How to Use Grading ROI Analysis

Last Updated: February 1, 2026

Feature: Premium Tools → Grading ROI Tab

Audience: Premium Subscribers

Grading ROI (Return on Investment) helps you identify which Pokemon cards are most profitable to get professionally graded. The tool calculates potential profit by comparing:

- Raw Near Mint Price: What you'd pay for an ungraded card in Near Mint condition

- Graded Price: What the card sells for after grading (PSA 10, BGS 9.5, etc.)

- Grading Cost: The tier fee based on card value and turnaround time

Example Scenario:

- Raw Near Mint Pikachu: $50

- PSA 10 Graded Price: $200

- PSA Value tier cost: $27.99

- Profit: $200 - $50 - $27.99 = $122.01 (244% ROI)

This helps you:

- ✅ Find cards where grading adds the most value

- ✅ Avoid losing money on cards where grading costs more than the price increase

- ✅ Plan profitable grading submissions before spending money

- ✅ Compare different grading companies and service levels

1. Navigate to Premium Tools in the main navigation

2. Click the Grading ROI tab (rightmost tab)

3. You'll see a table of Pokemon cards sorted by profitability

Each row shows a card with its best grading opportunity. Click the expand arrow (▼) to see all grading options.

Use the filter bar above the table to narrow down opportunities:

Choose which grading companies to include:

- PSA: Most popular, highest resale values for vintage

- BGS: Preferred for modern cards, subgrades add value

- CGC: Lower costs, growing market acceptance

- TAG: Newest, lower population counts

Tip: Include all companies to compare options for the same card.

Focus on specific grade levels:

- Grade 10: Highest value, lowest success rate (~10-15%)

- Grade 9.5: BGS only, excellent alternative to PSA 10

- Grade 9: More achievable, still valuable

- Grade 8: Budget option for vintage cards

- All Grades: See all opportunities (default)

Filter by Pokemon TCG generation:

- Vintage (1999-2003): Base Set, Jungle, Fossil, Team Rocket, Neo series

- Ex Era (2003-2007): Ruby & Sapphire through Diamond & Pearl

- Modern (2017-Present): Sun & Moon through current sets

Why it matters: Vintage cards have different gem rates and market values than modern cards.

Select specific sets like "Base Set", "Evolving Skies", or "151"

Use case: Focus on sets you're already collecting or where you have access to raw cards.

Hide certain rarities you don't want to grade:

- Common/Uncommon: Usually not profitable to grade

- Promo: Varies widely in value

- Special Illustration Rare: Often expensive raw but not always worth grading

Filter by card language:

- English: Most liquid market, highest demand

- Japanese: Lower raw prices, but graded market is strong

- Other Languages: Niche markets, research carefully

Set minimum thresholds for profitability:

Profit Range:

- Minimum: Only show cards with at least $X profit (default: $50)

- Maximum: Cap maximum profit to focus on accessible cards

ROI Range:

- Minimum ROI%: Only show cards with at least X% return (default: 50%)

- Higher ROI% means better use of your grading budget

Example: Set minimum profit to $100 and minimum ROI to 100% to find only highly profitable opportunities.

Filter by grading population (how many exist):

- Low Pop (< 100): Rarer, potentially more valuable

- Medium Pop (100-1,000): Established market

- High Pop (> 1,000): More liquid but lower premiums

Strategy: Low pop + high grade = potentially higher multiples on your investment.

- ON (default): Only show opportunities with positive profit

- OFF: Include all grades, even unprofitable ones (useful for research)

Best For: Vintage cards, mainstream collecting

Pros: Highest resale values, most recognized brand, largest population database

Cons: Expensive, longer turnaround times

Tiers:

- Value ($27.99): Up to $500 value, 75 days - Most popular for budget grading

- Value Plus ($44.99): Up to $500 value, 45 days

- Regular ($74.99): Up to $1,500 value, 20 days

- Express ($149): Up to $2,500 value, 15 days

- Super Express ($299): Up to $5,000 value, 7 days

Special Tiers (Require PSA Collectors Club membership):

- TCG Bulk ($18.99): 20+ cards, up to $300 value each, 95 days

- Value Bulk ($21.99): 20+ cards, up to $500 value each, 95 days

Best For: Modern cards, cards where centering matters

Pros: Subgrades provide detailed condition info, BGS 10 Black Label is ultra-premium

Cons: More strict on centering, complex grading scale

Grades:

