New PSA Customers Get $25 Off
New to grading? For a limited time only, get $25 off your first online grading order at psacard.com or the PSA mobile app. Coupon code: TALON25
- Offer valid for new-to-PSA grading customers only
- Promo code TALON25 must be entered at the “Shipping & Billing” screen before completing your online submission.
Additional terms apply. See full terms & conditions for more details.
What's My Card Worth?
Whether you inherited a box of trading cards, just joined the hobby, or have a renewed interest in collecting, you might be wondering where to start. This research guide will help you learn how to determine if your card is worth grading.
1. Assess Card Condition
Before you get started, you should protect your cards in a penny sleeve and then a semi-rigid card holder. Not every card will be a gem, and that’s okay. But what makes a PSA 10 a PSA 10? Here are some helpful tips for assessing your card’s condition.
Authentication verifies the originality or genuineness of a trading card, while grading assesses the quality and condition.
PSA has established recognized and respected universal grading standards for trading card collectors using our 10-point grading scale.
You’ll want to examine everything from the card surface to its edges. Is the image centered on the card? Are there any folds or creases? Is it stained or damaged? These are all factors that will affect your card’s grade.
Given their age, vintage cards might not be in the best condition, but that doesn’t mean they aren’t worth grading. Many vintage cards are still very valuable, even in a low grade. Any card (including modern) could be worth grading regardless of condition—whether due to rarity, scarcity, or sentimental value.
PSA’s Grading Scale
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PSA 10 vs 9 vs 8
A PSA 10 is essentially a perfect card—extremely well-centered, pristine corners, and no surface damage, blemishes, or imperfections. A PSA 9 is nearly perfect with only one minor flaw, such as a minor printing imperfection or very slight off-centering. A PSA 8 may look like a PSA 9 at first glance and is in excellent condition, but may show the slightest fraying on one or two corners or a minor printing imperfection or be very slightly off-center.
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PSA 7 vs 6 vs 5 vs 4
A PSA 7 may have surface wear like minor fraying or a small printing blemish and might be off-centered. A PSA 6 may have more visible surface wear or a printing defect that doesn’t detract from the overall appeal—more visible fraying, rounding of corners, or a light scratch. PSA 5 cards show minor rounding of the corners, more visible surface wear or printing defects. A PSA 4 has more visible surface wear, or several light scratches, and may be more noticeably off-center.
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PSA 3 vs 2 vs 1
A PSA 3 has some apparent surface wear and rounding of corners, may have yellowed or discolored borders, and might show creasing or other damage. A PSA 2 card will have more obvious surface wear, accelerated rounding on the corners, and may have chipping and several creases, or more apparent off-centering. A PSA 1 will have major creasing, missing pieces, extreme discoloration, and noticeable warping or other destructive defects.
2. How to Find Card Details
Head over to eBay, filter your search for completed/sold, and enter your card details into the search bar in this order:
[Year Printed] [Manufacturer] [Set] [Player/Character] [Card#] [Parallel if applicable] + your estimated grade (Refer back to Step 1)
Example: "2017 Panini Prizm Patrick Mahomes II #269 Prizm PSA 10"
Look for how much the card has sold for over the past three to six months in the PSA grade of your card. This can serve as your Declared Value—the dollar amount you estimate that your item will be worth after PSA authentication and grading.
Of course, you won’t know the true value until your card has been graded. However, there’s a good chance you are hoping to increase the value of your card. Recent data shows that PSA-graded cards outsell the competition in 9 out of 10 sales.
4. Start Your Submission
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How Cards Get Graded
Watch NowPSA sat down with MLB for a behind-the-scenes look at our grading process.
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