How much does it cost to grade a Pokémon card?
Grading means sending a card to a company that checks it's genuine, grades its condition from 1 to 10 and seals it in a tamper-evident case, called a slab. Here's what it costs in 2026, and when it's worth paying.
How much does it cost to grade a Pokémon card?
As of September 2026, the cheapest grading at the main companies starts at roughly $15–25 per card. Add shipping both ways and insurance, and a single card sent on its own costs more like $30–60 in total. Faster service and higher-value cards cost more: express tiers run to hundreds of dollars per card.
Grading prices change often, so check the grading company's current price list before you send anything.
PSA grading cost
PSA is the biggest grading company, and PSA 10s usually sell for the most. Its fees depend on the card's declared value and how fast you want it back. PSA's cheapest Value tiers (from about $20–25 a card) were paused on 2 June 2026 because of a backlog of millions of cards. Until they reopen, PSA submissions start at its more expensive Regular tier, well over $50 a card. Some tiers also need a paid Collectors Club membership.
CGC and Beckett grading cost
- CGC: from about $15 a card on its slowest tier, with no membership needed.
- Beckett (BGS): from about $20 a card on its slowest tier. Its sub-grades for centering, corners, edges and surface appeal to many collectors.
The hidden costs of grading
- Insured shipping to the grader and back, often $20 or more per order.
- Card savers and packing materials.
- Upcharges if the graded card turns out to be worth more than your tier's declared-value limit.
- Waiting time: from days on express tiers to months on bulk tiers.
Is grading a Pokémon card worth it?
Grade a card when its graded value is clearly more than its ungraded value plus the cost:
- valuable cards in near-perfect condition, such as Special Illustration Rares, gold cards and vintage holos;
- cards you want authenticated and protected for resale.
Skip grading common cards, and cards with visible whitening, scratches or off-centre borders: a low grade can be worth less than the cost of grading.
Graded Pokémon cards you can buy now
If you'd rather buy a card that's already graded, see our PSA graded Pokémon cards, such as this PSA 10 Pikachu ex Special Illustration Rare.
Questions
How much does PSA charge to grade a card?
From about $20–25 per card on its cheapest Value tiers when they're open (they were paused in June 2026), and more for faster tiers and higher-value cards, plus shipping.
What's the cheapest way to grade Pokémon cards?
Send several cards together on the slowest tier at a grader such as CGC or Beckett, so the shipping cost is shared.
How long does grading take?
From around a week on express tiers to several months on bulk tiers.