- BGS 10 Black Label: All four subgrades are 10 (extremely rare)

- BGS 10 Pristine: Average 10 with no subgrade below 9.5

- BGS 9.5 Gem Mint: Most common high grade for modern cards

Tiers:

- Base ($25): Up to $500, 30-45 days

- Premium ($40): Up to $1,000, 20-25 days

- Premium Plus ($70): Up to $2,500, 10-15 days

Best For: Budget grading, modern cards, growing your collection

Pros: Lowest costs, fast turnaround, gaining market acceptance

Cons: Lower resale premiums vs PSA/BGS (currently)

Tiers:

- Economy ($16): Up to $250, 45-60 days - Cheapest option

- Standard ($25): Up to $500, 30 days

- Express ($50): Up to $1,500, 15 days

Special Grades:

- CGC 10 Pristine: Highest grade, equivalent to PSA 10

- CGC 9.5 Gem Mint: Half-point grading adds precision

Best For: New collectors, experimental grading

Pros: Low population counts (easier to get low pop cards), affordable

Cons: Newest company, less established market, lower resale values

Tiers:

- Economy ($16): Up to $300, 45 days

- Standard ($22): Up to $500, 25 days

- Express ($40): Up to $1,500, 15 days

Click column headers to change sorting:

- ROI % (Highest): Best return on investment (default)

- Profit (Highest): Maximum dollar profit per card

- Raw Price (Lowest): Cheapest cards to buy and grade

- Gem Rate (Highest): Most likely to achieve target grade

- Pop (Lowest): Rarest graded examples

Pro Tip: Sort by "Raw Price (Lowest)" + filter "Profit Min: $50" to find affordable opportunities that still profit well.

The Grading ROI tab integrates with Double Holo's Submission Builder to help you plan your grading submissions.

A submission is a planned batch of cards you intend to send to a grading company. Think of it like a shopping cart, but for cards you're grading instead of buying.

Submission Lifecycle:

1. Draft: Planning phase - add/remove cards, compare options, see total costs

2. Submitted: Cards sent to grader - locked, waiting for results

3. Graded: Results received - compare actual vs. expected grades, track accuracy

4. Archived: Completed submissions for historical tracking

Step 1: Find a Card to Grade

1. Browse the Grading ROI table

2. Click the expand arrow (▼) on a card to see all grading options

3. Review profit, ROI%, and gem rate for each company/grade combination

Step 2: Add Card to Submission

Option A: Quick Add (If You Have an Active Draft)

1. Click the "+" button next to the grade you want

2. Card instantly adds to your active submission

3. Green checkmark (✓) confirms it was added

4. Badge shows "Added!" for 3 seconds

Option B: Select or Create Submission

1. Click the "+" button

2. If no active draft exists, you'll see a modal:

- Create New Submission: Enter a name (e.g., "December PSA 10s")

- Select Existing: Choose from your draft submissions

3. Card is added to the selected submission

Best Practice: Name submissions by month and company (e.g., "Feb 2026 PSA", "BGS Modern").

Step 3: Review Your Submission

On Desktop:

- Submission panel is on the right side of the screen

- Shows all cards, total cost, expected profit, and ROI

On Mobile/Tablet:

- Tap the pink floating button (📋) in the bottom-right corner

- Opens the submission drawer

Submission Panel Shows:

- Card count: How many cards you're grading

- Total Investment: Raw card costs + Grading fees + Shipping (if enabled)

- Expected Value: Total selling price if all cards grade as expected

- Expected Profit: Value - Investment

- Expected ROI%: (Profit / Investment) × 100

- Warnings: Validation issues (mixed companies, tier requirements)

Step 4: Manage Your Cards

Add More Cards:

- Continue browsing and clicking "+" on other cards

- Mix different cards to one submission OR create separate submissions per company

Remove Cards:

- Open submission panel/drawer

- Click the trash icon (🗑️) next to any card

- Confirms removal

Reorder Cards:

- Drag and drop cards in the submission panel

- Useful for organizing by set or value

Change Options:

- Click "Edit" on a card

- Adjust company, grade target, or service tier

- Add private notes (e.g., "Check corners")

Click the gear icon (⚙️) in the submission panel to configure:

Include Card Cost:

- ON (default): Includes raw card purchase price in investment

- OFF: Only counts grading fees (if you already own the cards)

Include Grading Cost:

