How to craft a Steam badge from trading cards
The badge is created from a complete set of collectible trading cards of one game. badge crafting gives you experience that increases your profile level, plus random decoration items. All together is the most affordable way to level up.
What is needed for badge crafting, where to get the missing trading cards, how much does it cost and what is awarded for creating a badge besides experience.
What you need to craft a badge
A complete set of trading cards of one game. The number of trading cards in a set is different: somewhere five, somewhere more than ten.
The game must support trading cards. Not all games in Steam have them.
Open the Badges page in your profile and choose the game. It shows the complete set: the cards you own, the ones you are missing and how many are still needed to craft the badge.
Getting the cards
Drop per game. When you play a game you own, you get a piece of trading cards for free - usually about half the set. Then the drop stops, this is done on purpose.
Trading platform. Missing trading cards are purchased as regular items. The prices for most are symbolic, but the entire set already adds up to a noticeable amount.
Exchange. Duplicates are exchanged with other players. Longer than buying, but free.
Booster pack. After creating a badge, there is a chance that you will get a set of three trading cards of this game. Another free source, but you can't rely on it.
Crafting the badge
Collect the full set and open the badge page. The create button will become active. You press - trading cards are spent, the badge appears.
The badge can be improved: collect the set again and create it again. Each badge level grants another 100 experience.
You cannot cancel the creation - trading cards are written off irrevocably. Before clicking, make sure you have selected the correct badge.
- Buy one set at a time and refresh the page - this way you won’t get unnecessary duplicates.
- Look for games with the lowest price for a complete set, not for an individual trading card.
- Sell duplicates back to the site, they don’t go to waste.
Rewards for crafting
One hundred experience points per profile level. This is the main reason why badges are crafted.
A random profile background, a random emoticon and a discount coupon for some game. Backgrounds and emoticons are traded on the site, so part of the costs is returned.
Plus the profile badge itself. It has no practical use, it's just a decoration.
The honest calculation is that badge crafting almost always costs more than its rewards return. You are buying a level, not earning money. Badges are not a suitable tool if your goal is profit.
Frequently asked questions
How to create a badge in Steam?
Collect a complete set of trading cards of one game and click the create button on the badge page. trading cards are spent in this case.
Where can I get the missing trading cards?
Buy on the Marketplace, exchange with other players or receive as a drop for the game - about half of the set drops for free.
How much experience does a badge give?
One hundred units per creation. Creating the same badge again gives you the same amount for each level.
Is it possible to cancel the creation of a badge?
No. trading cards are written off irrevocably.
Is it profitable to craft badges?
There is almost always a loss in terms of money. You buy a profile level, and the received backgrounds and emoticons return only part of the costs.
How to buy the Steam trading cards you are missing
Find the cards missing from a Steam badge, compare the cost of complete sets and use buy orders or trades to avoid paying more than necessary.
Read guide
Steam booster packs: what they are and how to get them
Where do booster sets come from, what conditions are needed for them to drop, what’s inside, and why you shouldn’t count on them when collecting a badge.
Read guide