Is grading Pokémon cards a good idea?

Grading Pokémon cards is a good idea if your cards are high-value or intended for long-term collection. 

Grading locks in a Pokémon card's condition, comes with an objective market price, and protects the card from further wear. For low-value cards, the cost of grading outweighs the benefit.

What does grading do for a Pokémon card, exactly?

Grading assigns a numeric score to a card's physical condition, from 1 to 10. A professional grader examines four (4) things: centering, surface, edges, and corners. The card is then sealed in a tamper-evident hard plastic case, called a slab, with the grade printed on the label.

That slab does three (3) things at once. It protects the card from physical damage and gives the card a verified, universally recognised condition score. It also makes the card much easier to buy and sell, as both parties have full transparency about the card's condition. 

Is it worth getting your Pokémon cards graded?

Getting your Pokémon cards graded is worth it when the potential value gain outweighs the grading fee. A card in near-mint or mint condition that grades PSA 10 can sell for significantly more than the same card ungraded (known as raw). But this only holds true if the card is desirable enough for buyers to care about the grade.

When it comes to deciding to grade cards, you need to undertake a cost-benefit analysis. You need to consider the cost of grading, including shipping and insurance.

Let’s say you purchased a $10 card that now sells for $15 raw, $55 in a PSA 10 and $35 in a PSA 9. Now, let’s assume the cost of grading the card is $28. 

Now the question to ask yourself is – are you willing to forgo a guaranteed $5 profit for a chance at a $17 profit?

Is it worth the time and effort? Even if you’re confident the card is a PSA 10, you have to be prepared for the fact that the grading company doesn’t agree with your assessment. There’s also the chance that the card’s price has dropped between when you send it for grading and when you receive it. 

As a general guideline, if your raw card is worth under $50, grading rarely makes financial sense once you account for the fee and turnaround time. On the flipside, if your card is worth $100 or more in raw condition and is in near-mint shape, grading usually adds value.

If the card is worth over $1,000, grading is highly recommended for two (2) reasons: 

1. When buying and selling cards at this price point, authenticity is a key factor. Having the card authenticated reduces the risk for the buyer, and 
2. Regardless of resale plans, the risk of damage to high-value cards is always possible, so it makes practical sense to lock in the card's condition

Is a PSA 9 worth more than a raw card?

These days a PSA 9 is almost always worth more than the same card raw. The grade makes the condition clear, and buyers are willing to pay more for that certainty. 

The gap between raw and PSA 9 varies by card popularity. For highly sought-after cards, WOTC-era cards, popular alternate art rares, and first-edition base set cards, the premium can be substantial. For common cards with low collector demand, the PSA 9 premium may not cover the grading fee (or in some cases the PSA 9 is worth less than card in raw condition).

A PSA 10 commands the largest premium of all. The step from PSA 9 to PSA 10 is often the biggest single jump in price, because PSA 10 population numbers are usually small (especially for vintage cards). A majority of collectors concentrate their demand on PSA 10s.

How much does PSA charge to grade a card?

PSA's grading fees depend on the declared value of the card and the service tier you choose. Higher-tier pricing applies once the declared value of a card crosses certain thresholds. A card declared at $1,000 therefore costs more to grade than the base economy fee.

PSA's fee schedule changes periodically, so check PSA's current pricing page before submitting. The main costs to factor in are the grading fee itself, return shipping, and any packaging or middleman service fee. That last cost applies if you submit through a local dealer rather than directly.

For Australian collectors, submitting through an authorised PSA dealer or group submission saves on international shipping costs. Factor in the exchange rate when working out whether the total spend makes sense against your card's expected graded value.

Will Pokémon cards go up in value in 10 years?

The long-term trajectory for Pokémon cards has been upward, though individual cards vary. According to Benzinga, Pokémon cards gained 27.9% year-to-date through early August 2026, outperforming the S&P 500's 12.8% gain over the same period.

Whether that trend holds for another decade depends on a few factors:

• Brand strength: Pokémon is one of the highest-grossing franchises in history, and the brand shows no sign of losing cultural relevance.

• Collectors who grew up with the cards in the late 1990s are now adults with disposable income. On top of that, the next generation of nostalgic buyers is already forming now.

• PSA 10 populations on vintage cards are more or less fixed, making high-grade copies inherently scarce. Demand for top-graded copies of iconic cards tends to strengthen over time as a result.

• Market cycles: The hobby has experienced boom-and-bust cycles, and cards bought at peak hype pricing may take years to recover.

No one can guarantee a specific return over 10 years. Cards tied to iconic characters, limited print runs, and early set eras have the strongest historical case for long-term value. 

