The numbers filled in are an example, not prices for any real card and not any company’s fees. Replace every one with your own: recent sold prices for your card, and the current price list of the company you’d use. Not affiliated with or endorsed by any grading company.
How the numbers work
Each grade you list is one way the bet could go. For each, the calculator takes the graded sale price, subtracts the selling fee and what grading cost you, and compares it with selling the card raw. Then it weighs the grades by the chances you gave: a 20% chance of a $250 sale counts as $50.
In the example, a $40 card costs $35 to grade. A 10 would sell for $250, a 9 for $90, anything lower for $45. With a 20% chance of the 10, grading comes out $33.50 ahead on average. But there’s still a 30% chance it comes back an 8 or lower and you end up behind.
The break-even figure is the average graded sale that only gets your money back. If you can’t picture the card averaging that, sell it raw.
Check the centering before you pay
Centering is the one part of a grade you can measure yourself before you send a card off. Dead Center, our free app, measures it from a photo and shows the best grade centering alone allows at PSA, BGS, CGC and SGC, so an off-center card can stay home.
More for card collectors:
- card centering calculator
- card centering chart for every grade
- printable card centering template
- Dead Center, the card centering app
More calculators:
Frequently asked questions
Is it worth grading a card?
Only when the graded card is likely to sell for more than the raw card plus everything grading costs you: the fee, shipping both ways, insurance and the fees when you sell. Most of the gain sits in the top grade or two, so the answer turns on how likely those are. The calculator above weighs that for you.
How much does it cost to grade a card?
It depends on the company, the service level and the value you declare for the card, and the price lists change. Read the current fee from the company's own price list, then add postage both ways and insurance. Put the total in the cost box.
How do I know what grade my card will get?
You can't know for sure, and no calculator can tell you. Look at the corners, edges and surface under good light, and measure the centering: it's the part with published numbers. The card centering calculator shows the best grade centering alone allows.
Should I grade a card worth less than the grading fee?
Usually not for money. If the card sells for less raw than it costs to grade, it needs a high grade just to break even. People still grade cards like that to protect them or to keep, which is a fine reason, just not one this calculator can price.
What chance should I put for a 10?
Your honest guess, as a percent. If you'd expect about one in five copies like yours to come back a 10, put 20. The chances for all the grades you list must add up to 100.