PSA vs BGS vs CGC: Which Card Grading Company Should You Choose?
Compare PSA vs BGS vs CGC card grading companies. Pricing, turnaround times, grading scales, and which company is best for your cards.
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Compare PSA vs BGS vs CGC card grading companies. Pricing, turnaround times, grading scales, and which company is best for your cards.
In short: Choose PSA for the strongest resale premium and brand recognition, BGS for modern cards (subgrades and the coveted Black Label), and CGC for the best value and faster turnaround. The right grader depends on your card's era, value, and whether you're holding or flipping — and you should pre-screen with AI first so you only pay to grade cards that will grade well.
Update — May 2026: this is no longer a one-grader story. PSA, TAG, and CGC have all hit capacity within days of each other — read the full breakdown in The 2026 Card Grading Backlog.
Deciding between PSA vs BGS vs CGC is one of the most important choices a card collector or investor can make. Each grading company has different standards, pricing, turnaround times, and market reputations. The right choice depends on what you collect, your budget, and your goals.
This guide breaks down every meaningful difference between the three major card grading companies so you can make an informed decision before submitting your cards.
| Feature | PSA | BGS | CGC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Founded | 1991 | 1999 | 2020 (cards) |
| Grading Scale | 1-10 (whole numbers) | 1-10 (half-point increments) | 1-10 (half-point increments) |
| Sub-Grades | No | Yes (Centering, Corners, Edges, Surface) | Yes (Centering, Corners, Edges, Surface) |
| Top Grade | Gem Mint 10 | Pristine 10 / Black Label | Pristine 10 |
| Starting Price | $79.99/card | ~$20/card | ~$15/card |
| Turnaround | 65-120+ business days (economy) | 40-90+ business days | 30-60+ business days |
| Market Premium | Highest resale values | Strong for specific categories |
According to our State of Card Grading 2026 study, which analyzed 32,000+ cards, there can be up to a significant grade-point spread between PSA, BGS, and CGC predictions for the exact same card. This is not a flaw in any single company -- it reflects genuinely different grading philosophies and tolerances. The study found that centering is the #1 grade-limiting bottleneck, and centering tolerances vary substantially across companies (PSA allows 60/40 for a 10; BGS and CGC require 55/45 or better). With PSA now starting at $79.99/card (its cheaper Value tiers paused in 2026), BGS at $15-$18, and CGC at $15-$18, the pricing differences compound the grade differences: choosing the wrong company for a particular card can mean both a lower grade and a lower market premium. Pre-screening across all three scales before you submit is the most reliable way to maximize your return.
PSA uses a straightforward 1 to 10 scale with whole numbers only. There are no sub-grades on the label. A PSA 10 is a PSA 10 regardless of whether centering was perfect or just barely within tolerance. This simplicity is both a strength and a weakness.
Strengths: Easy for buyers to understand. A PSA 10 is the gold standard, and there is no ambiguity about what it represents in the marketplace.
Weaknesses: No granularity. Two PSA 9 cards might have very different conditions. One could have been borderline PSA 10 with slightly off centering, while another might have multiple minor flaws across all categories.
BGS provides a final grade in half-point increments (9, 9.5, 10) along with four visible sub-grades: Centering, Corners, Edges, and Surface. Each sub-grade is also on a half-point scale.
The BGS Black Label is the pinnacle. When all four sub-grades are 10, the card receives a special black label instead of the standard gold. BGS Black Labels are exceptionally rare and command massive premiums.
Strengths: Maximum transparency. Buyers know exactly what condition each attribute is in. A BGS 9.5 with all 9.5 sub-grades is demonstrably different from a BGS 9.5 with a 9 centering sub-grade.
Weaknesses: More complex for casual buyers. The sub-grade system can feel overwhelming for newcomers to the hobby.
CGC adopted the half-point scale with sub-grades, similar to BGS. Their system was designed with lessons learned from both PSA and BGS.
Strengths: Modern approach, transparent sub-grades, competitive pricing, and faster turnaround than PSA or BGS for most service levels.
Weaknesses: As the newest entrant, CGC cards generally carry lower resale premiums than PSA or BGS equivalents. Market acceptance continues to grow but has not yet matched the established companies.
Grading costs vary significantly based on service level, card value, and turnaround time. Here is a comparison of typical pricing tiers as of 2026:
| Service Level | PSA | BGS | CGC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy | Paused in 2026 | $20-25/card | $15-18/card |
| Turnaround | 65-120+ business days | 40-90+ business days | 30-60+ business days |
| Card Value Cap | $499 declared value | $499 declared value | $500 declared value |
| Service Level | PSA | BGS | CGC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular | $79.99/card | $50-65/card | $30-40/card |
| Turnaround | 30-45 business days | 20-30 business days | 15-25 business days |
| Card Value Cap | $1,499 declared value | $1,999 declared value | $1,000 declared value |
| Service Level | PSA | BGS | CGC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Express | $149/card | $150-250/card | $75-100/card |
| Turnaround | 5-15 business days | 5-10 business days | 5-10 business days |
| Card Value Cap | $4,999+ declared value | $4,999+ declared value | $2,500+ declared value |
For detailed cost breakdowns, see our guides on PSA card grading cost and BGS card grading cost.
All three companies require you to ship your cards to their facility and pay return shipping. Factor in:
The total cost per card, including shipping, can easily reach $30-40 even at economy pricing when you account for all fees.
