Inflation Is Changing the Way We Collect Records
Increased vinyl prices and inflation are causing collectors to switch up their buying habits. Discogs analyzed data from vinyl sales and collector surveys to understand exactly how much we’re paying now and, more importantly, how that is changing the way we collect.
Why Are Record Prices Reaching New Highs?
Do you ever find a record and think, “I could have gotten this cheaper a few years ago?” Well, you’re right.
The average price of one vinyl record purchased today is about 24% more expensive compared to five years ago, and collectors are paying more for new and used records, according to a Discogs’ Marketplace analysis.
There are many contributing factors to rising prices, but two of the most identifiable ones are inflation and industry greed.
It’s no secret that everyone is dealing with overall price increases following the COVID-19 pandemic; we may be seeing the highest vinyl price tags in 2025, but the most significant increase occurred between 2020 and 2021, when supply chains and shipping routes were disrupted. Unfortunately, inflation continues to worsen.
It starts before a record even gets pressed. “The cost of manufacturing has clearly risen some as the cost of raw materials have gone up,” said Travis Searle of Guestroom Records Louisville in Kentucky. “Additionally, as the cost of living has increased, the wages being paid to employees at pressing plants and product warehousing facilities have gone up.”
“Perception on price is that it has become too expensive. The reality is that there are pressures on the supply chain [that] didn’t exist 30-40 years ago,” Philip Barton of London’s Sister Ray Records adds.
In 2020, collectors on Discogs paid on average USD $29.82 for a “mint” record. That price has the buying power of USD $36.48 in today’s economy** and nearly matches the USD $37.22 that collectors are dishing out in 2025, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. However, wages haven’t necessarily kept up with inflation at the same rate, and buying power doesn’t equate to our personal buying budgets.
Inflation affects the prices of all records, whether they are new or used. From 2020 to 2025, the average prices for “mint” and “very good” condition records (those in decent quality but showing some wear) increased by approximately 24%. While the impact is more significant for newer records—since a 24% increase on a $30 record amounts to a higher cost than the same increase on a $10 record—this consistent percentage rise demonstrates that inflation influences both the new and secondhand vinyl markets similarly.
“We all know that best-selling, most-manufactured records of all time,” said Searle. “That said, all of these releases are still widely in demand from collectors, new and old, looking for a first copy, a final upgrade, or a gift to a new fan just discovering the magic. The prices have risen because we can get more; each time a copy of any of these hits [Guestroom Records’] new arrivals bin, their shelf life is counted in hours, not days. I can’t speak for every store, but at Guestroom Records, the goal for used pricing (dependent on condition and pressing version, of course) is to price according to demand, but within reason of what a casual fan will still feel is a ‘good deal.’ Those prices have gone from $6-$10 15 years ago to $15-$30 now.”
But it’s not just the overall market contributing to price increases—it’s also the music industry.
Collectors aren’t ATMs. They know when they’re being sold an experience — and when they’re just being sold to. Keep treating them like a revenue stream instead of a community, and they’ll .
Jeffrey Smith, Discogs’ Vice President of Marketing
“Record labels have realized how much profit there is to be made in the vinyl market. From the mid-90s until the late-aughts, vinyl was very much a loss leader manufactured in shorter supply to appease collectors who never moved on from the format,” said Searle.
Today, record labels recognize that collectors often purchase records not just for personal enjoyment, but also to their favorite artists. As a result, the industry is increasingly producing color variants and deluxe reissues targeted at what they refer to as “superfans.” This trend affects costs throughout the production process and influences retail prices.
“Fans will pay for records that feel intentional—ones that respect their ion, loyalty, and desire to own something special,” said Jeffrey Smith, Discogs’ Vice President of Marketing. “But flooding the market with color-swapped variants and bloated reissues with no real purpose? That’s how you lose them. Collectors aren’t ATMs. They know when they’re being sold an experience versus when they’re just being sold to. Keep treating them like a revenue stream instead of a community, and they’ll . The future of vinyl belongs to those who get this right.”
Record Collectors Are More Selective Due to Higher Prices
Vinyl collectors are saying that higher prices are causing them to be more selective with the records they buy. They are more intentional, prioritizing quality over quantity and focusing on the records they want most.
Discogs recently surveyed* longtime collectors to better understand how they are buying in this current landscape. More than half of the millennial and Gen X respondents it that they bought fewer records than they’d like in the past year.
Veteran collectors become more selective because they have fewer gaps in their collection and less room for new purchases. About one-third of those surveyed by Discogs said they actually have enough physical space to freely add new records to their shelves. These collectors referred to themselves as “picky” and “meticulous.”
“I have almost everything I ever wanted. And [I’m] a little more cautious about spending on one I do not need,’” said one collector. “[I’m] being more particular with how I spend and going for things I really want and not just the first things I see,” reported another.
[It’s] harder to find the items I want, and at a price I am willing to pay. Plus, vinyl prices (new and used) have significantly increased over the past few years.
