Cheapest Way to Grade a Card Right Now, by Card Value (October 2026)

Every grader now prices by the value you declare for the card. So the cheapest grader depends on what your card is worth. This page compares listed per-card fees at PSA, CGC, SGC and TAG as of October 28, 2026. Shipping, insurance and any membership fees are extra. Turnaround times are each grader's own estimate, not a promise.

Cheapest listed option by declared value

Card value (declared)	Cheapest listed tier	Next options
Up to $500, and you have 25+ cards	CGC Bulk: $17/card, 25-card minimum, about 150 working days	CGC Economy $20; TAG Value $29.95 (10-card min, coverage capped at $250/card)
Up to $1,000, one card or a few	CGC Economy: $20/card, about 90 working days	SGC Standard $50 (40+ business days); TAG Standard $59.95; PSA Standard $59.99 (90–100 business days)
$1,000 to $1,500	SGC Standard: $50/card (covers up to $1,500), 40+ business days	CGC Standard $55 (up to $3,000, about 10 working days); PSA Priority $79.99 (up to $1,500)
$1,500 to $3,000	CGC Standard: $55/card, about 10 working days	SGC Standard $85 (up to $3,500); PSA Express $199 (up to $2,500)
$3,000 to $10,000	CGC Express: $100/card (up to $10,000), about 5 working days	SGC Expedited $250 (up to $7,500) or $500 (up to $20,000); PSA Super Express $349 (up to $5,000) or Premier $599 (up to $10,000)

PSA's cheapest tiers (Value Bulk, Value, Value Plus and Value Max) have been paused since June 2, 2026. PSA opened a new $59.99 Standard tier on September 14, and Value is still paused (PSA announcement). SGC raised its prices on September 2, 2026. Its cheapest tier is now $50 (Sports Illustrated). CGC's $17 Bulk and $20 Economy prices took effect March 24, 2026 (CGC).

Example: ten cards worth about $100 each

Grader and tier	Grading fees for 10 cards	Listed turnaround
CGC Economy ($20)	$200	About 90 working days
TAG Value ($29.95, 10-card minimum)	$299.50	90 business days, when open
SGC Standard ($50)	$500	40+ business days
PSA Standard ($59.99)	$599.90	90–100 business days

That's fees only, before shipping both ways. The cheapest slab isn't always the best choice: buyers pay different prices for the same grade from different companies. Before you pay $50–$60 a card, run our break-even check. For vintage cards, see best grader for vintage.

Things that change the price

Declare honestly. If a card's value is above a tier's cap, the grader can move it to a higher tier and bill you the difference.
Turnaround starts at intake. SGC says the clock starts once your order is unboxed and logged. PSA's turnaround estimate starts at its Order Prep step. Transit time comes on top.
CGC quotes working days. PSA, SGC and TAG quote business days. All of them say times can change without notice.
Ship safely. See how to pack a card on our card shipping guide.

Sources (checked Oct 28, 2026): PSA grading prices, PSA Standard announcement, CGC Cards services and fees, GradingTimes SGC prices, Sports Illustrated on SGC's Sept 2 change, TAG Help Center, GradingTimes TAG prices. Beckett (BGS) isn't in the table because which tiers are open keeps changing. See BGS vs TAG.

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