Pokemon Card Grading Guide: PSA, BGS, and CGC Explained
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Pokemon Card Grading Guide: PSA, BGS, and CGC Explained
Complete Pokemon card grading guide for 2026. Learn which grading company to choose, which cards to grade, and how to prepare your collection.
CardGrade.io Editorial·Published Aug 25, 2025 · Updated Feb 26, 2026·10 min read
Why Grade Pokemon Cards?
Pokemon card grading has become essential for serious collectors and investors. A raw Pokemon card in excellent condition might sell for a respectable amount, but seal that same card in a graded slab with a high score and the value can multiply dramatically. The grading boom in the Pokemon hobby shows no signs of slowing in 2026.
The value difference between raw and graded Pokemon cards can be staggering. A raw Charizard VMAX Alt Art might sell for $150, but a PSA 10 copy regularly sells for $400 or more. For vintage Wizards of the Coast (WOTC) cards, the premiums are even larger. A raw Base Set Charizard in near-mint condition might sell for $300, while a PSA 10 copy has sold for over $10,000.
Beyond value, grading provides authentication. With counterfeit Pokemon cards becoming more sophisticated, a graded slab from a reputable company guarantees authenticity. This is especially important for high-value vintage cards where fakes are prevalent.
Which Pokemon Cards Are Worth Grading?
Not every Pokemon card belongs in a grading submission. Here is how to decide which cards to send:
High-Value Cards to Consider Grading
1st Edition Base Set cards: Especially Charizard, Blastoise, and Venusaur
WOTC era holos: Gym Heroes, Gym Challenge, Neo series, and early expansion holos
Modern chase cards: Alt art cards, special art rares, and illustration rares
Gold star cards: Among the most sought-after modern vintage cards
Shiny Vault cards: Hidden Fates, Shining Fates, and similar sets
Full art trainers: Popular with collectors for display
: Promo cards, art collections, and tournament prizes
Japanese exclusive cards
When NOT to Grade
Common and uncommon cards unless they have unique errors or are from extremely early sets
Cards in played condition with visible wear, creases, or whitening
Low-value modern holos where the grading cost exceeds the potential value increase
Cards you pulled from a pack and immediately noticed imperfections on
The ROI Test
Before grading any Pokemon card, ask yourself: Will the graded value at the expected grade exceed the raw value plus all grading costs (fees, shipping, insurance)? If the answer is not a clear yes, hold off.
PSA for Pokemon Cards: The Market Leader
PSA Pokemon card grading is the most popular choice for Pokemon collectors, and for good reason. PSA 10 Pokemon cards consistently command the highest premiums in the market.
Why Collectors Choose PSA
Highest resale value: A PSA 10 Pokemon card almost always sells for more than the same card graded by other companies
Largest buyer pool: More collectors search specifically for PSA Pokemon cards than any other slab
Clean, recognizable label: The PSA label is iconic and instantly trusted
Extensive population reports: Know exactly how many PSA 10s exist for any given card
PSA Grading Standards for Pokemon
PSA evaluates Pokemon cards on four main criteria:
Centering: How well the image is centered within the borders. For Pokemon cards, PSA allows 60/40 front and 75/25 back for a Gem Mint 10
Corners: All four corners must be sharp with no whitening or dings
Edges: Clean cuts with no chipping, rough edges, or whitening along the border
Surface: Free from scratches, print lines, holo scratches, and any defects
PSA Population Data for Pokemon
PSA's population report is particularly useful for Pokemon collectors. You can look up any card and see how many have been graded at each level. This helps you understand:
How common PSA 10s are for a particular card
Whether a high grade is achievable or exceedingly rare
The relative scarcity that drives pricing
BGS for Pokemon: The Subgrade Advantage
Beckett Grading Services offers something PSA does not: detailed subgrades. For Pokemon collectors who want to know exactly why a card received its grade, BGS is compelling.
The BGS Subgrade System
Each BGS-graded Pokemon card receives four subgrades:
Subgrade
What It Measures
Pokemon-Specific Notes
Centering
Border symmetry
Especially important for full-art cards
Corners
Corner sharpness
Pokemon cards often have corner issues from pack insertion
Edges
Edge condition
Holo cards can show edge silvering
Surface
Surface integrity
Holo patterns can mask or reveal scratches
BGS Black Label: The Holy Grail
A BGS Black Label requires a perfect 10 in all four subgrades. For Pokemon cards, this is exceptionally rare. A BGS Black Label Charizard from any era is worth significantly more than even a standard BGS 10 Pristine or a PSA 10.
When to Choose BGS for Pokemon
When you believe the card is absolutely flawless and could achieve a Black Label
When you want detailed feedback on card condition
When you are collecting for personal satisfaction rather than pure resale value
When the BGS 9.5 Gem Mint grade would still command strong value
CGC for Pokemon: The Growing Choice
CGC has rapidly gained popularity in the Pokemon grading space since entering the card market. Their strict, consistent standards have won over many Pokemon collectors.
