How much does it cost to grade a card?

The starting price is only part of the total. A realistic budget adds shipping to the grader, return shipping and insurance, and allows for a higher tier if a card is worth more than the starting tier accepts. Starting tiers at several graders were paused or limited during 2026, so availability matters as much as the price.

1. The grading fee

Charged per card and set by the service level. Faster service levels cost more. Many graders publish separate fee schedules for different card types, so check the schedule for your category.

2. Declared value limits and upcharges

Graders commonly cap the card value each service level accepts. A card worth more than the cap belongs in a higher tier, and some graders charge the difference after grading if the card turns out to be worth more than the tier allows. Check each grader's terms before choosing a tier.

3. Minimum order size

Bulk and value tiers usually require a minimum number of cards per submission, which sets the smallest order you can send.

4. Shipping to the grader

You pay to send the cards. Tracked, insured shipping is the safe choice, and packing materials (sleeves, semi rigid holders, a sturdy box) add a little more.

5. Return shipping and insurance

The grader charges to ship the slabs back, usually based on the number of cards and their declared value. Some graders include a level of coverage per card and charge for more.

6. Optional services and memberships

Depending on the grader, extras can include subgrades, autograph authentication, reholdering and crossover or review services. Some graders have tied certain tiers to a paid membership. Policies on fees for cards that cannot be graded also differ. Check with the grader for each of these.

Turnaround figures are each grader's own estimate or the time reported by collectors, and some count business days while others count calendar days. Always read the grader's current fee schedule before you submit. For a broader look at how graders differ beyond price, see how to choose a grading company, and for the two largest compared side by side, PSA vs CGC.

1. Grading: number of cards × the per card fee for the tier that fits each card's value.
2. Coverage: what the grader charges for insurance above any included amount.
3. Shipping both ways, including packing materials.
4. Any optional services or membership costs.

Two examples with CCA's published rates. 10 cards worth $600 together on Bulk: grading is $80, the order includes $1,000 of coverage, so the total before shipping is $80. One card worth $400 on Standard: grading is $10, $250 of coverage is included and the extra $150 costs $7.50, so $17.50 before shipping. For any other grader, apply the same steps to its current fee schedule and insurance rules. The bulk grading calculator runs CCA's numbers for any order size.

The grade is not known before you send the card, so build in a margin for a lower grade than you hope for. Compare recent sold listings for raw copies and for graded copies at two or three grades, not just the top one. Inspecting the card first helps: measure the centering with a card centering calculator, check the corners and edges under magnification, and tilt the surface under a bright light for scratches and print lines. How CCA turns those observations into a grade is explained on the grading standards page.

Plenty of cards are graded for reasons other than profit: a sealed holder protects the card, a certification number lets a buyer verify it, and a graded set is easier to display and insure.

• Group cards to meet a bulk minimum and share one shipment each way.
• Match the tier to the declared value so a card is not upcharged later, and do not pay for a faster tier you do not need.
• Pre screen for centering and surface flaws before you pay to grade a card.
• Compare included coverage: a tier with more coverage per card can cost less overall for valuable cards.

Before choosing a grader on price alone, look up recent sales of your card graded by each company you are considering. A grade from one company is not equivalent to the same number from another, and that includes CCA.

Every CCA service level includes authentication review, four published subgrades, an ultrasonically sealed tamper-evident holder and a public cert with front and back scans; you can check any grade on the certificate lookup or browse the Population Report. Return shipping is calculated at checkout, a card that cannot be graded is not charged the grading fee, and the card on file is charged when grading is complete. Full details are on CCA's pricing page.