Grading Cost Calculator
As of September 22, 2026, PSA’s cheapest open tier is Standard at $59.99 a card (cards worth up to $1,000, 90–100 business days) because its Value tiers are paused. CGC starts at $20 (Economy, up to $1,000) or $17 in Bulk (25 cards or more, each worth up to $500), Beckett at $17.95 (Base with subgrades, 75+ business days), and TAG’s only open tiers are Priority at $149 and Walkthrough at $299.
Add shipping both ways: PSA’s return chart starts at $19.99 for 1–4 cards. Enter your cards below to see which tier each company would put them in and the all-in cost per card.
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Grading Cost Calculator
Your submission
Cost by company
Cheapest all-in: Beckett Base (with subgrades) — $137.25 ($27.45 a card)
PSA
Standard · 90–100 business days · Open
Fee per card
$59.99
Total
$344.94
5 cards, shipping both ways
All-in per card
$68.99
How this was calculated
Grading5 × $59.99 (Standard)$299.95Shipping inYour estimate$20ReturnPSA chart: 5–9 cards, insured value up to $2,000$24.99Total$299.95 + $20 + $24.99$344.94Per card$344.94 ÷ 5$68.99Cheaper tiers that didn't fit
- 01Value Bulk is paused
- 02Value is paused
Source: PSA, Trading Card Grading Service Levels (opens in a new tab)
CGC Cards
Economy · 90 working days · Open
Fee per card
$20
Total
$140
5 cards, shipping both ways
All-in per card
$28
How this was calculated
Grading5 × $20 (Economy)$100Shipping inYour estimate$20ReturnYour estimate — CGC doesn't publish a return rate$20Total$100 + $20 + $20$140Per card$140 ÷ 5$28Cheaper tiers that didn't fit
- 01Bulk needs at least 25 cards
Beckett (BGS)Cheapest
Base (with subgrades) · 75+ business days · Open
Fee per card
$17.95
Total
$137.25
5 cards, shipping both ways
All-in per card
$27.45
How this was calculated
Grading5 × $17.95 (Base (with subgrades))$89.75Shipping inYour estimate$20ReturnYour postage estimate $20 + Beckett insurance $7.50 ($1.50 per $100 of $500)$27.50Total$89.75 + $20 + $27.50$137.25Per card$137.25 ÷ 5$27.45- Note: Beckett's temporary form lists no value limit per tier; Beckett confirms the final total after it reviews the order.
Cheaper tiers that didn't fit
- 01Base (no subgrades) is paused
Source: Beckett, temporary card grading submission form (opens in a new tab)
TAG Grading
Priority · 5 business days · Open, limited slots
Fee per card
$149
Total
$785
5 cards, shipping both ways
All-in per card
$157
How this was calculated
Grading5 × $149 (Priority)$745Shipping inYour estimate$20ReturnYour estimate — TAG doesn't publish a return rate$20Total$745 + $20 + $20$785Per card$785 ÷ 5$157Cheaper tiers that didn't fit
- 01Basic is paused
- 02Standard is paused
- 03Express is paused
Source: TAG Grading, Pricing & Services (opens in a new tab)
- Shipping to the grader (assumed)
- $20
- Return, where unpublished (assumed)
- $20
- PSA return shipping
- PSA's chart
- Beckett insurance
- $1.50 per $100
Worked example
Five cards worth $100 each, any wait
The tool’s starting point: 5 cards, $100 each, no deadline, and our assumed $20 to ship the package in and $20 return shipping wherever a company doesn’t publish a rate. Prices as of September 22, 2026.
- PSA: Standard at $59.99. 5 × $59.99 = $299.95, + $20 in + $24.99 back (PSA chart: 5–9 cards, insured value up to $2,000) = $344.94, or $68.99 a card. Turnaround: 90–100 business days.
- CGC Cards: Economy at $20. 5 × $20 = $100, + $20 in + $20 back (Your estimate — CGC doesn't publish a return rate) = $140, or $28 a card. Turnaround: 90 working days.
- Beckett (BGS): Base (with subgrades) at $17.95. 5 × $17.95 = $89.75, + $20 in + $27.50 back (Your postage estimate $20 + Beckett insurance $7.50 ($1.50 per $100 of $500)) = $137.25, or $27.45 a card. Turnaround: 75+ business days.
