Grading decisions
Calculate grading profit before committing money and time.
A high graded sale price does not automatically make a submission profitable. The decision should include every cost, realistic grade outcomes, selling friction, and the value of leaving the card raw.
Reviewed August 8, 2026 · By My Slab Stats Editorial
Calculate the true submission cost
Begin with the card’s acquisition cost, including tax and inbound shipping. Add the grading fee, supplies, insurance, and both directions of submission shipping. Allocate shared shipping across the cards in the order using a consistent method.
- Card purchase, tax, and inbound shipping
- Grading service and optional add-on fees
- Supplies, insurance, and submission shipping
- Return shipping and possible upcharges
Model more than the best grade
Use realistic outcomes based on condition review and relevant population information. Estimate the net sale proceeds for several likely grades, not just the grade that makes the submission attractive.
Expected value multiplies each outcome’s net proceeds by its probability and adds the results. The probabilities must total 100%. This is a planning model, not a grading guarantee.
Compare grading with selling raw
The correct comparison is not graded revenue versus zero. Compare the expected profit from grading with the profit available from selling the card raw today. Include the extra time, uncertainty, and capital tied up during grading.
Use net proceeds, not headline sales
Subtract marketplace fees, payment fees, promotional fees, outbound shipping, and other transaction costs from the expected sale. Taxes vary by situation, so consult an appropriate tax professional for tax treatment rather than treating this calculator as tax advice.
Worked example: expected grading value
- Total card and submission cost
- $95
- 25% chance: higher grade net proceeds
- $190
- 55% chance: middle grade net proceeds
- $120
- 20% chance: lower grade net proceeds
- $75
- Probability-weighted proceeds
- $128.50
- Expected profit before tax
- $33.50
Takeaway: If selling raw would produce $35 profit immediately, the grading path may not justify the time and downside even though the highest-grade outcome looks attractive.
Frequently asked questions
What costs belong in a grading profit calculation?
Include acquisition cost, tax, inbound shipping, grading fees, supplies, insurance, submission shipping, return shipping, selling fees, and outbound shipping.
How do I account for uncertain grades?
Model several plausible grade outcomes, assign probabilities totaling 100%, and compare the probability-weighted result with selling raw.
Does the calculator predict a card’s grade?
No. It models financial scenarios from the assumptions entered. It cannot guarantee a grade, sale price, or profit.