Published turnaround times are estimates, and actual wait times frequently exceed them. Here is what collectors typically experience:
| Company | Published Economy | Realistic Economy | Published Express | Realistic Express |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 65 business days | 90-150 business days | 5-10 business days | 5-15 business days |
| BGS | 40 business days | 60-120 business days | 5 business days | 5-10 business days |
| CGC | 30 business days | 40-75 business days | 5 business days | 5-10 business days |
CGC consistently delivers the fastest turnaround at economy tiers. PSA's economy service has been the most variable, with wait times spiking during high-demand periods. Express services at all three companies are relatively reliable.
Best choice: PSA
PSA dominates the sports card market. A PSA 10 sports card sells for 10-30% more than the equivalent BGS 9.5 or CGC 10 in most cases. The liquidity advantage is significant because PSA is what most sports card buyers search for on eBay, COMC, and other marketplaces.
For high-value vintage sports cards, PSA is almost always the right call. The market has decades of pricing data built around PSA grades, and collectors trust PSA for authentication of older cards.
Best choice: BGS or CGC (with PSA for high-end vintage)
The Pokemon market is split. BGS has built strong credibility in the Pokemon community, particularly for modern sets. A BGS Black Label on a desirable Pokemon card commands extraordinary premiums. CGC has also gained significant traction among Pokemon collectors, especially for modern product.
For vintage Wizards of the Coast (WOTC) era Pokemon cards, PSA remains competitive due to its authentication reputation and the high resale premiums on PSA 10 base set holos.
Best choice: CGC or BGS
CGC has aggressively pursued the TCG market with competitive pricing and faster turnaround. For Magic: The Gathering, both CGC and BGS are well-respected. PSA has less market penetration in the MTG space.
Best choice: Depends on your goal
| Grade Level | PSA Tolerance | BGS/CGC Tolerance |
|---|---|---|
| Top grade (10) | 60/40 front, 75/25 back | 50/50-55/45 front, 55/45 back |
| Second grade (9/9.5) | 65/35 front, 90/10 back | 55/45 front, 60/40 back |
PSA is notably more lenient on centering for their top grade. A card with 58/42 centering can achieve a PSA 10 but would likely receive a BGS centering sub-grade of 9 or 9.5.
All three companies evaluate these attributes, but the granularity differs. BGS and CGC break them out as individual sub-grades, while PSA rolls them into the overall score. In practice, PSA's standards for corners and edges at the 10 level are comparable to BGS and CGC, but the lack of sub-grades means you cannot identify which attribute caused a downgrade without re-evaluating the card yourself.
The grading company you choose directly impacts resale value. Here are typical market premiums relative to raw card value:
| Grade | PSA Premium | BGS Premium | CGC Premium |
|---|---|---|---|
| Top grade (10/10/10) | 3-10x raw value | 4-15x (Black Label) | 2-6x raw value |
| High grade (10/9.5/9.5) | 3-10x raw value | 2-5x (Gold Label) | 1.5-4x raw value |
| Mid-high (9/9/9) | 1.5-3x raw value | 1.3-2.5x raw value | 1.2-2x raw value |
PSA 10 cards generally sell for the highest absolute prices in sports cards. BGS Black Labels command the highest premiums in the Pokemon market. CGC offers good value but lower premiums overall.
Regardless of which company you choose, pre-screening your cards saves money by identifying cards that are unlikely to achieve your target grade. Submitting a card with 70/30 centering to PSA when you need a 10 is a waste of $79.99+ in grading fees.
CardGrade.io's AI-powered grading pre-screens your cards using CGI Vision AI, which analyzes 47 inspection points in 29 seconds with 92.8% accuracy. The system predicts grades for PSA, BGS, and CGC simultaneously, so you can compare expected outcomes across companies before you commit.
CardGrade.io is the smart first step before any grading submission: pre-screen across all three scales in under 60 seconds, then submit only the cards worth grading. It takes the guesswork out of choosing the right company — and the right cards — before you pay.
CardGrade.io does not just tell you a predicted grade. It shows you the breakdown across centering, corners, edges, and surface, mapped to each company's standards. You might discover that a card would likely earn a PSA 10 but only a BGS 9.5 due to stricter centering tolerances, helping you choose PSA for that particular card.
Use CardGrade.io's grade predictor to compare expected grades across all three companies and make data-driven submission decisions.
The PSA vs BGS vs CGC decision comes down to what you collect, your budget, and your goals. PSA offers the highest resale premiums for sports cards and the most recognizable label. BGS provides the most detailed grading with sub-grades and commands top premiums on Pokemon cards. CGC delivers the best value with lower pricing and faster turnaround.
No matter which card grading company you choose, pre-screening with CardGrade.io ensures you only submit cards with the best chance of hitting your target grade. That means less money wasted on submissions that disappoint and more high-grade slabs in your collection.
Sources: official grading standards and pricing from PSA, Beckett / BGS, and CGC. Resale premiums are market estimates and vary by card, era, and grade.
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Founder, CardGrade
Jamie Budesky is the founder of CardGrade and the engineer behind its AI vision grading pipeline. An Army veteran and IT specialist (DoD, since 2017), he writes about card grading, AI/ML grading technology, and collecting strategy — grounded in CardGrade's own grading data.
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