Worked example (assumptions you can change)
The card costs and sells raw for $60. Assumed graded sale prices are multiples of raw: 10 = 3.5×, 9 = 1.4×, 8 = 0.9×, 7 or lower = 0.6×, with grade odds of 15% / 35% / 30% / 20%. 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 | 15% | $210.00 | $28.23 | $86.77 |
| 9 | 35% | $84.00 | $11.53 | -$22.53 |
| 8 | 30% | $54.00 | $7.56 | -$48.56 |
| 7 or lower | 20% | $36.00 | $5.17 | -$64.17 |
All-in cost: $60.00 card + $20.00 CGC fee (Economy (90 working days)) + $10 round-trip shipping = $90.00. Odds-weighted profit = -$22.27; selling raw nets -$13.35. To beat selling raw, the chance of a 10 must be about 22% 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 | $109.97 | -$22.27 |
| SGC | Standard, up to $1,500 (40+ days) | $50.00 | $144.55 | -$52.27 |
| PSA | Standard (90-100 business days) | $59.99 | $156.07 | -$62.26 |
| BGS | Express (15 business days) | $79.95 | $179.08 | -$82.22 |
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 Yu-Gi-Oh! cards
Yu-Gi-Oh! cards from early sets often have off-center prints and soft corners, so true 10s can be scarce, and a 10 can sell for many times a 9 on key cards. Modern foils may show surface scratches. Confirm your chosen grader accepts them and check the pop report for your set.
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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