If you have beer cans that you want to sell, it is very important to factor in the condition of the cans to come up with a realistic assessment of their value. As noted above, a grade 1- can might only be worth 25% of what a grade 1+ can would be; And a grade 2, 3 or lesser grade might be worth nothing, depending on the rarity of the label. Extremely rare labels, on the other hand, may be relatively valuable, even in a grade 4 or 5 condition.
The examples here would have the following approx. $USD values based on the condition they are in. Keep in mind that rarity and condition are extremely important factors when pricing cans. Note that the three cans on the bottom row are quite rare, so even though they are in off-grade condition, they are still valuable. In on-grade condition these three would each be valued at $1,000+. Very common cans are generally not very valuable in off-grade (dumper) condition.
ROGER WILCO $2,500+ RHEINGOLD $250+ TECH $100+
E & B $85+ GLUEK'S $75+ GOLDEN STEIN $50+
RED TOP ALE $175+ PILSEN BRAU $100+ DINGLE BAY $50+
If you want to research beer can values in more detail, you can click on our "Past Auctions" feature to see how much various cans have sold for in our past auctions. Choose an auction from the drop-down menu. You can also click on individual lots to see photos of the cans.
In addition to condition, design is another important factor when it comes to pricing. Some types of cans, (like the OI flat tops and cone tops mentioned earlier, as well as their cousins the Crowntainers) as well as some early straight steel pull tab cans, (1962 to about 1969), are in much more demand than crimped steel, extruded steel or aluminum cans which were produced from the seventies to the present.
Lastly, aesthetic considerations, which can be largely subjective, play a major role in can values. Cans with interesting graphics, such as the famous Tennent's cans from Scotland, tend to be more in demand than cans of similar rarity with less eye-appealing graphics.
Thank you for visiting CanSmart Beer Cans & Breweriana. If you have any questions feel free to email Jeff Lebo at jefflebo@aol.com.
