There are several factors that determine the cost of grading baseball cards, including the specific grading company, the turnaround time requested, the card value, and additional services selected. The three main professional grading companies for baseball cards are PSA, BGS (Beckett Grading Services), and SGC (Sportscard Guarantee Company).
PSA is generally considered the gold standard for card grading but also tends to be the most expensive option. Their basic grading service has a cost that scales depending on the estimated value of the card. For cards valued at $9.99 or less, the fee is $10 per card. For $10-49.99 value, it’s $15 each. $50-199.99 cards are $20, and cards over $200 are $30 per card. However, PSA also offers different turnaround options that can increase the cost. Their basic 30-day service for $10 cards jumps to $20, and 60-day is $30. Expedited 7-day and same-day grading costs even more.
Shipping to and from PSA is also extra, usually $15-30 depending on package weight and speed. And if a PSA population report is desired detailing the number of a particular card graded at each numerical grade, that add $5 per card too. If a PSA autograph or tamper-evident label is needed, those are extra fees ranging from $3-10 each depending on the requested service. So in total, basic 30-day PSA grading for a common $10 card could cost around $25-35 including all fees. For a valuable $200+ card, expect to pay $50-75 total normally.
BGS charges slightly less than PSA in most cases. Their regular 30-day turnaround fee is a flat $12 per card no matter the estimated value. Expedited 14-day grading jumps the cost to $20 each, while 7-day runs $30 per card. Just like PSA, shipping and labels cost extra on top. A BGS autograph verification is $5 per card. So the overall costs tend to be a few dollars lower than comparable PSA services generally.
SGC offers very affordable card grading entry points compared to the other two companies. Their basic fee is only $8.25 per card with a 30-day estimated turnaround. 7-day express grading is $15 each. While SGC may charge less up front, their population report fees are higher at $10 per card to check print runs. Slab labels also carry an additional $2-$5 cost each usually. When all fees are totaled, SGC ends up being marginally less expensive than PSA or BGS for most common submissions.
There are also minor regional grading companies and large third-party submitter/group order services that could offer lower pricing in some cases. The value, brand recognition, and resell premiums associated with PSA, BGS, or SGC grading generally offset their higher upfront costs long term. One option to reduce costs slightly is batching orders together in group submissions through a third party. Fees are sometimes discounted in larger bulk orders.
In the end, budget $15-30 per card minimum for basic professional 30-day turnaround grading via the main companies depending on estimated value. For higher end vintage cards valued over $1000 raw, plan to spend $50-150 per card when all fees are tallied. Expedited express services double those base costs usually. Always consider the long term protection and value a respected brand label can provide versus a few dollars saved on a cheaper unknown grading alternative as well. With all factors weighed, professional third party grading tends to be worth the investment for valuable collectibles long term in most cases.
