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Pokémon, Magic, Yu-Gi-Oh, sports, and non-sports cards do not all fit the same grader. Compare real pricing, eligibility, grade systems, and resale goals before building a submission.
PSA accepts a broad mix of popular card categories. Value is paused; Regular is the lowest active direct tier.
PSA paused Value on June 2, 2026. It remains useful for budgeting a future lower-value submission, but it is not currently orderable.
PSA’s lowest currently orderable direct tier while all Value services are paused.
A faster tier for cards where timing justifies a higher grading fee.
Includes PSA premium imaging and Grader Notes for eligible outcomes.
The highest active fixed-price tier before PSA’s Premium value bands.
For cards whose expected value exceeds the Walk-Through service ceiling.
Verify live availability, estimated turnaround, and insured-value limits before submitting any card category.
Published pricing last verified August 5, 2026. CardGrade is independent and is not affiliated with the grading companies listed.
Official sources: PSA trading card grading services · CGC cards grading services and fees · Beckett card submission services · SGC card grading services and pricing · TAG grading service availability
Beckett Base and Standard availability last verified August 8, 2026. Official update: Beckett Base and Standard service update.
Coverage, report detail, top-grade structure, and secondary-market acceptance vary materially by company.
PSA accepts major sports, Pokémon, Magic, Yu-Gi-Oh, and non-sports releases and publishes a large population database. Confirm that the exact set, card, and declared value fit the current service before submitting.
CGC has deep Pokémon, Magic, and TCG recognition, current Economy pricing at $20 without a Bulk minimum, and a Pristine 10 above Gem Mint 10.
TAG uses computer-assisted grading. Regular reports use a 1–10 grade, while TAG Score services add a 100–1000 score and DIG+ adds detailed subscores. Eligibility is narrower and excludes Yu-Gi-Oh, relic, metal, acetate, and many unusual formats.
Beckett grades sports and TCG cards with centering, corners, edges, and surface subgrades on most current tiers. New online Base and Standard submissions are temporarily paused. Existing and in-transit submissions continue to be processed; Express and Priority remain available. A Black Label requires four perfect 10 subgrades.
Use PSA for broad acceptance, CGC for TCG-focused pricing and a distinct Pristine 10, TAG for eligible modern cards where report transparency matters, and Beckett when subgrade detail is central to the collecting goal.
The cheapest tier can become expensive after shipping, minimums, value adjustments, or an eligibility mistake.
Carrier, insurance, destination, return method, and protective supplies change the effective per-card cost. Get current quotes for the exact shipment.
PSA benefits can require membership, CGC Bulk requires 25 cards, and TAG Basic carries a 10-card minimum when available.
A provider may require a different tier or adjust the charge when the card exceeds the selected service value ceiling. Check current terms before mailing.
Thick, oversized, acetate, metal, die-cut, custom, or unsupported-language cards may be returned ungraded. Confirm eligibility before preparing the order.
Review population counts and recent completed sales for the exact card and grade rather than assuming that encapsulation creates a specific premium.
Before paying a grading company's submission fee, use clear images to review a condition estimate and identify areas for closer physical inspection. Use the estimate to prioritize—not replace—professional grading.
A mixed batch can include cards with weak condition or formats better suited to another company.
Condition and eligibility checks help focus each submission on cards with a clearer purpose.
Eligible new accounts · Additive condition guidance · Not physical authentication
Trading card grading is a professional evaluation of authenticity and condition followed by encapsulation in a tamper-evident holder. The numerical grade reflects factors such as centering, corners, edges, surface, print quality, and signs of alteration.
The best fit depends on the exact card, current service availability, eligibility, holder preference, turnaround, all-in cost, and recent completed sales. PSA has broad card coverage and buyer familiarity, CGC is prominent in Pokémon and other TCGs, Beckett offers detailed subgrades on eligible services, and TAG provides computer-assisted reports for a narrower set of modern cards.
Current entry pricing varies widely. SGC Standard is $15, CGC Economy is $20 without a Bulk minimum, PSA Regular is $79.99, and TAG lists limited Priority service at $149 while its regular tiers are paused. Beckett lists Base at $14.95. New online Base and Standard submissions are temporarily paused. Existing and in-transit submissions continue to be processed; Express and Priority remain available. Add shipping, insurance, supplies, and any minimum or value-based adjustment to the listed fee.
No. PSA and CGC have broad TCG coverage. Beckett grades many gaming cards. TAG has tighter year, size, thickness, language, set, and material restrictions and does not accept Yu-Gi-Oh cards.
Cards are strongest grading candidates when likely graded value exceeds raw value plus the grading fee, shipping, insurance, selling fees, and the risk of receiving a lower grade than expected.
Yes. AI pre-screening can flag visible centering, corner, edge, and surface problems before you pay. It remains an additive decision tool; the grading company still authenticates, physically inspects, and encapsulates the card.
Check visible condition in about 60 seconds, choose the company that fits the card type, and reserve professional grading fees for the strongest candidates.