- TAG Grading: Priority at $149. 5 × $149 = $745, + $20 in + $20 back (Your estimate — TAG doesn't publish a return rate) = $785, or $157 a card. Turnaround: 5 business days.
Cheapest all-in: Beckett Base (with subgrades) at $137.25 (75+ business days). Need the cards back within 30 business days? Then the tiers change: PSA Express at $199 a card, CGC Standard at $55 a card, Beckett Express at $79.95 a card, TAG Priority at $149 a card.
Reference
Grading prices and tiers, September 22, 2026
Every tier from each company’s own price page, read September 22, 2026. Turnaround times are the companies’ own estimates in business days and aren’t guaranteed. Paused tiers are listed so you know they exist.
PSA
Each tier has a Max Insured Value per card. Declare what the card should be worth after grading; if PSA decides it's understated, it can require the right (higher) tier. Membership: Not required — PSA's FAQ says you don't need the Collectors Club to submit. The Club's members-only bulk access is paused. Source: PSA, Trading Card Grading Service Levels (opens in a new tab)
| Tier | Price per card | Max value per card | Turnaround | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Value Bulk | Not shown (paused) | $500 | Currently unavailable | PausedPaused: PSA says its Value tiers will reopen in phases. |
| Value | Not shown (paused) | $500 | Currently unavailable | PausedPaused: PSA says its Value tiers will reopen in phases. |
| Standard | $59.99 | $1,000 | 90–100 business days | OpenNew on September 14, 2026. |
| Priority | $79.99 | $1,500 | 70–80 business days | OpenFormerly Regular. |
| Express | $199 | $2,500 | 20–30 business days | Open |
| Super Express | $349 | $5,000 | 10–15 business days | Open |
| Premier | $599 | $10,000 | 7–10 business days | OpenFormerly Walk-Through. |
| Premium 1 | $999 | $25,000 | 5–7 business days | Open |
| Premium 2 | $1,999 | $50,000 | 5–7 business days | Open |
| Premium 3 | $2,999 | $100,000 | 5–7 business days | Open |
| Premium 5 | $4,999 | $250,000 | 5–7 business days | Open |
| Premium 10 | $9,999+ | $250,001 and up | 5–7 business days | OpenFor cards over $250,000: $9,999 up to $350,000, then +$399 per $10,000 (or part of it). |
CGC Cards
Each tier has a maximum value per card. If CGC decides a card is worth more than declared, it moves the card up a tier and bills the difference. Membership: A free account works. Paid memberships (from $39 a year) take 10% off grading (Associate, Premium) or 20% (Elite). Source: CGC Cards, Services & Fees (opens in a new tab)
| Tier | Price per card | Max value per card | Turnaround | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bulk25-card minimum | $17 | $500 | 150 working days | Open25-card minimum; cards may be a mix of games. |
| Economy | $20 | $1,000 | 90 working days | Open |
| Standard | $55 | $3,000 | 10 working days | Open |
| Express | $100 | $10,000 | 5 working days | Open |
| WalkThrough | $300 | $100,000 | 2 working days | Open |
| Unlimited Value | $300 + 1% of value | Unlimited | 2 working days | Open$300 plus 1% of the card's fair market value. |
Beckett (BGS)
Beckett's temporary form lists no per-tier value limit; Beckett reviews each order and confirms the final total before you pay. Membership: No membership is mentioned on Beckett's temporary submission form. Source: Beckett, temporary card grading submission form (opens in a new tab)
| Tier | Price per card | Max value per card | Turnaround | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base (with subgrades) | $17.95 | Not published | 75+ business days | Open |
| Standard | $34.95 | Not published | 45 business days | Open |
| Express | $79.95 | Not published | 15 business days | Open |
| Base (no subgrades) | Not shown (paused) | Not published | Not offered right now | PausedNot on Beckett's temporary form, which offers Base only with subgrades. A no-subgrade card that grades 10 gets subgrades added for $3. |
TAG Grading
Flat fee per tier: TAG doesn't upcharge by value or require a declared value. Each tier's figure is its maximum insurance coverage per card. Membership: No membership is mentioned on TAG's pricing page. Source: TAG Grading, Pricing & Services (opens in a new tab)
| Tier | Price per card | Coverage per card | Turnaround | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | Not shown (paused) | $300 | 75+ business days | PausedCurrently at capacity; no price shown. |
| Standard | Not shown (paused) | $500 | 45 business days | PausedCurrently at capacity; no price shown. |
| Express | Not shown (paused) | $1,500 | 25 business days | PausedCurrently at capacity; no price shown. |
| Priority | $149 | $2,500 | 5 business days | Open, limited slotsLimited slots available. |
| Walkthrough | $299 | $5,000 | 2–3 business days | Open, limited slotsLimited slots available. Includes TAG's DIG+ report with 1000-point sub-scores. |
PSA return shipping and insurance (domestic, cards)
PSA’s published chart, by number of cards and the package’s total insured value. For 20 or more cards PSA adds a per-card amount; we read it as each card past 19.
