Please note that this site contains affiliate links, and The Smarter Collector may earn a commission if you make a purchase through these links. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support the site so we can continue to provide valuable content. Thank you for your support!
Sports card research is built upon two key pillars: rarity and price. While we've covered pricing in our How to Value Your Sports Cards collecting guide, we haven't yet explored rarity. One of the first steps collectors take when assessing rarity is reviewing a card's population report. Luckily for collectors, finding the pop report is quick and straightforward.
In this guide, we’ll show you two simple methods to find the graded population of your cards across major grading companies like PSA, BGS, SGC, and CGC.
Find the Total Graded Population of a Sports Card: Option 1 - GemRate’s Universal Search
GemRate is an excellent tool for quickly accessing population data. They aggregate the population reports across PSA, BGS, SGC, and CGC which allows you to search once and see the population across all of the major grading companies. To search, follow these steps:
Go to GemRate.com.
Click on the “Universal Search” box.
Enter your card details. As you type, available options will appear. Select the correct card.
Review the population. You’ll see the total population and breakdown by grade across the major grading companies.
There's a lot to dig into at GemRate beyond the single card pop report. They've released new features that allow collectors to see pop count growth over time and quickly research pop counts at the set and player levels. Make sure to check them out if you're curious and want to learn more.
Option 2: Card Ladder’s Sales History Report
Card Ladder has integrated Gem Rate's data directly into their platform which enables you to research prices and pop reports at the same time.
Go to CardLadder.com.
Click on “Sales History.”
Type in your card details. Enter the card’s name or key details in the search bar.
Click on any sale. Select a sale result from the list to view more details.
Click on “Pop.” The “Pop” tab reveals the total graded population for that card across different grading companies.
Review graded population. Card Ladder also includes easy access to the population growth over time.
Why Use These Data Tools?
If you’re planning to pay a premium for a “low pop” card, make sure to do your homework. Confirm that the card’s population is genuinely low and consider whether it will remain a “low pop” card a year from now. While you can rely on the native population reports from PSA, BGS, SGC, and CGC, GemRate’s aggregation tool makes universal population searches much more accessible, ensuring you won’t overlook anything during your research.
Whether you’re researching for pricing, trading, or buying decisions, knowing how to find the total graded population of a sports card provides a deeper understanding into the card’s rarity, offers clues about its demand, and equips you to be a smarter collector.