Grading is not instant. Turnaround ranges from about a week to several months depending on the service you choose and how busy the grader is. That wait is part of the cost — your money is tied up the whole time.
What affects turnaround
- Service tier — premium and express tiers are faster but cost more per card.
- Grader backlog — turnaround stretches during busy periods and big product releases.
- Submission size — large bulk lots can take longer to process.
- Shipping time — add the days each way to and from the grader.
Why the wait matters financially
If a card’s price is volatile, a long wait is a real risk — the market can move before your card comes back. For fast-moving modern cards, paying for quicker service can be worth it; for stable vintage, the cheaper, slower tier often makes more sense. Weigh the turnaround against the expected upside, which Breakeven helps you size up.