Determining Beer Can Values

For my first article I will answer the question I am most often asked:

How much are my beer cans worth?

The 4 factors determining the value of any beer can are:

1) Demand 2) Supply 3) Condition 4) Timing

Demand -
When the demand for anything goes up, so does the price. Just look at the price of oil!
Many beer cans are desirable for different reasons: scarcity, graphics, brand name, can type or brewery.
The basic premise behind any auction is the demand by multiple buyers drives the price up. The cans on the left were part of a recent CYR auction in Maine. There were over 150 flat top cans. Collectors and dealers from all over the country attended. They drove the final price up to over $125,000 !!! Without those interested dealers & collectors the cans would have sold for a fraction of the price.

Supply -
There are only so many quality beer cans available to collectors. Some cans were produced and saved in large quantities, while others are very scarce. Rare cans are considered scarce because less than 10 quality examples are known. Since there are many advanced collectors competing for these cans the low supply will increase the value. Obviously cans like the Croft Cream Ale cans on the right have a lesser value because there are so many available. There was a very large find of these a few years ago.

Condition -
Old beer cans are no different than any other collectible. Beer can collectors are serious about condition of their cans. The slightest flaws detract significantly from the value of the same can in mint condition. When I say mint condition, I mean it! Not a single scratch, dent or blemish. Not even on the rims or lids. A can has to look brand new to be considered a Grade 1+ (mint).If your cans look like the cans on the left chances are they aren't very valuable.

Learn More About Old Beer Cans.

Timing -
Perhaps the most overlooked factor determining beer can values is the timing of the sale. Any beer can may have a wide range of values depending on when it is sold. If the market is flooded with quality cans when a lesser quality can is offered it will suffer in price. There's also new cans being found all the time. A beer can may have been previously rare until new examples are found in quantity. The can will then permanently decrease in value.

General economic conditions also affect the value of higher priced beer cans. When it becomes "a buyer's market" sellers will see a significant decrease in the value of high end cans. Currently we are experiencing a correction in the beer can market (similar to the real estate market) and many beer can values are decreasing due to the current economic climate.

Find out your beer can's value