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Is it worth grading? Start with a cost check

Build a complete submission budget and decide what you want from grading without relying on a predicted grade or future price.

Grading prices and turnaround times change often. Use the individual source dates shown with the service figures; check the current price before you submit.
This isn't financial advice. A grade doesn't guarantee a resale price, and grading fees and postage can cost more than a card is worth.

First decide what the service is for

You might want authentication, a recorded condition assessment or an encapsulated keepsake. Write down your purpose before paying. Grading is optional; a correctly fitted sleeve and storage system may already meet a care need.

Make a complete budget

Cost Where to get the figure
Base grading Current service schedule
Labels or extras Selected submission options
Membership Your actual account requirements
Packing The supplies your route requires
Outbound and return journey Current delivery and insurance quotes
Other charges The service's terms and final quote

Total budget = grading + selected extras + membership attributable to your submission + packing + delivery + other applicable charges. The calculator covers the base grading part only.

Keep uncertain outcomes out of the budget

Do not fund a submission on the assumption that the card receives a particular grade or sells for a particular amount. The cost of the service remains a cost even when the result is disappointing. We do not provide card valuations or projected sale prices.

If several cards share a parcel, divide genuinely shared costs across that batch for your own planning. Avoid counting a shared charge once per card, or forgetting it altogether. Confirm insurance covers the actual journey and contents.

Use the grading comparer to see the dated base fees, then return to your full budget before submitting.

Sources & checks