How Do I Get Baseball Cards Graded?

Learn how to get your baseball cards graded by a professional service. Find out what factors affect the value of your cards and what to look for in a grading service.

Introduction

Getting your baseball cards graded can add significant value to your collection. Professionally graded cards are assessed for condition and assigned a numeric grade on a 10-point scale, with 10 being Gem Mint condition.

Card grading is performed by third-party companies, such as PSA, Beckett, and JSA. To have your cards graded, you’ll need to send them to the company of your choice, along with a grading fee. Once your cards have been assessed, you’ll receive them back in a protective case with the assigned grade.

If you’re considering getting your baseball cards graded, there are a few things you should keep in mind. First, not all cards will benefit from grading — in some cases, it may actually decrease the value of your card. Second, grading fees can be costly, so you’ll need to weigh the potential value increase against the cost of grading.

If you decide that getting your baseball cards graded is right for you, follow the steps below to get started.

What is Grading?

Grading is the process of determining the condition, or “grade,” of a collectible card. The grade is given on a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 being the highest, or Mint, condition. Most cards are graded on a 1 to 5 scale.

The main purpose of grading is to provide collectors with a way to standardize the condition of their cards and to create an objective way to determine a card’s value.

As cards become more valuable, the need for accurate grading also increases. A card that is graded incorrectly can be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars less than its true value. For this reason, many collectors choose to have their cards graded by professional companies such as PSA or Beckett.

The Different Grading Companies

The three main grading companies for baseball cards are PSA, SGC, and Beckett. Each company has its own process for grading cards, but the general idea is the same: a card is sent in, it is evaluated by a team of experts, and a grade is assigned to the card. The higher the grade, the more valuable the card is.

PSA is the largest and most well-known grading company. They have been in business since 1991 and have graded over 35 million cards. PSA uses a 10-point scale to grade cards, with 1 being the lowest and 10 being the highest. Cards that receive a grade of 1 or 2 are considered ungraded or unsellable, 3-5 are considered poor or low quality, 6-8 are considered good or high quality, and 9-10 are considered excellent or mint condition.

SGC is a newer company that was founded in 2000. They use a 100-point scale to grade cards, with 1 being the lowest and 100 being the highest. Their grades are similar to PSA’s, with 1-49 being unsellable or poor quality, 50-59 being fair or low quality, 60-69 being good or high quality, and 70-100 being excellent or mint condition.

Beckett is another well-known grading company that has been in business since 1984. They use a 5-point scale to grade cards, with 1 being the lowest and 5 being the highest. Cards that receive a grade of 1 are unsellable or poor quality, 2 is fair or low quality, 3 is good or average quality, 4 is very good or high quality, and 5 is excellent or mint condition.

To get your cards graded by one of these companies, you will need to send them in along with payment for their services. PSA charges $10 per card for grading services, SGC charges $20 per card, and Beckett charges $5 per card. Once your cards have been graded by one of these companies, they will be assigned a numeric grade which can be used to determine the value of your card.

What Grading Companies Offer

There are numerous companies that will grade your baseball cards. Each company has its own standards, which can make it difficult to compare one company’s grades to another. Here are a few of the more popular grading companies:

1. PSA: PSA is one of the largest and most well-known card grading companies. They will grade cards from any sport, as well as many non-sports cards. PSA offers two different types of services:
– PSAs Regular Service: With this service, you can expect your card to be graded within 4-6 weeks. The regular service costs $20 per card, plus shipping costs.
– PSAs Express Service: With this service, your card will be graded within 24 hours. The express service costs $50 per card, plus shipping costs.
2. Beckett Grading Services (BGS): BGS is another large and popular grading company. They will grade cards from any sport, as well as many non-sports cards. BGS offers three different types of services:
– Beckett Regular Service: With this service, you can expect your card to be graded within 2-3 weeks. The regular service costs $20 per card, plus shipping costs.
– Beckett Express Service: With this service, your card will be graded within 7 days. The express service costs $35 per card, plus shipping costs.
– Beckett Premium Service: With this service, your card will be graded within 48 hours. The premium service costs $50 per card, plus shipping costs

How Much Does it Cost to Get Your Cards Graded?

The cost of having your cards graded can vary depending on a few different factors. The most important factor is the company you choose to do the grading. Some companies are much more expensive than others. Another factor is the number of cards you have. If you have a large collection, it will cost more to get them all graded than if you only have a few. The last factor is the type of cards you have. Some companies charge more for certain types of cards, such as vintage or autographed cards.

To get an idea of how much it will cost to get your cards graded, you can contact the company you are interested in and ask for a quote. You should also look for discounts and specials that companies may offer from time to time.

The Pros and Cons of Grading

Many beginning collectors are not familiar with the process of grading and may not understand the benefits or the potential disadvantages of having their cards graded.

Grading is the process of determining the condition of a card, and assigning it a numeric grade from 1 to 10, with 10 being perfect. Grading services will also assign a descriptive label to the card, such as “Mint” or “Near Mint.”

There are several companies that offer grading services, and they each have their own standards for what constitutes a certain grade. However, in general, a Mint (10) card will be free of any major imperfections, such as creases, folds, staining, or discoloration. A Near Mint (9) card may have one or two minor imperfections, such as a tiny crease or corner ding.

Cards that are graded by independent companies come sealed in a hard plastic case with the company’s logo on it, and include a label on the front that displays the card’s grade. The cases can be stacked on top of each other without damaging the cards inside them.

Graded cards usually sell for more than ungraded cards in the same condition. This is because buyers feel confident that they are getting exactly what they expect when they purchase a graded card. In addition, graded cards are often less likely to be damaged in transit than ungraded cards.

However, there are some disadvantages to having your cards graded. First of all, it can be expensive. Prices vary depending on which company you use and how many cards you submit at once, but you can expect to pay around $10-20 per card. In addition, there is always a risk that your card will come back with a lower grade than you were expecting.

If you decide to have your cards graded, be sure to do your research and choose a reputable company like PSA or Beckett Grading Services.

Conclusion

So, you want to get your baseball cards graded. You’ve probably seen some of your favorite cards selling for hundreds or even thousands of dollars and you’re hoping to cash in on your childhood hobby. Maybe you even have a few rare cards that could be worth some serious money.

The first step is to find a reputable grading company. There are a few different companies that grade baseball cards and each has their own process and standards. Do some research and find the company that you feel most comfortable with.

Once you’ve found a company, send them your baseball cards along with a grading fee. The fee will vary depending on the company and how many cards you’re sending in, but it’s usually around $20-$30 per card. The company will then grade your cards and issue you a certificate of authenticity. This certificate will list the conditions of your card as well as the assigned grade.

Now that you have a graded baseball card, you can sell it for much more than an ungraded card. Be sure to do your research before selling though, as prices can vary greatly depending on the current market conditions.