Maybe you're looking to buy a box of cards for a kid who loves ripping open packs. Perhaps it's for a birthday gift, a care package for a kid off at summer camp, or a reward for a job well-done.
Or maybe you're a young collector yourself and confused by all the various options in the hobby.
Between the different sports, brands and price points, there are hundreds of options to choose from, and finding the right fit can be far from easy.
Cllct is here to help.
From low-end starter products to mid-tier releases for a slightly larger budget, the cllct team has pulled together a variety of recent card boxes that could be a good fit across different price points for the major sports.
Whether you’re buying cards for the first time or looking to spend a little more than usual, you’ll find what you need here.
Use the cllct guide below to get your journey started — and remember, if something listed below isn’t quite right, consider searching for that product in a different configuration. Sports card releases come in a variety of formats and the right one for you might be just a quick search away.
Prices subject to change.
Less than $30
Baseball: 2024 Topps Series 2 Baseball Blaster Box
It’s hard to go wrong with Topps’ flagship set. Building off of Topps Series 1, the Series 2 release features new images for veterans and a new class of rookies to chase. The 350-card checklist is great for beginners and set collectors, while the rookie lineup features Jackson Holliday, Pete Crow-Armstrong and Shota Imanaga.
Configuration: Seven packs per box, 12 cards per pack
Price: $24.95 at Blowout Cards
Basketball: 2023/24 Bowman University Chrome Basketball Blaster Box
New fans fascinated by the Caitlin Clark phenomenon don't have a lot of options until her WNBA flagship cards come out later this year. For those looking to chase Clark cards this summer (and Bronny James, too), Bowman University is the place to go. Collegiate cards are still growing in popularity, which means many of the key products can be had at a discount compared to NBA and NFL releases.
Configuration: Seven packs per box, four cards per pack
Price: $29.95 at Dave and Adam’s Card World
Football: 2023 Panini Contenders Football Blaster Box
Contenders is best known for its impressive lineup of autographs, especially for the rookie class. This product can be a little boom-or-bust, but blaster boxes do contain one memorabilia or autograph card on average and any box that comes away with a “hit” is a great option for young collectors.
Configuration: Five packs per box, eight cards per pack
Price: $29.95 at Blowout Cards
Hockey: 2023/24 Upper Deck SP Hockey Blaster Box
A change of pace from Upper Deck’s flagship hockey set, SP Hockey features a premium design at a solid price point. With just a 140-card checklist, SP Hockey isn’t a bad place to start for hobbyists looking to complete a base set.
Configuration: Eight packs per box, five cards per pack
Price: $29.95 at Dave and Adam’s Card World
Soccer: 2023/24 Panini Prizm Premier League Soccer Hobby Blaster Box
Pairing one of Panini’s flagship brands with one of the best soccer leagues in the world is a pretty straightforward decision. Each box comes with three Prizm parallels so collectors can hunt all the colors on a budget.
Configuration: Six packs per box, four cards per pack
Price: $24.77 at Blowout Cards
Non-sports: Disney Lorcana Into The Inklands Starter Deck
Disney Lorcana has been a hit for both collectors and players alike since release. The trading card game isn’t too tough to pick up, and hobbyists have been happy to add their favorite characters to their collection.
Configuration: 60 cards per deck, one 12-card booster pack
Price: $19.95 at Blowout Cards
Less than $50
Baseball: 2024 Topps Big League Baseball Hobby Box
Heavily targeted toward the hobby’s newest collectors, Topps Big League delivers simple base cards and colorful inserts. Among the most unique cards in the entire hobby, Topps Big League features the Social Media Follow Back Redemptions where select stars will follow the card owner on Instagram.
Configuration: Eight cards per pack, 18 packs per box
Price: $39.95 at Steel City Collectibles
Basketball: 2023/24 Panini Donruss Optic Basketball Blaster Box
Optic serves as a chrome upgrade to the flagship Donruss set — the designs are mostly identical but these cards come on sturdier stock. Optic cards carry a price premium over Donruss in most cases, so sealed products are more expensive, too. In addition to the Rated Rookie cards, collectors love the look of the various parallels.
Configuration: Seven packs per box, eight cards per pack
Price: $49.95 at Blowout Cards
Football: 2023 Panini Absolute Football Hobby Blaster Box
Absolute Football is one of a handful of products where retail configurations are often preferred over the larger hobby boxes. Blasters and Megas are exclusively where collectors can find the famous Kaboom! insert — the comic book-inspired design is one of the best sets in the hobby.
Configuration: Six packs per box, 11 cards per pack
Price: $39.95 at Dave and Adam’s Card World
Hockey: 2023-24 Upper Deck Series 2 Hockey Blaster Box
Upper Deck Series 2 is the set to buy for the 2023-24 cycle with Chicago Blackhawks rookie star Connor Bedard finally arriving. As always, the Young Guns rookie cards are the key chases.
Configuration: Four packs per box, 12 cards per pack
Price: $49.95 at Steel City Collectibles
Soccer: 2023 Topps Chrome MLS Major League Soccer Blaster Box
A lot of collectors might prefer products featuring the Premier League, but the MLS is a fine place to start for those just getting into the soccer market. Having a chance to pull Lionel Messi is always a major plus.
