Where to Grade Your Cards in 2025: What Every Collector Should Know

If you're a serious collector, you know the importance of getting your trading cards graded. Grading not only preserves the condition of your valuable cards but also significantly impacts their resale value. With several options available, from established giants like PSA and BGS to newer third-party services like TAG Grading, choosing the right grading company can be overwhelming. In this guide, we’ll analyse some of the most well-known card grading companies, their pros and cons, pricing, and what you need to consider when deciding where to grade your cards.

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1. PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator)

Website: PSA Grading

Pricing:
PSA offers a variety of pricing tiers depending on the value of the card and the service level:

• Economy: $20–$25 per card (up to $199 value per card, 60+ business days).
• Regular: $50 per card (up to $499 value, 25–35 business days).
• Express: $100 per card (up to $999 value, 10–15 business days).
• Super Express: $200 per card (up to $1,499 value, 2–3 business days).
• Walkthrough: $500+ per card (for high-value items, 1–2 business days).

Advantages:

• Recognized worldwide for consistency and trust.
• High resale value for PSA-graded cards.
• Extensive population reports, which can help you understand how rare a card is.
• Offers online tools to track the status of your submission.

Disadvantages:

• Long turnaround times: It can take several months to receive your cards back.
• Expensive: PSA’s grading fees can be high, especially for higher-value cards.
• Minimum submission requirements: PSA often requires a minimum number of cards for certain grading tiers.

How many cards to send? PSA allows submissions for as few as one card, though there are discounts for bulk submissions. For best results, consider submitting multiple cards to save on fees.

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2. BGS (Beckett Grading Services)

Website: Beckett Grading

Pricing:

• Standard: $30 per card (up to $499 value, 30 business days).
• Premium: $50 per card (up to $999 value, 15–20 business days).
• Express: $125 per card (up to $1,499 value, 5–10 business days).
• Super Express: $250+ per card (for high-value items, 1–3 business days).
• Black Label: Add premium cost depending on card value (highly sought after but can be costly).

Advantages:

• Subgrades provide more detailed insight into the condition of the card.
• Beckett’s Black Label (BGS 10) is extremely sought after and can be worth a lot of money.
• The grading scale includes half-point grades (e.g., 9.5), which can help differentiate cards of similar quality.

Disadvantages:

• Less recognition in certain markets compared to PSA, especially for non-sport cards.
• Black Label 10s are rare, and not all cards will achieve this grade.
• Turnaround times can also be lengthy.

How many cards to send? Beckett accepts both individual cards and bulk submissions. Bulk submissions can help save on overall costs.

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3. CGC (Certified Guaranty Company)

Website: CGC Grading

Pricing:

• Base Grading: Starts at $12 per card (up to $99 value, 10–20 business days).
• Standard: $20 per card (up to $499 value, 10–20 business days).
• Express: $40 per card (up to $999 value, 7–10 business days).
• Fast Track: $100 per card (up to $1,000 value, 2–5 business days).
• Walkthrough: $300+ per card (for high-value items, 1–2 business days).

Advantages:

• More affordable pricing compared to PSA and BGS, especially for comics and cards.
• CGC offers a well-regarded, transparent grading system with detailed reports.
• Fast turnaround times in comparison to PSA and BGS.

Disadvantages:

• Less prestige in the trading card community compared to PSA and Beckett, especially for certain collectibles like Pokémon cards.
• Fewer established market norms in some niches of the trading card industry.

How many cards to send? CGC allows submissions for a single card, and bulk submissions are encouraged for greater savings.

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4. TAG Grading (The Authentic Grading)

Website: TAG Grading

Pricing:

• Standard: $25 per card (up to $499 value, 10–20 business days).
• Express: $50 per card (up to $1,000 value, 7–10 business days).
• Premium: $75 per card (for cards above $1,000, 5–7 business days).

Advantages:

• AI-assisted grading ensures consistency and reduces human error.
• Offers detailed digital grading reports that include high-resolution scans.
• Known for advanced security features and tamper-proof slabs.
• Competitive pricing, especially for first-time users.

Disadvantages:

• Newer company with less established recognition compared to PSA or Beckett.
• Market value of TAG-graded cards is still growing, so resale value may not be as high as more established grading services.
• Turnaround times can vary depending on submission volume.

How many cards to send? TAG accepts single and bulk submissions. They offer discounts for bulk orders, making it a good option for larger collections.

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5. SGC (Sportscard Guaranty Corporation)

Website: SGC Grading

Pricing:

• Economy: $25 per card (up to $499 value, 20–25 business days).
• Regular: $45 per card (up to $999 value, 10–15 business days).
• Express: $75 per card (up to $1,499 value, 5–7 business days).
• Walkthrough: $150+ per card (for high-value items, 1–2 business days).

Advantages:

• Affordable pricing compared to PSA and BGS.
• Quick turnaround times for faster grading results.
• A good reputation for grading sports cards and some non-sport cards.

Disadvantages:

• Less value recognition compared to PSA or Beckett, particularly for certain types of cards.
• Grading reports can be less detailed than BGS or PSA in terms of subgrades and precision.

How many cards to send? SGC allows single submissions and bulk submissions with discounts for large orders.

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How to Choose the Right Grading Service for Your Cards

When deciding where to grade your cards, consider the following factors:

• Card type: Are you grading Pokémon, sports, or other collectibles? Some services are more renowned for specific types of cards.
• Market value: If you’re grading a high-value card, PSA and Beckett tend to offer the highest resale value.
• Turnaround time: If you need your cards graded quickly, services like CGC and SGC may offer faster options.
• Cost: Pricing can vary greatly, so be sure to weigh the cost against the potential return. Longer turnaround times can result in lower fees, while faster service usually costs more.

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Conclusion

Choosing the right grading company for your trading cards is an essential part of ensuring their preservation and value. Each service offers different pricing tiers, so be sure to evaluate which one fits your needs based on your budget and how quickly you want your cards graded. Whether you choose PSA, BGS, CGC, TAG Grading, or SGC, all offer reputable services, but each has its unique pricing structure that can impact your decision.

Keep your collection safe — we’ve got you covered at Game of Bricks.