Grading turns a paper card into an authenticated, tamper-evident slab with a numerical grade (1–10). That grade, and the company that issued it, dramatically affect what your card is worth on the secondary market. A well-centered Pokemon card might trade for $40 raw but over $300 in a PSA 10 slab. The same card in a CGC 10 might fetch $220. Understanding the grader is as important as understanding the card.
The three graders at a glance
| Service | Typical cost (base) | Turnaround | Market premium | Sub-grades |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | $25–$75 | 30–60 business days | Highest (benchmark) | No (grade only) |
| BGS | $25–$50 | 30–90 business days | High for 9.5/10 Black Label | Yes (centering, corners, edges, surface) |
| CGC | $18–$35 | 15–45 business days | Lower but growing | Optional |
When to pick PSA
PSA is the default answer for the vast majority of submissions. The PSA 10 carries the highest secondary market premium of any grade in the hobby, and the PSA slab is the most recognized piece of plastic in sports cards and TCG collectively. If you're grading vintage Pokemon (WOTC era), vintage Magic (pre-2003), any sports card rookie, or a card you ultimately plan to auction at Goldin or PWCC, send it to PSA. Read our full PSA Grading Guide.
When to pick BGS
BGS (Beckett Grading Services) is the strong #2 — and in some categories it's #1. BGS is the king of modern basketball, football and hockey grading, particularly because BGS 9.5 and the coveted BGS 10 Pristine “Black Label” carry real premiums in those categories. BGS also provides sub-grades (centering / corners / edges / surface) which some collectors prefer for transparency. Read our full BGS Grading Guide.
When to pick CGC
CGC is the newest major TCG grader and the cheapest. Turnaround is fastest. CGC's TCG business exploded after Pokemon collectors got fed up with PSA wait times in 2021–2022. For modern bulk submissions and for cards you plan to keep / display rather than resell at the top of the market, CGC is a legitimate option and saves real money. Read our full CGC Grading Guide.
The meta-decision: is grading worth it?
Before you pick a grader at all, do the math. A PSA 10 multiplier of 3× on a $30 raw card barely covers the grading fee and shipping after you factor in risk of a 9. Our Is Grading Worth It? guide walks through the full ROI calculation with real examples.