Why CGC Is Popular for Pokemon
Strict grading: CGC has a reputation for tough but fair grading, which means a CGC 10 carries significant weight
Competitive pricing: Often cheaper than PSA, making it accessible for grading larger collections
Modern slab design: Clean holders that display Pokemon cards beautifully
Growing acceptance: More and more Pokemon collectors accept and seek CGC slabs
CGC vs PSA for Pokemon
The primary tradeoff is cost versus resale premium. CGC is typically cheaper to submit, but PSA slabs sell for more in the secondary market. For cards where the PSA premium is small, CGC can offer better overall value.
CGC Subgrades for Pokemon
CGC offers optional subgrades for an additional fee. If you want the detailed breakdown similar to BGS but prefer CGC's grading standards, this is a solid option.
How to Prepare Pokemon Cards for Submission
Pokemon cards require special care during preparation, particularly holographic cards and vintage WOTC-era cards.
Handling Holographic Cards
Holo Pokemon cards are especially susceptible to surface scratches. The holographic layer acts like a mirror, making even tiny scratches visible. Follow these steps:
Handle by edges only: Never touch the holo surface
Use cotton gloves when handling high-value holos
Inspect under direct light: Tilt the card under a bright light source to reveal surface scratches on the holo pattern
Avoid cleaning: Do not attempt to clean or polish holo cards. You will likely make things worse
Proper Storage Before Submission
Penny sleeve first: Always use a clean, new penny sleeve. Insert the card top-first to minimize contact
Card Saver 1: PSA requires semi-rigid Card Saver 1 holders. BGS and CGC accept top loaders, but card savers are generally safer for shipping
Avoid old sleeves: Aged penny sleeves can leave residue or scratches on cards. Use fresh ones
Temperature control: Keep cards away from heat, humidity, and direct sunlight
Inspecting Before You Submit
Before spending money on Pokemon card grading services, carefully inspect each card:
Front centering: Compare the left and right borders, then the top and bottom
Back centering: Check the blue borders on the back for symmetry
Corner check: Use a loupe or magnifying glass on all four corners, front and back
Edge inspection: Run your eye along each edge looking for whitening or chips
Surface scan: Under bright light, look for scratches, print lines, dents, and holo imperfections
Pre-Screen Pokemon Cards with CardGrade.io
The most efficient way to evaluate your Pokemon cards before grading is to use AI-powered pre-screening. CardGrade.io is specifically designed for this purpose, and it handles Pokemon cards exceptionally well.
CardGrade.io's CGI Vision AI analyzes your cards across 47 inspection points in just 29 seconds, predicting PSA, BGS, and CGC grades with 92.8% accuracy. The system is trained to handle:
Decide which cards are worth submitting and to which company
With 3 free credits and no credit card required, there is no reason to skip this step. A single card that CardGrade.io flags as a PSA 7 instead of the PSA 10 you hoped for saves you $20 to $50 in grading fees alone.
WOTC vs Modern Era: Grading Differences
Understanding the differences between vintage and modern Pokemon cards helps set realistic expectations.
WOTC Era Cards (1999-2003)
Thicker card stock: More durable but also more prone to showing edge wear
Less consistent printing: Centering issues and print defects were more common
Holo bleed: Some WOTC holos show holographic patterns bleeding into non-holo areas, which is not considered a defect
1st Edition marks: First edition stamps should be clearly printed and properly positioned
Shadowless vs Unlimited: Shadowless Base Set cards lack the shadow on the right side of the card image and are more valuable
Modern Era Cards (2003-Present)
Thinner card stock: More susceptible to bending and corner damage from pack insertion
Better print quality: Modern cards generally have more consistent centering and color
Texture patterns: Many modern cards feature textured surfaces that can complicate surface grading
Full-art and alt art: Borderless cards make centering evaluation different
Higher print runs: More cards exist, so high grades may be more common but still valuable for chase cards
Expected Turnaround and Costs
Plan your Pokemon card grading budget around these general ranges:
Company
Economy Tier
Standard Tier
Express Tier
PSA
$20 (60-90 days)
$50 (30-45 days)
$100+ (5-20 days)
BGS
$20 (60-120 days)
$50 (30-60 days)
$100+ (5-15 days)
CGC
$15 (50-80 days)
$35 (30-50 days)
$75+ (5-15 days)
Remember to factor in additional costs:
Shipping to the grading company: $8 to $20 depending on insurance and carrier
Return shipping: Often included but verify with each company
Insurance: Essential for high-value submissions
Card savers or holders: A few cents each but they add up for large submissions
Declared value upcharges: Cards with high declared values may require more expensive service tiers
Pokemon card grading is a worthwhile investment when done strategically. The key is knowing which cards to grade, which company to use, and how to prepare your cards for the best possible result.
For most Pokemon collectors in 2026:
Choose PSA when resale value is your primary goal
Choose BGS when you want detailed subgrades or are chasing a Black Label
Choose CGC for competitive pricing and strict, consistent grading
Always pre-screen your cards before submitting to any company
CardGrade.io's AI-powered grading tool takes the guesswork out of the process. With predicted grades for PSA, BGS, and CGC, detailed centering analysis, and a 29-second turnaround, you can make informed decisions about every card in your collection.
The CardGrade.io editorial team writes about card grading, AI technology, and collecting strategy. Our guides are researched against official PSA, BGS, and CGC standards.
