Getting Your Cards Graded from Australia in 2026
Grading means sending a card to an independent company that checks it's genuine, gives its condition a number (usually out of 10) and seals it in a hard plastic case called a slab. A good grade can multiply a card's price. A bad one can leave you out of pocket. Here's how it works from Australia, and how to decide if it's worth it.
Step 1: is the card worth grading?
Most cards aren't. Grading costs money and takes months, so it only makes sense when a high grade is worth a lot more than the card raw. A quick test:
- Look up what the card sells for raw, and what it sells for in a 9 and a 10. Use sold prices, not asking prices.
- Take away the all-in cost of grading (fee, postage both ways, insurance, GST).
- Be honest about the grade it will probably get. A card that looks perfect to the eye often comes back an 8 or 9.
If the card only makes money at a 10, it's a gamble. If it's still worth more than it cost at a 9, it's usually a sensible submission. Grading also helps with autographs and expensive cards, where buyers want proof the card is genuine.
MV's Market Value guide shows real sold prices in Australian dollars, one exact card and grade at a time. Free, no account needed.
Open the Market Value guide →Step 2: choose how to submit
| Route | How it works | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Australian submission service | You send or drop off your cards. They group them with other people's, ship them to the grader in the US and post the slabs back to you. | The most common route. Many quote one price per card that includes return postage, insurance and GST, but check. Examples include The Hobby (VIC), Mana Market, Card Bot (Melbourne) and Slabd (Adelaide). |
| Your local card shop | Many shops collect cards for grading and send them through a submission service or as a dealer. | Easy drop-off and someone to ask. Ask which service they use and what's included. |
| Direct to the grader | You open an account on the grader's website and post the cards to them yourself. | You pay postage both ways, insurance and GST on the way back. Availability changes: PSA has paused direct international submissions at times, so check its website first. CGC and Beckett also take international orders. |
| Smaller graders with local drop-off | Newer companies that grade faster and cheaper, some with drop-off points in Australia. | Handy for personal collections, but their slabs usually sell for less than PSA, BGS or CGC slabs. Check sold prices for that grader before you choose it. |
MVCollect isn't affiliated with any of the businesses named on this page. We've listed them because collectors ask us where to start.
Rough costs and wait times
Prices move often, so treat these as a rough guide and check the current price list before you send anything.
- PSA through an Australian service: from about A$70 a card at the cheapest (slowest) level in 2026, and well over A$100 a card for faster levels.
- CGC: often cheaper, from about A$40 a card through some Australian services.
- Wait: the cheapest levels can take 4 to 6 months door to door, including shipping. Faster levels can take weeks, at a much higher price.
- Upcharges: the price level depends on the card's value. If a card turns out to be worth more than the level you chose, the grader can charge you the difference.
Not sure which grader to choose? Our guide to PSA vs BGS vs CGC grading explains how their scales differ.
Step 3: before you send anything
- Check each card under a bright light: centring, corners, edges and the surface (scratches, print lines, dents). Leave out cards with obvious flaws.
- Wipe gently with a clean microfibre cloth to remove fingerprints and dust. Never use liquids.
- Pack them the way the service asks. Most want each card in a penny sleeve and a semi-rigid holder (such as a Card Saver), not a toploader. Read their packing guide.
- Declare values honestly. The declared value sets your price level and how much you're insured for.
- Photograph every card, front and back, and keep a list (card, declared value, date sent). It's your record if anything goes missing.
- Ask the service: What's included (GST, return postage, insurance)? How often do you ship? What happens if a parcel is lost? How do you handle upcharges?
When your slabs come back
Look up each slab's certificate number on the grader's own website and check the details match the card. When you sell a graded card on MVCollect, enter the grading company, grade and cert number, and buyers get a link to check it on the grader's site.
Checked October 2026. Grading companies change their prices, levels and international options often, so always confirm on the grader's own site (psacard.com, cgccards.com, beckett.com) and with your submission service.
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