Discogs Member
Frank Landry of Channel 33 RPM also surveyed his dedicated audience of vinyl collectors and asked: “Be honest – are you buying fewer records due to the rising cost of vinyl?”
A resounding 70% replied yes.
Landry and his followers share similar sentiments. They’ve fleshed out their record collections, they have less that they need, and they’re less likely to drop USD $30-$50 on a whim for records that they’re not already interested in.
Younger collectors are crucial to vinyl’s future, but rising prices are making them just as selective. Nearly a third of Gen Z collectors surveyed are cutting back on record purchases due to increased costs, according to a 2025 report from Vinyl Alliance.
So some collectors across generations are hesitating before each record purchase. Or as Searles puts it, “Budgeting for ‘a few’ new records a month will turn into ‘a couple.’”
Will collectors then run out of fuel?
But Record Collectors Are Just as Dedicated As Ever
Nope.
At this point, we really can’t call it a comeback—the vinyl resurgence has been here for years. Sales began to increase in 2007 after decades of stagnancy or straight decline, and today we’re nearing 20 years of record collecting being a mainstream hobby.
In that time, collectors dealt with $1-$2 increases in the average price of vinyl each year. With the exception of the 2020-2021 pandemic spike, Discogs witnessed more dramatic annual price jumps for “mint” records in the early 2010s, just a few years after the vinyl comeback began.
Record collecting is supposed to be fun and doesn’t have to be treated like a retirement portfolio. It’s a marathon, not a sprint.
Travis Searle, Guestroom Records Louisville
“I can recall stocking evergreen titles such as Either/Or ($11.98), and many more for what felt like bargain prices in 2006 before the resurgence for vinyl,” said Searle.
While collectors have been feeling financial strains due to inflation in the past five years, they’re still buying records. Vinyl sales on Discogs increased by 51% from 2020-2023 compared to the previous four-year period, and s cataloged a record-breaking 105.7 million items in Discogs’ Collections in 2024 alone, a new high. Some are actively managing their Collections online, even if they’re not purchasing as much, meaning collectors are still curating when they aren’t consuming.
The bottom line is collecting habits are changing, but the determination to collect is not. Three-quarters of millennial and Gen X respondents are actively growing their collections, while 47% of Gen Z vinyl fans agree that records are expensive but worth it.
Collectors are simply seeking the best records are the best prices, just like the generations of collectors before, and so will the generations to come.
“Record collecting is supposed to be fun and doesn’t have to be treated like a retirement portfolio. It’s a marathon, not a sprint,” said Searle.
We’re all just slowing down a bit to build the best record collections in the long run.
Tips for Finding the Best Vinyl Record Prices
Unfortunately, we can’t control the price of each record, or our collections would be much larger for it. However, Discogs has some incredible tools and resources that make it easier to evaluate prices and score what you want.
Buy Used
Pre-loved vinyl offers the best prices. About 78% of records sold on Discogs are used, and collectors can save up to 47% compared to new vinyl prices. Shopping for ”like new”’ records where the record and sleeve are in top condition can also save people an average of 23%, making it easier to collect while staying within budget.
“With second-hand, buy quality at the top end,” said Barton. “You will have a great collection of records, which hopefully you will love, cherish, and, most importantly, play.”
Shop Local
Shopping local has many benefits for your collection, your wallet, and small businesses. Your closest record store will price inventory competitively for your region – not to mention you skip shipping costs altogether.
Know What You’re Paying For
Discogs found that new collectors Gen Z tend to focus on reissues, fresh pressings, and special editions, while veteran collectors seek out originals from the 1990s and 2000s – so finding the exact version of what you want is key.*** “Decide whether you want to spend two times, three times, or more for a specific color variant over another,” says Searle. To help that decision, discography database.
Filter the Noise
In Discogs’ Marketplace, you can also filter by seller location or listing currency to help you hone in on items that will also help you save on shipping. When you create a Wantlist on Discogs, you can set up notifications when records you want are available and add additional filters based on price, condition, and more.
About the Data
Discogs is committed to being a free and accessible resource for the global music community. Our average price calculations were based on sales history in our music marketplace, including each item’s price, condition, and specific release details.
Discogs uses the Goldmine Grading Guide, a universally accepted standard for representing the condition of physical music in the resale market. We used data on the condition of items sold in our marketplace to illustrate pricing trends for new and used records. We also analyzed the average prices by where the buyer and seller for each transaction were located, as well as what country records are released in.
**Additionally, Discogs surveyed collectors who purchased frequently in our marketplace in 2024. The majority of respondents were millennials or Gen X-ers who have been collecting for more than 20 years. To complete the picture, Discogs referenced the Vinyl Alliance’s 2025 report on Gen Z vinyl fans, which surveyed over a thousand collectors and featured insights from an in-depth focus group.
***Discogs combined takeaways from our own audience data and the Vinyl Alliance report for a better understanding of the styles and record conditions that collectors prefer.
*For inflation trends, Discogs used the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics’ Consumer Price Index Inflation Calculator to compare vinyl prices across the years.
Media
Nicole Raney
Communications Manager
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