PCGS & NGC fees, checked Oct 2026
Coin Grading Cost Calculator (PCGS & NGC)
Tell us what kind of coin you have, how many and what each is worth. You'll see the cheapest PCGS or NGC tier that fits, the full cost with return shipping and membership, and whether grading is likely to pay for itself.
What one coin should be worth once graded. This is the declared value that sets your tier and insurance.
We pick the cheapest tier allowed for your coin and value. You can choose a faster one.
Cheapest level that can submit: PCGS Silver $69 a year, NGC Associate $39 a year.
Ask your post office for insured or registered mail at your declared value.
Total cost
$0.00
Cost per coin
$0.00
| Item | Detail | Amount |
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Same coins at PCGS and NGC
Cheapest allowed tier at each, with the same membership and postage choices.
| Service | Tier | Total | Per coin | Est. wait |
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Is it worth grading?
Use recent sold prices for the same coin, raw and in the grade you expect. Price guides and auction records are a good start.
Enter both prices to see whether grading adds more than it costs.
2026 PCGS and NGC grading fees
These are per-coin prices for members who submit directly, as posted on each company's site on October 9, 2026. The value limit is per coin. Return shipping and insurance are extra.
PCGS (Collectors Club members)
| Tier | Fee per coin | Max value | Est. wait | For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modern Value | $17 | $300 | 25 business days | Modern coins (no year cutoff posted; we use 1965+) |
| Economy | $24 | $300 | 50 business days | Not gold, colonials, patterns or tokens |
| Modern | $30 | $3,000 | 25 business days | Modern coins (no year cutoff posted; we use 1965+) |
| Regular | $42 | $3,000 | 40 business days | Any coin |
| Express | $70 | $10,000 | 20 business days | Any coin |
| Walkthrough | $150 | $50,000 | 5 business days | Any coin |
| Rarities | $300 + 1% | No limit | 2-5 business days | Plus 1% guarantee premium |
Return postage and insurance start at $27 for 1 to 4 coins worth up to $1,000 in total. Membership is $69 (Silver), $149 (Gold, with four grading vouchers for Regular-tier coins up to $2,500) or $249 (Platinum, eight vouchers) a year. If you will send four Regular coins this year, the Gold level's vouchers cover $168 of fees.
NGC (collector members)
| Tier | Fee per coin | Max value | Est. wait | For |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Modern | $20 | $3,000 | 60 working days | Struck 1965 to present |
| Economy | $25 | $300 | 60 working days | Not gold or US colonials |
| Standard | $45 | $3,000 | 30 working days | Any coin |
| Gold | $45 | $5,000 | 10 working days | Gold coins only |
| Express | $80 | $10,000 | 7 working days | Any coin |
| WalkThrough | $175 | $25,000 | 7 working days | Any coin |
| Unlimited WalkThrough | $350 + 1% | No limit | 7 working days | Plus 1% of fair market value |
NGC adds a $10 handling fee per invoice. Return shipping starts at $30 for up to 10 coins worth $5,000 or less. Associate membership is $39 a year; Premium is $159 and includes a $150 credit with NGC.
When grading pays
- Key dates and scarce mint marks, such as a 1909-S VDB cent or a 1916-D dime. A PCGS or NGC holder vouches that the date and mint mark are genuine. PCGS backs grade and authenticity with a cash-back guarantee.
- Coins that may grade near the top of the scale. Look up your coin in the PCGS or NGC price guide. If the price in the grade you expect is well above the raw price, the fee can pay for itself.
- Gold. A PCGS or NGC holder settles the counterfeit question before a buyer asks it. A $20 Double Eagle worth $4,500 goes in PCGS Express at $70 or NGC's Gold tier at $45.
When it doesn't
Common circulated silver almost never pays. A worn 1964 quarter holds 0.1808 oz of silver, about $10.85 at $60 silver. PCGS's $24 Economy fee is more than twice that before shipping. Coins that have been cleaned or damaged are a poor bet too: PCGS charges the full fee even when a coin comes back "Genuine" with no number grade. Check the silver first with ourIs My Coin Silver? tool or thesilver coin melt calculator.
Submitting through a local dealer
You don't need a membership if a dealer submits for you. PCGS and NGC both run authorized dealer programs, and NGC keeps its bulk PreScreen rates for authorized dealers and its top member level. Dealers set their own price for this, so ask for a per-coin quote that includes shipping and compare it with the total above. A good dealer will also tell you, before you pay anything, whether a coin is worth sending. Our coin dealer listings mark shops that appear in NGC's authorized dealer locator.
How long it takes
Compare service tiers and clock-start rules in our October 2026 grading turnaround snapshot, with official sources and downloadable data.
PCGS counts business days starting the day after your order is entered into its system, and its clock does not include opening your package or shipping it back. NGC says its times are estimates only and not guaranteed. Plan on the wait shown plus shipping both ways.
Selling the whole collection? Read how to sell a coin collection, or check a dealer's offer with the Coin Offer Checker. For gold, start with thegold coin melt value calculator.
Questions
How much does PCGS charge to grade a coin?
PCGS charges Collectors Club members $24 per coin for Economy (coins worth up to $300, not gold), $42 for Regular (up to $3,000) and $70 for Express (up to $10,000), and $17 for Modern Value on modern coins up to $300. Return postage and insurance start at $27, and membership starts at $69 a year. Prices checked October 9, 2026.
How much does NGC charge to grade a coin?
NGC charges collector members $20 per coin for Modern (struck 1965 or later, up to $3,000), $25 for Economy (up to $300, not gold), $45 for Standard or Gold, and $80 for Express. Add a $10 handling fee per invoice and return shipping from $30. Associate, the cheapest membership that can submit, is $39 a year.
Is it worth getting coins graded?
Only when the graded coin will sell for more than the raw coin by more than the full cost. One coin sent on its own costs about $44 to $65 at the cheapest tiers once return shipping is added, before membership and the postage to send it in. Key dates, coins in top grades and gold often clear that bar; common circulated silver rarely does.
Can I submit coins to PCGS or NGC without a membership?
Not at these prices. Both companies list them for paying members: PCGS Collectors Club from $69 a year and NGC Associate at $39 a year. The other route is an authorized dealer, who submits for you and charges its own fee.
How long does PCGS or NGC grading take?
PCGS's posted estimates run from 50 business days for Economy to 20 for Express and 5 for Walkthrough. NGC estimates 60 working days for Modern and Economy, 30 for Standard and 10 for Gold, and Fast Track (+$15 a coin) halves the Modern, Economy or Standard estimate. Neither company guarantees these times, and shipping both ways is extra.
Which is cheaper, PCGS or NGC?
It depends on the coin. PCGS is cheaper for modern coins under $300 ($17 vs $20) and for older coins worth $300 to $3,000 ($42 vs $45), while NGC's $20 Modern tier covers modern coins up to $3,000, where PCGS charges $30. NGC also adds a $10 handling fee per invoice.
Sources: NGC services and fees · NGC collector pricing chart (Mar 17, 2026) · NGC revised fees for 2026 · NGC return shipping fees · NGC membership levels · PCGS services and fees · PCGS shipping costs · PCGS Collectors Club · U.S. Mint coin specifications. Updated 2026-10-09.