Raw vs. Graded Cards: Which Should You Buy?

If you're deciding between a raw card and a graded slab of the same player, the choice usually comes down to price, protection, and what you plan to do with the card. Here's how the two compare.

What "raw" means

A raw card is ungraded. It's sold based on its photographs and a written condition description, not a third-party opinion. Every raw single at The Card Breaks is scanned front and back before it's listed, and visible flaws such as soft corners, edge wear, surface scratches, print lines, or off-centering are called out in the description. A raw card is not guaranteed to receive any particular grade if you submit it for grading later.

What "graded" means

A graded card, or slab, has already been authenticated and assigned a numeric grade by an independent third-party grading company — PSA, SGC, BGS, CGC, or another recognized grader — and ships sealed in that company's protective holder with a certification number. That number can be independently verified on the grading company's own website, which is worth doing before or after any graded purchase.

Trade-offs to weigh

• Price: raw cards are typically the more affordable way to own a given card, since you aren't paying for the grading and encapsulation.
• Handling: a raw card can be resleeved, examined closely, or submitted for grading on your own timeline. A graded card stays sealed in its holder.
• Certainty: a graded card's condition has already been assessed and documented by an independent company. A raw card's condition is only as good as the photos and description — which is why we photograph every raw card front and back rather than relying on a single stock image.
• Resale: a graded card's condition and authenticity are already vouched for by an independent company, which many buyers find easier to trust and price sight-unseen than an ungraded card.

Returns

Both raw singles and graded slabs can be returned within 14 days of delivery if the item doesn't match its photos or description. A grade you receive after buying a raw card, or disagreement with a third-party grader's opinion on a slab, is not grounds for a return on its own.

Browse raw singles or graded slabs to see what's currently in stock.