Grading your cards offers you greater peace of mind, financial protection, and better prospects of making maximum profits from your cards. You may need to grade your card for various reasons.
A graded card has more value than a non-graded one because it offers more proof of its authenticity and excellent condition. These two factors significantly influence your card’s overall value.
Additionally, a graded card has a protective plastic casing that shields it against wearing and tearing. This card also enjoys easy tracking and insurance against damage or loss. This way, it gives you more peace of mind than a non-graded one.
But where do you grade your card, and at what cost? Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) is one of the leading card-grading companies. This post walks you through the cost implications of grading your card using PSA. Remain on this page to learn more.
About PSA and Its Card Grading Cost
PSA is the world’s largest card grading firm. It was born in 1991, and so far, it has graded over 40 million cards with a collective value of over a billion dollars. The company is a division of the larger Collectors Universe, a leading provider of authentication and grading services for collectibles.
Its grading team is highly trained to identify fake items and assess card conditions. Additionally, it follows stringent grading standards and procedures. That’s why it has a full cash-back policy to give you peace of mind. You can rest assured that you won’t lose your money if your card undergoes inaccurate grading. Therefore, you relax because you can buy and sell your cards confidently.
At PSA, you can grade your cards based on a standardized 10-point grading scale dealers and collectors widely accept. This scale gives card collectors a consistent and objective evaluation of their cards’ condition.
To avoid bias in card grading, PSA denies its grades access to customer data. Consequently, they focus entirely on your cards’ physical characteristics.
Please note that PSA’s grading costs average between $20 and $10,000 per card. The actual cost varies depending on a card’s age, quantity, and your desired turnaround. Below is comprehensive coverage of PSA’s card grading costs at different levels.
BASIC OPTIONS
| Value | Economy | Regular | Express | Super Express | Walk Through |
| Cost: $20 per card for a minimum of 10 cards | Cost: $50 per card | Cost: $100 per card | Cost: $150 per card | Cost: $300 per card | Cost: $600 per card |
| Maximum declared value: $499 per card | Maximum declared value: $499 | Maximum declared value: $1,499 | Maximum declared value: $ 2,499 | Maximum declared value: $4,999 | Maximum declared value: $9999 |
| Turnaround time: unavailable | Turnaround time: 75 working days | Turnaround time: 75 working days | Turnaround time: 18 working days | Turnaround time: 2 working days | Turnaround time: 1 working day |
PREMIUM OPTIONS
| Premium 1 | Premium 2 | Premium 3 | Premium 4 | Premium 5 |
| Cost: $1,000 per card | Cost: $2,000 per card | Cost: $3,000 per card | Cost: $5,000 per card | Cost: $10,000 per card |
| Maximum declared value: $24,999 | Maximum declared value: $49,999 | Maximum declared value: $99,999 | Maximum declared value: $249,999 | Maximum declared value: $250,000 |
| Turnaround time: 1 working day | Turnaround time: 1 working day | Turnaround time: 1 working day | Turnaround time: 1 working day | Turnaround time: 1 working day |
Factors Determining PSA Card Grading Costs
Many factors determine the exact amount you will pay for your grading. Below is the criteria grading companies use.
- The number of cards you submit for grading
- Your desired turnaround time for grading and returning your cards
- Your cards’ value
- Your cards’ condition
- Whether your cards containing autographs need authentication and grading
- If your cards are oddballs or oddly sized
Reasons to Grade Your Cards
Now you know how much it costs to grade your cards at PSA. But why do you want to grade your cards? Here are the factors to consider when answering this critical question.
- The grade you think your card would receive. Be honest and clear about this matter before grading any card.
- How much would you like your card to sell after grading?
- How much more or less the card’s potential selling price will be compared to its buying and grading costs?
- The potential difficulty of selling the graded card depends on the costs you would incur, like commissions and shipping.
- Your overall goal of grading your card. For instance, you might want to grade it for profit, posterity, or aesthetic reasons.
Contact Us Now for Your Card Grading
Grading your cards at PSA will cost you money, but the rewards justify the cost. We provided you with full details on this matter to help you make an informed choice.
Do you want to submit your card for PSA grading through a reliable partner? Then do so today by contacting us for a free quote and consultation.
