# Understanding Which Pokémon Cards Are Worth Getting Professionally Graded
Getting your Pokémon cards professionally graded is one of the most important decisions a collector can make. It’s not something you should do lightly, and it’s definitely not something you should do with every single card in your collection. The truth is that grading costs money, and if you’re not strategic about which cards you send in, you could end up losing money instead of making it. Let me walk you through exactly how to figure out which of your Pokémon cards are actually worth the investment of getting graded.
The Basic Rule of Thumb
The most fundamental rule that professional graders and experienced collectors follow is this: a card must be worth at least $25 in its raw, ungraded condition before you should even consider sending it to a grading company[3]. This is your baseline. If a card isn’t worth at least $25 right now, in the condition it’s in, then paying the grading fees is going to eat into any potential profit you might make.
But here’s where it gets more interesting. Just because a card is worth $25 raw doesn’t automatically mean you should grade it. You need to think about the multiplier effect. When a card gets graded and receives a high grade, its value should increase significantly. The general rule is that if your card is in the $25 to $50 raw price range, it needs to be worth at least four times that amount when graded in perfect condition to make the grading worthwhile[3]. So a $25 card would need to be worth $100 or more as a graded PSA 10 to justify the grading costs.
As cards get more expensive in their raw form, this multiplier can relax a bit. If you have a card that’s worth $60 to $70 raw, you’re looking for roughly a 3x multiplier in PSA 10 condition[3]. And if you’re dealing with cards that are already worth over $100 raw, the multiplier requirements become even tighter because the grading costs become a smaller percentage of the overall value.
Understanding Card Condition Before You Grade
Before you even think about sending cards to a grading company, you need to do what’s called pre-screening. This means going through your collection and honestly assessing the condition of each card. You should eliminate any obviously damaged cards right away because they’re not going to get high grades anyway[2].
When you’re pre-screening, there are several specific things you need to look at. First, check the centering of the card. Look at the borders on all sides to make sure they’re even. If the borders are uneven, the card is off-center, and this will result in a lower grade[2]. Next, examine the surface condition very carefully under good light. You’re looking for scratches, scuffs, dents, stains, whitening, or any other imperfections[5]. Mint condition cards need to have a completely flawless surface.
Pay close attention to the corners of the card. Corners are one of the first places to show wear, and even minor damage here can significantly impact your grade[2]. Look at the borders of the card design itself to make sure they’re not damaged or chipped. If your card has holographic or foil elements, these need to be completely free from scratches or wear[2]. Make sure the card is clean and free from dirt, fingerprints, or other contaminants[2]. And finally, check for any creases or bends in the card, because these can seriously damage your grade[2].
The Reality of Market Value
Here’s something that a lot of newer collectors don’t understand: just because you can get a card graded doesn’t mean you should. The market determines value, not the grading company. You need to research what graded versions of your specific cards are actually selling for, not what they’re listed for. There’s a big difference between asking price and actual selling price.
Different cards within the same set can have very different grading economics. Some cards are more condition-sensitive than others, meaning that the jump in value between a raw card and a graded PSA 10 is much bigger for some cards than for others[3]. You need to look at actual market data for the specific card you’re considering grading. Don’t assume that getting a PSA 10 automatically means profit for you[3].
The Importance of Doing Your Research
Before you send any card to a grading company, you should research the specific card at the product level, and then get more specific by looking at player-level data if it’s a sports card or character-level data if it’s a Pokémon card. Some variations of cards have different condition sensitivity, meaning they might be worth grading even if similar cards aren’t[3].
You should use market data tools and resources to compare the value of raw cards versus graded PSA 9 and PSA 10 versions. This will give you a clear picture of whether grading makes financial sense for your specific card. The market movers app and similar resources can help you track this data over time[3].
The Grading Process and Timeline
Once you’ve decided that a card is worth grading, you need to understand what happens next. Card grading is a process where your cards are sent to a grading company, which examines their condition and assigns them a numerical grade[2]. Most grading companies use a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 meaning the card is in perfect condition with no defects[2].
The process typically involves several steps. First, you sort and pre-screen your cards as we discussed. Then you submit them to the grading company along with payment for the grading service. The grading company’s team of experts uses advanced technology to evaluate and assign a consensus rating[4]. Your cards are then encapsulated with labels displaying their detailed description, grade, and QR code[4]. The capsules protect against shock, moisture, and UV radiation[4].
High resolution images are taken and every detail is inspected before packaging and shipping[4]. Depending on the service level you chose when submitting, it may take several weeks or more to receive your graded cards back[2]. This is why you need to be strategic about which cards you grade, because your money is tied up during this entire process.
Different Grading Companies
There are several professional grading companies that handle Pokémon cards. CGC Cards is one of the major players in the market. They provide accurate and transparent evaluation of each card using a detailed and globally recognized grading system[4]. Each graded card is included in a public database, allowing you to compare and verify the condition of your cards and how the market is evolving[4]. All CGC certified cards are backed by a guarantee of authenticity and grade[4].
CGC grades virtually all collectible
