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Booster box, Elite Trainer Box or bundle: which should you buy?

If you want the most cards for your money: booster box. If you want to get started with accessories included: Elite Trainer Box. If you want to try a new set without spending a lot: booster bundle. The difference between them is not the quality of the cards, but how many packs you get and what comes with them.

Quick facts

Most cards per euro	Booster display, 36 packs
Best for beginners	Elite Trainer Box or battle deck
Cheapest way to try a set	Booster bundle, 6 packs
Cards per pack	10 English, 5 Japanese
Best gift	Elite Trainer Box, the most things to unpack

The three most common, side by side

Booster bundle	6 packs in a small box. No extra gear. The entry-level product.
Elite Trainer Box	Usually 9 packs, but varies between 8 and 12. Also deck protectors, energy cards, dice, usually a promo card and a storage box with dividers.
Booster display	36 packs in English editions. Most cards per euro and the best chance of completing a set.

The number of packs in an Elite Trainer Box is always printed on the box. Trust the box and not a rule of thumb, since Pokémon has changed the number several times between releases.

All formats, not just the three

Single pack	10 cards. For trying out or as a small gift.
Blister	1 or 3 packs plus a promo card, hanging packaging.
Booster bundle	6 packs.
Mini tin	2 packs and an art card in a small tin.
Tin and mega tin	Larger tin, more packs, often a foil promo card.
Elite Trainer Box	8 to 12 packs plus game materials.
Collection box	Box built around a character, packs plus promo card.
Premium collection	More expensive collection box with more packs and a case.
Ultra premium collection	The most expensive tier, often with special cards and a large case.
Half booster display	18 packs, half a box.
Booster display	36 packs.
Case	Wholesale carton with several displays.

Count per pack, not per box

Take the price of the product.
Divide by the number of packs.
Compare that figure between products.
Factor in the value of what comes with it, but only if you actually need it.
If you already have deck protectors and dice, an Elite Trainer Box is worth less to you.

A display that costs more than an Elite Trainer Box can still be cheaper per pack.

Which one suits you

Want to collect a full set	Display. Fewer duplicates per euro.
Starting to play	Elite Trainer Box or a ready-made battle deck.
Want to try a set	Bundle. Six packs are enough to get a feel for it.
Buying a gift	Elite Trainer Box. Looks the most like a gift and has several things to unpack.
Gift for younger children	Blister or mini tin. Inexpensive and contains a promo or art card.
Want to keep it sealed	Display in English edition, stored upright and in the dark.
Want a specific character	Collection box built around that character.

What affects the price of a display

Whether the set is in print or not. A set still being printed holds a steadier price than one that has gone out of production.
Whether the set has been reprinted. Reprints lower the price of existing boxes.
Which cards the set contains. A popular character in a sought-after illustration drives the whole set.
Language. English and German editions of the same set can differ in price, and Japanese has its own price level.
Whether it is sold out at the distributor. Then the price rises on the secondary market.

Common mistakes

Comparing the price of whole products instead of per pack.
Buying an Elite Trainer Box for the accessories when you already have them.
Believing one display is enough to complete a set. It rarely is.
Buying single packs from an opened box from an unknown source.
Storing a display lying flat under other things.

Frequently asked questions

How many cards are in a pack? Ten in English editions, five in Japanese.
Can I complete a full set with one display? Almost never. The rares are spread across the entire print run.
Are more expensive boxes better? They contain more, but the odds per pack are the same.
Does a box pay off financially? No box is guaranteed to be worth more than it costs, and Pokémon does not publish any odds.
What is the difference from Japanese products? See the language guide.

One thing not to believe

No box is guaranteed to be worth more than it costs. The distribution of rare cards is the same for everyone. Anyone who says a certain box is a sure win is selling something other than cards.

Formats ranked by cards per euro

Booster display. Most cards per euro of all retail formats.
Half booster display. Same price per pack as a full display, at half the size.
Booster bundle. Slightly higher price per pack, but a lower threshold to try.
Elite Trainer Box. Higher price per pack, since you also pay for the game materials.
Tin and collection box. You pay for the box and the promo card.
Blister and single pack. Highest price per card, lowest price per purchase.

The ranking is about cards per euro, not which purchase is best. Anyone who wants the accessories or a gift deliberately buys further down the list.