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It's the question everyone asks when looking at a beautiful card: should I get it graded? There's no single answer. It all depends on your objective. There are two good reasons to grade, and several cases where it's clearly not worth it. If you don't yet know what grading is, start with our article that explains everything.
Logic 1: Investment
The first reason to grade: to increase and secure the value of a card for resale. Here, the calculation is simple. Grading has a cost and a lead time, and the added value must cover all of that. It makes sense when:
- the card is sought after and has real resale value,
- it is in good condition, with a good chance of getting a high grade,
- an independent grade will reassure the buyer and increase the price.
Conversely, grading a common or already worn card just to resell it immediately is of little interest, especially for recent cards: the cost of the service will exceed the immediate gain. Before sending, honestly examine the centering, corners, and surface: this is what will determine your grade, and therefore your added value.
Vintage or Recent: It Changes the Game
A factor that heavily influences the decision is the age of the card.
- Vintage (older cards): Few copies remain in good condition. This rarity makes a high grade particularly valuable, and grading often has an immediate benefit.
- Recent: Cards are still abundant, so at the current moment, the premium from grading may be small. However, a sought-after recent card has a good chance of increasing in value over time, as copies in good condition become scarcer. Grading a beautiful recent card then becomes a gamble on the future, provided you aim for a desirable card and a high grade.
In other words, don't just judge today's value. For recent cards, a strong card can increase in value, and a beautiful graded copy will give you a head start the day you want to resell it.
Logic 2: Presentation and Protection
The second reason has nothing to do with money. Grading is also about durably protecting a card you care about and showcasing it. Once sealed, it is safe from humidity, shocks, and time, and the case presents it as a true display piece.
And this also applies to affordable cards. A beautiful illustration, like an Art Rare, doesn't need to be expensive to deserve protection and display. Many collectors grade a card simply because they love it and want to keep it perfect. This is a legitimate pleasure-driven logic.
To explore this angle, read our article on Art Rare cards.
When It's Not Worth It
- A common card with no value or particular attachment.
- An already heavily damaged card: the grade will be low and will bring neither value nor beautiful presentation.
- A card you plan to play: once graded, it is sealed and therefore unplayable.
Before Sending a Card for Grading
- Inspect it honestly under good light: centering, corners, edges, surface. No illusions, the expert will see the flaws.
- Handle it cleanly: clean hands, by the edges, in a sleeve. Every tiny micro-scratch counts.
- Choose the grader according to your objective: international resale, European resale, or detailed subgrades. We compare all of this in how to choose your grader.
- Protect it for shipping: sleeve plus toploader, in a rigid envelope.
In Summary
For investment, keep in mind that grading remains a bet on the grade. Value increases in stages: a card that gets a 10, and even more so a Gold Label or a Black Label, can be worth several times the price of the same card graded one notch lower. For sought-after cards, the difference between a 9 and a 10 is often three to ten times the value. This is the leverage effect of grading. But it works both ways: if you bet on a high label and the card comes back with a lower grade than you expected, that anticipated added value collapses, and the cost of grading may never be covered. In investment logic, therefore, only grade cards whose condition you have honestly assessed, accepting that the final grade does not depend on you.
Ultimately: grade a card if it has enough value for the added value to cover the cost, or if you care about it and want to protect and present it, even if it's not expensive. Also keep in mind the time factor, especially for recent cards where a beautiful, sought-after card can increase in value. In other cases, simply keep your card well protected in a sleeve and a toploader.
Want to see examples of graded cards? Browse our selection of graded Pokémon cards in slabs. Have a question? Write to us, we'll answer.