What are Longaberger baskets worth, and how do you date one?
By Ellen Whitlock ·
Most Longaberger baskets are worth roughly $10 to $60 at auction and tag sales, well below what they cost new. Larger, holiday-line and JW Collection pieces more often bring $50 to $120. Turn the basket over: the weaver's initials and the year woven are on the bottom.
What is a Longaberger basket worth?
Longaberger baskets sell for far less than they cost new. The company sold seven million baskets in 1996 alone, and Kovels reports that the resale market collapsed after the 1990s boom.
| Type of basket | Typical value |
|---|---|
| Common catalog basketGood condition; the liner and protector help. | $10–$60 |
| Larger, holiday-line or single JW Collection basketGood condition; size and the line move the price. | $50–$120 |
These are auction and tag-sale results, not what baskets cost new. Collection Hero's eBay averages run higher because complete sets pull them up.
Brand expert Helaine Fendelman told WPTV that baskets priced at $100 to $150 new typically fetch $20 to $25 at tag sales. At the top, a 1996 Blue Large market basket went for $20,000 on eBay on March 31, 2021. Treat that as a one-off, not a benchmark.
How to date a Longaberger basket
Dave Longaberger founded the company as JW's Handwoven Baskets, named for his father, before moving to home-party selling. According to Our Pastimes, the outside bottom carries the Longaberger name, the weaver's initials and the year woven, and sometimes a special logo.
| Mark or era | Years |
|---|---|
| JW's Handwoven Baskets · early yearsEarly pieces, from before home-party selling began | 1973–1977 |
| Home-party era · initials and yearName, weaver's initials, year woven and sometimes a logo on the bottom | 1978–2018 |
| JW Collection · plaquesCollection series, and a metal front plaque on Christmas and Hostess baskets | 1985–2004 |
| Dresden & Co. · licensedNew baskets, signed by the craftspeople who weave them | 2019 on |
| Crossed-out logoLikely a second, with flaws | |
| Family signatureSigned by Longaberger family members, including Dave and Tami |
Dave Longaberger died in 1999, so a signature from him fits only a basket made by then. Dresden & Co. baskets are new, not vintage, even in an old pattern.
Quick checks on a Longaberger basket
- Tacks on the rim. Small tacks hold the trim strip, not staples. The company said staples and glue were never used.
- Leather hinges and copper rivets. They are part of the handle construction.
- Heavy hard maple. The basket should feel solid in your hands.
- The pattern name. Collectors point to The Bentley Guide, with pictures and specifications, to match older patterns.
- Liner, protector and lid. Keep them with the basket.
What makes one Longaberger basket worth more?
- Collector lines
- JW Collection, Collectors Club and holiday-line baskets can sit above plain catalog baskets, but the label alone does not guarantee a high price. A 2012 Christmas Collection drum basket with liner, protector and lid went for $55.87 at a 2026 auction, while a 1996 Collectors Club basket went for $10.
- Complete sets
- A full collection is worth far more than the same baskets one at a time. A complete JW Original Collection went for $3,900 on eBay in 2019, while single baskets from the series brought far less at a dealer-collection auction.
- Size
- Larger working pieces such as hampers and laundry baskets bring more than small novelty sizes. In a March 2026 auction, a 2000 oval laundry basket went for $80, while a 1994 nine-inch measuring basket went for $4.
- Signatures
- Baskets signed by Longaberger family members interest collectors, but a signature alone is not a multiplier. A waste basket signed by Tammy and Rachel Longaberger went for $55.
- Condition
- Liner, protector and lid are listed with nearly every basket in specialist auctions, so keep them together. A lot with a broken handle passed without selling at a 2020 household auction.
Real Longaberger, knockoff, or a new one?
Some genuine baskets do not meet every test, so judge the whole basket rather than one feature. Signs it is not a Longaberger, or not an old one:
- A stapled trim strip on a basket that is not old
- A light basket
- No initials, year or logo on the bottom
- A new Dresden & Co. basket in an old pattern. Dresden & Co., established in July 2018, weaves licensed baskets in the original colors, names and shapes, so a pattern match alone does not make yours vintage.
Where to sell a Longaberger basket
For common baskets, a garage or tag sale is realistic. Auctions that take baskets in groups also work, such as the dedicated Longaberger auctions that Hurley Real Estate & Auctions ran in March and May 2026. Larger, holiday-line, signed and JW pieces are worth offering one at a time, and complete collections have gone through dealer auctions and eBay.
Common Longaberger questions
Why are Longaberger baskets worth so little now?
Kovels reports that some baskets sold for upward of $100 during the 1990s boom, before resale prices collapsed.
How do I find the year on my Longaberger basket?
Look on the outside bottom, next to the weaver's initials. The Bentley Guide can then help you match the pattern.
Is a basket signed by Dave Longaberger worth more?
Not by itself. Collection Hero's signed-basket auction results average $70.37, from $0.99 up to $2,200.
What does a crossed-out logo on the bottom mean?
Most likely a second, a basket with flaws that kept it from fetching full price.
Are the new Longaberger baskets made since 2019 vintage?
No. Those are new baskets, and the value ranges on this page are for baskets made through the company's closing on May 4, 2018.