The safest strategy is to invest in different cards from different eras, which helps diversify your investment risk. 

What are the main reasons to keep graded cards?

Collectors keep graded Pokémon cards for four (4) clear reasons: physical protection, verified value, display appeal, and market credibility.

Physical protection

A graded slab is one of the most robust long-term storage options available. It protects against humidity, oils from handling and accidental creasing. A card stored in a slab for 20 years will generally be in much better condition than a card stored without protection for the same period.

Verified value

A grade from PSA, BGS, or CGC is a standardised assessment of a card's condition. When you sell, the buyer does not need to trust your description of the card's condition, the grade speaks for itself. This speeds up sales and typically commands a higher price.

Display appeal

A graded slab displays well. Many collectors display graded cards as wall art or shelf pieces, and the rigid slab makes that easy without extra framing.

Market credibility

A graded card sits inside a large, growing market that buyers understand and trust. Marketintelo valued the card grading services market at $1.2 billion in 2025 and projects it to reach $2.4 billion by 2034.

When does keeping graded cards not make sense?

Keeping cards raw is the smarter choice in three situations: low-value cards and cards you intend to trade rather than hold. It is also the better option for any cards with visible condition issues.

Low-value cards

Grading low-value cards is a financial loss unless you expect dramatic future appreciation, which is difficult to predict.

Cards you intend to trade, not hold

If you swap cards regularly with other collectors, a slab gets in the way. Many trade environments are raw-card-only.

Cards with visible condition issues

Submitting a card you know has a crease, whitening, or off-centre print is unlikely to return a high grade. A PSA 5 or 6 often sells for less than a clean raw copy of the same card. 

How does the grading boom affect your collection?

The grading boom means more competition for high grades and more buyers fluent in graded values. SI.com reported 3.5 million cards graded globally in June 2026 alone, crushing prior monthly records.

For Australian collectors, the collecting market is active. The eBay Australia State of Collectibles Report 2025 found that 35% of Australian adults actively collect. The report also recorded a median profit from collecting of AUD $13,000 over three years.

How should you store graded cards?

Store graded cards upright in an acrylic display case or slab-specific box, away from UV light and stacking pressure. A slab protects the card, but the slab itself can still be vulnerable to scratches and stacking pressure, and additional UV protection from a quality display case is worthwhile.

An acrylic display case designed for slabs lets you see the card from all angles while preventing the slab surface from scratching. For cards on display rather than in storage, a wall-mounted or shelf case keeps the card visible without exposing it to dust or direct handling.

For bulk graded card storage, use a slab-specific storage box that holds slabs upright without pressure on the label. Never stack slabs flat under weight, the label can crack and the case can scratch.

UV-filtering acrylic adds an extra layer of protection for displayed cards. Card ink and holographic foil can fade under direct sunlight over years, even inside a slab.

FAQ

Does grading a Pokémon card increase its resale value?

Grading typically increases resale value for cards worth $100 or more in raw condition. A PSA 10 grade can multiply a card's raw price, particularly for vintage sets and popular characters. Low-value cards rarely see a net gain after the grading fee is deducted.

Can you crack a graded card out of its slab?

You can remove a card from its slab, but doing so permanently destroys the grade. Once cracked, the card is raw again and loses any premium tied to its graded status. Only crack a slab if you strongly disagree with the grading assessment or wish to display it in another way (e.g., in your binder).

What is the difference between PSA, BGS, and CGC for Pokémon cards?

PSA is the most widely recognised grading service and is generally considered to command strong resale premiums for Pokémon cards. BGS (Beckett) uses subgrades and a slightly stricter standard, making a BGS 10 or Black Label 10 highly desirable among collectors. CGC is also a very well-known grading service, but it doesn't have as much of a resale premium as PSA. 

The right choice depends on your budget, timeline, and which service your target buyers trust most.

Is it safe to display graded Pokémon cards?

Displaying graded cards is safe when you use a proper display case. Keep cards out of direct sunlight, away from humidity, and in a stable temperature environment. A UV-filtering acrylic case reduces long-term fading risk for cards displayed near windows.

Should I get every high-value card graded?

Grade cards you plan to hold long-term or sell into the graded market. If a card is valuable but you use it for playing or frequent trading, grading may not suit your situation.

The decision comes down to the card's role in your collection. Consider whether it is a displayable, sellable asset or an active piece you use regularly.

About ACRYLIX™

We make acrylic display cases and storage products built specifically for graded cards. Our cases are precision-cut from crystal-clear acrylic, sized to fit PSA, BGS, and CGC slabs without rattling or pressure on the label. Browse the ACRYLIX graded card display cases to find the right fit for your collection.