Updated June 2026 — Cited & Sourced
Card Grading Statistics 2026
The authoritative data source for PSA, BGS, SGC, and CGC statistics. Market share, PSA 10 rates, pricing, turnaround times, record sales, and AI grading benchmarks — all sourced and cited.
$312M+
Global grading market 2026
19M+
PSA cards graded 2025
8.88%
PSA Gem Mint 10 rate
160+
Grading companies worldwide
On This Page
PSA Key Statistics (2026)
Source: PSA.com, GemRate, The Athletic May 2026
| Metric | Value | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1991 | Newport Beach, CA |
| Cards graded (2022) | 11 million | Pre-boom baseline |
| Cards graded (2023) | 13.5 million | +23% YoY |
| Cards graded (2024) | 15.3 million | +13% YoY |
| Cards graded (2025) | 19+ million | +24% YoY — record |
| Cards graded per day | ~90,000 | June 2026 |
| Current backlog | ~10 million cards | June 2026 |
| PSA 10 rate (all submissions) | 8.88% | All-time average |
| PSA investment (2026) | $200 million | Capacity expansion |
| New jobs (2026) | ~1,000 | Capacity expansion |
Grading Pricing Comparison (June 2026)
Source: Official company pricing pages
| Company | Entry Price | Mid Tier | Premium/Express | Sub-Grades | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | $79.99 (Regular) | $150 (Express) | $300 (Super Express) | No | Value tiers paused |
| BGS (Beckett) | $20 (Economy) | $35 (Standard) | $250 (Pristine) | Yes (4) | Open |
| SGC | $25 (Standard) | $50 (Express) | $150 (Walkthrough) | No | Open |
| CGC Cards | $15 (Bulk) | $25 (Economy) | $50 (Standard) | No | Open |
| TAG Grading | $50 (Priority) | $100 (Elite) | $500 (Walkthrough) | Yes (digital) | Core tiers closed |
| HGA | $25 (Standard) | $40 (Express) | $75 (Priority) | Yes | Open |
Grading Turnaround Times (June 2026)
Source: Company estimates, PreGradeCards research June 2026
| Company | Fastest Tier | Standard Tier | Bulk/Economy | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 5–10 days ($300) | 65–90 days ($79.99) | PAUSED | Value tiers under $79.99 all paused |
| BGS | 5 days ($250) | 50–65 days ($35) | 80–100 days ($20) | Economy slowest due to demand |
| SGC | 10–20 days | 20–30 days | N/A | Fastest major grader currently |
| CGC | 30 days | 65 days | 120 days | Bulk tier experiencing delays |
| TAG Grading | 5–7 days (Walkthrough) | Priority only open | CLOSED | Core/Basic/Standard/Express all full |
| HGA | 3–4 weeks | 5–6 weeks | N/A | Consistent turnaround |
PSA Gem Mint 10 Rates by Card Type
Source: PSA population reports, PreGradeCards analysis 2026
| Card Type / Set | PSA 10 Rate | PSA 9 Rate | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| All submissions (average) | 8.88% | ~25% | All-time PSA population data |
| Modern Topps Chrome (2020–2025) | 15%–30% | 30%–40% | Higher due to modern production quality |
| Modern Panini Prizm (2020–2025) | 10%–25% | 35%–45% | Silver Prizm hardest to gem |
| 1986 Fleer Basketball | 1%–3% | 8%–12% | Dark borders show corner wear |
| 1952 Topps Baseball | <0.5% | 1%–2% | Paper degradation over 70 years |
| 1989 Upper Deck Baseball (Griffey) | 5%–8% | 20%–28% | Centering is main hurdle |
| Pokémon Base Set (Shadowless) | <1% | 2%–4% | Severe corner wear most cards |
| Pokémon Scarlet & Violet 151 | 5%–15% | 25%–35% | Modern production quality |
| MTG Alpha/Beta | <0.1% | 0.5%–1% | Paper aging, rough cuts |
