Calculating…
Select a level range and click Calculate to see your exact candy and stardust costs.
How Pokémon GO Power-Up Levels Work
Every Pokémon in Pokémon GO has a hidden level from 1 to 50 that increases in 0.5 increments. Each time you tap Power Up, you advance the Pokémon by half a level. The game only displays CP, but the underlying level determines exactly how strong your Pokémon is and how much each power-up costs.
Your Trainer Level caps the level a wild Pokémon can appear at (roughly your level, capped at 35). With the introduction of XL Candy in late 2020, the level cap was raised from 40 to 50, requiring a special currency that can only be obtained once you reach Trainer Level 31 or above.
Complete Power-Up Cost Table (Level 1–50)
Each row shows the cost per power-up step (per 0.5 level advance). Two consecutive steps share the same cost. All values are for a Normal Pokémon — multiply stardust by 1.2 for Shadow, 0.9 for Purified, or 0.5 for Lucky.
| Level range | Candy/step | XL/step | Stardust/step |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0 – 5.5 | 1 | — | 200 – 1,000 |
| 6.0 – 10.5 | 1 | — | 1,300 – 2,500 |
| 11.0 – 14.5 | 2 | — | 3,000 – 4,500 |
| 15.0 – 19.5 | 3 | — | 5,000 – 7,000 |
| 20.0 – 24.5 | 4 | — | 8,000 – 12,000 |
| 25.0 – 29.5 | 6 | — | 13,000 – 17,000 |
| 30.0 – 34.5 | 8 | — | 18,000 – 22,000 |
| 35.0 – 39.5 | 10 | — | 23,000 – 27,000 |
| 40.0 – 44.5 | 12 | 10 | 28,000 – 32,000 |
| 45.0 – 49.5 | 15 | 12–15 | 33,000 – 37,000 |
Shadow, Lucky, and Purified — Stardust Differences
Shadow
+20%
stardust surcharge. Worth it only if the Pokémon has a high attack stat — Shadow Pokémon deal ~20% more damage but have 20% lower defence.
Purified
−10%
stardust discount. Purified Pokémon also get +2 to all IVs (capped at 15), making them cheaper to power up and easier to max.
Lucky
−50%
stardust discount. Lucky Pokémon also have guaranteed 80%+ IVs. These are by far the most cost-efficient Pokémon to power up.
If you are planning to power a Pokémon to level 50 and it is currently a Shadow, purifying it first will save roughly 20% stardust across the full range — which can mean over 100,000 stardust saved on a level 1→50 journey.
XL Candy — How to Get It
XL Candy is species-specific (like regular candy) and only unlocks at Trainer Level 31. You need XL Candy to power any Pokémon past level 40. Here are the most efficient sources:
- •Catching — a level 31+ wild Pokémon of the same species has a chance to drop 1 XL Candy per catch. Higher level = better drop rate.
- •Walking buddy — walking your buddy earns XL Candy instead of regular candy once it has earned its first XL Candy for the day.
- •Raids — beating a Raid boss of the target species rewards XL Candy guaranteed.
- •Trading — trading any Pokémon of the species at any level can generate XL Candy; trades with high-level Pokémon yield more.
- •Converting — 100 regular candy can be converted to 1 XL Candy via the in-game menu (species-specific).
Frequently Asked Questions
How much stardust does it take to power a Pokémon from level 1 to 40?
A total of 394,900 stardust and 296 regular candy for a Normal Pokémon. That figure rises to 473,880 stardust for a Shadow Pokémon, or drops to 197,450 stardust for a Lucky Pokémon. Use the calculator above with current level 1 and target level 40 to see the breakdown.
How much does it cost to max out a Pokémon to level 50?
Starting from level 1, you need 598,900 stardust, 414 regular candy, and 296 XL Candy. The XL Candy requirement alone makes level 50 a long-term project — plan for at least a few months of dedicated farming for rare species.
Is it worth powering up to level 50?
Only for Pokémon you raid with weekly. The stat gain from level 40 to 50 is roughly 3.5% in CP — meaningful in tight raid windows, negligible in casual play. Most players recommend stopping at level 40 unless a Pokémon is your primary raid attacker in a best-friend group.
Does weather boost change power-up cost?
No — weather boost affects the level at which a wild Pokémon spawns (up to level 35 instead of the trainer level cap), but the power-up cost table is fixed regardless of how you obtained the Pokémon. Only the Shadow, Purified, and Lucky statuses affect stardust cost.