- ON (default): Includes tier fees in investment

- OFF: Calculates profit as if grading were free (theoretical max)

Include Shipping:

- ON: Adds shipping cost to grading company

- OFF: Excludes shipping (if prepaid or included in membership)

- Default: $25 for 1-10 cards, $40 for 11-25, $60 for 26+

Include Fees:

- ON: Adds marketplace fees (10%) if you plan to sell on Double Holo

- OFF: Calculates net profit without platform fees

Fee Percentage Override:

- Adjust if you plan to sell elsewhere (eBay ~13%, TCGPlayer ~11%)

- Default is 10% (Double Holo's seller fee)

Shipping Cost Override:

- Manually set shipping if you have a different rate

- Useful if you have Collectors Club or bulk discounts

The submission builder automatically validates your submission and shows warnings:

⚠️ Mixed Grading Companies

- Issue: Submission contains cards for PSA and BGS

- Impact: You'll need to create two shipments

- Fix: Create separate submissions per company OR remove mixed cards

⚠️ Bulk Tier Requirement Not Met

- Issue: You selected "PSA TCG Bulk" but only have 15 cards (minimum: 20)

- Impact: Can't use bulk pricing, will be rejected

- Fix: Add 5 more cards OR switch to "PSA Value" tier

⚠️ Card Value Exceeds Tier Maximum

- Issue: Card worth $600 but selected "PSA Value" tier (max $500)

- Impact: PSA will reject the card or upcharge you

- Fix: Select "Value Max" ($1,000 max) or "Regular" tier ($1,500 max)

⚠️ Requires Collectors Club Membership

- Issue: Selected "PSA TCG Bulk" but you need membership ($99/year)

- Impact: Can't submit at this tier without membership

- Fix: Upgrade to Collectors Club OR use standard tiers

⚠️ Missing Price Data

- Issue: Card doesn't have recent graded sales data

- Impact: Profit calculation may be inaccurate

- Fix: Manually research recent sales OR override sale price

If raw card prices change after you build your submission:

1. Open the submission

2. Click "Refresh Prices" button

3. Updates all raw NM prices from current market data

4. Recalculates profit and ROI with new prices

Rate Limit: Once per 30 seconds to prevent spam.

Use Case: You built a submission 2 weeks ago, prices dropped, refresh to see updated profitability.

Once your submission is complete and you're ready to send cards to the grading company:

1. Open your draft submission

2. Review all cards, costs, and warnings

3. Click "Mark as Submitted"

4. Status changes to "Submitted"

What Happens:

- ✅ Submission is locked - can't add/remove cards or change options

- ✅ Timestamp records when you submitted

- ✅ Can still add notes to individual cards

- ✅ Can track expected vs actual turnaround time

Important: This is for YOUR tracking - Double Holo doesn't actually send cards. You still need to package and ship cards to PSA/BGS/CGC/TAG yourself.

When your cards return from grading:

1. Open the "Submitted" submission

2. Click "Mark as Graded"

3. For each card, enter the actual grade received:

- If you expected PSA 10 but got PSA 9, enter "9"

- If you expected BGS 9.5 but got BGS 9, enter "9"

4. Click "Save Grades"

What Happens:

- ✅ Shows accuracy rate: "80% cards graded as expected"

- ✅ Recalculates actual profit vs. expected profit

- ✅ Updates your grading accuracy history

- ✅ Helps you calibrate future expectations

Example Report:

Expected Profit: $1,250

Actual Profit: $890 (71% of expected)

Breakdown:

- 8 cards: Graded as expected (PSA 10)

- 2 cards: Graded lower (PSA 9 instead of 10)

Once you've sold the graded cards or no longer need to track them:

1. Open the "Graded" submission

2. Click "Archive"

3. Status changes to "Archived"

What Happens:

- ✅ Removed from active submissions list

- ✅ Still visible in "View Archived" section

- ✅ Can be deleted permanently if desired

- ✅ Doesn't count towards active submission limits

Use Case: Keep recent submissions active, archive old ones to reduce clutter.

Made a mistake? You can move submissions back:

Submitted → Draft:

1. Open submitted submission

2. Click "Return to Draft"

3. Can now edit cards again

Use Case: Realized you picked the wrong tier or want to add more cards before shipping.

Note: Can't revert from Graded or Archived (those are final states).

Goal: Maximize profit per dollar spent on grading.

