Is Getting a Game Graded (WATA / VGA) Worth the Fee?
Grading turns a condition argument into a number on a slab — but the slab only pays for itself when the value it adds beats what it costs. Here is where that line actually falls.
The short answer
Grading is worth the fee only when the slab adds more value than it costs — generally on sealed or high-condition copies already worth a few hundred dollars or more, where authentication and a standardized grade unlock buyers and liquidity. For loose carts and common games, the grading fee usually exceeds the value it adds.
The Short Answer
Grading is worth it when the grade adds more to the sale price than the submission costs, and not before. That line sits at games already worth a few hundred dollars or more, almost always sealed or in exceptional condition. On those copies, a slab from WATA, VGA, or CGC authenticates the item, standardizes its condition on a known scale, and opens up the high-end buyer pool that will not touch a raw expensive copy. The grade pays for itself many times over.
Below that line, grading destroys value rather than adding it. A common loose cartridge worth a small amount will not gain enough from a slab to cover the fee and the months of turnaround, and you will have spent more than the game is worth to put a number on it. The decision is arithmetic, not sentiment.
What You Are Actually Paying For
A grading fee buys three things. The first is authentication: a recognized grader confirms the game is genuine and, for a sealed copy, that the shrinkwrap is original and untampered. On a high-value sealed game, this is the single most important service, because the biggest risk in the hobby is the reseal, an opened copy rewrapped to pass as factory sealed.
The second is a standardized condition grade on a published scale, which lets a buyer anywhere trust the condition without inspecting the item in person. The third is the slab itself, a tamper-evident case that protects the game and makes the grade portable. Together these are what turn an expensive raw copy into a liquid, trusted asset. None of them matter much on a cheap game that buyers are happy to assess by eye.
When It Pays and When It Doesn't
Grade when the copy is sealed and valuable, when the game is a known reseal target, when condition is high enough that a top grade is plausible, and when you intend to sell into the high-end market where slabs are the price of entry. In those cases the grade routinely adds a multiple to the sale price, far outrunning the fee.
Do not grade common loose carts, beat-up copies that will grade low, games you intend to keep and play, or anything whose value is below the cost of the service plus the slab. A low grade can also cap a price you would have done better leaving as an honest raw listing. And remember that grading is slow: factor in turnaround time and the opportunity cost of money tied up while a copy sits in the queue.
WATA vs. VGA vs. CGC
The three recognized graders do not share a scale, and which one you choose affects both cost and resale. WATA uses a 10-point box grade plus a separate letter seal rating and is the name most associated with record-setting sealed sales. VGA, the legacy grader, uses a granular 100-point scale and a reputation for strict, conservative grading. CGC brings a comic-and-card-style 10-point scale and large-operation capacity.
Because the scales differ, a grade only means something once you know who assigned it, and cross-comparing numbers between companies without translating is a beginner mistake. For resale, match the grader to the market: high-end sealed buyers have strong preferences, and a slab from the grader that segment trusts will sell faster and higher. Our grading guide breaks down each scale, the box-versus-seal distinction, and the reseal red flags worth knowing before you submit or buy.
Prices & references in this guide
Frequently asked questions
- Is it worth grading a video game?
- Only when the grade adds more value than the fee costs — generally on sealed or high-condition copies already worth a few hundred dollars or more. Grading authenticates the item, standardizes its condition, and unlocks high-end buyers. For common loose carts, the fee usually exceeds the value added.
- How much value does grading add to a game?
- On a scarce sealed copy, a strong grade can multiply the sale price, because the high-end buyer pool will not touch an unauthenticated raw copy and top grades are scarce. On a common or low-condition game, grading adds little or nothing and can cost more than the game is worth.
- What is the difference between WATA, VGA, and CGC?
- They are the three recognized video game graders and they use different scales: WATA a 10-point box grade plus a letter seal rating, VGA a 100-point scale known for strict grading, and CGC a comic-style 10-point scale. A grade only means something once you know which company assigned it.