Slant height — the measurement from the highest point of the root to the tip of the crown — is the standard size metric for shark teeth. The market organizes itself into rough brackets, each carrying its own implications for source-animal size, market rarity, and price.
Entry Tier: under 1.5 inches
Teeth in this bracket typically come from juvenile or sub-adult great whites, or from posterior positions on larger animals. They are widely available in the documented modern channel, photograph well in close-up, and serve as accessible first acquisitions for new collectors. Price points are typically under $300 for grade A specimens.
Mid Tier: 1.5 to 2.0 inches
This is the most active bracket in the market. Teeth in the mid range come from adult animals in lateral or posterior positions, or from smaller adults in anterior positions. Grade A specimens in this bracket commonly run $400 to $700; pre-ban examples push higher.
Upper Tier: 2.0 to 2.5 inches
Upper tier teeth come from large adult animals, typically in upper anterior positions. They are markedly less common in the market than mid-tier teeth and command sharper price differentials based on condition and provenance. Grade A documented modern examples typically range $800 to $1,500. Pre-ban examples can double those numbers.
Specimen Grade: 2.5 to 3.0 inches
Specimen grade represents the upper end of what most collectors will encounter. Teeth above 2.5″ come from genuinely large great whites — animals at the upper end of adult size. Market availability is intermittent; in some quarters there are no examples available at any price. Grade A examples in this bracket typically start above $1,500 and can climb significantly with strong provenance.
Exceptional: above 3.0 inches
Modern great white teeth above 3″ are extremely rare. They come from the largest specimens of the species and are the most likely to carry well-known provenance documentation. When they appear in the market, they are often listed for inquiry rather than at a fixed price.
How to Measure
Hold the tooth so the bourrelet (the line between root and crown) is horizontal. Measure from the highest point of the root, on the side that gives the longest reading, straight to the tip of the crown. Use a digital caliper for accuracy; rulers under-measure curved teeth.
What Sellers Should Disclose
A reputable listing states slant height to the hundredth of an inch and includes a ruler photograph alongside the standard five views. Listings that round generously (a 1.93″ tooth listed as “2 inches”) are not necessarily dishonest, but they suggest the seller is approximating. Ask for an exact measurement.
Across the Brackets
Within any bracket, the four other value factors — position, condition, color, provenance — do most of the work in setting price. Size is the headline number; the rest of the description does the rest of the explaining.