Strategy:

1. Filter by company (e.g., PSA only)

2. Sort by ROI% (Highest)

3. Set minimum profit to $50

4. Set target grade to PSA 10

5. Add 20+ cards to qualify for bulk pricing

6. Verify all cards are under bulk tier max value ($300 for TCG Bulk)

Benefit: Save $9-16 per card using bulk tiers vs. individual submissions.

Example:

- 20 cards × $27.99 (Value) = $559.80

- 20 cards × $18.99 (TCG Bulk) = $379.80 (Save $180!)

Goal: Grade new releases with high gem rates.

Strategy:

1. Filter to "Modern" era

2. Sort by Gem % (Highest)

3. Select CGC or TAG for lower costs

4. Target cards with >20% gem rate for Grade 10

5. Focus on Special Illustration Rares from recent sets

Why It Works: Modern cards in Near Mint condition have higher success rates for gem grades.

Example: SIR Charizard from Obsidian Flames

- Raw NM: $120

- CGC 10: $250

- Gem Rate: 25%

- CGC Economy: $16

- Expected Value: (25% × $250) + (75% × $150) = $175 → $39 profit

Goal: Target vintage cards with low populations for potential home-runs.

Strategy:

1. Filter to "Vintage" era

2. Filter Pop (Max: 100)

3. Sort by Profit (Highest)

4. Research sold listings on eBay for recent comps

5. Look for crossover opportunities (CGC 10 to PSA 10)

Why It Works: Low pop cards can command significant premiums from collectors completing sets.

Risk: Lower liquidity - may take longer to sell.

Goal: Take advantage of lower Japanese raw prices.

Strategy:

1. Select "Japanese" language

2. Compare to English version of same card

3. Look for large spreads in raw price but similar graded prices

4. Popular with vintage and modern chase cards

Example: Japanese Charizard GX (Shiny Star V)

- Japanese Raw: $80

- English Raw: $150

- Both PSA 10: ~$400

- Better arbitrage on Japanese ($400 - $80 = $320 upside vs $250)

Caution: Know your target market - some collectors prefer English only.

Goal: Target cards where lower grades still profit well.

Strategy:

1. Sort by "Grade 9" or "Grade 8"

2. Look for cards with >50% gem rate for Grade 9

3. Profit even if doesn't hit PSA 10

Why It Works: Less disappointment risk, more consistent returns.

Example: Umbreon VMAX Alt Art

- Raw NM: $200

- PSA 10: $500 (15% gem rate)

- PSA 9: $280 (60% gem rate)

- PSA Value tier: $27.99

- Targeting PSA 9: $280 - $200 - $27.99 = $52 profit (60% likely)

- Targeting PSA 10: $500 - $200 - $27.99 = $272 profit (15% likely)

- Expected value for PSA 9 target is higher!

Grading that card at that tier costs more than the value added. Either:

- Raw price is too high

- Graded price is too low

- Grading tier is too expensive

Solution: Try a cheaper company (CGC/TAG) or cheaper tier, or skip grading that card.

Not all cards have grading ROI data. We need:

- Recent raw Near Mint sales data

- Recent graded sales data (last 90 days)

- At least 5+ sales for statistical confidence

Solution: Click "Can't Find a Card?" button and submit a request. We'll add it if data is available.

Turn off "Include Card Cost" in submission settings. Now the tool shows profit assuming you already have the card (just grading fees matter).

Probably not, unless:

- You're okay with PSA 9 outcome

- You're sending for personal collection (not profit)

- You have inside info the card is truly mint

Better strategy: Target Grade 9 instead, which likely has 40-60% gem rate.

For Vintage Cards: PSA (highest resale values)

For Modern Cards: BGS or PSA (BGS 10 Black Label is aspirational)

For Budget/Testing: CGC or TAG (lowest costs)

For Bulk Grading: PSA with Collectors Club membership

- 50-100% ROI: Decent profit, worth considering

- 100-200% ROI: Strong opportunity

- 200%+ ROI: Excellent opportunity, prioritize these

- Negative ROI: Avoid grading

Yes! Many users buy raw cards from the marketplace, get them graded, then relist as graded. Just factor in the initial purchase price when calculating ROI.

Gem rates are statistical averages based on:

- Historical PSA/BGS/CGC population reports

- Card era (vintage ~5-10%, modern ~15-20% for PSA 10)

- Set rarity and print quality

Your actual results may vary based on:

- Card condition (surface, centering, edges, corners)

- Your grading submission prep (cleaning, sleeves)

- Grader strictness (varies by company and day)

Use gem rates as guidelines, not guarantees.

