Getting a card graded is the single biggest value unlock in the hobby. A raw Near Mint Charizard and a PSA 10 Charizard are two completely different assets. The slab is what turns a collectible into a commodity with a verifiable market price.
But grading costs real money. And choosing the wrong company, tier, or card to submit can burn that money fast. Here's everything you need to know.
The Big 3: PSA, BGS, and CGC
PSA is the industry standard. A PSA 10 commands the highest resale premium on almost every card. It's the most recognized label in the hobby and the most liquid on the secondary market. PSA uses a single overall grade with no subgrades. Simple, clean, and universally understood. The downside: PSA slabs are more prone to cracking than competitors, and prices keep climbing.
BGS (Beckett Grading Services) gives you subgrades. Every card gets scored on centering, corners, edges, and surface, plus an overall grade. BGS also uses half-point increments (9.5, 10) and awards the legendary Black Label 10 when all four subgrades hit perfect 10s. A BGS Black Label can actually sell for more than a PSA 10 on high-end cards. Beckett was acquired by Collectors Holdings (PSA's parent company) in December 2025.
CGC is the fastest-growing grader. Owned by Certified Collectibles Group (the same company behind CGC Comics), they offer subgrades like BGS, robust case quality, and competitive pricing. CGC slabs are the most durable of the three. The tradeoff: CGC cards still sell at a 10-30% discount to equivalent PSA grades on most items. That gap is narrowing, but it's real.
Current Prices and Turnaround Times (February 2026)
PSA raised prices again on February 10, 2026. Every tier got a $5 bump.
PSA: - Value Bulk: $24.99/card, 95 business days (20-card min, Collectors Club only) - Value: $32.99/card, 75 business days - Value Plus: $49.99/card, 45 business days - Value Max: $64.99/card, 35 business days - Regular: $79.99/card, 25 business days
BGS: - Base: $14.95/card ($17.95 with subgrades), 75+ business days - Standard: $34.95/card, 45 business days - Express: $79.95/card, 15 business days - Priority: $124.95/card, 5 business days
CGC (updated January 6, 2026): - Bulk: $15/card, 40 business days (25-card min) - Economy: $18/card, 20 business days - Standard: $55/card, 10 business days - Express: $100/card, 5 business days - WalkThrough: $300/card, 2 business days
BGS is the cheapest entry point. CGC is the fastest at budget tiers. PSA is the most expensive across the board.
When Grading Is Worth It
Simple math. If the cost of grading plus shipping doesn't meaningfully increase the card's value, don't submit it.
The $100 rule. If a card's estimated graded value is under $100, you need to be very confident it'll get a 9 or 10 to justify the expense. A PSA 8 on a $40 card might only add $10-15 of value. That's a net loss after grading fees.
The 3x threshold. The sweet spot is cards where a high grade multiplies the raw value by 3x or more. A raw card worth $50 that becomes $200+ as a PSA 10 is a strong submission candidate.
Vintage is almost always worth grading. Anything pre-2000 in clean condition benefits enormously from authentication alone. Even mid-grade vintage cards (PSA 5-7) hold significant value because buyers want confirmation that the card is genuine.
Modern bulk is almost never worth grading. That stack of 2024 base set pulls sitting on your desk? Leave them raw. The grading fee alone exceeds most of their graded value.
The Grading Scale: What Each Grade Means for Value
The scale runs 1-10 across all three companies. But the real money lives at the top.
- 10 (Gem Mint): The target. Massive premium. PSA 10s regularly sell for 5-20x the PSA 9 price on desirable cards. - 9 (Mint): Still strong. The most common grade for well-handled modern cards. Solid returns on cards worth $50+ raw. - 8 (Near Mint-Mint): Decent for vintage. On modern cards, an 8 often adds little to no value over raw. Sometimes less, because a slabbed 8 signals the card isn't a 9 or 10. - 7 and below: Only meaningful for vintage or high-demand cards. A PSA 7 1st Edition Base Set Charizard still sells for thousands. A PSA 7 modern card is essentially worthless relative to grading cost.
Maximizing Your Grade
The four subgrade categories that BGS and CGC score explicitly are exactly what PSA evaluates too. They just don't show you.
Centering. The biggest grade killer people overlook. PSA allows 60/40 front and 75/25 back for a 10. Anything more off-center caps you at a 9 or lower. Hold the card up and eyeball the borders before you submit.
Corners. Use a loupe (10x magnification minimum). Even the tiniest whitening on a corner drops you from a 10 to a 9 instantly. This is where "pack fresh" stops meaning "gem mint."
Edges. Run your loupe along every edge. Look for chipping, rough cuts, or any inconsistency in the border. Factory cutting errors are more common than you'd think.
Surface. Scratches, print lines, and surface debris. Tilt the card under a bright light at multiple angles. Print lines from the factory are the most frustrating. They're not your fault, but they'll still cost you a grade point.
Common First-Time Mistakes
Submitting everything. New collectors get excited and send 30 cards at once. Grade selectively. Five strong candidates beat thirty mediocre ones.
Ignoring centering. It's the easiest thing to check before submission and the most common reason cards miss a 10. Save yourself the fee.
Choosing the wrong company for the card. PSA premiums are strongest on Pokemon, sports, and most TCGs. BGS Black Labels shine on ultra-high-end singles. CGC is solid for Yu-Gi-Oh and growing in Pokemon. Know your market.
Touching the surface. Handle cards by the edges only. Fingerprints on the surface create micro-scratches that show up under grading lights. Use clean, lint-free gloves if you're handling anything valuable.
Skipping the Collectors Club. PSA's Value Bulk tier ($24.99) is only available to Collectors Club members ($99/year). If you're submitting 10+ cards per year, the membership pays for itself immediately through the cheaper per-card rate.
The Bottom Line
Grading isn't complicated. Pick the right cards, pick the right company, and inspect before you submit. The collectors who make money grading aren't lucky. They're selective.
Check your centering. Loupe your corners. Do the math on whether the grade will actually add value. And when in doubt, wait. That card isn't going anywhere.