Worked example (assumptions you can change)
The card costs and sells raw for $100. Assumed graded sale prices are multiples of raw: 10 = 3.0×, 9 = 1.4×, 8 = 0.9×, 7 or lower = 0.6×, with grade odds of 25% / 45% / 22% / 8%. These are illustrative, not market data: replace them with sold comps and your own read of the card.
| Grade | Odds | Sells for | eBay fee | Profit after all costs |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 25% | $300.00 | $40.15 | $124.85 |
| 9 | 45% | $140.00 | $18.95 | -$13.95 |
| 8 | 22% | $90.00 | $12.33 | -$57.33 |
| 7 or lower | 8% | $60.00 | $8.35 | -$83.35 |
All-in cost: $100.00 card + $20.00 CGC fee (Economy (90 working days)) + $10 round-trip shipping = $130.00. Odds-weighted profit = $5.65; selling raw nets -$18.65. To beat selling raw, the chance of a 10 must be about 9.7% with the other grades keeping their relative odds.
Cheapest eligible tier at each grader
| Grader | Tier | Fee | Break-even sale | Expected profit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CGC | Economy (90 working days) | $20.00 | $156.08 | $5.65 |
| SGC | Standard, up to $1,500 (40+ days) | $50.00 | $190.66 | -$24.35 |
| PSA | Standard (90-100 business days) | $59.99 | $202.18 | -$34.34 |
| BGS | Express (15 business days) | $79.95 | $225.19 | -$54.30 |
Assumptions: $5 shipping to the grader and $5 back per card, $5 shipping to the buyer, standard eBay trading-card fees (13.25% + $0.40 per order, $0.30 at $10 or less), no sales tax. Fees checked October 14, 2026. Change any of these in the calculator.
What differs for basketball cards
Chrome-style basketball cards are prone to surface lines and off-center prints, and 10s command a big premium on stars and rookies. Value depends heavily on the current player market and a card’s population, so compare sold prices of each grade. Base commons from big sets are rarely worth the fee.
Grader acceptance and category rules change: confirm on the grader’s own site (PSA · SGC · BGS · CGC). Fees checked October 14, 2026.
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