5 Trading Cards To Buy For a $100 Budget (December 2025)
Best trading cards under $100 for December 2025—five budget picks with prices, sales volume, and trends for new and returning collectors.
5 Trading Cards Under $100 (December 2025)
Welcome to figoca’s monthly budget series—five trading cards under $100 you can research quickly and buy with clear data. This format is built for newcomers, returning collectors, and hobbyists who want real players and real sets, not lottery tickets.
In this December 2025 edition, we keep every pick in a single $100 tier, with recent raw prices that leave room for shipping and tax. The focus is on liquidity (steady sold volume), recognizable rookie identifiers, and price action over the last 30 days so you’re not guessing.
If you’re new, start here: 10 smart tips every collector should know and PSA vs CGC vs BGS vs SGC: Grading guide for 2025.
TL;DR
- Budget first: Keep total spend near $100; include shipping, tax, and possible grading.
- Demand & liquidity: All five picks show 50+ sales in the last 30 days, so there is real buyer interest.
- Risk-aware: We favor flagship rookies in Topps Chrome, Prizm, Bowman Draft, and Select WNBA over short-lived hype.
- Verification: Always check recent sold comps and condition; use cheap trading cards as a way to learn pricing.
Not financial advice. Prices and availability change—always verify sold comps and card condition before you buy.
Best trading cards to buy for a $100 budget
Tyrese Maxey
2020 Prizm #256
Recent raw copies have sold around $35, with about 67 sales in the last 30 days and prices up roughly 79%. Maxey is in the middle of an elite 2025–26 season, averaging about 33.2 points, 7.5 assists, and 4.4 rebounds as the clear offensive engine for the 76ers. For budget trading cards, a flagship Prizm rookie of a guard already carrying this level of load is a solid, liquid entry.
View on eBay
Cal Raleigh
2022 Topps Chrome #149
Recent raws sit near $26, with around 53 sales over the last month and prices up about 50%. Raleigh just delivered a historic 2025 campaign, setting a Mariners record with 60 home runs while also winning a Rawlings Platinum Glove for his defense. A Topps Chrome rookie of a power-hitting, award-winning catcher offers a balanced mix of counting stats, narrative, and recognizable branding under $100.
View on eBay
Jaxon Smith-Njigba
2023 Prizm #390
Raw copies have recently sold around $20, with roughly 60 sales in the last 30 days and prices up about 131%. Smith-Njigba is having a breakout 2025, already over 1,300 receiving yards with 80 receptions and 7 touchdowns while breaking team records and threatening single-season marks. For best rookie cards under $100, this Prizm RC has moved from speculative to breakout-backed, but still sits in an accessible, diversified price range.
View on eBay
Caitlin Clark
2024 Select WNBA #72
Recent sales cluster around $11, with about 59 copies sold in the last month and prices up roughly 64%. Clark entered the WNBA as the NCAA Division I all-time leading scorer and has already posted seasons in the 16.5–19.2 points, 8.5–8.8 assists, and roughly 5 rebounds per game range. This Select WNBA rookie taps into her massive visibility and record-setting profile, giving collectors a cheap trading card with meaningful long-term interest.
View on eBay
Paul Skenes
2023 Bowman Draft #BD-14
Recent raws have traded around $7, with approximately 134 sales in the last 30 days and prices up about 188%. Skenes just finished a dominant 2025 season with a 1.97 ERA over 187⅔ innings and 216 strikeouts, earning the NL Cy Young Award. Bowman Draft is the scouting pipeline product for pitchers, so this card is a low-cost way to follow an emerging ace while keeping risk controlled.
View on eBayTaken together, these five positions add up to roughly $99 at recent raw prices. That keeps you within a single $100 budget while spreading risk across MLB, NFL, NBA, and WNBA.
How to Use This List
- Check sold comps, not asks: Before you buy, review 30–90 days of completed sales for each card and ignore one-off outliers.
- Buy the copy, not just the player: Centering, corners, and surfaces matter even on budget trading cards—better eye appeal improves both grading options and resale.
- Have a clear plan: Decide whether each card is a longer-term performance hold, a PC piece, or a shorter flip, and size your spend accordingly.
- Be disciplined on price: Set a maximum number before you bid; if a copy runs away from your target, let it go and wait for the next one.
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Related Guides
- 10 smart tips every collector should know
- PSA vs CGC vs BGS vs SGC: Grading guide for 2025
- Fake PSA slabs: a 60-second check
- On-card vs sticker autos: what collectors value
- Use the figoca browser extension to see comps on eBay
FAQ
What are the best rookie cards under $100 in December 2025?
For December 2025, flagship rookies like Tyrese Maxey’s 2020 Prizm #256, Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s 2023 Prizm #390, and Paul Skenes’ 2023 Bowman Draft #BD-14 stand out because they combine real 2025 performance with recognizable sets. Each sits under $40 raw with 50+ sales in the last 30 days, which supports liquidity if you choose to sell.
Are budget trading cards a good idea for experienced collectors?
Yes—used correctly, budget trading cards under $100 are a way to test theses on players, teams, and sets without over-committing capital. Many experienced collectors treat these cards as a flexible part of their portfolio, rotating in and out of positions as performance, awards, or role changes.
How do I avoid overpaying for cheap trading cards?
Start with recent sold comps, not active listings, and compare multiple sales across 30–90 days. Check condition carefully from photos, verify parallels and grading details when relevant, and set a firm maximum price before bidding so you are not chasing cards to prices that no longer fit your plan.
Nico Meyer
figoca Founder
Passionate about the intersection of sports cards and technology. Building figoca to make card collecting more accessible and data-driven for everyone.