Ask ten collectors whether you should grade a card and you'll get ten answers. Grading can turn a £20 card into a £200 one — or cost you £15 to put a number on a card worth the same as it was raw. Here's how grading actually works, and how to tell the difference.
What is card grading?
Grading is when you send a card to an independent company that checks it's authentic, assesses its condition, and seals it in a tamper-proof case (a "slab") with a number on it — usually out of 10. That number is a trusted, third-party verdict on condition, so buyers know exactly what they're getting without holding the card themselves.
The main grading companies
- PSA — the biggest name globally, especially for sports cards. A high PSA grade usually commands the strongest resale prices.
- CGC — hugely popular for Pokémon and other TCG cards, and growing fast in sports.
- BGS (Beckett) — known for its sub-grades (centering, corners, edges, surface) and the coveted Black Label 10.
- SGC — especially respected for vintage cards.
Different companies are stronger in different corners of the hobby, and the same number from one won't always fetch the same price as another.
What the grades mean
- 10 (Gem Mint): as close to perfect as it gets.
- 9 (Mint): excellent, with only the tiniest flaw.
- 8 (Near Mint–Mint): very nice, minor imperfections.
- 7 and below: increasing signs of wear.
The jump in value between grades is rarely smooth — on a desirable card, a 10 can be worth several times a 9, which is exactly why grading is a gamble as well as an investment.
Does grading add value?
Sometimes a lot; sometimes none. It depends on:
- The card. Grading adds most to cards that are already desirable — key rookies, big autographs, sought-after vintage. Grading a common base card almost never pays.
- The grade you get. A high grade can multiply value; a low grade can leave you worse off after fees.
- The card's condition going in. An obvious flaw makes a top grade unlikely.
Rule of thumb: grading tends to be worth it when the potential uplift from a high grade clearly beats the cost — and when you're confident the card will grade well.
What does it cost, and how long does it take?
Grading isn't free or instant. You pay a fee per card (higher for more valuable cards and faster turnaround), plus postage and insurance both ways. Turnaround runs from a couple of weeks to several months. UK collectors usually submit via a submission centre or group submission rather than posting cards overseas individually.
When to grade — and when to leave it raw
Consider grading when: the card is genuinely valuable and in excellent condition, a high grade would clearly increase its worth, or you want to sell a high-value card and give buyers confidence.
Leave it raw when: it's a common or low-value card, the condition won't support a strong grade, or it's a personal favourite you just want to enjoy.
Protect first, decide later
Whether or not you ever grade a card, condition is everything — and it's decided the moment you pull it. Get anything you might grade into a sleeve and a toploader straight away, and keep it flat, cool and out of sunlight. You can always grade later; you can't un-bend a corner.
On the hunt for the next card worth slabbing? Browse our new arrivals and bestselling sealed product.
