LangBay
How the calculator works
It's the same expected-value model LangBay runs on every scanned card:
Expected graded value = Σ (odds of grade × sold price at that grade) Net gain = Expected graded value − fee − shipping − capital cost − raw value Capital cost = raw value × 10%/yr × turnaround days ÷ 365
The capital cost is what the cash you could get selling raw today would earn elsewhere while the card is at the grader. It's small per card, but it adds up across a submission and reflects the real risk that prices move while you wait.
Grade odds by condition estimate
These spreads are deliberately pessimistic. Cards come back a grade low more often than a grade high, so the model doesn't let you assume the best case.
| Your estimate | PSA 10 | PSA 9 | PSA 8 | PSA 7 | PSA 6 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA 9-10 | 35% | 50% | 15% | — | — |
| PSA 9 | 15% | 60% | 25% | — | — |
| PSA 8-9 | — | 45% | 45% | 10% | — |
| PSA 8 | — | 20% | 60% | 20% | — |
| PSA 7-8 | — | — | 45% | 45% | 10% |
Not sure which estimate fits your card? Walk through the condition checklist and the centering guide first.
Getting good inputs
- Use sold prices, not asking prices, from the last 30–60 days. See how to price Pokémon cards.
- Match the exact card: set, number and variant. A reverse holo and a special illustration rare are different markets.
- Use the fee for the tier your card's value requires. Graders cap each service level by declared value, so check their current fee schedule.
- Choosing between graders? Run the calculator once per grader with that grader's comps. See PSA vs CGC vs BGS.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if a Pokémon card is worth grading?
Multiply each grade's recent sold price by the odds your card gets that grade, add them up, then subtract the grading fee, shipping and the cost of having your money tied up during turnaround. If that beats the raw sale price by a comfortable margin, grading is worth it.
Why not just compare the PSA 10 price to the raw price?
Because most cards don't come back a 10. Comparing only to the PSA 10 price overstates the payoff. Weighting every realistic grade by its probability gives the expected value you'll actually average across submissions.
What grade odds does the calculator use?
Each condition estimate maps to a deliberately pessimistic spread of outcomes. For example, a card estimated at PSA 9 is modeled as 15% PSA 10, 60% PSA 9 and 25% PSA 8, because cards come back a grade low more often than a grade high.
Is this calculator free?
Yes, with no sign-up. A free LangBay account adds AI condition estimates from your photos and live sold comps, so you don't have to look up the numbers yourself.
Skip the lookups
Snap a photo. LangBay identifies the card, estimates the grade from centering, corners, edges and surface, pulls sold comps for raw and every PSA grade, and runs this math for you.
Try LangBay free