How Much Does It Cost to Grade a Pokémon Card?
The advertised grading fee is only part of the bill, and several of the cheapest tiers are paused right now. Here is what each major grader publishes today and how to work out whether a card is worth sending.
Facts checked October 8, 2026 · 5 min read
The cheapest tier you can order today
These are the lowest per card prices each grader publishes for ordinary cards that are open for orders. Turnaround times are the grader's own estimates and none of them are guaranteed.
| Grader | Tier | Price per card | Estimated turnaround | Limits |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CGC | Bulk | $17 | 150 working days | 25 card minimum, up to $500 value per card |
| CGC | Economy | $20 | 90 working days | Up to $1,000 value per card |
| TAG | Base | $39.95 | 60 business days | Five card minimum, $500 included protection |
| PSA | Standard | $59.99 | 90 to 100 business days | Up to $1,000 insured value |
| Beckett | Express | $79.95 | 15 business days | Subgrades included |
Tiers that are paused right now
- PSA lists Value Bulk and Value as currently unavailable. Bulk prices mentioned on the PSA membership page are labelled temporarily paused.
- Beckett has paused its Base and Standard services. Express remains open through a temporary submission form.
- TAG says its Value and Bulk services remain paused during a limited reopening.
If you see a lower starting price in an older article or video, check whether that tier can actually be ordered today.
Costs on top of the grading fee
- Shipping to the grader and back, often with tracking and signature.
- Insurance or declared value charges. Beckett, for example, lists shipped order insurance at $1.50 per $100 of declared value.
- Upcharges if the grader values your card above the tier limit. CGC can move a card to a higher tier and charge the difference.
- Optional memberships. PSA and CGC both let you submit without one, but sell yearly memberships with discounts or perks.
- Marketplace fees when you eventually sell the graded card.
Is it worth it for your card?
Grading pays off when the graded sale price, minus every cost above, beats what you would get selling the card raw. The grade you actually receive matters most, so price the grade you realistically expect and one grade lower.
The free Cardmatic grading calculator does this math for you and includes the tiers in the table as presets. A Cardmatic Condition report can help you judge centering, corners, edges and surface from your photos before you decide.
Put it into practice
Cardmatic scans your cards, tracks their value and helps you decide what to grade. The Free plan needs no credit card.