Reload vinyl value
Metallica — Reload: pressings we track
| Pressing | Catalog | Country | Notes | Asking |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 Elektra | 62126-1 | Canada | Picture Disc, Unofficial Release | from $225 |
| 2022 Blackened | BLCKND012-1W | US | Limited Edition, Reissue, Yellow Translucent (Flaming Fuel) | $85–$183 |
14 more pressings we track (no quoted eBay range)
| Pressing | Catalog | Country | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1997 Elektra | 62126-1 | Germany | Limited Edition, Picture Disc, Unofficial Release |
| 1997 Vertigo | 536 409-1 | UK & Europe | Gatefold |
| 1997 Elektra | 62126-1 | US | Gatefold |
| 2001 Vertigo | 536 409-1 | Europe | Reissue, 180 Gram |
| 2010 Universal Music Group International | 0600753299180 | Europe | Reissue, Remastered |
| 2010 Universal Music Group International | 532991-3 | Europe | Reissue |
| 2010 Warner Bros. | 523510-1 | US | Reissue, Remastered |
| 2010 Warner Bros. | 523511-1 | US | Reissue, Remastered |
| 2010 Warner Bros. | 523511-1 | US | Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2014 Blackened | BLCKND012-1 | US | Reissue, Gatefold |
| 2015 Blackened | BLCKND012-1 | Europe | Misprint, Reissue, Gatefold |
| 2026 Blackened | BLCKND012R-1W | Europe | Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered |
| 2026 Blackened | BLCKND012R-1 | Europe | Reissue, Remastered, 180g |
| 2026 Blackened | BLCKND0012RD-1 | Europe | Deluxe Edition, Limited Edition, Numbered |
No quoted range right now (why). Scan your copy in the app for a current read.
19 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 1997 US pressing it reads “STE-62126-1-A2 STERLING” on side one and “STE-62126-1-B2 STERLING” on side two. Trust the etching over the jacket: covers get traded around, dead wax stays put.
- 3
Grade the condition. A clean copy and a worn one of the same pressing sit several grades, and several multiples, apart. Grade record and sleeve separately; see our grading guide.
Do not price the cover. A later disc in a 1997 jacket is a reissue, whatever the sleeve says: the pressing lives in the runout etching and on the label.
Questions
Which pressing of Reload is worth the most?
The 1997 originals lead. Scarcer variants (the 2010 “Limited Edition, Reissue, Remastered” and the 2015 “Misprint, Reissue, Gatefold”) 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 1997 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 1997 US pressing the runout reads “STE-62126-1-A2 STERLING”. A period jacket with a later disc inside is still a reissue.
How much is Reload worth today?
Sellers ask from $70 for the pressings we track; for the 2022 BLCKND012-1W the median ask is $100 over 5 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.
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