Sports Card ROI Calculator
Calculate your true expected return from grading versus selling raw. Takes into account grade probabilities, fees, comps, and opportunity cost.
What is sports card grading ROI?
ROI (return on investment) for card grading measures how much profit you generate relative to your grading spend. A 100% ROI means you doubled your grading costs in extra profit. A negative ROI means grading cost you money versus selling raw.
How GradeYield calculates grading ROI
The calculator uses expected value — a probability-weighted average — to model all possible grade outcomes. Rather than assuming a best case (PSA 10), it accounts for every possible grade and weights them by your estimated probabilities.
The ROI formula is: (EV of graded path - net raw sale) / total grading cost × 100
When is card grading ROI positive?
- • The graded premium (PSA 10 / raw multiple) is high enough to cover all costs
- • Your estimated PSA 10 probability is above the break-even threshold
- • The card has a liquid market with reliable recent comps
- • Downside grades (PSA 8, below 8) still retain meaningful value