5 Trading Cards To Buy For a $250 Budget (December 2025)
5 trading cards under a $250 budget for December 2025, using real sales data to help collectors find smart budget trading cards.
5 Trading Cards Under $250 (December 2025)
This month’s $250 tier is for collectors who want meaningful names and real upside without tying up too much cash in a single card. With a $250 budget, you can still target stars, key rookies, and popular sets while keeping room to diversify across multiple players and sports.
In this guide, we lean on recent sold comps, sales volume, and clear on-field narratives rather than hype. The goal is to highlight budget trading cards that are relatively liquid, easy to understand, and fit both newer collectors and experienced hobbyists who like to pick smart, cheap trading cards within a defined budget. If you’re just getting started, you may also want to read 10 smart tips every collector should know and our grading overview PSA vs CGC vs BGS vs SGC: Grading guide for 2025.
TL;DR
- Stay within your budget: a $250 budget is enough for 4–5 strong names if you avoid chasing auctions and stick to buy-it-now prices around recent comps.
- Prioritize demand and liquidity: Tom Brady, Shohei Ohtani, Aaron Judge, and key rookies like Caleb Williams and Derik Queen all see regular sales and collector demand.
- Know your risk levels: Hall of Fame-caliber players offer more stability, while young stars and rookies carry more volatility but higher potential upside.
- Focus on sets that matter: SkyBox, Prizm, Topps, Topps Chrome, and flagship rookie-era issues tend to hold collector attention over time.
- Always verify sold comps: check 30–90 day sold listings and condition before you buy, especially when targeting the best rookie cards under $250.
Not financial advice. Prices and availability change—always verify sold comps and card condition before you buy.
Best trading cards to buy for a $250 budget
Tom Brady
2000 SkyBox Impact #27
Recent raw copies of the 2000 SkyBox Impact #27 Tom Brady rookie card have been selling around $75, with roughly 89 sales in the last month and about a 12% move up over the last 30 days. Brady’s resume—7 Super Bowls, record-breaking passing numbers and long-term hobby respect—gives this card a strong historical floor compared with most budget trading cards. For this budget tier, it’s a classic, liquid rookie of an all-time great rather than a pure speculation play.
View on eBay
Caleb Williams
2024 Prizm #301 PSA 9
The 2024 Prizm #301 Caleb Williams in PSA 9 has been trading around $69, with about 69 recent sales and a sharp ~70% jump in the last 30 days. Williams has shown flashes for the Chicago Bears with efficient stretches—around 2,500+ passing yards, 16 touchdowns and low interceptions—while still being inconsistent as he adjusts to NFL defenses. That mix of visible talent, early production and volatility makes this one of the best rookie cards under $250 for collectors comfortable with some risk in exchange for upside.
View on eBay
Shohei Ohtani
2018 Topps Gallery #116
The 2018 Topps Gallery #116 Shohei Ohtani typically sells around $46, with roughly 80–90 sales in the last month and an estimated 16% climb over the past 30 days. Ohtani remains one of the most unique players in modern baseball as both a top-tier hitter and a high-impact pitcher, which keeps his cards in global demand even when the market cools. At this price point, it’s a relatively affordable way to get exposure to a true superstar rather than a speculative prospect.
View on eBay
Derik Queen
2025 Topps #HM-DQ
Raw copies of the 2025 Topps #HM-DQ Derik Queen are trading near $31, with roughly 72 sales in the last 30 days and a very sharp ~471% move up as more collectors notice his rookie-year production. Queen is putting up around 12.4 points, 6.5 rebounds and 3.3 assists per game for the New Orleans Pelicans, showing he can score, rebound and facilitate as a modern big. That combination of versatile stat lines and a fast-rising market makes this a higher-risk, higher-reward budget trading card for collectors who want emerging NBA upside.
View on eBay
Aaron Judge
2025 Topps Chrome #99
The 2025 Topps Chrome #99 Aaron Judge sits around $26 raw, with roughly 85 sales over the last month and an estimated 112% price increase in recent weeks. Judge continues to post elite numbers for the New York Yankees—batting in the .330 range with 50+ home runs and a league-best OPS—which keeps demand strong across his Topps and Topps Chrome runs. At this price, it’s a relatively cheap trading card of a player many already view as one of the best power hitters in MLB history.
View on eBayTaken together, these five cards come out to roughly $247 at recent prices, leaving a small cushion under the $250 budget once you factor in shipping and taxes. You also end up diversified across NFL quarterbacks, an NBA rookie big man and two top-tier MLB bats, which helps spread risk instead of betting everything on a single prospect.
How to Use This List
- Start with sold comps, not asking prices: before you buy, check 30–90 day sold listings for each card to see where real transactions are clearing and avoid overpaying.
- Put condition and eye appeal first: within budget trading cards, prioritize clean surfaces, centering and corners, even if that means waiting for the right copy instead of the first cheap one.
- Decide on hold vs. flip vs. PC up front: a Brady or Ohtani might fit a longer-term hold, while rookies like Caleb Williams or Derik Queen may be better if you’re comfortable with shorter-term swings.
- Stay disciplined on your $250 cap: set a maximum you’ll pay for each card based on comps, add in shipping, and skip auctions that push you above your plan.
- Think carefully about grading: for these price points, grading only makes sense if the card looks very strong (true PSA 9/10 shots) and the graded premium clearly covers fees.
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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 $250 in December 2025?
For December 2025, rookies like Caleb Williams’ 2024 Prizm #301 PSA 9 and Derik Queen’s 2025 Topps #HM-DQ stand out as some of the best rookie cards under $250. Both have clear on-field storylines, strong recent performance and enough sales volume that you can track real comps instead of guessing. Just remember that these budget trading cards are also more volatile than blue-chip veterans.
Are budget trading cards like these only for beginners?
No—cheap trading cards at this level can make sense for both new and experienced collectors. Newer collectors get affordable exposure to stars and rookies without taking on oversized risk, while experienced collectors can use a $250 budget to test narratives or build deeper benches around core PC pieces. The key is to treat these as part of a broader plan, not as a gamble.
How do I avoid overpaying for cards to buy in December 2025?
Start by searching recent sold listings for each card you’re targeting and anchor your bids or offers to those numbers, not to the highest active listings. Be willing to walk away if prices run above fair value, even if the card is trending in December 2025, and focus on copies with strong condition so your downside is better protected. This approach will help you get the most from your budget trading cards while keeping risk in check.
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.