| 1979 OPC Wayne Gretzky RC | <1% | 2%–5% | Rough-cut OPC borders |
PSA Grading Scale — Complete Reference
Source: PSA.com grading standards
| Grade | Label | Key Criteria | Value Multiplier vs Raw NM |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSA 10 | Gem Mint | 55/45 centering, 4 sharp corners, flawless surface | 3x–15x |
| PSA 9 | Mint | 65/35 centering, 1 minor flaw allowed | 1.5x–5x |
| PSA 8 | Near Mint–Mint | 70/30 centering, 2 minor flaws | 1.2x–2.5x |
| PSA 7 | Near Mint | 65/35, slight corner wear | 1x–1.5x |
| PSA 6 | Excellent–Mint | 70/30, some rounding | 0.6x–1x |
| PSA 5 | Excellent | Visible wear, light creasing | 0.3x–0.6x |
| PSA 4 | VG–EX | Heavy corner rounding | 0.15x–0.3x |
| PSA 3 | Very Good | Heavy surface wear | 0.05x–0.15x |
| PSA 2 | Good | Creases, tape | 0.02x–0.05x |
| PSA 1 | Poor | Major damage | <0.02x |
All-Time Record Card Sales (Graded)
Source: Heritage Auctions, Goldin, PWCC, Lelands verified results
| Card | Grade | Sale Price | Year | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle | PSA 9 | $12.6 million | 2022 | Heritage Auctions |
| T206 Honus Wagner | PSA 2 | $7.25 million | 2022 | Heritage Auctions |
| 2000 Playoff Contenders Tom Brady Auto RC | BGS 8.5 | $3.1 million | 2021 | Lelands |
| 1969-70 Topps Luka Dončić RC | PSA 10 | $4.6 million | 2021 | Goldin |
| 1997-98 Metal Universe Michael Jordan | BGS 9.5 | $910,000 | 2021 | PWCC |
| 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan Rookie | PSA 10 | $840,000 | 2021 | Goldin |
| 1998 Pokémon Base Set Charizard 1st Ed | PSA 10 | $369,000 | 2022 | PWCC |
| MTG Alpha Black Lotus | BGS 9.5 | $511,100 | 2021 | PWCC |
| 1979 OPC Wayne Gretzky Rookie | PSA 10 | $3.75 million | 2021 | PWCC |
AI Card Grading Accuracy Benchmarks (2026)
Source: PreGradeCards internal study (10,000 cards), company data
| Tool / Method | Accuracy vs PSA | Centering Accuracy | Consistency | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PreGradeCards AI | 89% within 1 grade | 99.2% | 100% (AI) | From free / $0.50–$2/card |
| TAG Grading (AI-hybrid) | ~85–90% | 98%+ | High | $50–$500/card (official grade) |
| AGS / Robograding (full AI) | ~82–87% | 97% | 100% (AI) | $5–$15/card (official grade) |
| CardGrade.io (AI app) | ~80–85% | 95% | High | Free–$10/month |
| Human grader (resubmission) | ~70% consistency | 82% | Variable | $15–$300/card (official grade) |
| PSA (human, official) | 100% (baseline) | 100% (baseline) | ~70% resubmission | $79.99–$300/card |
Grading ROI Benchmarks
Source: PreGradeCards ROI research, PWCC/eBay sold data 2026
| Scenario | Raw Value | PSA 10 Value (Est.) | Net ROI at $79.99 | Worth Grading? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modern star RC, high PSA 10 pop | $50 | $150 | -$15 | No — break even or loss |
| Modern star RC, low PSA 10 pop | $100 | $400 | +$220 | Yes — 3x return |
| Vintage 1986 Fleer Jordan (raw NM) | $800 | $5,000+ | $4,100+ | Yes — strong ROI |
| Pokémon Shadowless Charizard (NM) | $1,200 | $15,000+ | $13,700+ | Yes — exceptional ROI |
| Common base card, modern set | $2 | $8 | -$73 | Never — always a loss |
| 1952 Topps Mantle (raw GD) | $10,000 | $50,000+ | $39,900+ | Yes — must submit |
Frequently Asked Questions
Pre-Grade Your Cards Before Submitting
Use AI to predict PSA/BGS grades before spending $79.99+. 89% accurate, free to try.