Should you open your action figures or keep them in the box?

By Britton Jewell · Last updated October 21, 2026

Short answer: open it if you bought it to display or play with and don't plan to sell it. Keep it sealed if it's an exclusive, a chase or already selling above retail, or if you might sell it someday. Sealed copies sell best, and the gap is biggest on figures people want sealed. Whatever you decide, keep the box and every accessory. An opened figure that's complete with its box still sells well.

Who wrote this: Britton Jewell, a collectibles reseller who runs BuyHoldCollect. We sell sealed figures on Amazon and eBay. More about us.

What opening changes when you sell

It can't be sold as new. eBay's condition rules for toys say New means "brand new, unused, unopened, and undamaged," so an opened figure goes under Used. On Amazon, a figure sold as new should be unopened too.
Sealed sells best. In our experience, buyers care whether a figure has been opened, and new-in-box copies with clean boxes sell for the most (see sealed, MISB and NRFB).
The gap is biggest on figures people want sealed. On eBay, the Star Wars Black Series General Grievous Deluxe sold for a middle price of about $64 sealed and $53 opened, roughly $11 or 17% less (12 sealed and 6 opened sales from late July to mid-October 2026, shipping included, checked October 21, 2026). On a common figure like the Black Series Echo, the gap was about $2.50. More examples are on does a damaged box lower a figure's value?
On eBay, your photos do the work. You take your own pictures, so you can show the exact box and figure. On Amazon, listings use the same stock photos for every seller, so buyers can't see the copy they're getting.

When to keep it sealed

It's a store or convention exclusive, a chase, or already selling above retail.
You might sell it later, or you collect in the box.
You're not sure yet. You can always open it later.

Keeping it sealed doesn't mean it will go up. Many sealed figures don't (see are sealed figures a good investment?).

When to just open it

It's a mass-release figure that's still in stores at retail.
You bought it to pose, display loose or give to a kid.
You know you'll never sell it.

Some collectors buy two: one to open and one to keep sealed. That doubles the cost, so it makes the most sense when you'd want the sealed copy anyway.

Should you keep the box?

Yes, if there's any chance you'll sell. In our experience, opened figures that are complete with the original box sell very well on eBay. "Complete" means every accessory, alternate hand and head that came with it. Keep the plastic tray and any inserts with the box, and store it where it won't get crushed.

When you sell one, say "opened" or "loose, complete with box" in the title, list it as Used, and photograph the figure, every accessory and all sides of the box.

How to spot a resealed box

A box that's been opened and closed again can be sold as sealed. Before you pay a sealed price, look at the tape and flaps:

A seal that's been cut or slit.
New tape that doesn't match the rest of the box.
Tape that has pulled up part of the box's printed design.

If the listing doesn't show the flaps, ask for close photos of every one before you buy. If a "new" figure arrives opened, report it to the marketplace as not as described.

Quick answers

Should I open my action figures?

Open it if you bought it to display or play with and don't plan to sell it, especially a mass-release figure still sold at retail. Keep it sealed if it's an exclusive, a chase or already selling above retail, or if you might sell it later.

Do action figures lose value when opened?

Usually some. On eBay an opened figure can't be listed as New, and sealed copies sell best. In our eBay check, an opened Black Series General Grievous Deluxe sold for about 17% less than sealed copies, while a common figure lost only about $2.50.

Should I keep my action figure boxes?

Yes, if you might ever sell. In our experience, opened figures that are complete with every accessory and the original box sell very well on eBay. Keep the tray and any inserts too.

How can you tell if an action figure box was resealed?

Look at the tape. A cut seal, new tape that doesn't match the rest of the box, or tape that has pulled up part of the printed cardboard are signs it was opened. Ask the seller for close photos of every flap before you buy.

New to terms like MOC or box wear? See our collector and reseller glossary.

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This page is general information, not financial advice. "In our experience" statements reflect one reseller's observations.