Vintage Tupperware Guide: Collecting Catalog Classics | LoveToKnow (2024)

Your mom might have bought those iconic plastic containers for a few dollars, but today, vintage Tupperware items can be worth a lot more than the leftovers they hold. In fact, some classic examples can be worth $100 or more.

Vintage Tupperware: An Icon of the 20th Century

Many people consider Tupperware one of the biggest inventions of the 20th century. After all, it revolutionized the ability to store food in airtight containers, and it had a presence in just about every kitchen in America.

Check your cabinets for these beauties and learn a little more about how to identify Tupperware that has value. Plus, if in addition to keeping your stash of containers all these years, you've also invested in the company on Wall Street, you have good reason to be smiling.

Remember Tupperware parties? Tupperware started to become popular in the late 1940s, and people had Tupperware parties to get together and buy containers as a group. Sales skyrocketed, and the company released designs in tons of exciting colors and styles. There are a few clues you might have vintage Tupperware:

• The brand name "Tupperware" is stamped onto the bottom of the container.
• There's a two-part number stamped onto the bottom of the item. The first is the mold number, which you can submit to the company for replacement parts or more information.
• Your item matches the shape and colors available at the time of creation in accordance with the lines released. You can check a catalog to be sure.

Vintage Tupperware pricing will fluctuate depending on the demand from buyers. In general, these values can give you an idea:

• Full sets in difficult-to-find colors can sell for hundreds of dollars.
• Complete line sets can sell between about $50 to $75.
• Salt and pepper shaker set may sell for about $50 up to about $200, depending on their condition.
• Single pieces in good condition can sell from $5 to $20 or more.

Tupperware continued to make many of the same styles into the 1970s, but the colors changed. Pastels were replaced by bold orange, harvest gold, avocado green, and other iconic '70s shades. One of the most coveted sets from this era is the nesting Servalier canisters, which sell for around $75 for a set of three in mint condition.

If you are planning on reselling your vintage Tupperware, there are a few things to keep in mind regarding value:

• Number of pieces - Know that single pieces typically don't sell for hundreds of dollars, but complete sets can be worth quite a bit.
• Condition - If you already own vintage Tupperware and are interested in selling it off, chances are you'll be able to find a buyer if your items are in good condition.
• Marking - Tupperware with the "Tupper" mark tend to sell at a high price, as the insignia was not common for all products.
• Color - Pink Tupperware, due to its tendency for fading, is another rare find that collectors may look for specifically. Keep in mind that white or crystal Tupperware tended to be the most common, so these may be easier for buyers to find.
• Trends - Know that with collectible items, trends can heavily influence what makes for a "good" collectible purchase.