How much does it cost to get your cards graded?
Card grading can cost anywhere from $15 to $600 per card. These prices change based on several important factors, and collectors have many service tiers to choose from.
Your cards' declared value plays a big role in the cost. The grading company you pick and turnaround time also affect the final price. For example, PSA, a leading name in card grading, starts their services at $25 per card and can go up to $10,000 for high-value items. Their basic service takes 20-30 business days and runs $15-$25 per card. Quick service options with 5-10 day turnarounds cost more. The investment often pays off - a near-mint Revised Counterspell worth $2 can sell for $50 with a PSA 10 grade, jumping up by 2400%.
This guide shows you the costs of card grading services and helps you decide if grading makes sense for your collection.
How much does it cost to get a card graded?
Card grading services have many pricing options that vary based on several important factors. You can make better decisions about which cards deserve grading by learning these costs beforehand.
Typical price range across services
A trading card's grading cost ranges from $15 to $600 per card. The final price depends on your chosen service provider and tier. Each major grading company has its own pricing structure:
PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) has tiered services that start at $20 for Economy service with a 20-25 business day turnaround. Their prices go up to $10,000 per card for very valuable items worth over $250,000.
BGS (Beckett Grading Services) starts at $14.95 for Economy service without subgrades and reaches $124.95 for premium options. Adding subgrades (assessments of centering, corners, edges, and surface) pushes the cost to $35 for Economy and $250 for Premium service.
SGC has more affordable options. Their Standard service costs $15 per card for items under $1,500, while their Immediate service is $40 for the same value range.
CGC's fees start at $11 and go up to $150 per card. This makes them one of the more budget-friendly choices for collectors.
What affects the cost per card
Your card grading costs depend on several factors:
Turnaround time drives pricing for all services. Faster processing means higher fees. To cite an instance, PSA's Economy service (20-25 business days) costs $20, while their Super Express service (1-2 business days) costs $150.
Submission quantity helps determine per-card costs. Bulk submissions often cost less. Companies give better rates when you submit multiple cards at once. PSA's bulk rates are $15 per card for items worth under $200 if you submit at least 20 cards.
Card value changes grading costs. Higher-value cards need extra insurance and careful handling, which leads to bigger fees. PSA's Regular service ($100) works for cards up to $999, while their Walk-Through service ($600) handles cards worth up to $9,999.
Membership status can unlock better pricing. PSA's Collectors Club members get special rates and deals, including $150 grading for cards worth up to $2,499 at on-site events.
How declared value impacts pricing
Your card's declared value is your estimate of its worth after grading. This value determines your service tier eligibility. The valuation serves multiple purposes:
Declared value sets your pricing tier. PSA cards valued under $499 fit their Value service at $25, while cards worth $1,499-$2,499 need their Express service at $150.
This value also sets insurance coverage during grading. Lower declared values might save money upfront but give less protection if problems occur. Higher declared values raise costs unnecessarily.
Grading companies might ask for extra fees if a card's grade pushes its value above the declared amount. Some companies offer partial refunds and service level downgrades if a card's value falls below the declared amount.
Companies provide tools to help set accurate declared values. PSA has their Sports Market Report Price Guide, and BGS offers population reports and graded card lookups to help collectors make smart valuations.
PSA grading cost breakdown
PSA leads the trading card grading industry and has service tiers that match what collectors need. Knowing their pricing helps collectors decide which cards are worth grading.
Standard pricing tiers
PSA bases its grading services on card value and how fast you want them back. They offer everything from cheap bulk options to premium services for valuable cards.
The Value service costs about $20-$25 per card if your card is worth up to $499. Cards worth $499 to $999 can use the Regular service, which runs around $100 per card.
For more valuable items, PSA's Express service costs $150-$200 per card for items worth $1,499 to $2,499. Super Express costs $300 per card for cards up to $4,999.
PSA's premium options for high-value cards are:
- $1,000 per card (up to $24,999)
- $2,000 per card (up to $49,999)
- $3,000 per card (up to $99,999)
- $5,000 per card (up to $249,999)
- $10,000 per card ($250,000+)
Higher-priced tiers come with extra perks like premium imaging, grader notes, and sleeve protectors.