| Cards | Up to $2,000 | Up to $12,500 | Up to $25,000 | Up to $50,000 | Up to $100,000 | Up to $200,000 | Up to $300,000 | Up to $450,000 | Over $450,000 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1–4 | $19.99 | $34.99 | $49.99 | $59.99 | $69.99 | $79.99 | $99.99 | $129.99 | $139.99 |
| 5–9 | $24.99 | $39.99 | $54.99 | $64.99 | $74.99 | $84.99 | $104.99 | $139.99 | $149.99 |
| 10–19 | $29.99 | $44.99 | $59.99 | $69.99 | $79.99 | $89.99 | $109.99 | $149.99 | $179.99 |
| 20+ | +$0.39 per card | +$0.39 per card | +$0.39 per card | +$0.39 per card | +$0.69 per card | +$0.69 per card | +$0.69 per card | +$0.69 per card | +$0.69 per card |
How to use it
In 5 steps
- 1Enter how many cards go in the box and what one of them should sell for once graded (check sold listings for that grade).
- 2Pick the longest wait you'll accept. A tier only counts if the slow end of its estimate fits.
- 3Put in what the package costs to ship to the grader, and a return figure for companies that don't publish one.
- 4Read each company's tier, the grading total and the all-in cost per card. Open "How this was calculated" for the sums.
- 5Before you pay, confirm the price on the company's own page — tiers open and pause often.
Why the cheapest tier isn't always the one you get
Value decides the tier. PSA and CGC cap the value of each card per tier. PSA’s $59.99 Standard tier stops at $1,000; a $1,200 card has to go Priority at $79.99, and a $2,000 card goes Express at $199. Both companies can move an undervalued card up a tier and bill you the difference. PSA upgrades by the card’s value after grading, so choose its tier for what the card should sell for once graded; CGC’s Declared Value Policy asks for the card’s current value, which for a raw card is the raw value. The calculator uses the one value you enter for every company, so for a raw card it can put CGC in a higher tier than a raw-value declaration would. TAG is the exception: it charges a flat fee per tier and doesn’t upcharge by value, but each tier only insures a card up to a set amount.
Paused tiers change the answer. On September 22, 2026 PSA’s Value Bulk and Value tiers were paused, TAG’s Basic, Standard and Express were at capacity, and beckett.com itself was offline, with Base, Standard and Express taken through a temporary form. The calculator skips anything paused and tells you which cheaper tiers it passed over and why.
Shipping is a fixed cost, so card count matters. A return package costs about the same for one card as for four, which is why the all-in price per card drops fast as you add cards. CGC’s $17 Bulk tier only opens at 25 cards.
Not sure a card is worth the fee at all? The Should I Grade It? tool compares selling it raw against selling it graded, and the centering calculator checks whether the borders even allow a 10. To see how the companies differ beyond price, read PSA vs. CGC vs. Beckett vs. TAG.
FAQ
Grading cost: questions
How much does it cost to grade a Pokémon card with PSA?
As of September 22, 2026, PSA's cheapest open tier is Standard at $59.99 a card for cards worth up to $1,000, with an estimated 90 to 100 business days. Priority is $79.99 (up to $1,500), Express $199 (up to $2,500) and Super Express $349 (up to $5,000). PSA's Value Bulk and Value tiers were paused. Return shipping is extra and starts at $19.99 for 1 to 4 cards.
