Grading Cost Calculator
Grading a card costs more than the headline fee — there are service tiers, shipping both ways, and sometimes currency conversion on top. This tool adds it all up so you know the true cost of a submission before you send anything, and helps you judge whether a card is worth grading at all: a fee that exceeds the card itself rarely is. If you are still deciding between services, our PSA vs BGS vs CGC comparison covers how the three differ in 2026 and which suits which kind of card.
Shipping and insurance are not included. If the fee is close to what the card sells for, many collectors simply skip grading.
| Company | Service tier | Price per card | Turnaround (days) | Max declared value |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS | Base | $14.95 | ~75 | — |
| BGS | Standard | $34.95 | ~45 | — |
| BGS | Express | $79.95 | ~15 | — |
| BGS | Priority | $124.95 | ~5 | — |
| CGC | Bulk | $17 | ~150 | $500 |
| CGC | Economy | $20 | ~90 | $1000 |
| CGC | Standard | $55 | ~10 | $3000 |
| CGC | Express | $100 | ~5 | $10000 |
| CGC | WalkThrough | $300 | ~2 | $100000 |
| PSA | Value Bulk | $24.99 | — | — |
| PSA | Value | $32.99 | — | — |
| PSA | Value Plus | $49.99 | — | — |
| PSA | Regular | $79.99 | ~50 | $1500 |
| PSA | Express | $149 | ~30 | $2500 |
| PSA | Super Express | $349 | ~10 | $5000 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to grade a Pokémon card?
It depends on the company and the service tier you pick — the table above lists the current per-card price for PSA, BGS and CGC. Budget for return shipping and insurance on top; those are never part of the per-card fee.
Is grading worth it for my card?
Compare the graded price with the raw price. Grading pays off when that gap is clearly larger than the total fee, which in practice means a high-value card already in near-mint condition. Bulk commons almost never clear the bar.
What is the difference between PSA, BGS and CGC?
PSA gives one 1–10 grade and has the deepest resale market. BGS adds four subgrades (centering, corners, edges, surface) and the Black Label for a perfect card. CGC is usually the cheapest of the three and the fastest on bulk.
Why does the declared value change the price?
Each tier has a maximum card value, shown in the table. A card worth more than that ceiling has to go into a higher, more expensive tier — the fee scales with what the grader is insuring, not with the work.