Raw vs. graded card value
Grading does not magically create value. The market pays for a combination of the card, condition, authentication, grader, grade, eye appeal, scarcity and current demand.
Why a graded copy may sell for more
A recognized third-party grade can reduce uncertainty about authenticity and condition. High grades can also be scarce relative to the number of submitted copies. But the size of the premium depends on the exact card and grade.
Why grading can fail to add value
- The card receives a lower grade than expected.
- The grading fee consumes most of the premium.
- Demand for the card changes while it is away.
- The population of high-grade copies grows.
- Buyers value another grader or grade differently.
- The raw card already had unusually strong eye appeal.
Compare like with like
A PSA 10 sale should not automatically be treated as the value of a BGS 9.5, CGC 10, SGC 10 or TAG 10. Likewise, a clean raw copy is not necessarily comparable with a damaged raw copy. Use recent completed sales for the closest possible match.
The number IQCardGuide cares about
Graded premium % = ((graded sale value − comparable raw sale value) ÷ comparable raw sale value) × 100.
A percentage makes it easier to compare cards at very different price levels. A $40 gain on a $20 raw card means something very different from a $40 gain on a $400 raw card.
Use the same grade targets across graders.
For simple grader-to-grader comparisons, IQCardGuide will focus on PSA 10, BGS 10, BGS 9.5, CGC 10, SGC 10 and TAG 10. BGS 9.5 stays in the comparison because it is an important high-grade Beckett result and should not be forced into the same bucket as BGS 10.
| Grade target | What IQCardGuide will show |
|---|---|
| PSA 10 | Average premium % vs. comparable raw sales |
| BGS 10 | Average premium % vs. comparable raw sales |
| BGS 9.5 | Average premium % vs. comparable raw sales |
| CGC 10 | Average premium % vs. comparable raw sales |
| SGC 10 | Average premium % vs. comparable raw sales |
| TAG 10 | Average premium % vs. comparable raw sales |
How the average is calculated
For each qualifying card, IQCardGuide first builds separate raw and exact-grade reference values from comparable completed sales. When enough clean comps exist, the median within each bucket is preferred to reduce outlier influence. The card-level premium percentage is calculated next, and those card-level percentages are then averaged. This prevents one expensive card from dominating the comparison.
Every published figure should show the sample size, sales window and last-updated date. Thin or inconsistent data should be labeled rather than forced into a precise-looking number.
A grader-wide percentage is a market summary, not a promise that every card will receive that premium. Individual-card completed sales remain the strongest evidence for a specific card.
Read the complete IQCardGuide value methodology →