Run the numbers
Estimates only. Assumes you hit your expected grade and sell both raw and graded on the same marketplace. Grading fees, tiers and turnaround change often — confirm current numbers with each company.
The most expensive grading mistake isn't picking the wrong company — it's grading cards that were never going to pencil out. This calculator settles that in seconds: it nets out every cost and tells you whether the grade earns its keep.
How the math works
Grading is worth it only when the extra money from the graded sale beats the extra cost of grading. Selling fees apply either way, so they only bite on the value the grade adds:
- Net if you sell raw = raw value − selling fees on the raw price.
- Net if you grade & sell = graded value − selling fees on the graded price − grading fee − shipping.
- Extra profit from grading = the difference between those two. If it's comfortably positive, grade it.
The break-even graded price is the number your graded card must clear just to come out even:
| Break-even graded price | raw value + (grading fee + shipping) ÷ (1 − selling-fee %) |
|---|
Anything above that line is profit; anything below means the grade cost you money. Because grading is a gamble on the grade itself, treat break-even as the floor and insist on a real margin above it before you submit.
Log every submission, learn your gem rate
The calculator tells you if a card should pay off. A submission log tells you if it actually did — and over time reveals your real gem rate, the single number that makes every future estimate sharper. The Card Vault is an 8-page printable PDF with a PSA/BGS/SGC/CGC grading log, full collection inventory and a buy/sell profit tracker that nets out fees. Instant download, one-time $6, no subscription.
Get the Card Vault — $6 →Grade Pokémon, One Piece or Magic? See The TCG Vault. Comics (CGC/CBCS)? The Comic Vault.
Which company should you even use?
The same card can sell for different prices in a PSA, BGS, SGC or CGC holder — so the "expected graded value" you plug in depends on the grader. If you're not sure which to submit to, read PSA vs BGS vs SGC vs CGC: which grading company should you use?, then run each option through the calculator above and compare the net profit.
FAQ
How do I know if a card is worth grading?
Grading pays off only when the graded card sells for enough more than the raw card to cover the grading fee, shipping and marketplace selling fees. The break-even graded price is the raw value plus the grading fee and shipping, divided by one minus your selling-fee percentage. If your expected graded price clears that number with a margin, grade it; if it's close, the grade risk usually isn't worth it.
What costs go into grading a card?
The per-card grading fee for your service tier, shipping to the grader and return shipping/insurance, and — when you sell — the marketplace and payment fees (often around 13% on eBay). This calculator adds all of them and compares the net result to simply selling the card raw.
Does this calculator work for PSA, BGS, SGC and CGC?
Yes. The math is the same for every grader — enter that company's fee and your expected graded value in its holder. Because the same card can sell for different prices in each slab, run every company you're considering and compare.
Why does the calculator assume I hit my target grade?
It uses the graded value you enter, which assumes the card earns the grade you expect. Grading is a gamble — a 9 instead of a 10 can erase the premium. Use a conservative expected graded value, leave a margin above break-even, and track your actual gem rate so your estimates get sharper.