Is grading a Pokémon card worth it?

Grading is worth it only when the expected graded value, weighted by your real odds of each grade, exceeds the raw price plus the grading fee. For most cards under about $30 raw, grading loses money even with a perfect 10 — because the fee and the chance of a 9 or lower eat the premium. Enter your numbers above to see the honest expected value for your specific card.

Can software predict what grade my card will get?

No — and any tool that promises a 'predicted PSA 10' is guessing. A camera can measure centering, but it cannot reliably judge surface, corners, and edges under magnification the way a human grader does. This calculator never predicts a grade. It does the expected-value math from the odds you provide.

free · no signup · we don't predict grades

Should I grade this card?

Q: What grading cost should I use?

Use your all-in cost per card: the grading tier fee plus shipping both ways and insurance. PSA's value tiers typically land around $25 per card all-in at the time of writing, but verify the current tier for your declared value.

Short answer: only if the graded value — weighted by your real odds of each grade — beats the raw price plus the fee. For most cards under ~$30 raw, grading loses money even with a perfect 10. Put in your numbers and get the honest expected value.

Last updated: 20 June 2026 · The math is yours to check — we show every step.

Card name (optional — for your shareable result)

Raw value ($) sells for now, ungraded

Grading + shipping ($) all-in, per card

Value at PSA 10 ($)

Value at PSA 9 ($)

Your PSA 10 odds: 50%

Your PSA 9 odds: 30%

Be honest about condition & centering — that's what actually drives the odds. (Industry gem rate is ~50%, but a soft corner or off-centering can crush a card's PSA 10 chance.)

—

Expected value if graded

—

vs. selling raw now

—

Break-even PSA 10 odds

—

How this works (and what we won't fake)

This is honest expected-value math: each possible grade's value, weighted by the odds you set, minus the grading fee, compared to selling the card raw today. It is not a grade prediction — a camera can't reliably judge surface, corners and edges, and any app promising a "predicted PSA 10" is guessing. We'd rather be useful than impressive.

Is grading a card worth it?

Only when the weighted graded value beats raw + fee. Most cards under ~$30 raw lose money graded, because the fee and the real chance of a 9-or-lower eat the 10 premium. The calculator shows the number for your specific card.

What grading cost should I use?

Your all-in per-card cost: the tier fee plus shipping both ways and insurance. PSA value tiers commonly land around $25/card all-in — verify the current tier for your declared value.

Why do my odds matter so much?

Because grading is a paid lottery. A card with perfect centering and clean corners might be 70%+ to gem; one with a soft corner might be under 20% — same card name, very different math. Set your odds honestly. (Our app's Grade Pre-Screen measures centering for you.)