Pokemon Go Trade Calculator

Instantly find the Stardust cost for any trade in Pokemon Go.

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Select options to see the trade cost.

Cost Comparison by Friendship Level

Dynamic chart showing Stardust cost for the selected trade type across all friendship levels.

Complete Stardust Trade Cost Chart

All costs are in Stardust. A trade is ‘Special’ if the Pokemon is Shiny, Legendary, or new to the receiver’s Pokedex.

Friendship Level	Standard Trade (Registered)	Special Trade (Registered Shiny/Legendary OR New Standard Pokemon)	Special Trade (New Shiny/Legendary)
Good Friend	100	20,000	1,000,000
Great Friend	100	16,000	800,000
Ultra Friend	100	1,600	80,000
Best Friend	100	800	40,000

What is a Pokemon Go Trade Calculator?

A pokemon go trade calculator is an essential tool for any serious trainer looking to manage their Stardust effectively. Trading Pokemon is a core feature of the game, but it comes at a cost—Stardust. This cost isn’t fixed; it varies dramatically based on your friendship level with the other trainer, the rarity of the Pokemon (like shiny or legendary), and whether the Pokemon is a new entry in the receiver’s Pokedex. Our calculator simplifies this complex matrix, giving you an instant and accurate cost so you can decide if a trade is worth it. Avoid the shock of a 1,000,000 Stardust trade by checking the cost first!

Pokemon Go Trade Cost Formula and Explanation

There isn’t a single mathematical formula for the pokemon go trade calculator. Instead, Niantic uses a predefined cost matrix based on a combination of factors. The primary variables are Friendship Level and Trade Type. We can think of it as a lookup table rather than an equation.

The main logic is:

Trade Cost = BaseCost(TradeType) * FriendshipDiscount(Level)

However, the discounts are not simple percentages and are pre-calculated into fixed tiers. To learn more about improving your stats, see our guide to the pokemon go special trade.

Variables Table

Variable	Meaning	Unit / Type	Typical Range
Friendship Level	The bond between two trainers.	Categorical	Good, Great, Ultra, Best
Pokedex Status	If the Pokemon is new for the receiver.	Boolean (Registered/Unregistered)	–
Pokemon Rarity	If the Pokemon is standard, shiny, or legendary.	Categorical	Standard, Special (Shiny/Legendary)
Stardust Cost	The final amount of Stardust required.	Numeric (Stardust)	100 to 1,000,000

Practical Examples

Example 1: The Best Friend Deal

You and your Best Friend want to trade shiny Pokemon that you both already have from a past Community Day. This is a common scenario for trying to get a “shlundo” (shiny, lucky, hundo).

• Inputs: Friendship Level: Best Friend, Pokedex Status: Registered, Pokemon Type: Shiny.
• Units: Stardust.
• Results: The trade will only cost 800 Stardust. This is the cheapest special trade in the game, a massive discount from the potential maximum. This highlights the incredible value of a friendship level guide.

Example 2: The Million-Stardust Warning

A new friend you just added wants to trade you a shiny legendary that you missed out on. You are only Good Friends.

• Inputs: Friendship Level: Good Friend, Pokedex Status: Unregistered, Pokemon Type: Shiny/Legendary.
• Results: The trade will cost a staggering 1,000,000 Stardust! This is the most expensive trade possible. Using the pokemon go trade calculator beforehand saves you from accidentally spending all your resources.

How to Use This Pokemon Go Trade Calculator

1. Select Friendship Level: Choose your current friendship level with the person you are trading with from the first dropdown.
2. Set Pokedex Status: In the second dropdown, specify if the Pokemon you are *receiving* is one you have caught or hatched before. If it’s not in your Pokedex, select “No (New Pokedex Entry)”.
3. Define Pokemon Type: Use the third dropdown to indicate if the trade involves a Shiny or Legendary Pokemon. These are considered “Special” and have different costs.
4. Interpret the Results: The calculator will instantly display the required Stardust. The chart below the calculator also updates to show you how the cost would change at different friendship levels, helping you decide if you should wait to build more friendship before trading.
5. Plan Your Trades: Armed with this knowledge, you can better plan your trades and manage your valuable stardust trade cost.

Key Factors That Affect Pokemon Go Trades

• Friendship Level: The single most important factor for reducing costs. Reaching Best Friends provides a 99.2% discount on some special trades compared to Good Friends.
• Pokedex Registration: A Pokemon new to the receiver’s Pokedex makes the trade ‘Special’ and significantly increases the cost. A regular, non-shiny Pokemon can still cost 20,000 Stardust if it’s a new entry.
• Shiny/Legendary Status: These Pokemon always trigger a Special Trade. Their cost is much higher than standard Pokemon, especially if unregistered. Check the shiny trade cost chart before you commit.
• Special Trade Limit: You can only perform one Special Trade per day (per friend). This rule forces you to choose wisely when trading rare Pokemon.
• IV Re-roll: When a Pokemon is traded, its IVs (Attack, Defense, Stamina) are completely re-rolled. The minimum possible IVs are determined by your friendship level.
• Lucky Pokemon Chance: Any trade has a chance to result in a Lucky Pokemon, which costs 50% less Stardust to power up. The chance increases the older the Pokemon is.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

What is the absolute cheapest trade I can make?

A trade for a standard, non-shiny, non-legendary Pokemon that is already registered in both players’ Pokedexes costs 100 Stardust. This cost is the same for all friendship levels.

Why does the legendary trade cost vary so much?

The cost for a legendary trade cost depends on two things: your friendship level and if the receiver already has that legendary registered in their Pokedex. A registered legendary trade with a Best Friend is 800 Stardust, while an unregistered one with a Good Friend is 1,000,000.

How many Special Trades can I do per day?

You can perform one Special Trade per day. A Special Trade includes trading for legendary Pokemon, shiny Pokemon, or Pokemon not currently in your Pokedex.

Do IVs change when trading?

Yes, a Pokemon’s IVs are completely and randomly re-rolled upon trading. The new IV floor (minimum possible value) is higher with better friendship levels, increasing the chance of getting a strong Pokemon.

Can I trade a Pokemon back if I don’t like the new IVs?

No, a Pokemon can only be traded once. This is to prevent players from continuously re-rolling IVs on the same Pokemon.

What is a Lucky Trade?

A Lucky Trade is a random occurrence where both traded Pokemon become ‘Lucky’. Lucky Pokemon have a golden background, a guaranteed IV floor of 12/12/12 (out of 15), and cost 50% less Stardust to power up. Becoming Lucky Friends with someone guarantees your next trade will be lucky.

Does the distance between where Pokemon were caught matter?

Yes, but not for Stardust cost. Trading Pokemon caught far apart increases the amount of candy you receive from the trade, up to 3 candies for distances over 100km. It also slightly increases the chance of the trade becoming Lucky.

Can Mythical Pokemon be traded?

Generally, no. Mythical Pokemon like Mew, Celebi, and Jirachi cannot be traded, with very few exceptions like Meltan and Melmetal. For more info, check pokemon go trading news.