Is it worth grading action figures?
Last updated . Grading prices checked ; eBay sales checked .
Short answer: usually not, for a modern figure that's still close to its retail price. Grading costs $50 to $90 per figure at the main graders, plus shipping both ways, and takes about three to four months. It only pays when a graded copy sells for more than the sealed figure by more than that. Grade a figure only if it already sells well above retail, the box is close to perfect, and graded copies of that line actually sell.
Who wrote this: BuyHoldCollect is run by a collectibles reseller. We sell sealed figures on eBay and Amazon, so we check sold prices every day. More about us.
Who grades action figures (as of October 2026)
| Grader | What it grades | Modern sealed 6-inch figure | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| AFA (part of CGA) | Sealed figures; loose figures for select lines | $50 for a standard-size package; oversize packages from $95 | 4 months. Faster tiers: $100 (2 months), $150 (2 weeks), $300 (48 hours) |
| CAS (Collector Archive Services) | Sealed and loose figures, Funko Pops, Hot Wheels | $69.99 boxed, $89.99 carded | About 90 days after check-in; 7-day and 48-hour options |
Not figure graders:
- CGC grades comics, cards and video games, not figures.
- PSA stopped grading Funko Pops on December 1, 2025. It still authenticates the autograph on signed Pops.
AFA also adds 3% of any value above $5,000, and charges extra for UV-resistant cases ($20 at standard size) and a written grading summary ($40).
Sources: CGA packaged toy pricing, loose toy pricing and FAQs; CAS standard item price list and turnaround time; CGC; cllct on PSA and Funko.
What the grade numbers mean
- AFA labels show either a 100-point grade (like 85 or 90) or a 10-point grade (like 9.0 or 9.25). AFA says its Standard 100-point and Unified 10-point scales use the same standards. The top grade is 100, or 10.
- AFA grades the figure, the box or card, and the window or bubble, and labels often show a grade for each.
- A "Qualified" grade means the package has been opened but the contents are unused and like new.
- CAS uses its own 0 to 100 scale.
Source: CGA Unified and Standard grading info.
What grading really costs
The fee is only part of it. Add shipping and insurance to the grader and back, three to four months without the figure, and the selling fee when you sell.
An example using real prices from the table below: a sealed G.I. Joe Classified Destro sold for $30 to $45 on eBay; one graded AFA 9.25 sold for $100. After eBay's fee (13.6% plus $0.40), the $100 sale leaves about $86. Take off the $50 grading fee and you're at about $36, before shipping to the grader. Selling it sealed for $37 would have left about $32, with no fee, no shipping and no four-month wait. A graded price two or three times the sealed price can leave you only a few dollars ahead.
Graded vs. sealed: recent eBay sales
Sold prices on eBay, checked October 7, 2026. Each graded sale is one sale; sealed sales are the range over roughly the same period.
| Figure | Graded sale | Sealed (ungraded) sales |
|---|---|---|
| Marvel Legends Stan Lee (80th Anniversary) | AFA 9.0, $95 (July 2026) | $20 to $45, most $20 to $29 (10 sales) |
| G.I. Joe Classified Arctic Mission Storm Shadow (#14) | AFA 9.6, $200 (August 2026) | $19.50 to $42 (8 sales) |
| G.I. Joe Classified Destro (#03) | AFA 9.25, $100 (October 2026) | $30 to $45 (6 sales) |
| Star Wars Black Series General Grievous (Deluxe, 2019) | AFA 9.25, $349.95 (September 2026) | $43 to $86 (9 sales) |
| Star Wars Black Series Crosshair (The Bad Batch) | AFA 8.5, $29 (July 2026) | $22 to $40 (6 sales) |
What this shows:
- A graded copy can sell well above sealed copies, but it's one sale, not a market price.
- The Crosshair sold for no more than sealed copies, so its grading fee was simply lost.
- Graded sales of modern figures are rare. In our check, almost all of them were Star Wars, G.I. Joe or Marvel. We found none for WWE Elite or McFarlane DC Multiverse figures in the same period.
Prices exclude shipping and selling fees. Graded and sealed sales fall in different weeks. Look up your own figure's sold prices before deciding; this table is an example, not a price guide.
When grading can make sense
- The figure already sells well above retail: an exclusive, a hard-to-find figure, or an older release.
- The box is as close to perfect as you've seen: sharp corners, clear window, no creases.
- Graded copies of that line sell on eBay. Search sold listings for the line and "AFA" first.
- You want the case anyway, for display or protection, and the money doesn't matter.
When it usually doesn't
- The figure is still in stores, or sells near retail.
- It could be reissued. A reissue pulls the price of the original down too. See will this action figure be restocked or reprinted?
- The box has dents, creased corners or a scuffed window. The grade will show it.
- Nobody is buying graded copies of that line.
Where graded figures sell
Graded figures trade on eBay, through auction houses, and at collector shops. They don't really sell on Amazon (see the quick answer below). If you're selling a whole collection, see how to sell a sealed action figure collection.
Buying a graded figure
- Ask for the serial number. It's on the label, and many eBay sellers list it in the item details.
- Check it with the grader. AFA's serial verification is free but needs a CGA account.
- Some stores sell figures already graded. BigBadToyStore sells CAS graded and cased versions of several hundred figures, including preorders.
- If you only want a clean box, a store's package grade can cost less than slabbing. See my toy arrived with a damaged box.
Quick answers
Is it worth getting action figures graded?
Only when the gap between graded and sealed prices for that exact figure is bigger than the grading fee, shipping and selling fees. For most modern figures that are still in stores or sell near retail, it isn't.
How much does it cost to get an action figure graded?
At AFA, a sealed figure released after 2000 in a standard-size package costs $50 with a four-month turnaround, or $100, $150 or $300 for two months, two weeks or 48 hours. At CAS, a boxed 6-inch figure costs $69.99 and a carded 6-inch figure $89.99, with about a 90-day turnaround. Shipping is extra.
What does AFA graded mean?
The figure was graded by the Action Figure Authority, part of the Collectible Grading Authority (CGA), and sealed in an acrylic case with a label showing the grade. The label uses either a 100-point scale or a 10-point scale; the standards are the same.
What is the highest AFA grade?
100 on AFA's Standard (100-point) scale, which is 10 on its Unified (10-point) scale.
Does AFA grade loose figures?
Only for select toy lines. CGA stopped taking loose figures in December 2022 because of its backlog and now accepts them for some lines. Loose 5- to 8-inch figures cost $75 at the standard tier.
Does CGC grade action figures?
No. CGC grades comics, trading cards, video games, magazines, posters and home video, but not action figures or Funko Pops. A widely repeated story that CGC partnered with Hasbro to grade Marvel Legends mini-comics comes from a parody news article.
Can you sell graded action figures on Amazon?
Not in practice. A few large toy shops list graded figures on Amazon, but graded figures are bought and sold on eBay. A collector has no listing to sell a graded figure on, and most toy brands on Amazon require a manufacturer or distributor invoice, which a grading case doesn't replace.
Related: how to sell a sealed action figure collection · are sealed action figures a good investment? · my toy arrived with a damaged box
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Grading prices, services and eBay prices change. Figures are dated and sourced so you can check them. This page is general information, not financial advice. "In our check" statements reflect one reseller's look at public sales.