How much does it cost to grade a Pokémon card?
PSA charges by the card's declared value — from about $50/cardfor value submissions up to several hundred dollars for high-value grails (faster turnaround costs more). Here's the full breakdown, plus how to tell whether grading is actually worth it for a given card.
PSA grading fees by card value (2026)
| Service tier | Card value | Fee / card | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Value Plus | up to $500 | $50 | ~45 days |
| Value Max | $500–$1,000 | $60 | ~30 days |
| Regular | $1,000–$2,499 | $85 | ~20 days |
| Express | $2,499–$4,999 | $175 | ~10 days |
| Super Express | $4,999–$25,000 | $400 | ~5 days |
| Walk-Through | $25,000–$50,000 | $600 | ~1 days |
Indicative PSA pricing — add shipping both ways + insurance. Bulk submissions lower the per-card cost.
Is it worth grading?
Grading pays off when the graded value beats the raw price plus the fee. Modern bulk usually isn't worth it; vintage and high-value cards in mint condition often multiply. Run your card through the grading ROI calculator →, see the best cards to grade by ROI →, and every card page shows its raw → PSA 10 profit and gem rate.
FAQ
How much does it cost to grade a Pokémon card?
PSA prices grading by the card's declared value. The cheapest active tier is about $50/card (as of 2026-06-28), mid-value cards run roughly $85–$175, and high-value cards cost $400–$600+ for faster turnaround. You also pay shipping both ways and insurance.
Is grading a Pokémon card worth it?
It's worth it when the graded value (especially PSA 10) exceeds the raw price plus the grading fee. Cheap modern commons usually aren't worth grading; valuable or vintage cards in mint condition often multiply in value. Check our grading-ROI ranking to see which cards pay off most, and each card page shows its raw → PSA 10 profit.
How long does PSA grading take?
Turnaround depends on the service tier you pay for — from ~3 days (premium) to 45–65 days (value/bulk). Higher tiers cost more but return your cards faster.
What's the difference between PSA, BGS and CGC?
All three slab and grade cards 1–10. PSA is the most liquid for Pokémon (its grades usually sell for the most), BGS adds subgrades, and CGC is often cheaper. We track prices and population for all three.