The cost to grade baseball cards depends on a few key factors – the specific grading company you choose, how quickly you want the cards returned, and the number of cards being submitted. Let’s break this down factor by factor:
Grading Company – There are several professional card grading companies that authenticate and assign grades to baseball cards. The three main companies are PSA, BGS (Beckett Grading Services), and SGC (Sportscard Garantee Company). PSA is generally the most expensive option, while SGC tends to be the most affordable. BGS falls in the middle price-wise.
PSA has a basic membership fee of $100 per year, which allows you to submit up to 50 cards for grading at once. After that initial membership fee, their costs break down as follows:
Standard turnaround (10-12 weeks) – $10 per card
Economy (14-16 weeks) – $8 per card
Express (3-5 weeks) – $15 per card
Ultra Modern (1-2 weeks) – $20 per card
BGS charges similar pricing but without a membership fee. Their regular turnaround is $8-$10 per card depending on volume. Expedited service is $12-$15 per card. SGC offers even better value at $6-$8 per card regularly and $10-$12 expedited.
Turnaround Time – As you can see from the PSA pricing above, choosing a faster turnaround time increases the per card cost. Standard and economy speeds tend to be the best value, while express and ultra modern are more expensive options if you need cards back quickly. It’s important to factor in your desired timetable when budgeting for grading costs.
Number of Cards – The total dollar amount scales up significantly based on submission size. Most grading companies offer volume discount tiers starting around 50 cards. For example, PSA drops the per card cost to $9 each for submissions of 50-99 cards. BGS and SGC have similar volume discounts as well. So submitting in larger batches is generally better for your wallet.
In addition to per card charges, most companies also assess a small shipping fee to send the cards to and from their facilities. Typically $10-15 each way depending on package weight and dimensions. Insured shipping is recommended, adding a bit more cost.
Accounting for all these variables, here are some examples of total grading costs:
25 cards to PSA at standard speed:
25 cards at $10 each = $250
$15 roundtrip shipping = $265 total
100 cards to BGS at regular turnaround:
100 cards at $8 each = $800
$25 roundtrip shipping with discount = $825 total
200 cards to SGC in 3 bulk submissions of 50 each at expedited speed:
150 cards at $8 each = $1200
50 cards at $10 each for expedited = $500
$45 shipping each way for 3 subs = $270
Total = $1200 + $500 + $270 = $1970
As you can see, grading costs can range from a few hundred dollars up to well over $1000 depending on the specific parameters. Taking the time to carefully consider those key factors like company, speed, and submission size is important for getting the best value when sending cards to be authenticated and assigned a grade. Let me know if any part of the process needs further explanation.
