Grade a Pokémon card only when the price of a high-grade copy is far higher than the raw price, and the card looks genuinely close to flawless. Otherwise, grading costs more than it earns. Fees, shipping, and waiting time add up, and a disappointing grade can leave you with a card worth less than the money you spent.
What grading actually is
Grading means sending a card to a third-party company, such as PSA, Beckett (BGS), CGC, or SGC. They authenticate it, assign a numeric grade (usually 1 to 10), and seal it in a protective case. The grade is a trusted label that lets buyers pay a premium without inspecting the card themselves.
Grading does three things:
- Authenticates the card, which matters most for expensive cards.
- Standardizes condition, so buyers trust the description.
- Protects the card in a rigid case.
It does not make a card better. A card with a crease gets a low grade and a low price.
The decision in four questions
1. How big is the price gap?
Compare the raw (ungraded) market price with the price of the same card graded at the grade you realistically expect. Look at recent sold listings for graded copies, not just asking prices. If the gap isn’t several times the grading cost, don’t bother.
To pull the raw price, use the steps in how to find a Pokémon card’s value.
2. How good is the condition, honestly?
Graders are strict. Look for:
- Corners: sharp, with no fraying or whitening
- Edges: clean, with no chipping on the back
- Surface: no scratches, print lines, or dents, especially on holos
- Centering: reasonably even borders on the front and back
Anything less than Near Mint has little chance at a top grade. The condition guide shows how to inspect the card. Use a magnifier and good light, and be harsh.
3. What is the total cost?
Add up everything, not just the headline fee:
- The company’s per-card fee for your chosen service tier
- Shipping to them, with insurance
- Return shipping and insurance
- Supplies (sleeves, semi-rigid holders)
- Any membership or minimum order requirements
Grading fees and tiers change often, so check the company’s current price list. A card needs to be worth more than the total, with a margin for risk, to make sense.
4. How long can you wait?
Turnaround times range from weeks to many months depending on the company, tier, and demand. If the market is hot, you may not want your card locked away. If you need cash soon, selling raw is faster.
A simple break-even check
Take the expected value at the grade you think it will get, then subtract your total cost. Do it for a good outcome and a bad outcome:
- Good outcome (grade you hope for): is the profit worth the effort?
- Bad outcome (grade two points lower): do you still break even?
If the bad outcome loses money, the card is risky to grade. If even the bad outcome breaks even, it’s a safer submission.
Which company?
Each grader has a different reputation and resale value:
| Company | Known for |
|---|---|
| PSA | The largest market share, and usually the strongest resale value for Pokémon |
| Beckett (BGS) | Sub-grades for centering, corners, edges, and surface, and a prized “Black Label” top grade |
| CGC | A newer competitor, often faster and cheaper, growing in acceptance |
| SGC | Popular for vintage, with a distinctive black slab |
Price differences between companies for the same card and grade are real. Check recent sales for the specific company’s slab before choosing.
When you should not grade
- The card is common and cheap even in perfect shape.
- It has visible whitening, creases, or scratches.
- The raw price is already close to the graded price.
- You plan to keep it and don’t care about resale.
For these, storing it properly is enough. See how to store Pokémon cards for sleeves and holders.
A practical approach to a collection
- Price your cards and pick the few with big potential gaps.
- Inspect those under light and eliminate anything with obvious flaws.
- Look up graded sold prices and compute break-even.
- Submit only the strongest candidates, and sell the rest raw.
A scanner helps with step one. ScanDragon shows market prices and condition estimates so you can find which cards are worth a closer look, though the final call always needs a real inspection and current graded sales data.