How Much Does It Cost to Grade a Pokémon Card in 2026?
Two Pitch Black cards graded DCM 9, Mega Darkrai ex 116 and Mega Chandelure ex 115, with their labels
Per-card fees at the cheapest open tier of each service, what ten cards cost with shipping, how long each takes, and when the fee is worth paying.
Quick answer
As of October 2026, grading one Pokémon card at the cheapest open tier costs $20 at CGC (Economy, 90 business days), $50 at SGC (Standard, 40+ days), $59.99 at PSA (Standard, 90 to 100 days) and $79.95 at Beckett (Express, 15 days), plus insured shipping both ways. PSA's Value tiers and Beckett's Base and Standard tiers were paused. DCM grades a Pokémon card from photos for $2.99, or as low as $0.50 on an annual plan, in about a minute, with no shipping, but does not provide a sealed slab or authentication.
The answer depends on what you mean by "grade". A sealed slab from a mail-in grading company costs between $20 and $80 a card at the cheapest open tiers right now, plus shipping, plus weeks to months of waiting. A documented condition grade from photos costs a few dollars and takes a minute. Here are the real numbers for both, checked in October 2026.
Per-card fees, cheapest open tier
Bar chart of the cost to grade one Pokemon card at the cheapest open tier: DCM $2.99, CGC $20, SGC $50, PSA $59.99, Beckett Express $79.95
| Service | Tier | Price per card | Estimated turnaround | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CGC Cards | Economy | $20 | 90 business days | Bulk is $17 with a 25-card minimum (150 days) |
| SGC | Standard | $50 | 40+ business days | Raised from about $18 in September 2026 |
| PSA | Standard | $59.99 | 90 to 100 business days | Value and Value Bulk tiers paused |
| Beckett (BGS) | Express | $79.95 | 15 business days | Base ($14.95) and Standard ($34.95) paused |
| DCM | Single credit | $2.99 (as low as $0.50) | About a minute | Photo-based; no slab, no authentication |
Figures from each company's own pages and dated reports between October 8 and 19, 2026. The mail-in companies changed prices and paused tiers more than once this year, so confirm on their sites before you submit. Card grading companies compared keeps the sourced table current.
What the price list leaves out
The per-card fee is the start of the bill, not the end of it.
- Shipping both ways. Insured shipping to the grader and back typically runs $15 to $40 each way, depending on declared value and carrier. Budget $30 to $80 per submission.
- Declared value. Every mail-in tier has a maximum declared value per card. A card worth more than the cap is pushed into a more expensive tier.
- Minimums. CGC's $17 Bulk rate needs 25 cards.
- Time. At the cheapest tiers the card is out of your hands for two to five months, and the companies say their estimates are not guarantees. Faster tiers exist at every grader at higher prices: CGC Standard is $55 for 10 days, PSA Express is $199 for 20 to 30 days.
- Supplies. Sleeves, semi-rigid holders and a padded box for the trip.
Stacked bar chart of the cost of grading ten cards including an estimated $60 shipping, from $29.90 at DCM to $859.50 at Beckett Express
Ten cards at each service, with $60 assumed for shipping both ways:
| Service | Fees for 10 cards | Shipping (est.) | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| DCM | $29.90 | $0 | $29.90 |
| CGC Economy | $200 | $60 | $260 |
| SGC Standard | $500 | $60 | $560 |
| PSA Standard | $599.90 | $60 | $659.90 |
| Beckett Express | $799.50 | $60 | $859.50 |
On DCM the fee is the whole cost, and it drops to $19.98 with two Pro packs or $5 on an annual plan. Which DCM plan fits your collection has the pack maths.
How long each takes
Bar chart of estimated turnaround in business days at the same tiers
Add shipping time to every mail-in figure. How long does card grading take covers the queues in more detail.
When the fee is worth paying
A mail-in fee makes sense when the card's value in a sealed slab, at the grade it is likely to receive, is many times the fee plus shipping. For a $5 Pokémon card it never is. For a Special Illustration Rare that could grade a 10, it often is.
The problem is knowing the likely grade before you pay. That is what a photo-based grade is for: grade the card on DCM for $2.99 or less, read the four subgrades and the written reasons, and send only the cards that justify a slab. Here is a Pitch Black Mega Darkrai ex graded on DCM: a 9, held there because it was photographed in a holder, which is exactly the kind of thing you want to know before you pay $60 and wait three months.
For which cards clear that bar, see is grading cards worth it and the $25 question. For the cheapest way to document a whole collection, see cheapest card grading.
Prices and turnarounds as of October 2026 from each company's site and dated reports; they change often. DCM does not provide a sealed slab or authentication and does not predict another company's grade.
Best ValueVIP$99150 credits · $0.66/gradeLowest one-time pack rateBasic$2.991 credit · $2.99/grade+1 bonus on first purchasePro$9.995 credits · $2.00/grade+3 bonus on first purchaseElite$19.9920 credits · $1.00/grade+5 bonus on first purchaseSee all credit packsCredits never expire. New accounts start with two free grades.Frequently asked questions
- How much does it cost to grade a Pokémon card?
- At the cheapest open tier in October 2026: $20 at CGC (Economy), $50 at SGC (Standard), $59.99 at PSA (Standard) and $79.95 at Beckett (Express), plus insured shipping both ways. DCM grades from photos for $2.99 a card, or as low as $0.50 on an annual plan, with no shipping.
- What is the cheapest way to grade Pokémon cards?
- For a sealed slab, CGC Economy at $20 a card or CGC Bulk at $17 with a 25-card minimum were the cheapest open tiers in October 2026. For a documented condition grade without a slab, DCM at $2.99 a card, or $0.50 on Card Lovers Annual, is far cheaper and takes about a minute.
- How long does Pokémon card grading take?
- Estimated turnarounds at the cheapest open tiers in October 2026 ran from 15 business days at Beckett Express to 90 to 100 at PSA Standard and 150 at CGC Bulk, plus shipping both ways. The companies say the estimates are not guarantees. DCM returns a grade in about a minute.
- Is it worth grading a Pokémon card?
- Only when the card's value in a slab at the grade it is likely to get is many times the fee plus shipping. Grading the card on DCM first for $2.99 or less shows the subgrades and the likely grade range, so you only pay a mail-in fee on cards that justify it.