Configuration: Six packs per box, five cards per pack
Price: $34.95 at Dave and Adam’s Card World
Non-sports: Marvel Spider-Man Metal Universe Trading Cards Blaster Box
Though it’s a Spider-Man release, there are several Marvel characters included. This product actually came out in 2022, but with Marvel sets far less common than sports sets, it’s worth reaching back a little for this one — it was one of the best sets of the year regardless of category.
Configuration: Six packs per box, six cards per pack
Price: $34.77 at Blowout Cards
Under $100
Baseball: 2024 Topps Series 1 Baseball Hobby Box
Topps Series 1 is the launching point of the baseball season for many collectors, and the start of what will be a long chase to complete base sets for Series 1, Series 2 and eventually Update releases. Topps’ flagship baseball set has been around since the 1950s for a reason.
Configuration: 20 packs per box, 12 cards per pack
Price: $99.95 at Dave and Adam’s Card World
Basketball: 2023/24 Panini Select Basketball Mega Box
Along with Optic and Prizm, Select is one of Panini’s flagship basketball brands and is extremely popular among collectors. These Mega Boxes come with exclusive Red Cracked Ice parallels that can deliver great eye appeal if matched with the right jersey colors.
Configuration: 10 packs per box, four cards per pack
Price: $89.95 at Dave and Adam’s Card World
Football: 2023 Panini Donruss Optic Football Mega Box
Like its status in basketball, Optic is a popular brand for football cards with Rated Rookies among the major chases for collectors. Exclusive to these Mega Boxes, the Blue Hyper parallels can provide fantastic eye appeal for the right jerseys.
Configuration: Six packs per box, seven cards per pack
Price: $99.95 at Blowout Cards
Hockey: 2023/24 Upper Deck Series 2 Hockey Mega Box
Chasing Connor Bedard rookies is the main objective for hockey collectors this cycle, and a Series 2 Mega Box is a good option within this price tier. With two Young Guns per box on average, chances at a Bedard rookie aren’t terrible.
Configuration: Seven packs per box, 12 cards per pack
Price: $79.95 at Dave and Adam's Card World
Soccer: 2023/24 Topps Chrome Bundesliga Soccer Hobby Box
Possibly off the radar for most soccer fans, hard-core collectors at least check in on the Bundesliga from time to time. You never know, you might just pull the next Erling Haaland before he lands in the EPL.
Configuration: 20 packs per box, four cards per pack
Price: $74.95 at Midwest Cards
Non-sports: Pokemon Scarlet & Violet 151 Elite Trainer Box
A throwback to the original 151 Pokemon, this set was one of the most popular and beloved from 2023. Packed with fan-favorite characters and secret art variations, Pokemon 151 should be a buy for any fans of the franchise’s cards, shows or video games.
Configuration: Nine cards per box, 10 cards per pack
Price: $69.95 at Blowout Cards
Under $500
Baseball: 2024 Topps Chrome Baseball Hobby Jumbo Box
Among the most popular products every year, Topps Chrome Baseball is a flagship set worth considering if your budget expands into higher price points. Featuring chromium card stock, autographs and refractors, these are the cards collectors want to own when rookies turn into superstars.
Configuration: 12 packs per box, 13 cards per pack
Price: $439.95 at Dave and Adam’s Card World
Basketball: 2023/24 Panini Prizm Basketball Fat Pack Box
Basketball hobby boxes that could be a good fit for younger collectors can be extremely hard to find for less than $500. They exist, but many contain only a handful of cards, which might not be the best experience for hobbyists looking to open several packs.
Fat Packs are a retail product that can be purchased individually, but also come in complete boxes like this. Prizm is also Panini’s flagship basketball product and delivers the most popular and sought-after rookie cards for the NBA’s top players.
Configuration: 12 packs per box, 15 cards per pack
Price: $239.95 at Blowout Cards
Football: 2023 Panini Prizm Football Retail Box
Not unlike the basketball card market, hobby boxes under $500 for football collectors can be tough to find. Assuming the hobbyist wants to open multiple packs, it can often be better to open Retail Boxes in this price tier. Chances at some of the best cards are much lower, but rookie card hunting is always a major focus, and this box delivers a solid number of cards.
Configuration: 24 packs per box, 4 cards per pack
Price: $224.95 at Dave and Adam’s Card World
Hockey: 2023/24 Upper Deck Series 2 Hockey Hobby Box
The best chance to score a Bedard Young Guns rookie is with a hobby box — these boxes actually exploded in price upon release because so many hobbyists were hunting for the card. This format delivers six Young Guns rookies per box on average as well as one Outburst parallel.
Configuration: 12 packs per box, 12 cards per pack
Price: $289.95 at Dave and Adam’s Card World
Soccer: 2023/24 Panini Select Premier League Soccer Hobby Box
Another flagship set for the Premier League is poised to deliver cards any collector could be happy with. In addition to its typical tiered system of rookie cards, Select features popular parallels such as Camo, Zebra and Tie-Dye.
Configuration: 12 packs per box, five cards per pack
Price: $294.95 at Blowout Cards
Non-sports: Star Wars Chrome Galaxy Hobby Box
Not quite as celebrated as the previous release in 2022, Star Wars Chrome Galaxy (2023) repeats much of the playbook. Stuffed with chrome cards, thoughtful inserts, stunning artwork and autographs, Star Wars fans will likely come away with something they love.
Configuration: 18 packs per box, four cards per pack
Price: $274.95 at Dave and Adam’s Card World
Ben Burrows is a reporter and editor for cllct.