in the collector market. These titles add character to a collection and often sell well in the shop because our customers enjoy discovering music they’ve never encountered before.
Part of the fun for us is helping you identify those interesting pieces – whether they’re valuable, unusual or just great records.
Titles under $15 often aren’t worth listing online due to the time required to grade, photograph, price and store them — many of these end up in our bargain bins or in Mystery Boxes.
We also buy the whole collection, not just the highlights. Even when part of the collection might be difficult to sell individually, we find ways to give those records a second life. One example is our Mystery Boxes — bundles of 20–30 records we put together at a bargain price so customers can explore new music, take risks and potentially find hidden gems they would never have purchased otherwise.
It’s also common for people to assume that certain famous records are rare or highly valuable. A good example is The Beatles – The White Album. Lots of people have numbered copies and are surprised to learn that the serial number itself doesn’t determine value – pressing, condition and completeness tend to matter much more.
If you’re unsure about what you have, we’re always happy to take a look and let you know what stands out and what doesn’t — without pressure or obligation.
Collection value vs individual record prices
Online price guides (Discogs, eBay etc.) can be useful, but they often show the highest asking prices rather than realistic selling prices. Many of those records haven’t actually sold at that price – they’re just listed there.
Those numbers also usually reflect individual records being sold one by one by someone willing to photograph, grade, list, pack and post every single item. When you sell a whole collection to a shop, you’re selling the entire mix: the valuable pieces, the solid mid-range titles and the slow movers that may never sell.
About price guides, scanning apps and online valuations
In recent years, scanning apps and online price guides have made it easier to catalogue vinyl collections and get a sense of potential value. These tools can be helpful, but they often present a best-case number rather than a realistic sale price.
Most app or online valuations assume:
- the highest asking price listed online
- the record is a near-mint first pressing
- every record can be sold individually
- there is sufficient demand for every title
In reality, there are big differences between:
- what a record is listed for
- what it actually sells for
- and what someone will pay for a full collection
Common titles, worn copies, reissues and slow-moving genres can bring the overall value of a collection down, while rare, clean and in-demand titles can lift it up. When selling as a collection, the buyer takes the whole mix – not just the highlights.
Why app valuations can differ from real-world pricing
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Pressing and condition matter – not all copies are equal, and wear reduces value.
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Demand matters – some titles sit for months or years before they sell.
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Time matters – selling one by one takes effort, packing, fees and returns.
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Collections sell differently – the sale price reflects the whole group, not just the best piece.
If you're buying an app purely to work out the value of a collection before selling it, just be aware that these valuations tend to be optimistic. We're always happy to give you a realistic view based on actual sales, demand and condition – and we don't charge for that.
How we price collections at Dutch Vinyl
When we make an offer on a collection, we look at the whole picture:
- The mix of genres, artists, labels and specific pressings
- How many records are in genuinely good, clean, saleable condition
- Real-world demand for those records in our shops and online
- The time and work involved in cleaning, grading, pricing and storing them until they sell
As a rough guide, when we buy records individually we typically pay around 20–50% of the price we expect to sell them for in the shop. For better, rarer or more expensive titles we’re often towards the higher end of that range; for very common or cheaper titles we’re towards the lower end.
That difference isn’t “pure profit” – it has to cover things like rent, staff, cleaning, grading, card fees, slow-moving stock and the records that never sell at all. The other option is to sell everything yourself, one by one, which can work well if you have the time and energy, but isn’t realistic for everyone.
Our goal is to be straight with you about what we can pay, explain why, and let you decide whether that trade-off (speed and convenience vs absolute top dollar) makes sense for you.
Want a sense of what your collection might be worth?
The best way to get a realistic idea is to talk to us directly. Tell us roughly how many records you have, what genres they cover, some key artists and where you are located. From there we can usually give you an initial feel for whether it’s a collection we can buy and what the next step would be.
There’s no obligation — we’ll simply let you know if it’s a collection that makes sense for us to buy, what we can realistically pay, and whether it’s best to bring the records in, drop them off, or arrange a visit for larger or more valuable collections.
Want to get in touch?
When you contact us about your collection, please let us know:
- Approximately how many records you have
- Some key artists and labels
- Your location
- Whether you prefer to bring them in or arrange a visit
Please fill out the form below or contact one of our locations directly.
Melbourne & Victoria
Phone: 0405 803 851
Email: collections@dutchvinyl.com.au
Brisbane & Queensland
Phone: 0466 347 482
Email: brisbane@dutchvinyl.com.au
Why sellers choose Dutch Vinyl
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10+ years buying & selling vinyl
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Two stores in Melbourne & Brisbane
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15 staff across both locations
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4,500+ collections purchased
- 700+ positive Google reviews
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Fast, respectful valuations & quick payment