Not in the same submission batch. Create separate submissions:

- "Feb 2026 PSA 10s"

- "Feb 2026 BGS Modern"

This keeps tracking clean and matches real-world shipping.

Use the "Refresh Prices" button to update raw prices from current market data. Recalculates profit automatically.

Example: You added a card when raw was $50, now it's $70 → refreshing shows updated profit ($20 less).

- Start with high-ROI cards (200%+) to learn the process

- Use bulk tiers (20+ cards) for PSA to save money

- Mix grades (target PSA 9 + PSA 10) for balanced risk/reward

- Check population data - low pop can mean higher premiums

- Track actual grades to improve your calibration over time

- Set realistic gem rates - assume 10-15% for most cards

- Compare companies - click expand to see all options

- Consider total investment - don't overextend on grading fees

- Grade everything - be selective and data-driven

- Ignore warnings - fix bulk minimums and tier maximums

- Submit mixed companies in one batch - they need separate shipments

- Expect 100% PSA 10 rate - even pristine cards can grade 9

- Forget shipping costs - enable in settings for accurate profit

- Chase low-pop for its own sake - ensure there's buyer demand

- Grade common cards - usually not profitable (filter them out)

- Assume prices are static - refresh before finalizing submission

Speed up your workflow:

- Expand/Collapse Row: Click anywhere on the card row

- Quick Add: Click "+" button next to any grade

- Open Submission: Click the pink floating button (mobile)

- Filter Toggle: Press spacebar when focused on toggle switches

- Next Page: Click pagination arrows or press →

- Previous Page: ←

The Grading ROI tool is fully mobile-optimized:

- Swipe left/right on cards to see more details

- Tap floating pink button (📋) to open submission drawer

- Tap filter button (🔍) to open filter sheet

- Expand rows by tapping anywhere on the card

- Add cards by tapping "+" on any grade

Best Experience: Use desktop for building large submissions, mobile for quick additions while shopping.

- ✓ Check you have an active draft (not submitted/graded)

- ✓ Ensure you're logged in with Premium subscription

- ✓ Try creating a new submission

- ✓ Check browser console for errors

- Refresh the page

- Clear browser cache

- Try a different browser

- Check internet connection

Price data is refreshed daily from market sales. If you notice an error:

- Check recent sold listings on eBay/TCGPlayer

- Consider if a recent hype spike/crash occurred

- Report obvious errors via "Can't Find a Card?" button

Common fixes:

- Mixed companies: Remove cards or split into separate submissions

- Bulk minimum: Add more cards OR switch to non-bulk tier

- Tier maximum: Upgrade to higher tier OR remove over-value cards

- Collectors Club: Switch to standard tier OR get PSA membership

- Can't Find a Card?: Click the button in the top-right of the table to request specific cards

- Submission Issues: Check the validation warnings for specific guidance

- Discord: Join Double Holo Discord for grading discussions and strategy tips

- Articles: Check Help Center for more grading guides

- Contact Support: Email support@doubleholo.com for technical issues

Now that you understand how to use Grading ROI:

1. Browse the table and find 3-5 high-ROI cards

2. Create your first submission with a descriptive name

3. Add cards by clicking "+" on opportunities

4. Review your submission stats and adjust filters if needed

5. When ready, mark as submitted and send your cards

6. Record actual grades when cards return to track accuracy

Pro Tip: Start with 5-10 cards on your first submission to learn the process before committing to bulk tiers.

Gem Rate: Statistical probability that a card will achieve the target grade (e.g., 15% for PSA 10)

Grading Tier: Service level offered by grading company - affects cost, speed, and max card value

Pop (Population): Number of cards graded at a specific level (e.g., "PSA 10 Pop: 47")

Raw NM (Near Mint): Ungraded card in Near Mint condition - your initial investment

ROI% (Return on Investment): (Profit / Total Investment) × 100 - measures efficiency of capital

Submission: A planned batch of cards you intend to send to a grading company

Total Investment: Raw card cost + Grading fees + Shipping + Platform fees (if enabled)

Questions? Contact support@doubleholo.com or ask in Discord.

Feature Requests? We're always improving! Submit ideas via the Help Center or suggestions channel in the Double Holo Discord.