🎴 Should You Grade Your Cards or Keep Them Raw?
Every collector hits this crossroads eventually: to slab or not to slab?
Whether you’re into Pokémon, sports, or TCGs, deciding between grading your cards or keeping them raw can totally change your collection’s vibe—and value. Let’s break it down so you can make the smartest move for your goals.
💡 What “Grading” Actually Means
Grading means sending your card to a pro company like PSA, BGS, CGC, or SGC, where experts inspect centering, corners, edges, and surface under bright lights (and sometimes microscopes!).
They assign it a score from 1–10, then seal it in a tamper-proof plastic case—aka the slab. It’s authentication, protection, and bragging rights all in one.
💎 Why You Might Want to Grade
1. Big Value Boost
That PSA 10 label can skyrocket a card’s worth. A clean Pikachu or rookie card can jump 5x, 10x, or more compared to raw. Graded cards give buyers confidence—they know what they’re getting.
2. Long-Term Protection
The slab locks out dust, fingerprints, and accidents. Perfect for preserving your grails.
3. Easier to Sell or Trade
Graded cards move faster on platforms like eBay, Whatnot, or Goldin. That plastic case = instant credibility.
4. Authentication Guarantee
No fakes, no doubts. The grade confirms your card’s legit.
⚠️ The Downsides (Because Grading Isn’t Free Magic)
1. Price + Wait Time
Grading can cost anywhere from $20 to $150 per card and might take weeks—or months.
2. The Risk Factor
Think your card’s flawless? The grader might spot a micro scratch that drops it to an 8. Suddenly that $100 gamble doesn’t look so hot.
3. Market Swings
Graded cards ride the same waves as the market. During slow seasons, prices can dip below grading cost.
🏆 When You Should Grade
- Vintage or high-value cards
- Cards in near-perfect (PSA 9–10) condition
- Long-term investments or resale builds
✋ When to Keep Them Raw
- Modern, low-value, or common cards
- Personal keepsakes you just love having in binders
- Cards with visible damage or heavy play
⚖️ The Smart Middle Ground
Most collectors go hybrid—grade the gems, keep the rest raw.
That way you save money and protect your best hits.
🔥 Final Take
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer.
If you’re chasing value and long-term preservation—grade it.
If you’re collecting for the nostalgia, the art, or the binder vibes—keep it raw.
Either way, the key is knowing why you’re doing it. That’s how you level up from casual collector to strategic curator.