The short version
Grade first only when a card is in demand, looks close to perfect under a bright light, and you can wait weeks or months to get it back.
For most binder cards, played cards, and anything you want to sell this month, selling raw (as it is, not graded) is simpler. Once you count the fee, shipping, and the chance of a lower grade, it often leaves you just as well off.
What does grading do?
A grading company checks that your card is real, gives it a grade from 1 to 10, and seals it in a hard plastic case with a label and a cert number. Most graders let anyone look that number up online. That is why buyers trust a graded card without holding it, and why a high grade on a wanted card can sell for more than the same card raw.
The four grading companies you will see most on Pokémon cards are PSA, CGC, Beckett (BGS), and TAG. Each posts its own fees and wait times, linked below.
When is grading worth it before you sell?
When all four of these are true:
- People want the card. A wanted card in a high grade sells easily; a plain one rarely earns back the fee.
- It looks close to perfect, front and back, under a bright light.
- The extra a graded copy brings clearly beats the full cost: the fee, shipping both ways, insurance, and the wait.
- You can live with a lower grade than you hoped. The fee is not refunded either way.
When is grading a waste of money?
When the card is played, bent, or clearly off center. When few collectors are hunting for the card. When you need the money soon. And when you are grading a stack to find out what you have: a value check or an offer on the raw cards tells you that for free.
How can I tell at home if my card might grade well?
The kitchen table pre-check
- Centering. Compare the left and right borders, then the top and bottom. If one side is clearly wider, a 10 is unlikely. PSA allows only about 55/45 on the front for a 10, so one side can be only a little wider than the other.
- Corners. Look for any white dot, fraying, or rounding.
- Edges. White chips show up fastest along the edges of the blue back.
- Surface. Tilt the card under a lamp or phone flashlight. Look for scratches, print lines, dents, and scuffs on the shiny parts.
- Bends. Any crease or bend means a low grade.
- Hands off. Do not wipe, clean, or press the card. Graders look for altered cards, and PSA gives them no number grade.
Clean on all six, and the card is in demand? It might be worth grading. Anything flagged means selling raw or keeping it is usually the better call. Our condition guide explains the Near Mint to Damaged scale.
PSA, CGC, Beckett, or TAG: what is the difference?
| Company | Scale | Top grade | Links |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 1 to 10, with half grades from 2 to 9 | Gem Mint 10 | Fees and waits Check a cert |
| CGC | 1 to 10, with half grades | Pristine 10, above Gem Mint 10 | Fees and waits Check a cert |
| Beckett (BGS) | 1 to 10, with optional subgrades | Pristine 10, and a rarer label for four perfect subgrades | Fees and waits Check a cert |
| TAG | 1 to 10, plus a score out of 1,000 | Pristine 10 (a score of 990 or more) | Fees and waits Check a cert |
Mango Market is not affiliated with any grading company.
What is grading like right now?
As of October 4, 2026
- PSA has paused its Value services, its lowest-cost tiers, since June. It opened a new Standard tier on September 14.
- Beckett's website is offline after what it calls suspicious technical activity. Only Express grading is open, and BGS certs cannot be checked online for now.
- TAG is in a limited reopening, and its cheapest tiers are still paused.
- CGC is taking cards as usual, and it no longer offers subgrades (separate scores for centering, corners, edges, and surface).
Check each company's own site before you send anything. These change often.
Where can I get Pokémon cards graded in Hampton Roads?
We did not find anyone in Hampton Roads who grades cards on the spot when we checked on October 4, 2026. Local shops and stores collect cards and send them to the grader for you. Some local card shops offer PSA submissions, and PSA lists GameStops across Hampton Roads that take PSA drop-offs (see our GameStop guide for how that works, and the terms). You can also send cards straight to a grader online, when its service is open.
Should I sell raw now or grade first?
Selling raw to a local buyer means one offer this week, no fees, and no risk of a disappointing grade. Grading first can be the better choice for a clean, wanted card, if you can wait. If you cannot decide, get an offer on the raw card first. It costs nothing and gives you a number to compare. We also buy graded slabs from all four companies.
More questions
How long does Pokémon card grading take right now?
It changes from month to month, and the cheaper the service, the longer the wait. Each company posts its current wait on its own site, so check there the week you send. In October 2026 several of them had paused or limited their services, so older guides may list options that are not open now.
What if my card comes back a lower grade than I hoped?
The fee is not refunded, whatever the grade. You can keep the slab, sell it as it is, or ask a buyer what they would pay for it. A lower grade than hoped is the main risk of grading, which is why it pays to check a card closely before you send it.
Should I clean or press a card before grading it?
No. PSA gives no number grade to a card that shows signs of cleaning, pressing, trimming, or recoloring, and CGC labels altered cards Authentic Altered instead of a grade. Leave the card as it is, in a clean sleeve.
Hi, I'm Nick. Not sure about a card? Send me clear photos of the front and back. I will make you an offer on it as it is, so you have a real number to weigh against grading. I reply within 12 to 24 hours.