Worked example (assumptions you can change)
The card costs and sells raw for $80. Assumed graded sale prices are multiples of raw: 10 = 3.2×, 9 = 1.4×, 8 = 0.9×, 7 or lower = 0.6×, with grade odds of 22% / 45% / 24% / 9%. 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 | 22% | $256.00 | $34.32 | $106.68 |
| 9 | 45% | $112.00 | $15.24 | -$18.24 |
| 8 | 24% | $72.00 | $9.94 | -$52.94 |
| 7 or lower | 9% | $48.00 | $6.76 | -$73.76 |
All-in cost: $80.00 card + $20.00 CGC fee (Economy (90 working days)) + $10 round-trip shipping = $110.00. Odds-weighted profit = -$4.08; selling raw nets -$16.00. To beat selling raw, the chance of a 10 must be about 13.6% 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 | $133.03 | -$4.08 |
| SGC | Standard, up to $1,500 (40+ days) | $50.00 | $167.61 | -$34.08 |
| PSA | Standard (90-100 business days) | $59.99 | $179.12 | -$44.07 |
| BGS | Express (15 business days) | $79.95 | $202.13 | -$64.03 |
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 hockey cards
Hockey markets are thinner than basketball or football, so a 10 premium holds mainly for top rookies, and sold comps may be few. Glossy rookie cards can have surface flaws, and edges chip easily. Fewer buyers means slower sales; build that into your plan.
Grader acceptance and category rules change: confirm on the grader’s own site (PSA · SGC · BGS · CGC). Fees checked October 14, 2026.
Open the calculator with this example pre-filled · all card types · gem-rate table · grading costs
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