Free tool
Grading cost calculator
Pick a grader and a tier, add what your card sells for raw and graded, and see whether grading pays off after every fee. Fees were checked in September 2026 and you can edit all of them.
How the calculator decides
It compares two futures for the same card:
- Sell it raw: the raw sold price, minus selling fees.
- Grade it, then sell: the average graded sale price, weighted by your chances of each grade, minus selling fees, minus the grading fee, minus your share of shipping and insurance.
If grading comes out comfortably ahead, it says so. If the two are close, it calls it a close call. If grading loses money on average, it tells you to sell raw or keep the card.
Where the fee presets come from
As of September 2026, the PSA and CGC presets come straight from their price pages. PSA's Value tiers were paused that month, so the cheapest open PSA tier was Standard at $59.99 per card. SGC, Beckett and TAG were changing or pausing tiers at the time, so their presets are the widely reported figures and are marked "reported". Every fee box is editable, so type in whatever the company shows on the day you submit.
| Company | Cheapest open tier we saw | Per card, as of September 2026 |
|---|---|---|
| PSA | Standard | $59.99 |
| CGC | Bulk (25 card minimum) | $17 |
| CGC | Economy | $20 |
| SGC | Standard (reported) | $50 |
| TAG | Priority (reported) | $149 |
How to fill it in well
- Use sold prices, not asking prices. On eBay, search the exact card and tick "Sold items". Match the grade and the company.
- Be honest about the grade. Measure centering with the centering calculator first. If centering rules out a 10, set the 10 slider to zero.
- Spread the shipping. Shipping and insurance cost the same whether you send 1 card or 20, so the per-card cost falls fast as the box fills up.
- Count your selling fees. Marketplace and payment fees often land around 13 percent of the sale for trading cards, but check your own.
Heads up
If a card grades higher than the value limit of the tier you paid for, grading companies can move it to a pricier tier and bill the difference. The calculator warns you when your "as a 10" value is above the tier limit.
Questions
How much does it cost to grade a card with PSA?
As of September 2026, PSA's cheapest open tier was Standard at $59.99 per card, with Priority at $79.99, Express at $199, Super Express at $349 and Premier at $599. PSA's Value tiers were paused. Shipping both ways is extra.
What is the cheapest way to grade cards right now?
As of September 2026, CGC Bulk was $17 per card with a 25 card minimum and CGC Economy was $20 per card. Cheaper tiers usually mean longer waits, so check the turnaround as well as the fee.
How do I know if my card is worth grading?
Compare what it sells for raw with what it sells for graded, weighted by your realistic chance of each grade, after grading fees, shipping and selling fees. If graded comes out ahead, grading is worth it.
Are the fees in this calculator always current?
No. Grading companies change fees and pause tiers without much notice. The presets were checked in September 2026 and every fee can be edited, so confirm the price on the company site before you ship.
Does the calculator save my numbers?
No. Everything runs in your browser and nothing is sent anywhere.
Guides that go with this
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PSA Grading Cost in 2026: Every Tier and Hidden Fee
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Is My Card Worth Grading? A 5-Minute Check
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How Long Does PSA Take to Grade Cards in 2026?
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PSA vs CGC for Pokemon Cards: Which Should You Pick?