7 Places You Can Get Cards Graded in Person

Last updated on March 16, 2026

Consider | Illustration by Zezhou Chen

Card grading is an important part of being a collector. You want to make sure that your high-value, rare cards keep their value, whether you look to sell or trade your cards in the future or want them insured.

There’s a lot of risk involved when grading comes with sending thousands of dollars of card stock through the mail, so I’ve got a quick rundown on where to have your cards graded in person.

Where to Get Cards Graded In Person

Field Research | Illustration by PINDURSKI

In-person card grading comes in two main forms. Some options offer you an in-person, same-day turnaround, while others only allow for an in-person drop-off, with the cards shipped back to you later or available for pick-up at the same place you left them. I ranked the following grading services based on how quickly you can have your cards graded and how easy it is to find information on having it done in person, while you wait.

#5. MNT Grading

In the interest of being more thorough, I mention that MNT Grading processes grading for many local dealers and game stores across Canada, and a few in the US. Their website states that they don’t offer in-person drop-offs themselves, but they still take local drop-offs through the dealers listed on their dealer locator.

This isn’t really getting cards graded in person, though. You do an in-person drop-off and pick-up at a location, and your cards are sent elsewhere for grading. This process can also be slower, as many dealers only bulk ship your cards and those of other clients once per month. The service is cheaper, although your dealer of choice may quote a higher price than you’d pay if you were shipping directly to MNT yourself.

#4. PSA

PSA is one of the more well-known card grading services, and they often attend card shows, conventions, and other events. The booths at events often allow for dropping off cards to be graded and authenticating autographs. Their on-site grading is available at certain events, but there’s no specific guarantee of turnaround time because it can be hard to predict the demand. There’s also no specific price that’s quoted for every event; but the events PSA attends are listed in advance and the prices and turnaround times are greater than last year. If you find the price comparison helpful, here is a cost breakdown for one specific event in Toronto in 2023.

PSA’s Canadian office in Halifax, Nova Scotia, offers in-person drop-off, but they don’t do any of the grading on-site. Instead, your cards are sent to Santa Ana, California, so the quickest turnaround that they offer is 15 business days.

As with MNT, there are many trading card stores across North America that offer grading services fulfilled by PSA, so check your local game store, or GameStop, to see if they can have your cards shipped to PSA.

#3. GameStop

This one is a bit of a shortcut, because these the cards ultimately get graded by PSA. You don't need to be a huge video gamer to have stepped into a GameStop, and it's a lot easier to find a reliable GameStop than a PSA location. This is the reason GameStop ranks better. It's more accessible.

You are limited to cards worth less than $200 or you pay an extra fee, but the drop off and pick up process is as smooth as you can ask for at the price of $20 per card plus shipping. You get valuable benefits if you're a GameStop member, and the turnaround is on the slow side at 75 business days, a likely side effect of keeping the cost low. Not for everyone that wants card graded, but a very good option for many.

#2. Beckett

Beckett Collectibles is a company based in Plano, Texas, that offers grading for all kinds of collectibles, including grading services for trading cards. While most grading services give your card an overall grade, Beckett also offers the option to get subgrades for some of the key features like centering and corners.

Beckett attends trade shows, though you’ll need to make an account with them to access the list of upcoming shows where you can find them.

You can also make an appointment with Beckett if you want to drop off your cards in person at their office in Plano. While they don’t have a same-day option, their Priority grading option for trading cards runs at about $125 per card with subgrades, and a turnaround of 5 business days.

#1. KSA

KSA is a Canadian company that offers grading services in Ontario and British Columbia. While you can send them your cards through the mail, they also take in-person drop-offs at both locations without an appointment.

If you need a more immediate turnaround, KSA also offers a same-day grading at the price of $112 per card. This service and the online booking tool are mainly geared toward the Ontario office in Elmira, but the website also mentions that you can contact the Vancouver office directly by email or by phone to ask about in-person grading there.

I’m frankly rating KSA above the rest because of how easy it was to find rates for their in-person, same-day services. Everyone else made me dig, and even then, I didn’t always find what I was looking for.

How Much Does It Cost to Get Cards Graded in Person?

You can expect to pay more than $100 per card for in-person grading, or drop off for as little as $25 with a long wait. The in-person, same-day grading offered by KSA goes for $112 CDN per card, but you have to book an appointment and get yourself and your cards to their office in Elmira, ON.

PSA’s events calendar doesn’t quote specific prices for in-person grading. You could pay more to access higher card values and quicker turnarounds, as well, but having your cards graded at an event also means that you’ll have to pay to attend the event itself.

Beckett Collectibles doesn’t mention a same-day option for grading, although you can make an appointment for in-person drop off. The quickest grading option for TCG cards is Priority grading through Beckett at $125 with a turnaround of 5 business days.

Can I Get a Card Graded at a Card Show?

It is possible to get your card graded at a card show, huge tournament or convention. You should look for a large company like Beckett or PSA, and have an account with them before going in. Seek them out early since their turnaround time depends on demand.

What's the Process for In-Person Grading?

The process of sending your cards for grading by handing them off in person is generally similar with the most reputable graders. The costs vary widely and not all companies offer same-day returns. You bring your cards to the company booth, they'll ship them to their facility, then back to you.

Getting Cards Graded in the EU

GetGraded

GetGraded is a UK-based grading service that offers grading through the mail or through a few partner stores. While I couldn’t find a specific price for their in-person grading service there’s the option to come back when your cards are ready, or to have them graded while you wait. GetGraded’s Express Card Grading has an estimated turnaround of 2-5 business days and is priced at £18 per card. They accept shipping from the UK and USA.

GRAAD

GRAAD is a company based in Milan that offers in-person, same-day grading at their head office as well as drop offs at a local shop. You’ll have to put together an order on their website first, but it’s possible to select that you don’t need to have your items shipped. Same-day card grading starts at about €45 per card for up to nine items, then decreases to about €40 for 10-30 cards, and around €37 per card for 31 cards and more.

Can I Grade a Card Myself?

No, you can evaluate your card all you want and give it a sealed hard toploader, but you need credibility to give collectors a sense of what standards you hold card grading to. You are capable of evaluating a card's condition, but the weight of that evaluation is subjective. For example, how much do I trust a seller if they award a near mint card a 9.5, yet that seller is full of 1-star reviews?

Wrap Up

Forensic Researcher | Illustration by Aldo Dominguez

And that’s our quick look at having your cards graded in person! Don’t forget that getting to these places can also add to your grading costs, especially if you need to travel or pay entrance fees for trade shows or conventions. But, especially for the places that offer same-day services, you have the peace of mind that you’ll get your cards back on the same day you drop them off, rather than having to wait for any shipping or other processing times. Even if it’s just a drop-off that’ll be shipped to you, there’s something humanizing about having that face-to-face contact.

Have you had your cards graded in person? Are there any card grading companies we’ve missed that offer in-person, same-day grading? Let me know in the comments or over on Draftsim’s Discord.

Thank you for reading and take care! (Of yourself, and your cards.)