Is grading Pokémon cards free?

You might be wondering if you can get Pokémon Cards graded for free, and the answer is, unfortunately, no. You cannot get official grading done for free because someone has to be compensated for their time and you will have to pay for shipping for your cards to get to and from the grader.

How much does it cost to get Pokemon card graded?

Grading services typically cost $25–50 USD per card to place an order, but they may vary on the card's value. Give the grading service around 2–3 weeks to grade your Pokémon cards and send them back.

How expensive is PSA grading Pokémon?

Now in terms of pricing, PSA's most basic service level costs $20 per card with a minimum submission of 20 cards worth up to $199 in declared value. On the other hand, their most elite service costs $600 per card, worth up to $9,999 in declared value.

Is PSA grading worth it?

Regardless if you're talking counterfeits or reprints, PSA card grading services can be an excellent tool to verify a card's authenticity. That's not to say that PSA is correct 100% of the time and fakes don't occasionally slip through their hands.

Why is PSA so expensive?

PSA, BGS and other popular grading services have increased their prices because… Well because they can – It's like anything else, if demand for it goes up, so does the value. The higher prices also mean lower and more manageable submission numbers, but higher value, which is better for the grading services.

Do Not Grade Pokemon Cards

Is PSA really $100 per card?

PSA grading costs range anywhere from $22 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. Below is a complete rundown of the PSA grading cost levels.

Is PSA $100 a card?

The next tier is PSA's Regular service, drawing $100/card, with a $999 declared value. PSA also introduces an Express service commanding a price of $200/card with a $2,499 declared value, Super Express service for $300/card and $4,999 declared value, and Walk-Through service for $600/card with a $9,999 declared value.

How rare is a PSA 10 card?

Earning a PSA 10 grade on average is quite hard, but is highly dependent on a card's age, scarcity, and condition sensitivity. Newer cards generally have a higher probability of earning a PSA 10, since a collector will immediately protect a card after pulling from a pack.

Where can I take my cards to get graded?

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.

Is PSA grade 10 good?

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.

How many PSA 10 Charizards are there?

As such, they're incredibly rare and valuable. Combine that scarcity with our main man Charizard, and only 6 PSA 10's in existence, it's no wonder this is one of the most expensive Charizard's one could ever wish to acquire.

Do graded Pokémon cards lose value?

Cards could get lost, stolen, or damaged.

Pokémon cards only hold their value if they remain in 100% pristine condition. If a PSA 10 Charizard drops to PSA 9 while it's in your possession, it loses 80% of its value.

What is the cheapest way to get cards graded?

Of the major grading companies, BGS currently offers the cheapest card grading service, which is $18 to grade a single card at the “Base” level. This is $2 less than CSG's “Economy” level, $5 less than PSA's “Value” service, and $4 less than SGC.

How do you grade Pokémon cards yourself?

Can I get cards graded in person?

To get cards graded in person, you can visit card shows, conventions, and even the offices of major grading companies like PSA or Beckett.

What is the best card to get graded?

The Professional Sports Authenticator is an industry-leading grading company. Their red and white graded slabs have become synonymous with grading, and a PSA 10 is as good as it gets with a sports card grade.

What is a Grade 9 card?

If your card gets a grade of 9, you should be very happy. You'll be able to earn book value – or more – for your card. It is also referred to as “mint 9” and is considered the condition that it was in when it was in the pack. If it gets a score of 9.5, it's called a “gem-mint”, signifying that it's nearly flawless.

Is PSA 9 good?

A Mint 9, as defined by PSA, is a card that is in “superb condition” and has only one minor flaw. This flaw can be a range of things, but most commonly PSA will grade a card a Mint 9 if there is simply a “minor printing imperfection”.

What is the most expensive PSA card?

The most expensive Pokémon card is the Pikachu Illustrator which sold for $5.275 million in July 2021. It's the true Holy Grail of Pokémon card collecting and only one PSA 10 is known to exist.

What is the rarest PSA card?

Pikachu Illustrator

The Illustrator card, given out to 39 winners of the 1997 and 1998 Pokémon illustration contests, is extremely rare. Only 23 have been certified by the PSA, and only one has been given a PSA rating of 10.