Grading ROI Calculator
Is it worth grading your card? Input your card's raw value, pick a grading company and expected grade, and see the expected profit or loss instantly.
Card Details
Based on recent eBay sold comps for the ungraded card
Grading is likely profitable
PSA Mint (9) · Economy service
Total Grading Cost
$38
$20 + $18 ship
Est. Graded Value
$350
PSA 9
Expected Profit
+$212
after grading costs
ROI
+558%
Break-even: grade 7+
Grade-by-Grade Breakdown (PSA)
| Grade | Est. Value | Profit | ROI | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Poor (1) | $40 | $-98 | -258% | Not worth it |
| Good (2) | $50 | $-88 | -232% | Not worth it |
| Very Good (3) | $60 | $-78 | -205% | Not worth it |
| VG-EX (4) | $75 | $-63 | -166% | Not worth it |
| Excellent (5) | $90 | $-48 | -126% | Not worth it |
| EX-MT (6) | $110 | $-28 | -74% | Not worth it |
| Near Mint (7) | $140 | +$2 | +5% | Marginal |
| NM-MT (8) | $200 | +$62 | +163% | Marginal |
| Mint (9) ← | $350 | +$212 | +558% | Worth it |
| Gem Mint (10) | $550 | +$412 | +1084% | Worth it |
Company Comparison at Grade 9
Same card, same expected grade — different grading companies. PSA commands the highest market premium but costs more.
PSA
Best ROIEconomy · 65+ business days
CGC
Value · 50+ business days
SGC
Economy · 45+ business days
Pro Tips for Maximizing Grading ROI
Batch submissions
Submit 10+ cards at once to split the shipping cost. A $15 shipping cost on 1 card = $15 each. On 10 cards = $1.50 each.
Be realistic about grade
Most cards don't get a 10. Research PSA pop reports — if 50% of submissions get a 9, that's your likely grade.
Economy tier for lower-value cards
If ROI is marginal, the cheapest tier maximizes your profit. Wait time is the tradeoff.
Check the market first
Use eBay sold listings to verify the graded price before submitting. Multipliers vary wildly by card.
How the Grading ROI Calculator Works
Enter Raw Value
What your card is worth ungraded, based on recent eBay sold comps or TCGPlayer market price.
Pick Company & Grade
Choose PSA, CGC, or SGC. Select the grade you expect to receive. Be honest — most cards aren't 10s.
See Your ROI
We calculate: grading cost + shipping vs. estimated graded value. Green = profit. Red = loss.
2026 Grading Costs Compared
All prices per card. Shipping costs are estimates based on standard USPS/UPS rates.
| Service | PSA | CGC | SGC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy / Value | $20 (65+ days) | $15 (50+ days) | $20 (45+ days) |
| Regular / Standard | $50 (30 days) | $30 (30 days) | $30 (20 days) |
| Express | $100 (10 days) | $65 (10 days) | $50 (5 days) |
| Super Express / Premium | $200 (5 days) | $150 (5 days) | $100 (2 days) |
| Walk-Through | $300 (1 day) | $250 (2 days) | — |
| Shipping (est.) | $15–$20 | $15–$20 | $12–$18 |
Costs as of April 2026. Prices vary by card value tier — cards declared over $500 have additional fees. Sources: PSA, CGC, SGC official pricing pages.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it worth grading a $20 card?
Usually not. Grading costs $20–$50+ per card (plus shipping). For a $20 raw card, you'd need at least a 3–4x grade multiplier just to break even. Most sub-$50 raw cards only make financial sense to grade if you're very confident of a PSA 10 or BGS 9.5+.
Which grading company has the best ROI?
PSA generally commands the highest resale premium (10–30% more than CGC or SGC at the same grade), but it also costs the most and has the longest turnaround. CGC offers the best value for mid-tier cards ($50–$500 raw). SGC is popular for vintage cards and has fast turnaround.
What grade multiplier should I expect?
For modern cards: PSA 10 typically adds 2–5x raw value, PSA 9 adds 1.2–2x. For vintage cards: even mid-grades (PSA 5–7) can add 1.5–3x. The exact multiplier depends on population, demand, and card rarity.
How much does PSA grading cost in 2026?
PSA Economy ($20/card, 65+ business days), PSA Regular ($50/card, 30 business days), PSA Express ($100/card, 10 business days), PSA Super Express ($200/card, 5 business days), PSA Walk-Through ($300/card, 1 business day). Plus ~$15 shipping each way.
Should I use PSA, CGC, or SGC?
PSA for maximum resale value on modern sports and Pokémon cards. CGC for Pokémon cards (they're gaining market share fast) and cards you want subgrades on. SGC for vintage cards and fast turnaround. All three are trusted — PSA just has the biggest liquidity premium.