What is the cheapest way to get cards graded right now?
On PSA's, CGC's, Beckett's and TAG's own price lists read September 22, 2026, the lowest per-card fees were CGC Bulk at $17 (25 cards minimum, cards up to $500, about 150 working days), Beckett Base at $17.95 (75+ business days) and CGC Economy at $20 (cards up to $1,000, about 90 working days). Shipping both ways is extra, and it matters more the fewer cards you send.
Do I need a membership to submit cards for grading?
Not for PSA or CGC. PSA's FAQ says you don't have to join the Collectors Club to submit, and CGC says collectors no longer need a paid membership, though CGC's paid members get 10% or 20% off grading. Beckett's temporary form and TAG's pricing page don't mention a membership.
What declared value should I put on a card?
It depends on the company. PSA upgrades a card's service level if its value after grading is more than the tier allows, so choose PSA's tier for what the card should sell for once graded, from recent sold prices at that grade. CGC's Declared Value Policy asks for the card's current value, which for a raw card is the raw value, and CGC can move an undervalued card to a higher tier and charge the difference. TAG doesn't require a declared value, but each TAG tier only insures up to a set amount per card.
How long does grading take?
It depends on the tier and changes often. On September 22, 2026 the companies' estimates ranged from 90 to 100 business days for PSA Standard and 150 working days for CGC Bulk down to 2 working days for CGC WalkThrough and 2 to 3 business days for TAG Walkthrough. All four say their times are estimates, not guarantees.
Not answered here? Ask us — a photo of the card helps.
Sources
Where these numbers come from
- [1]PSA, trading card grading service levels (opens in a new tab)Every PSA tier: price, Max Insured Value, estimated turnaround; Value Bulk and Value "Currently Unavailable"; Premium 10 formula. Read 2026-09-22.
- [2]PSA, “PSA Opens New Standard Service Level and Begins Grading in Europe” (Sep 9, 2026) (opens in a new tab)Standard at $59.99 from September 14; Regular renamed Priority, Walk-Through renamed Premier; Express to $199; Value tiers remain paused. Read 2026-09-22.
- [3]PSA, return postage rates (opens in a new tab)Domestic return shipping and insurance chart for cards (last updated Aug 29, 2025). Read 2026-09-22.
- [4]PSA, FAQ (opens in a new tab)No Collectors Club membership needed to submit; you pay shipping both ways; an understated value can be moved to the correct service level. Read 2026-09-22.
- [5]CGC Cards, Services & Fees (opens in a new tab)Every CGC tier: fee, maximum value per card, current turnaround; Bulk's 25-card minimum; 10% and 20% member savings. Read 2026-09-22.
- [6]CGC Cards, general submission FAQs (opens in a new tab)No paid membership needed; paid memberships from $39 a year; 300 cards per invoice. Read 2026-09-22.
- [7]Beckett, submissions status page (opens in a new tab)beckett.com offline; Base (with subgrades), Standard and Express available through a temporary form; pricing unchanged; Beckett EU unavailable. Read 2026-09-22.
- [8]Beckett, temporary card grading submission form (opens in a new tab)Base $17.95, Standard $34.95, Express $79.95; subgrades included; 100-card limit; insurance $1.50 per $100 declared. Read 2026-09-22.
- [9]TAG Grading, Pricing & Services (opens in a new tab)Basic, Standard and Express at capacity; Priority $149 and Walkthrough $299 with limited slots; coverage per card; no value upcharge. Read 2026-09-22.
- [10]TAG help center, shipping fee (opens in a new tab)Checkout shipping is return shipping only, at a flat rate (updated Apr 27, 2026). Read 2026-09-22.
Last reviewed . Spot something wrong? Text (760) 453-6389 and we’ll fix it.
Related tools
- Should I Grade It?Raw value vs. graded value minus fees, shipping and selling costs — the grade you need just to break even.
- Card Centering CalculatorMeasure the borders (or line up guides on a photo) and see the best grade centering allows at PSA, CGC and TAG.
- Card Condition GraderCorners, edges, surface, bends: answer five questions and get Near Mint to Damaged on TCGplayer's published scale.
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