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Is It Worth Grading? Card Grading Calculator

Found an old Pokémon or sports card? Enter what it sells for now and what it would sell for graded. We weigh that against PSA or CGC fees and shipping and give you a plain answer.

Grading fees checked October 1, 2026 on the graders' own sites

1 · What the card sells for

Use recent sold prices, not asking prices. Search the card on eBay and tick "Sold items", or look it up on PriceCharting.
Search the same card with "PSA 10", "PSA 9" and "PSA 8" in sold listings. If you pick CGC below, use CGC sold prices — they are usually lower than PSA at the same grade.

2 · Your honest condition guess

Chance of each grade Rough assumptions, not a prediction. Change them if you know better.

3 · Grader and shipping

Shipping is split across the cards you send together.

Enter your card's values

Start with what the card sells for ungraded, then what it sells for at grade 10 and 9.

Grade 7 or lower is counted at 90% of your ungraded value: a low-grade slab rarely sells for more than the raw card. Sale prices are compared before selling fees, which cut both options roughly the same. Fees from PSA and CGC Cards as published on October 1, 2026; check the grader's site before you submit. This is an estimate, not a grade or an appraisal.

Not sure what card it is?

Photograph the front and back. We'll tell you which card and set it is and what it sells for ungraded.

Identify my card free

How the grading calculator works

Grading costs the same whether your card comes back a 10 or a 6. The payoff does not. So the calculator multiplies each possible grade by its sold value and by the chance you get it. That gives an expected value after grading. It then subtracts the grading fee, your share of shipping and the money you would get by simply selling the card raw.

If the leftover is clearly positive, grading is worth it. If it is close to zero, it is a coin flip and you take on months of waiting for nothing. If it is negative, sell the card as it is. Most cards end up in that last group: a card that sells for $20 raw rarely covers a $59.99 fee.

The grade odds are the weak spot. Graders are strict about centering, corners, edges and surface, and most cards that look perfect to the eye still come back a 9 or lower. Be hard on your card. If in doubt, pick the next worse condition.

Grading fees used (October 1, 2026)

Company · servicePrice per cardMax card valueTurnaround
PSA Standard$59.99$1,00090–100 business days
PSA Priority$79.99$1,50070–80 business days
PSA Express$199.00$2,50020–30 business days
PSA Super Express$349.00$5,00010–15 business days
PSA Premier$599.00$10,0007–10 business days
PSA Premium 1$999.00$25,0005–7 business days
PSA Premium 2$1,999.00$50,0005–7 business days
PSA Premium 3$2,999.00$100,0005–7 business days
PSA Premium 5$4,999.00$250,0005–7 business days
CGC Cards Bulk (25-card minimum)$17.00$500150 working days
CGC Cards Economy$20.00$1,00090 working days
CGC Cards Standard$55.00$3,00010 working days
CGC Cards Express$100.00$10,0005 working days
CGC Cards WalkThrough$300.00$100,0002 working days

Sources: PSA pricing and PSA return postage; CGC Cards services and fees. PSA's lower-priced Value tiers have been paused since June 2026. Beckett (BGS) Base and Standard submissions are paused too, so BGS is not in the calculator.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it worth getting my Pokémon cards graded?
For most cards, no. Grading costs $59.99 or more per card at PSA plus shipping, and most cards sell for less than that even in a slab. It tends to pay for vintage holos in great condition, key 1st Edition and Shadowless cards, and modern chase cards that are likely to get a 10. Read our guide: is it worth grading Pokémon cards?
How much does PSA grading cost?
As of October 1, 2026, PSA's cheapest open service is Standard at $59.99 per card for cards worth up to $1,000, with an estimated 90–100 business days. Priority is $79.99 and Express $199.00. Return shipping and insurance for 1–4 cards insured up to $2,000 is $19.99, and you pay to send the cards in.
What grade will my card get?
Nobody can promise a grade before the grader sees the card. Centering, sharp corners, clean edges with no whitening, and a scratch-free surface decide it. Cards pulled from a pack and sleeved right away have the best chance at a 10. Older cards that were played with usually land at 7 or below.
Is CGC or Beckett cheaper than PSA?
CGC's per-card fees are lower: Economy is $20.00 for cards worth up to $1,000. But PSA slabs usually sell for more at the same grade, so the cheaper fee does not always mean more money in your pocket. Beckett paused its Base and Standard card submissions in September 2026.
Should I send cards myself or through a dealer?
With one or two cards, sending them yourself is simplest: shipping is the same for one card as for four. Card shops and group submissions combine many collectors' cards, which spreads shipping and can reach bulk pricing, but you add a middleman and usually a fee. Either way, only send cards the calculator says are worth it.

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