How to play
Every day there are five things to price. Each one comes from a different range, so every set runs from fractions of a cent to the price of a car or more:
- Pocket change: under $1, like a single pea or a paperclip
- Everyday: $1 to $20, like a Big Mac or a gallon of milk
- Splurge: $20 to $500, like sneakers or a games console
- Big purchase: $500 to $20,000, like a laptop or a motorcycle
- Life savings: over $20,000, like a car, a house or a plane
Type a price in US dollars, or drag the slider. The slider moves by powers of ten, so a penny and a Porsche are both one drag away. You can type shorthand like 45k or 1.2m.
Everyone gets the same five items on the same day, and a new set arrives at midnight in your time zone.
Scoring
You score by how close you are in ratio, not in dollars. Missing a pea by double hurts exactly as much as missing a sports car by double.
| Points | How close |
|---|---|
| 100 | Exactly right |
| 90 | Within about 25% |
| 70 | Off by 2× |
| 40 | Off by 4× |
| 0 | Off by 10× or more |
Five items make a maximum of 500 points a day.
Where the prices come from
Prices are typical US prices from 2024 to 2026, rounded. Each item shows its basis after you guess:
- List price: the maker’s or seller’s published price, before tax and fees.
- Survey or agency figures: averages from sources such as the US Census, the Federal Reserve, the National Association of Realtors, Kelley Blue Book, the College Board, The Knot and the US Mint.
- Approx.: a rounded estimate of a typical store price where no single official figure exists.
Real prices vary by store, state and season. If you think a price is wrong, tell us and we’ll check it.
Questions
Can I play past days?
Yes. The calendar button lists the last 30 days. Past days count in your stats but don’t extend your streak.
How does “How everyone did” work?
When you finish, your five guesses and score are saved without your name, so you can see where you rank. Until enough people have played a day, the comparison includes clearly labeled starter players.
Do I need an account?
No. Your stats live in your browser.