PSA update (Sept 19): Standard is open at $59.99 (estimated 90–100 business days). Value tiers remain paused and can be selected on card pages as hold scenarios using their previous fees. PSA Priority is $79.99 (70–80 business days). Historical article examples retain their dated fees. Pricing, limits and details
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Pokemon Card Grading Calculator

Instant grading verdict powered by real gem rate & market data

Popular Cards to Analyze

Popular cards — select one to compare modeled outcomes

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if my Pokemon card is worth grading?
Compare the net proceeds from selling raw with the modeled proceeds after grading. Include the purchase price once, selling fees and submission costs. Test a lower-grade result before committing. A positive modeled result depends on the prices, grade assumptions and costs you enter.
What is a gem rate?
A gem rate is the PSA 10 share of a recorded grading population. A 60% rate means 60% of that historical sample received PSA 10. Submitted cards are a selected sample; the rate does not establish a 60% chance for your card. Check the exact printing, sample size and your copy's condition.
How much does PSA grading cost?
Use an available service from the current grading selector and check PSA's submission terms. Fees depend on the service and insured value. Budget separately for shipping, insurance, supplies, tax and possible upcharges. A paused service is a hold scenario rather than an available submission option.
What is Expected Value (EV) for card grading?
Modeled expected net profit weights the available sale prices for each grade by historical population shares, deducts selling fees, and subtracts acquisition and grading costs once. Missing grade prices can use raw value as a fallback assumption. Your grade, sale price and actual costs can differ; the result is a research estimate.

Current PSA prices and turnaround

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A grading profit can still trail a raw sale

Suppose you paid $20 for a card that could sell raw for $80. Assume a PSA 10 sale at $200, a PSA 9 sale at $70, a 13% selling fee, a hypothetical $80 grading charge and $20 in other submission and fulfillment costs. Selling raw costs $5 for fulfillment. These are example inputs, not current card prices or a service quote.

Profit after the original $20 purchase
OutcomeCalculationProfit
Sell raw$80 × 0.87 − $5 − $20$44.60
PSA 10$200 × 0.87 − $80 − $20 − $20$54.00
PSA 9$70 × 0.87 − $80 − $20 − $20−$59.10

At an assumed 60% PSA 10 / 40% PSA 9 split, the weighted grading profit is $8.76. Selling raw leads by $35.84. In this simplified two-grade example, grading needs more than 91.7% PSA 10 outcomes to beat the raw sale. That threshold comes from the assumed prices and costs; a population gem rate does not establish your odds.

Waiting, weaker sale prices and other grades can change the result. Use the grade-versus-raw decision guide to compare the alternatives for a card you already own.

Make the grading decision

Work through the sale alternative, grade risk and cost of tying up your money.

Grade or sell raw?

Compare a submission with the cash you could receive by selling the card today.

How to use a gem rate

Read the sample size and grade distribution before modeling a grading return.

Choosing a submission service? Read the PSA prices and turnaround guide before committing your inventory.

© 2026 Should You Grade? Data from PriceCharting & GemRate.
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