How to Sell Your Pokémon Cards: Raw vs Graded, Where, and Fees
Selling Pokémon cards well is mostly two decisions: grade-or-not, and where. Get those right and you keep more of the money; get them wrong and fees, returns, or a needless grading bill quietly eat your profit.
Raw or graded? Do the break-evenCommunity-reported
Grading costs money and weeks of time, so it only pays when the value bump clears the cost. The math: (expected graded price x likely grade odds) minus grading + shipping, vs the raw price now.
- Grade when the card is high-value AND high-condition (a likely 9 or 10) - that's where the multiplier is biggest.
- Don't grade cheap or clearly played cards - a $15 card in a $25 grading slot loses money.
- Yes, PSA 6s and 7s still sell and trade - just at a discount to 9s/10s; for low-value or vintage cards a mid grade can still beat raw, but for modern cards it usually isn't worth the fee.
- If you're unsure of the grade, read the condition guide first - assume a 9 unless it's flawless.
Where to sell (and what it costs)Community-reported
Each venue trades reach for fees and hassle:
- eBay: biggest buyer pool and sold-price transparency, but ~13%+ final-value fee plus shipping - price that in.
- TCGplayer: great for moving volume/singles at market, with its own seller fees.
- Local card shops / shows: instant cash, no shipping or fees, but you'll get a wholesale (buy-list) price, not retail.
- Discord marketplaces / Facebook groups: low or no fees and direct buyers, but more scam risk - use tracked shipping and keep records.
- Match the venue to the card: high-value graded -> eBay; bulk and mid-value -> TCGplayer or a show.
Price it to actually sell
List at or just under the recent SOLD price, not the highest active listing. Be honest about condition (overstating = returns). Bundle low-value cards into lots - a $3 card isn't worth a $5 shipping hassle on its own. If it's not selling, the price is the message.
Don't get scammed on the sell side
Sellers get targeted too: chargeback scams, 'send it first' DMs, and swapped-return fraud. Use tracked + signature shipping on anything valuable, keep the platform's protection by not moving off-platform for big sales, and photograph the card before shipping. See the scams guide for the full list.