Buyer's guide
PSA vs BGS vs CGC: which grading company is right for your cards?
PSA, Beckett (BGS) and CGC are the three grading companies whose slabs actually move the needle on resale. They use the same 1–10 scale but differ in turnaround, price, presentation and, most importantly, the premium buyers will pay. Here's how they compare in 2026.
At a glance
| Founded | 1991 (USA) | 1999 (USA) | 2000 / cards 2020 (USA) |
| Scale | 1–10, half grades, Gem Mint 10 | 1–10 with sub-grades, Pristine 10, Black Label 10 | 1–10 with sub-grades, Pristine 10, Perfect 10 |
| Entry-tier price | ~$25 / card (Value) | ~$30 / card (Economy) | ~$18 / card (Bulk) |
| Entry-tier turnaround | 45–65 business days | 30–45 business days | 20–30 business days |
| Sub-grades on label | No (Mint+ qualifier only) | Yes, four sub-grades | Yes, four sub-grades |
| Slab presentation | Slim, industry-standard | Thick, recessed inner well | Slim, UV-resistant shell |
| Population report | Largest in the hobby | Strong for vintage sports | Growing fast for modern TCG |
| Resale premium (modern Pokémon 10) | Highest | Mid (Black Label = highest) | Lower, but closing the gap |
Prices and turnaround windows shift quarterly, so always confirm on the grading company's current submission page before sending cards in.
Grading costs and turnaround by tier
List prices in USD, taken from each grader's own submission page and checked in August 2026. Turnaround is the window the grader states, not a guarantee, and queues stretch after big set releases.
PSA grading prices
| Service tier | Price per card | Max declared value | Stated turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulk | $18.99 | $199 | 45 to 65 business days |
| Value | $24.99 | $499 | 45 to 65 business days |
| Value Plus | $39.99 | $499 | About 20 business days |
| Regular | $74.99 | $1,499 | About 10 business days |
| Express | $149 | $2,499 | About 5 business days |
Bulk pricing needs a paid Collectors Club membership and a 20 card minimum.
BGS grading prices
| Service tier | Price per card | Max declared value | Stated turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base | $25 | $249 | 40 to 55 business days |
| Economy | $30 | $499 | 30 to 45 business days |
| Standard | $50 | $1,499 | About 20 business days |
| Express | $100 | $4,999 | About 10 business days |
| Premium | $250 | $24,999 | About 5 business days |
Sub-grades print on every label. Raw card review and pack grading are priced separately.
CGC grading prices
| Service tier | Price per card | Max declared value | Stated turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bulk | $18 | $400 | 20 to 30 business days |
| Economy | $22 | $400 | 20 to 30 business days |
| Standard | $35 | $1,000 | About 15 business days |
| Express | $75 | $3,000 | About 8 business days |
| WalkThrough | $150 | $10,000 | About 4 business days |
Bulk needs a 20 card minimum. No membership fee at any tier.
What it costs from the UK
| Cost on top of the fee | Typical amount |
|---|---|
| Postage out (tracked and insured) | £25 to £60 per parcel |
| Return postage and handling | £20 to £45 per parcel |
| Import VAT on the grading service | 20% of the fee |
| Customs handling fee | £8 to £12 per parcel |
These apply to graders that sit outside the UK. Send cards in batches: the postage and customs cost is per parcel, so a single card carries the whole bill while twenty cards split it.
PSA
Professional Sports Authenticator is the volume leader and the default for Pokémon, Magic, and modern sports cards. A PSA 10 typically sells for the highest multiple of raw card value, which is why most flippers and long-term holds default here. The trade-off is queue length: even the Value tier routinely runs 45–65 business days, and bulk submissions require an annual collector's club membership.
Best for: modern Pokémon chase cards, modern sports rookies, anything you intend to resell within a year.
BGS (Beckett)
Beckett is the grader of choice for vintage sports and high-end submissions. Every slab shows four sub-grades (centering, corners, edges, surface) which gives buyers far more information than a single PSA number. A BGS 9.5 Gem Mint is roughly equivalent to a PSA 10 in most categories; a BGS 10 Pristine is rarer and commands a premium; the BGS Black Label 10 (perfect 10s across all four sub-grades) is the rarest slab in the hobby and routinely outsells PSA 10s by multiples.
Best for: vintage cards, high-grade vintage sets, and any card where you're chasing a Black Label or want sub-grade transparency.
CGC
CGC moved from comics into trading cards in 2020 and has grown aggressively, now grading more modern Pokémon than BGS. Its entry tiers are the cheapest of the three majors and turnaround is consistently the fastest, which makes it the sensible choice for bulk modern submissions where the cost per card matters more than the ultimate resale ceiling. CGC slabs include sub-grades and a Perfect 10 designation analogous to the BGS Black Label.
Best for: bulk modern submissions, sealed graded packs, anything where speed and cost-per-card matter more than the last 10% of resale value.
Which should you buy?
If you're collecting graded cards rather than submitting your own, the answer is simpler: buy the slab whose population report and condition you actually trust. PSA 10s are the most liquid; a BGS 9.5 with strong sub-grades is often a better card for the same money; a CGC 10 of a modern chase card is frequently the value play.
Every graded single in our Vault is from PSA, BGS or CGC. No off-brand slabs, no re-holders.
Head to head comparisons
Each pairing has its own guide with pricing, turnaround and resale detail.
- PSA vs BGS: which grade holds value
- PSA vs CGC: cost, speed and resale
- BGS vs CGC: sub-grades and slabs
- BCCG vs PSA: what a BCCG slab is worth
- Ace Grading vs PSA: the UK grader compared
FAQ
Is PSA or BGS better?
PSA generally commands the highest resale premium across Pokémon and modern sports cards. BGS is preferred for vintage sports and high-end cards where sub-grades and the Black Label 10 matter most.
Is CGC grading worth it?
Yes, for bulk and modern submissions where turnaround and cost matter more than the last 10% of resale ceiling.
How much does card grading cost?
Entry tiers start around $18 per card with CGC, $18.99 with PSA bulk and $25 with BGS Base. From the UK, add tracked insured postage both ways, 20% import VAT on the fee and a customs handling charge. Batch your submissions so those per-parcel costs spread across more cards.
Which grading company is fastest?
CGC is consistently the fastest at the entry tier. PSA Value tends to be the slowest; BGS Economy sits in between.