How Much Is My German Beer Stein Worth?

How to Identify & Find the Value of Beer Steins

If you have a German Beer Stein in your cupboard, or maybe even a collection, you could be holding onto hidden treasure. German Beer Steins are beloved across the world as a superior beer-drinking vessel and can be very valuable. Authentic antique and old beer steins can sell for thousands of dollars, and collectors are always searching. So what are you waiting for? Find your old beer steins, and use our German Beer Stein value guide to learn how to identify your stein’s authenticity, era and value.

How to Identify if your German Beer Stein is Authentic

It can be difficult to tell the difference between an authentic German Beer Stein and a mass-produced fake, but the difference in value is immense. An authentic German Beer Stein’s value is in the unmatched value and craftsmanship. Luckily, there are several ways to tell if your German Beer Stein is real.

1. Where was your stein made?

If your stein has a stamp, tag or sticker that says MADE IN GERMANY, there is a significantly higher chance your stein is authentic and holds a higher value.

2. Are there markings on the bottom of your stein? 

High-quality beer stein manufacturers use the base of the stein to place distinct markings and labels. You may see the logo of a manufacturer, a sticker baked into the stein or handwritten numbers. Many authentic German Steins are collector pieces, so only a certain amount of them exist. Numbers on the bottom of your stein are a very good sign it is limited-edition and valuable.

3. What brand is your stein?

While there are many companies making knock-off steins, there are far fewer trusted, authentic companies making steins. KING, Thewalt, Zoeller and Born and Zimmerman are all trusted German Beer Stein brands. There are many other authentic brands, and when you shop with GermanSteins.com you can rest easy knowing you are receiving an authentic German Beer Stein.

4. What does the lid of your stein look like?

You can find the best information about a stein’s age, value and quality in the lid. The lids of classic German steins are often made of pewter and were cast as a single piece of metal. They may be flat or ornamental and will have a thumb lift to open the lid. An authentic German Stein lid will darken over time because of exposure to the air, the darker your stein’s lid, the older (and likely more valuable) it is.

Unfortunately, replica companies know this as well. The lids of newer replicas are usually three or four pieces of silvery metal fused together. They may artificially darken the lids of their steins, or even obtain authentic lids to place on replica steins. Use the information from both the base of your stein and the lid to reliably determine if your German Beer Stein is authentic.

Identifying the Era of Your Stein

Once you’ve verified the authenticity of your German Beer Stein, the value of the piece will depend on its rarity and age. Naturally, the older and rarer your stein, the more valuable. Authentic German Beer Steins are categorized into five eras. Early beer steins were made between the 16th and early 19th centuries. Old beer steins were made between the mid-19th century and the 20th century. Jugendstil, or Youth style beer steins were made between 1900 to the 1920s in the Art Nouveau period. Third Reich beer steins were made during WWII. Contemporary beer steins were made after WWII, through the Cold War and to the present day.

In order to determine the value of your stein, it’s important to identify its era and style. These periods were characterized by trends in the shapes of the steins, the marks made under steins and stein lids and the materials used to make the steins. It is important to pay attention to the four-digit number either on the base or side of your stein. People often confuse these for a date, but they are actually a form or mold number you can use for further identification of the era and value of the stein.

Early Era German Beer Steins

Early-era German Beer Steins became not only popular but necessary to cover drinks during the Bubonic Plague. They were typically made of stoneware, faience and porcelain. Early Renaissance artists began carving and painting family crests and shields into people’s personal beer steins. People wanted their beer steins to depict something meaningful, leading to intricately carved and painted images of historical events, heroes and biblical stories.

An early-era German Beer Stein will likely have a darker pewter lid because of its age and will be quite heavy. There won’t be any finger grooves on the handle, and you’ll likely be able to spot imperfections in the carving or painting. They are clearly handmade and hand-decorated.

Early-era German Beer Steins in good condition are among the most valuable steins. They are likely to be rarer and often passed down through families from generation to generation. One late 18th-century sterling silver stein was sold for over $2,200 in 2022.

Old German Beer Steins

The Old Era of German Beer Steins was characterized by a resurgence of popularity in ornately carved, stoneware steins after porcelain and metal steins became more popular through the 18th century. The most popular steins made in the late 19th century and into the 20th century were Mettlach steins. They were made of stoneware and featured intricately hand-painted designs, and are some of the most prestigious pieces you could hold today. It was also in this era the German “Merchandise Marks Act of 1887” was passed, so any authentic German Beer Stein made after 1887 will be marked, “Made in Germany.”

While authentic Mettlach Beer Steins often sell for hundreds of dollars, not all old-era German Beer Steins hold high value. German Beer Steins began to be mass-produced in the 20th century, diminishing the value of certain steins.

Jugendstil German Beer Steins

Jugendstil (or Youth style) Era German Beer Steins represent the shortest distinct era in steins. The Art Nouveau period in Germany lasted from 1900 into the 1920s and had a large impact on the beer steins of the era. Steins began to commonly be made of silver, glass and ivory rather than stoneware. Jugendstil steins were also very intricately designed but didn’t feature as many portraits or images of events.

Jugendstil Era German Beer Steins commonly are valued between $100 - $300.

Third Reich German Beer Steins

Third Reich-era Beer Steins were made during WWII. In certain ways, they are the most uniform. A majority of Third Reich-era steins are made of distinct white stoneware with a pewter lid. The images carved and painted on the steins feature depictions of battle and propaganda, as well as symbols and crests specific to certain companies and service branches of the German military in WWII.

Third Reich Era Beer Steins are some of the more valuable steins because they can be more difficult to find. On average they sell for $300-$500, with certain steins selling for over $1000.

Contemporary German Beer Steins

A contemporary German Beer Stein is any stein made after the end of WWII. In recent years, cheaply-made replica steins have become more common and made it more difficult to identify an authentic German Beer Stein. Luckily, there are still several unique aspects to authentic contemporary steins.

Steins made between 1949 and 1990 may be marked “Made in Western Germany.” The marking increases the value of the stein and is a good sign the stein is authentic. Finger bumps along the handle of the stein is another aspect of more modern German Beer Steins – companies did not start adding bumps on the handles until after the 1920s.

Contemporary beer steins are generally not as valuable as older, antique German Beer Steins. But certain contemporary steins still hold value as collectors’ items. The Budweiser Clydesdale Beer Steins are some of the most popular and valuable contemporary beer steins, with some selling for hundreds of dollars.

Your One-Stop Shop for All Things Beer Steins

GermanSteins.com has the largest selection of German Beer Steins for sale online over any other competitor. With the best selection of authentic Oktoberfest Steins, Christmas Steins, or limited edition Steins, you’re sure to find the perfect one for the occasion. Want to send a more personalized gift? See our personalized engraving service available for many beer steins, mugs, glasses and beer boots. We also have a large selection of collectible beer steins to choose from.