Member-exclusive pricing
PSA's Collectors Club membership saves you money, especially if you submit cards often. The $150 yearly fee pays for itself quickly because you get access to bulk submission rates.
Club members can submit cards in bulk starting at $18.99 per card, while non-members pay $25 per card. If you submit 25 or more cards yearly, the membership pays for itself.
Members also get special on-site grading at card shows, where they can grade cards worth up to $2,499 for $150. PSA sometimes offers $25 off new memberships, making it even cheaper to join.
Monthly specials and discounts
PSA runs promos to bring in new customers and reward loyal ones. New submitters often get $25 off their first submission.
Holiday seasons bring bigger savings, with discounts up to $75 off eligible submissions. These deals usually need minimum submission amounts and work only with specific service levels.
Card shows feature special pricing you can't get through mail-in services. On-site grading at shows lets you get same-day service if you pay premium fees.
Turnaround time vs. cost
Service speed and price go hand in hand at PSA. They've updated their turnaround times for all service tiers.
Bulk submissions take longest at about 65 business days for both modern and vintage cards. Value service takes 45 business days, and Regular service takes about 20 business days.
Express and Super Express services get your grades back in 10-15 business days. Premium services are fastest at about 5 business days, but they cost much more.
These turnaround times are estimates, not guarantees. Processing speed changes based on how many submissions they get, their capacity, and other factors. PSA has made their estimated turnaround times better across most service levels.
Beckett, CGC, and other grading services
PSA isn't the only option out there. Other trusted grading services give collectors different pricing plans and special features. Each company has its own way to grade cards, set prices, and handle turnaround times.
Beckett (BGS) pricing and subgrades
BGS stands out with its detailed subgrade system. Their basic service costs $14.95 per card and takes 45+ business days. BGS's unique subgrade system looks at centering, corners, edges, and surface. Cards that grade 10 need an extra $3 for this detailed breakdown.
- Higher service tiers include:
- Standard: 20-25 business days
- Express: 7-10 business days
- Priority: 2-3 business days at $124.95 per card
BGS doesn't require membership fees to get their best prices, unlike PSA. The company also skips value limits and extra charges based on a card's worth.
CGC pricing and bulk options
CGC's prices are some of the best deals around, especially for bulk submissions. Bulk service needs at least 25 cards and costs $14 per card with an 80-day wait for cards worth under $500. Single card submissions start at $17 for Economy service with a 40-day wait.
CGC's membership perks can save you money. Associate and Premium members get 10% off grading services. Elite members save even more with 20% off. Wait times range from 80 days for bulk to just 2 days with their WalkThrough service at $275 per card.
SGC and CSG pricing overview
SGC keeps things simple. Their Standard service costs $15 per card for items under $1,500 with a 15-20 day wait. The Immediate service runs $40 per card with a 1-2 day turnaround.
Trading card games get a special deal at SGC. They charge a flat $12 per card no matter the value with Standard service. SGC aims to be clear and consistent without extra fees for modern cards.
How these compare to PSA
CGC has the lowest prices, then SGC, while BGS costs more than PSA with subgrades. Service speed varies quite a bit. SGC's standard service (15-20 days) beats PSA's similar options.
BGS grades cards differently. They use half-point steps and subgrades that give more detail than PSA's whole-point system. CGC also uses half-points to show smaller differences in quality.
Market value tells an interesting story. PSA cards usually sell for more, with BGS close behind (especially perfect Black Label 10s). CGC and SGC modern cards typically bring less. SGC has earned respect with vintage cards. Some of the most valuable cards sold have SGC grades.
Bulk submissions and how to save money
Bulk submission programs help collectors save money when they need to grade multiple cards through major grading companies. These options let collectors cut costs while getting professional grading services.
Bulk pricing tiers by company
PSA's Value Bulk submissions start at $18.99 per card for cards valued up to $499. This is their most budget-friendly option, which only Collectors Club members can access. The company raised their TCG Bulk pricing from $14.99 to $16.99 per card.
Cards valued up to $500 can be graded through CGC's bulk service at $14 per card, and the price will drop to $11 per card starting June 2024. Beckett gives a $2 discount on each card for their longest turnaround option if you submit 10 or more cards.
