PSA vs CGC vs BGS: Which Grading Company for Pokémon Cards?

For graded Pokémon cards, three companies come up again and again: PSA, CGC and Beckett (BGS). All three grade on a 10-point scale and seal cards in tamper-evident plastic, but they differ in how they define the top grade, what their labels tell you, what they cost, and how buyers react to them. Here is how they compare, and when each one makes sense.

The short version

	PSA	CGC	BGS (Beckett)
Top grade	Gem Mint 10	Pristine 10, then Gem Mint 10	Pristine 10 (Black Label if perfect), then Gem Mint 9.5
Half grades	1.5 through 8.5 (no 9.5)	Yes, up to 9.5	Yes, throughout
Subgrades on label	No	Not a standard feature	Yes: centering, corners, edges, surface
Label	Red-trimmed LightHouse label with hologram and QR code	Clean label, special Pristine 10 label, QR code on back	Metallic labels colour-coded by grade
Entry tier status, October 2026	Value tiers paused; Standard is the cheapest open tier	All card tiers open	Base and Standard paused; Express open

Fees and availability change often, and 2026 has been a busy year for changes. The details below were checked on October 9, 2026, but always confirm on each company's own site before you submit.

PSA

Scale. PSA grades 1 to 10, with 10 being Gem Mint. Half-point grades run from 1.5 to 8.5. There's no 9.5: PSA felt Mint 9 and Gem Mint 10 already covered the top end. PSA can also add qualifiers to a grade, such as OC (off-centre), when a card meets the grade except for one significant flaw. At least two graders have to agree on each grade.

Label and case. The current LightHouse label has PSA's red trim, a hologram that switches on and off as you tilt it, a fugitive-ink background pattern, a UV-reactive logo pattern on the back, and a QR code that links to the cert record. The case is sonically sealed and tamper-evident.

Tiers and pricing (October 2026). PSA paused its four Value tiers (Value Bulk, Value, Value Plus, Value Max) on June 2, 2026, to work down a backlog that was close to 10 million cards. PSA says it will reopen them in phases once the backlog is down to about 5 million. Its tracker showed 8.2 million on October 6. Meanwhile PSA added a new Standard tier and renamed two others. The open card tiers are:

• Standard: $59.99 per card, up to $1,000 insured value, about 90–100 business days
• Priority (formerly Regular): $79.99, up to $1,500, about 70–80 business days
• Express: $199, up to $2,500, about 20–30 business days
• Super Express: $349, up to $5,000, about 10–15 business days
• Premier (formerly Walk-Through): $599, up to $10,000, about 7–10 business days
• Premium tiers for cards over $10,000 start at $999.

Turnaround estimates are just that. PSA's clock starts when the order is logged in, not when you ship it.

Resale perception. For Pokémon, PSA is the default. It has the largest graded population, the most collectors building PSA sets, and the widest pool of buyers. That usually means PSA slabs are the easiest to sell, and at a given number they tend to sell for more than the other two. The flip side: a PSA 9 is just a 9, with nothing on the label to say how close it came to a 10.

CGC

Scale. CGC grades 1 to 10 with half grades, including Mint+ 9.5. Its top end has two levels:

• Pristine 10. Virtually flawless to the naked eye, 50/50 centering, perfect colour and registration. These get a special Pristine 10 label.
• Gem Mint 10. A 10 overall, but missing one of the Pristine criteria. CGC's published centering limit for Gem Mint 10 is about 55/45 on the front and 75/25 on the back.

CGC's older "Perfect 10" grade is retired, and older CGC Gem Mint 9.5 slabs now count as Gem Mint 10 in its population report. You'll still see those older labels on the market, so read the label carefully.

Label and case. CGC's label is clean and easy to read, with microprinting, UV ink, holographic foil, a unique cert number and barcode, and a QR code on the back linking to the card's record and images. The holder is ultrasonically welded and designed to stack. CGC also makes holders for thick and odd-sized cards.

Tiers and pricing (US, October 2026). As of this writing CGC is the only one of the three with every card tier open:

• Bulk: $17 per card, 25-card minimum
• Economy: $20
• Standard: $55
• Express: $100
• WalkThrough: $300
• Unlimited Value: $300 plus 1% of fair market value

Each tier has its own maximum card value. Bulk and Economy are meant for lower-value cards. Check CGC's submission form for current caps and turnaround estimates, which have stretched in 2026 as PSA's pause sent more cards CGC's way.

Resale perception. CGC is widely accepted for Pokémon, and buyers like it for modern cards. At the same number, though, CGC slabs usually sell for less than PSA, and some collectors crack CGC 10s and resubmit them to PSA. The exception is the Pristine 10, which is harder to get than a Gem Mint 10 and has a following of its own.

BGS (Beckett)

Scale and subgrades. Beckett grades in half points from 1 to 10 and is known for its four subgrades: centering, corners, edges and surface. They're printed on the front of the label with the overall grade, so you can see exactly where a card lost points. At its Base tier, Beckett has offered a cheaper option without subgrades.

Labels. Beckett colour-codes its metallic labels:

• Black: a perfect Pristine 10, where every subgrade is a 10. This is the famous "Black Label" and it's very rare.
• Gold: Pristine 10 (without perfect subgrades) and Gem Mint 9.5.
• Silver: all other grades.

Tiers and pricing. In spring 2026 Beckett listed Base at $14.95 per card without subgrades or $17.95 with them, Standard at $34.95, Express at $79.95 and Priority at $124.95. As of October 9, 2026, Beckett's site says Base and Standard are temporarily paused, Express is open through a temporary submission form, and online ordering is limited while Beckett upgrades its systems. Under the temporary form, Beckett confirms your final total, including insurance based on declared value, after it receives your cards. Check beckett.com for what's open before you plan a submission around it.

Resale perception. A BGS 9.5 with strong subgrades is a well-liked slab, and a Black Label is a trophy that serious collectors chase. A plain BGS 9 or lower usually trails the equivalent PSA. Some buyers like the thick case; others find it bulky next to PSA and CGC slabs.

Which one should you use?

• You want the widest market and the easiest resale: PSA. For most Pokémon cards you plan to sell, PSA is the safe choice, even at higher fees.
• You're grading lower-value cards, or want them back on a budget while PSA's Value tiers are paused: CGC's Bulk and Economy tiers are the cheapest open options among the three right now.
• You think a card is truly perfect: consider BGS (if its tiers are open) for a shot at a Black Label, or CGC for a Pristine 10. Both reward perfection in a way PSA's scale can't show.
• You want to know why a card got its grade: BGS subgrades put it on the label. PSA's Express tier and above include Grader Notes that explain defects.
• You collect a set in one brand: stick with it. A matched run of slabs is worth more to most collectors than a mixed one.

Whichever you choose, take care with the declared value. It sets your tier, and PSA, for one, says it can charge you the difference if it decides a card is worth more than you said.

A note from Cofre

We buy, sell and trade Pokémon slabs from all three companies. If you're sitting on PSA, CGC or BGS cards and want an offer or a trade, start on our sell page.