Raw vs Graded Cards: What’s the Difference?

2023 Panini Prizm Draft Picks Silver #2 Victor Wembanyama RC PSA 10 front

Browse any card shop and you’ll see two kinds of listings: raw cards and graded cards (also called slabs). Here’s what that means and how to choose.

Raw 1999 Pokémon Base Set Gyarados holo card
2019 Panini Prizm Ja Morant rookie card graded PSA 10
Raw vs graded: a raw Pokémon Base Set Gyarados (left) and a Ja Morant rookie card graded PSA 10 (right).

What is a raw card?

A raw card is exactly how it came out of the pack: no case, no grade. Its condition is up to the buyer and seller to judge from photos or in person.

Pros: cheaper, and you might be holding a future high grade.

Cons: condition is a judgement call, and small flaws are easy to miss in photos.

Keep raw cards in a penny sleeve and toploader. Our guide on how to protect your cards covers the basics.

What is a graded card?

A graded card has been sent to a grading company such as PSA, BGS (Beckett), SGC or CGC. Experts check that it’s authentic, give it a condition grade (usually on a 1 to 10 scale), and seal it in a tamper-evident plastic holder with a label showing the card details, the grade and a unique cert number.

Pros: the condition is settled, the card is protected, it’s easier to sell, and you can check the cert online. See how to check a PSA cert.

Cons: it costs more, especially at high grades, and grading takes time and fees.

What do the grades mean?

  • 10 (Gem Mint): sharp corners, clean edges, great centering, no visible flaws.
  • 9 (Mint): one very minor flaw.
  • 8 and below: more visible wear, such as soft corners, off-centering or surface marks.

The difference in price between a 9 and a 10 of the same card can be large, especially for popular rookie cards.

Graded rookie cards in the shop

What is the population report?

Grading companies publish how many copies of each card they’ve graded at each grade. A low population (“low pop”) card is rarer at that grade, which can make it more desirable. On Card Tings, PSA cards show their population right on the listing, and the homepage has a Low pop section.

Should I buy raw or graded?

  • Buy graded for big-ticket cards, or when you want certainty about condition. Browse graded slabs.
  • Buy raw for player collections, binder sets, or if you like the hunt and might grade cards yourself. Browse raw singles.

Raw singles in the shop

Whatever you collect, from soccer cards and NBA cards to NHL and Pokémon, the same rule applies: buy the card, check the details, protect it well. Got cards to move on? We buy both raw and graded: sell your cards to Card Tings.

Where to Buy Graded Cards Online

If you have decided graded is right for you, you can buy graded sports cards and graded Pokémon cards online at Card Tings. Browse graded cards and PSA slabs or Pokémon slabs, all photographed as the exact card you will receive, with cert numbers listed.

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