Load vinyl value
Metallica — Load: pressings we track
| Pressing | Catalog | Country | Notes | Asking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 Elektra | 61923-1 | US | — | from $275 |
| 2010 Universal Music Group International | 0600753286876 | Europe | Reissue | $52–$80 |
| 2015 Blackened | BLCKND011-1 | Europe | Reissue | $52–$80 |
| 2025 Blackened | BLCKND011R-1 | Europe | Reissue, Remastered, 180 g | $36–$84 |
| 2025 Blackened | BLCKND011R-1 | US | Reissue, Remastered, 180 Gram | from $36 |
11 more pressings we track (no quoted eBay range)
| Pressing | Catalog | Country | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1996 Vertigo | 532 618-1 | Europe | — |
| 1996 Vertigo | 532 618 - 1 | Germany | Picture Disc, Unofficial Release |
| 2001 Vertigo | 532 618-1 | Europe | Reissue, 180 Gram |
| 2010 Universal Music Group International | 00 6007 532 869-0 6 | Europe | Reissue |
| 2010 Warner Bros. | 523503-1 | US | Reissue, Remastered |
| 2010 Warner Bros. | 523504-1 | US | Reissue |
| 2010 Warner Bros. | 523504-1 | US | Limited Edition, Reissue, White |
| 2014 Blackened | BLCKND011-1 | US | Reissue |
| 2022 Blackened | BLCKND011-1W | US | Limited Edition, Reissue |
| 2025 Blackened Recordings | BLCKND011R-1W | Europe | Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2025 Blackened | BLCKND011RD-1 | Europe | Reissue, Remastered |
No quoted range right now (why). Scan your copy in the app for a current read.
18 pressings tracked, 16 shown · catalog of 974,753 releases, August 2026
What separates the pressings
How to identify your copy
Three checks, in the order worth doing them.
- 1
Match the catalog number. It is printed on the spine and the record label. Check it together with the country against the pressings table above: the same number can appear in more than one country.
- 2
Read the runout. The code etched in the dead wax near the label names the exact pressing. On the 1996 US pressing it reads “STE-61923-A1 STERLING [SRC logo]” on side one and “STE-61923-B1 [SRC logo] STERLING” on side two. Sleeves migrate between copies over the years; the etching stays with the record.
- 3
Grade the condition. Condition multiplies the price: near mint can bring several times what a VG copy does. Vinyl and sleeve get separate grades; the scale is in our grading guide.
Discs and jackets part ways over the decades: a 1996 sleeve proves nothing about the record inside it. The runout etching and the label decide the pressing; the cover never does.
Questions
Which pressing of Load is worth the most?
The 1996 originals lead. Scarcer variants (the 2010 “Limited Edition, Reissue, White” and the 2022 “Limited Edition, Reissue”) can beat an ordinary early copy. After that it is all condition: the gap between near mint and VG is usually larger than the gap between pressings.
How do I tell if I have a 1996 original?
Match the catalog number on the spine and label against the table above, check the country, then read the etched code in the runout groove. On the 1996 US pressing the runout reads “STE-61923-A1 STERLING [SRC logo]”. A period jacket with a later disc inside is still a reissue.
How much is Load worth today?
Sellers ask from $29 for the pressings we track; for the 2010 0600753286876 the median ask is $66 over 6 listings (eBay, Sep 18, 2026). Sold prices usually close lower. Scan your copy in the app for the range on your exact pressing and condition.
Not sure which pressing you have? Photograph the label and RecordScout names it, then shows a current value range for its condition.
Open in the App StoreFree to try, iPhone, no account.