PSA Grading Explained: Is It Worth the Cost?

Why PSA Grading Matters

Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) grading has become the standard for determining sports card values. A raw card worth $50 can jump to $500 or more with a PSA 10 grade. Understanding how grading works helps you make smarter buying and selling decisions.

The PSA Grading Scale

PSA uses a 1-10 scale with half-point grades at certain levels. A PSA 10 represents a virtually perfect card. PSA 9 indicates near-mint condition with a minor flaw. Grades below 7 typically indicate visible wear that significantly impacts value.

The difference between a PSA 9 and PSA 10 can mean thousands of dollars for popular rookie cards. Even a half-grade difference matters for high-value cards.

What Graders Evaluate

PSA examines four main areas: centering, corners, edges, and surface. Centering measures how well the image sits within the borders. Corners must be sharp without fraying or whitening. Edges should be clean without chips or rough spots. Surface defects include scratches, print lines, and staining.

Submission Process

Submit cards through PSA’s website by creating an account and selecting a service level. Economy service costs less but takes months. Express services run $75-150 per card with faster turnaround. Super Express at $300+ returns cards within days.

Package cards in penny sleeves inside toploaders. Use blue painter’s tape to secure the toploader opening. Never use rubber bands or tape directly on sleeves.

When Grading Makes Sense

Grade cards worth at least 5-10 times the grading cost in raw condition. A $20 card rarely justifies $30 in grading fees. However, a $200 raw card that could grade PSA 9 or 10 makes sense to submit.

Rookie cards of star players, vintage cards from the 1950s-1970s, and limited print runs benefit most from grading.

Population Reports

PSA publishes population reports showing how many cards received each grade. Low pop counts increase value. A card with only 50 PSA 10s in existence commands premium prices compared to one with 5,000 gem mint copies.

Check pop reports before buying graded cards. High populations suggest the card was mass-submitted and may not hold value as well.

Alternatives to PSA

BGS (Beckett Grading Services) offers subgrades for centering, corners, edges, and surface. Some collectors prefer the detailed breakdown. SGC provides faster turnaround and competitive pricing. CGC entered the sports card market recently with competitive offerings.

PSA remains the most liquid choice for selling. PSA-graded cards typically fetch 10-20% more than equivalent grades from other companies.