Can I grade my own sports cards?

Self-grading allows collectors to get an idea of the general condition a card is actually in. They can then get a better estimate of what grade it might receive upon submission. Corners and edges that, to the naked eye, appear sharp, may not be when viewed under magnification.

How much does it cost to have a sports card graded?

PSA grading costs range anywhere from $20 per card all the way up to $10,000 per card, depending on the value of the card, the age of the card, how many cards you're submitting at one time, how fast you want the turnaround to be, and other factors.

Is it worth getting sports cards graded?

The fees often outweigh the value of having the card professionally graded. While most cards sell for a higher price after they have been graded, the value of many of the cards will never be able to absorb the grading fees.

Is it worth it to grade my cards?

The Answer. You should ONLY get your cards graded IF it will increase the value or make the sale of the card(s) easier. You should NOT get your card graded just because you THINK it will improve the value. Grading cards costs money.

Can I get cards graded in person?

You can get cards graded in person, but it's worth noting it can be very expensive. It also depends on where you live in the US. PSA, for example, offers a 'walk-through' service which starts at $600 per card (at the time of writing this – check PSA's current prices here).

How to Grade Sports Cards : PT I - Identifying Mint Cards!

Where can I grade my sports cards?

PSA is the largest and most trusted card grading service in the world. Submitting your trading cards to PSA is the first step towards getting the most from your trading card collection.

How can I get cards graded for free?

PSA Photograde™ Online, a free, new online service from Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA), helps hobbyists gain a better understanding of the PSA Grading Standards and how they apply to their cards by providing a visual tour. It is easily accessed from the PSA home page, www.psacard.com.

Can you trust PSA grading?

What is this? Yet while SGC is viewed at the most trustworthy, PSA is viewed as the most accurate as shown below. Collectors most definitely have their concerns about the grading companies, yet believe that grading is a needed part and valued resource for the hobby.

Which is better Beckett or PSA?

Firstly, PSA is a bit more expensive and it takes longer for them to grade your cards. However, their graded cards usually sell better and for more than BGS cards. On the other hand, BGS is faster and less expensive and has a more complex grading system. Their cases and labels are often preferred to PSA's.

What is the cheapest card grading company?

Beckett Grading Services (BGS)

Very well respected in the industry, long-time competitor of PSA. Pricing ranges from about $20 in the economy with no sub-grades all the way up to $250 premium with sub grades.

Does PSA clean cards before grading?

Does PSA Clean Your Cards? No, PSA and other grading services do not clean your cards as they get them. They will grade your cards as they receive them, which means that you should pay extra attention to the cleanliness of your cards before sending them out to these services.

Who should grade my cards?

Currently, there are several reputable and established grading companies in the hobby: Professional Sports Authenticators (PSA), Beckett Grading Services (BGS) and Sportscard Guaranty (SGC). Each card grading company grades a variety of cards.

Is there an app to grade cards?

EZ Grade is a mobile card grader that fits in your pocket. It's a great tool to have to “pre grade” your cards, or if you are looking for the perfect set of cards to send in. The app will give scores and evaluate the corners and centering on each card and determine the potential value of a card within seconds.

Is there an app to scan my sports cards?

CollX (pronounced “collects”) answers the question every collector has: “What's it worth?” The app lets you scan any baseball, football, basketball, hockey, soccer, or wrestling card and instantly identify it and get the average market value.

Can you grade cards online?

Card-Boss, meanwhile, is an online, automated card-grading service that uses AI and image processing to grade cards instantly (OK, within 10 to 15 minutes to be more precise).

Where is PSA grading located?

PSA is a division of Collectors Universe, which has offices in California, New Jersey, Paris, Hong Kong, Shanghai and Tokyo. As the only third-party grading service to offer a guarantee on its services, PSA has emerged as the clear leader in authentication and grading for trading cards and other collectibles.

What is a PSA 10 card?

A PSA Gem Mint 10 card is a virtually perfect card. Attributes include four perfectly sharp corners, sharp focus and full original gloss. A PSA Gem Mint 10 card must be free of staining of any kind, but an allowance may be made for a slight printing imperfection, if it doesn't impair the overall appeal of the card.

Will PSA lower prices?

PSA recently announced that its Standard grading service would reopen to collectors, at a new price point of $100 per card. Recall that PSA shut down everything aside from its premium grading services in early 2021.

Is CGC grading worth it?

Most comics from the 80s are overprinted and are easy to find, even in high grades. If your modern comic looks like a 9.6 or worse, then chances are that it isn't worth sending to get graded. You would need to get a 9.8 from CGC on most newer books to make them worth your time and money.

How much does it cost to grade with CSG?

CSG now offers some of the fastest turnaround times in the industry at the most affordable prices. Turnaround times range from just 3 to 45 business days, with grading fees as low as $12 per card.

How much do card graders make?

The salaries of Card Graders in the US range from $16,440 to $34,780 , with a median salary of $19,000 . The middle 50% of Card Graders makes $17,580, with the top 75% making $34,780.