Official Trading Card Grading Service

The card’s print pattern may be slightly off center, and there may be visible wear on the edges and corners.. The card may also display some yellowing or discoloration. A telephone card graded 3 will display obvious wear on its surface, including scuffs, scratches and a loss of gloss. The card’s edges and corners may be worn and the print pattern is off center. A telephone card graded 7 will have slightly visible wear on some edges and corners. Upon closer inspection, the surface of the card may have slight scratches and white spots, along with wear on the edges and corners.
We may receive a commission if you make a purchase after clicking on one of the links on this page, at no extra cost to you. Create your account, choose a service, and send your cards to Diamond Service Grading. A UV-resistant polycarbonate slab shields cards from harmful light, preventing fading, discoloration, and damage. High-quality imaging of your raw card lets you see it before grading, and aids accurate assessment and authentication. A comprehensive graphic with detailed information about your card's condition, authenticity, and grade assessment. Every card graded with DSG receives its own unique card ID, making it easy to identify within our database.
While their slabs don’t hold the same weight as some of the bigger companies, like PSA, BGS and SGC, ISA has built a good reputation for fast card grading, however there have been questions around the consistency of their grading. They also offer horizontal slabs, with a horizontal label for relevant cards, which aren’t offered by the likes of PSA and BGS. Their custom labels match the color scheme and design of the card in the slab, so it makes for some really nice looking slabs.
Whether vintage, modern or TCG, PSA authenticates and grades cards throughout the hobby. Grading is assessing the quality and condition of a trading card using PSA’s 10-point grading scale.
Standard grading is $25/card and bulk (10+ cards) is $15/card. After grading, every slab is backed by our Slab Guard Lifetime Guarantee. Every Degree cert is a live data page for your card — real population context, not just a number on a slab. Every grading order includesSurface, corners & centering subgradesLive population data on every certFREE AI grading analysis Every order ships in our premium Collector’s Box, designed to make your card grading reveal feel special. For even higher-value cards, look to Super Express ($5,000 declared value max, $300 cost) or Walk Through ($10,000 declared value max, $600 cost) services.
Cards in PSA slabs generally sell for more when compared to the others, but usually cost more to grade. Graded prices for lower to mid grade cards are $50 to $100. For star players like Hank Aaron and Willie Mays, prices start to go down quite a but as you get to cards later in their careers. (Discount does not apply to card grading or grading slabs). None of the content on this website represents financial or investment advice, it’s our opinion and purely informational only.
A telephone card graded 8.5 might have slight wear on some of the edges and corners. The edges and corners of the telephone card may have very minor white spots, or there may be slight traces of topping up on the reverse. A Gem Mint 10 card is a card that has received a 10 grade overall; however, one of the grading criteria does not meet the requirements of a Pristine 10.
(Shipping and slab packaging are included. Fees based on number of cards.) Known for efficient tumbler-style black “tuxedo” slabs and faster timelines (15–20 business days, per March 2025 update). The industry standard for modern rookies and vintage collectibles, PSA offers tiered submissions (Value, Regular, Express) with strong resale premiums. Sometimes, these bulk submitters will even evaluate cards for you and send back the ones that aren’t worth grading.
With over 15 year of experiences submitting cards, you can feel comfortable knowing that you have a trusted expert evaluating your collection. When it comes to ungraded, we estimate grade and determine value based on that grade. Some people might disagree but most of the time it is not worth sending in commons. Take a look at the difference between a PSA 7.5 vs a PSA 8; the price jumps $550,000! Typically the number of cards at the particular grade go down as grades go up. Or you could send it in, and you will be charged $32.99 for grading plus ~$20 to $25 for shipping and insurance.
The CGC holder and label combine enhanced security features, crystal-clear optics and the most advanced archival materials for the best in display and protection. CGC protects graded sports cards by encapsulating them in CGC’s state-of-the-art holder. Cards that receive the CGC Pristine 10 grade, which is reserved exclusively for flawless cards under 10-times magnification, receive a special gold CGC Pristine 10 label. Submit NYC card shop of unlimited value and receive the fastest turnaround time. Submit a mix of at least 25 cards worth up to $500 each under the bulk tier.
Primary risks include hidden surface wear, sudden market price drops, and inaccurate personal condition evaluation. How do you accurately price raw sports cards without grading? Optimized listings feature high-resolution scans, clear condition details, and competitive pricing based on real-time market tracking.