Updated August 2026
Card Grading Costs 2026
Every major grader's current fee, turnaround, and who each tier actually makes sense for — including the PSA value-tier pause that changed the math for everyone.
Fees verified August 2026 — always confirm on the grader's official site before submitting
The big story of 2026: on June 2, PSA paused Value Bulk ($24.99) and Value ($32.99), citing a ~14-million-card backlog. Until those tiers return, the entry price for PSA is effectively the $79.99 Regular tier — which is why CGC and SGC submissions are surging.
2026 grading fees at a glance
| Company · Tier | Fee / card | Max declared value | Typical turnaround | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CGC Bulk | $12 | ~$200 | ~60+ days · 25-card min | Cheapest |
| CGC Economy | $15 | ~$400 | ~30–45 days | Open |
| TAG Bulk (TCG) | ~$19 | ~$500 | varies · slots limited | Often sold out |
| BGS Economy | $20 | ~$500 | ~45+ days · subgrades incl. | Open |
| SGC Economy | $25 | ~$1,500 | ~20–30 days | Fastest value |
| SGC Immediate | $40 | higher | 1–2 days | Rush |
| PSA Value Bulk | $24.99 | $500 | — | Paused 6/2026 |
| PSA Value | $32.99 | $500 | — | Paused 6/2026 |
| PSA Regular | $79.99 | $1,500 | ~10–15 business days | Open |
Fees exclude shipping and insurance both ways (typically $15–30 per submission). Declared-value upcharges apply at every company when a card grades higher than its tier's cap.
Which tier should you actually use?
- Cards worth under $75 raw — at $79.99, PSA Regular is off the table. CGC bulk ($12) is the only tier where the math survives. Better yet, run the EV calculator; many of these cards shouldn't be graded at all right now.
- $75–$300 cards — CGC economy, BGS economy or SGC economy. SGC's 20–30 day turnaround is the sweet spot if you plan to sell into a hot market.
- $300+ or iconic cards — PSA Regular still usually pays for itself, because PSA 10 slabs command a 10–30% premium over the same card in a CGC or BGS holder at the top of the market.
- TCG (Pokémon, MTG, One Piece) — CGC and TAG are strongest on value; TAG's computer-vision DIG report is the most transparent in the industry.
The hidden costs people forget
- Shipping + insurance both ways: $15–30 per submission, which is why per-card cost drops when you batch.
- Selling fees: ~13% on eBay. A $100 sale nets ~$87 before grading costs.
- The miss: a PSA 9 instead of a 10 often cuts the sale price by 60–70%. Before paying any fee, check the one thing you can measure for free — your centering.
FAQ
How much does it cost to get sports cards graded?
Between $12 (CGC bulk) and $79.99 (PSA Regular) per card in August 2026, plus shipping. Mid-value collectors mostly pay $15–25 at CGC, BGS or SGC while PSA's value tiers remain paused.
What's the cheapest way to grade cards?
CGC bulk at ~$12/card if you can batch 25 cards. Under that count, CGC economy ($15) or TAG bulk (~$19). Split shipping across the batch to keep all-in cost near $15/card.
Is PSA still worth $79.99?
For cards whose PSA 10 comp clears roughly $300, usually yes — the PSA slab premium covers the fee gap. Below that, CGC/SGC tiers or waiting for PSA's value tiers to return is the rational play.