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Comparison · pre-grade vs grade

BrickGauge vs AFA.

BrickGauge predicts the grade in 38 seconds for free. AFA assigns the grade in 5–9 weeks for $25–$80. They solve different problems — and most collectors use both in sequence. Here’s the side-by-side.

Pre-grade before AFA →AFA vs CGC vs WATA
⊙ Quick answer

What is BrickGauge vs AFA?

BrickGauge is an AI pre-grading service that predicts a sealed LEGO box's AFA / CGC grade from six photos in 38 seconds at no cost for the first two scans. AFA (Action Figure Authority) is the official third-party grading service that assigns the actual numeric grade and produces the encapsulated slab; AFA charges $25–$80 per submission with 5–9 week turnaround. They solve different problems and are used in sequence: BrickGauge predicts the grade so you only submit boxes worth the AFA fee; AFA produces the slab that resale markets accept as proof of grade. BrickGauge accuracy is ±0.5 grade in 94.2% of audited cases against published AFA results.

BrickGauge
Pre-grade
AFA
Official grade
Used
In sequence
Accuracy
±0.5 in 94.2%
The side-by-side

BrickGauge vs AFA — every attribute.

AttributeBrickGaugeAFA
FunctionAI pre-grade predictionOfficial third-party grading
OutputPredicted grade range + verdictEncapsulated slab with published grade
CostFree (2 scans) / $1.50 – $2.90$25 – $80 per submission
Time38 seconds5 – 9 weeks (Standard tier)
FormatPhoto upload (6 photos)Physical insured shipment
Accuracy±0.5 grade in 94.2% of casesThe grade itself
Reseal detection97.4% recallYes — rejects or annotates
Use caseDecide whether to submitCapture the graded premium
RefundableFree tier; credits never expireNo — fee non-refundable on rejection
The right sequence

How to use BrickGauge and AFA together.

01 Pre-grade

BrickGauge first

Upload 6 photos. 38 seconds. Free for the first 2 scans. Get the predicted AFA grade range and verdict.

02 Decide

SEND, MAYBE, HOLD, SKIP

SEND: ship to AFA. MAYBE: re-shoot for confidence. HOLD: wait for better photo conditions. SKIP: sell raw.

03 Submit

AFA only when SEND

Submit to AFA only on confirmed SEND. The 25–110% graded premium clears the $25–$80 fee. Round-trip cost recovered on every Mint outcome.

Start free

The two-scan free tier is the entire decision layer.

Most one-off submission decisions are made on the free BrickGauge tier. Active resellers move to credit packs or subscriptions to handle higher scan volume. Credits never expire.

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BrickGauge vs AFA FAQ

More on BrickGauge vs AFA.

↦What's the difference between BrickGauge and AFA?

BrickGauge predicts the AFA grade from photos in 38 seconds for free. AFA assigns the actual grade from a physical submission in 5–9 weeks for $25–$80. They solve different problems: BrickGauge is the decision tool, AFA is the final grade. Most collectors use BrickGauge first, then AFA only when the pre-grade verdict is SEND.

↦Is BrickGauge a competitor to AFA?

No — BrickGauge is complementary. AFA assigns the official grade and produces the encapsulated slab that auction houses and institutional buyers accept. BrickGauge predicts the grade before submission so you avoid the $25–$80 round-trip cost on boxes that won't grade Mint. Different functions, used in sequence.

↦Can BrickGauge replace AFA grading?

No — and it's not designed to. The AFA slab is the resale credential; BrickGauge's prediction isn't. What BrickGauge replaces is the gamble of submitting blind. Use BrickGauge to decide, use AFA to capture the premium on confirmed SEND verdicts.

↦How accurate is BrickGauge compared to AFA's actual grade?

BrickGauge matches the published AFA grade within ±0.5 in 94.2% of audited cases, and within ±1.0 in 99.1%. On boxes where BrickGauge returns SEND confidence ≥85, the AFA result matches the predicted band 96.8% of the time.

↦Should I use BrickGauge or just submit to AFA directly?

Use BrickGauge first — every time. The 38-second free pre-grade catches the boxes that wouldn't clear AFA 85. On those, submitting blind costs $40–$90 round-trip with no upside. On the boxes that pre-grade SEND, the AFA submission captures the 25–110% graded premium.

↦Is BrickGauge cheaper than AFA?

BrickGauge is free for the first two scans, then $1.50–$2.90 per scan. AFA is $25–$80 per submission plus $15–$40 insured shipping. BrickGauge is roughly 5–10% of the cost of AFA submission. But they aren't substitutes — BrickGauge predicts, AFA assigns.

↦Does AFA accept BrickGauge pre-grades?

AFA grades independently and doesn't use BrickGauge's input. AFA's grade is their own assessment. BrickGauge's value is helping you decide whether to submit at all — once you ship to AFA, the official grade is whatever they assign based on their own inspection.

↦Can I skip BrickGauge if I've graded LEGO before?

Possible but expensive. Even experienced graders under-call corners and edges quantitatively — the worst-corner rule and edge whitening percentage are hard to apply without measurement. BrickGauge catches what eye-grading misses. The $0 cost for the first two scans makes it strictly better than blind submission.

BrickGauge vs AFA — AI Pre-Grade vs Official Grading | BrickGauge