Minimum card requirements
You'll need to meet specific minimums to get bulk pricing rates. The standard PSA bulk submission needs 20-25 cards. Their $22 Bulk service level has required 25 cards since September 2022.
The most affordable CGC bulk option needs 25 cards minimum[184]. Beckett makes bulk discounts available to more people with just a 10-card minimum.
Membership benefits and club pricing
PSA now charges $149 yearly for Collectors Club membership, up from $99. This membership lets you access their bulk pricing tiers. Premium members pay $199/year and get extra perks like a Card Ladder Pro subscription.
Members save about $980 in grading fees each year. The membership costs pay off after you grade around 30 cards through bulk submissions.
CGC gives its members extra savings. Associate and Premium members get 10% off grading services, while Elite members save 20%[184].
When bulk grading makes sense
Bulk grading works best if you have many cards worth moderate amounts. Submitting cards worth under $500 through bulk service is the most economical choice.
You can still find options with fewer cards. Group submission services combine cards from different collectors to hit minimum requirements. Got Baseball Cards offers $19 per card bulk rates without making you meet minimums.
Some third-party services check cards beforehand to help you avoid spending money on cards that might get low grades. Cards worth more than $499 should go straight to grading companies instead of through bulk services.
Is card grading worth the cost?
Card grading costs money, and you just need to weigh the potential returns against what you'll spend upfront. Your decision shouldn't only depend on pricing tiers.
How much value PSA 10 adds
PSA 10 graded cards are the gold standard if you want the best return on investment. These "Gem Mint" condition cards fetch much higher prices in the market. The value difference can be eye-opening—a PSA 10 1980 Topps Rickey Henderson rookie card sells for over $100,000, while an ungraded version brings just $50-$75. Keep in mind that genuine PSA 10s rarely show up. Only 25 out of nearly 40,000 submitted Henderson rookies earned this grade.
When grading is not worth it
The math doesn't work out if grading costs eat up your potential profits. Common cards in average condition rarely make sense to grade. Many collectors think their cards are in better shape than they really are. Most vintage cards that kids handled usually get grades between 4-6. A card that gets a PSA 7 ($90 value) would actually make more money ungraded, once you factor in $50 for grading and shipping.
Best types of cards to grade
These cards offer the best grading potential:
- Rare rookie cards of top-tier Hall of Famers
- Cards that rarely show up in high grades
- Alternative art or special illustration cards
- Cards in near-mint or better condition
Tips to avoid overpaying
Here's how to make smart grading investments:
- Set realistic expectations about condition
- Pick cards with serious investment potential
- Look into bulk submissions for moderate-value cards
- Check historical sales data before submitting
- Think about both historical value and collector's interest
Conclusion
Card grading is one of the most important investment decisions collectors and investors make. This complete breakdown shows how grading costs range from $15 to $600 per card. These costs depend on service tier, declared value, and turnaround time.
PSA leads the industry with pricing tiers starting at $20 for Economy service and going up to $10,000 for very valuable items. Their Collectors Club membership costs $149 annually but pays for itself quickly through bulk submission rates. BGS provides detailed subgrade analysis starting at $14.95. CGC's bulk pricing is highly competitive at $11-$14 per card. SGC's pricing structure is simpler, and their standard turnaround times are faster.
Without doubt, bulk submission programs save money with all major grading companies. PSA needs at least 25 cards for their cheapest rates. CGC has the same 25-card minimum requirement. Beckett's bulk discount program is available to anyone with just 10 cards.
The value of grading depends on your specific cards. High-grade specimens of rare rookie cards can see huge value increases—this is a big deal as it means that some PSA 10s gain over 2000% in value. However, common cards in moderate condition rarely cover the grading and shipping costs.
Collectors should assess condition honestly, study historical sales data, and calculate potential returns against grading costs before submission. Many collectors think their cards are in better condition than they really are, especially when they have vintage items that rarely grade above PSA 7.
Grading services keep updating their pricing structures and turnaround times. Smart collectors stay informed about monthly specials, membership benefits, and bulk options across PSA, BGS, CGC, and other companies. Professional grading often makes sense for serious collectors—not just for money, but also for authentication, preservation, and enjoyment of their prized cards.