85% sell-backBuy $10
Every card is real.Checked Oct 18
Which grader should you use?
- PSAfor resale
- CGCfor modern Pokémon and low fees
- BGSfor sub-grades
- SGCfor vintage sports
Checked Oct 18, 2026Packs from $10
PSA vs CGC vs BGS vs SGC
Fees and waits, by grader, checked Oct 18, 2026. They change often.
| Measure | PSA | CGC | BGS | SGC | TAG |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lowest open tier | $59.99Standard | $17Bulk, 25-card minimum | $79.95Express | $50Standard, cards valued to $1,500 | $39.95Base, 5-card minimum |
| Wait at that tier | 90 to 100 business days | About 150 working days | 15 business days | 40+ business days | 60 business days |
| Fastest tier | $999Premium 1, 5 to 7 days | $300WalkThrough, 2 days | $79.95Express, 15 days | $150Expedited, 2 to 3 days | $299.95Premier, 3 to 5 days |
| Grade scale | 1 to 10, with some half points | 1 to 10, half points | 1 to 10, half points | 1 to 10, half points | 1 to 10, half points except 9.5, plus a 1,000-point score |
| Top grade | Gem Mint 10 | Pristine 10 or Gem Mint 10 | Pristine 10Black Label if perfect | Pristine 10 or Gem Mint 10 | Pristine 10 or Gem Mint 10 |
| Sub-grades | No | No, no longer offered | Yes, four | No | No, scores in the report |
Reading the slab
PSA, CGC, BGS and SGC all judge the same four things: centering, corners, edges and surface. They report the result in different ways.
A 10 is a grader's best mark, set by its own standard. Two companies can both print a 10 and mean different things. Half points, such as 9.5, sit between the whole grades.
Sub-grades score each of the four things on its own. They show why a card got its grade. A grader with none gives you one number.
A BGS 9.5 is not a PSA 10. Two companies, two standards, two price lists.
Mistakes to avoid
For cards you grade yourself.
Sending a card with a flaw
Check the corners, edges and surface under a bright light first. A flaw you can see can lower the grade.
Shipping to a paused tier
Tiers open and close. Check the grader's own page the day you ship.
Picking the cheapest fee, ignoring the wait
A cheap tier is slow if you want to sell this quarter. Weigh the fee and the wait together.
Grading low-value cards
A grading fee can cost more than the premium it adds. Grade cards where the premium clears it.
Skipping the packing rules
Each grader publishes its own packing rules. Follow them so the card arrives undamaged.
Mixing up top grades
Pristine, Gem Mint and Black Label are not one grade. Read the grade and the company together.
Already graded
Skip the queue. Own a graded card.
Browse the Market or open a pack from $10. Every card you get is held for you in a secure U.S. vault.
Questions
- Is CGC as good as PSA for Pokémon cards?
- For modern Pokémon, CGC grades on a 1 to 10 scale with half points, and its lowest open tier costs less than PSA's. PSA says more collectibles are submitted to it than to any other grading service. Pick CGC for a low fee. Pick PSA when resale is the goal.
