PSA vs BGS vs CGC: Complete Card Grading Comparison 2026

PSA, BGS, or CGC: Which Grading Service Should You Use?

This is the most debated question in the graded card hobby. Each service has its strengths, and the "right" answer depends on what you're grading, why you're grading it, and what you plan to do with the graded card afterward.

Here's a complete, data-driven comparison for 2026.

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Grading Scales & Standards

PSA — Professional Sports Authenticator

• Scale: 1–10 (whole numbers only, no half grades)
• Highest grade: PSA 10 Gem Mint
• Approach: Single holistic grade — no sub-categories broken out
• Centering tolerance: 60/40 front, 75/25 back for a PSA 10
• Philosophy: Straightforward, broad-appeal grading with slightly more lenient centering standards

BGS — Beckett Grading Services

• Scale: 1–10 with half-point increments (8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10)
• Sub-grades: Four detailed breakdowns — Centering, Corners, Edges, Surface
• Special designations:
  • BGS Pristine 10 — perfect overall grade
  • BGS Black Label 10 — perfect 10 in all four sub-categories (ultra-rare)
• Philosophy: Most transparent system with detailed sub-grade analysis; strictest overall standards

CGC — Certified Guaranty Company

• Scale: 1–10 with half-point increments
• Highest grade: CGC Pristine 10
• Sub-grades: Optional add-on (centering, corners, edges, surface)
• Philosophy: Known for very strict grading, particularly on centering; growing rapidly in the TCG market

Key takeaway: A PSA 10 is generally easier to achieve than a CGC 10 or BGS 10. But that accessibility is part of why PSA dominates the market — more PSA 10s exist, which creates more liquidity.

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Pricing Comparison

| Feature | PSA | BGS | CGC | |---|---|---|---| | Lowest tier | $24.99 (Value Bulk) | $14.95 (Basic) | $12 (Bulk 50+) | | Standard tier | $79.99 (Regular) | ~$30+ (Standard) | $15 (Standard) | | Sub-grades included | N/A | +$3/card | Optional add-on | | Fastest tier | $599 (Walk-Through) | ~$250+ (Premium) | Varies |

Winner: CGC — Significantly cheaper than PSA at every tier. BGS basic grading is also very affordable. PSA commands the highest prices by a wide margin, which it justifies with market dominance and resale premiums.

A 2025 collector survey found that 89% of collectors want grading at $20 or under — a price point that CGC and BGS meet but PSA does not for most tiers.

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Turnaround Times

| Service | Budget Tier | Standard Tier | Express Tier | |---|---|---|---| | PSA | 95 business days | 25 business days | 5–10 business days | | BGS | 45+ business days | ~3–4 weeks | ~2 weeks | | CGC | ~30 days (regular) | ~30 days | Varies |

Winner: CGC — Consistently delivers the fastest turnaround times, especially for standard submissions. PSA's Value Bulk tier (95 business days) means you're waiting nearly 5 months.

Note: PSA's stated turnaround times don't include their ~15 business day receiving phase, which adds to every submission.

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Market Value: Who Commands the Highest Premiums?

This is where PSA pulls ahead decisively.

The Value Hierarchy

1. BGS Black Label 10 — Commands 2–3x a comparable PSA 10. A Black Label is extraordinarily difficult to achieve (perfect 10s in all four sub-grades), making it the true pinnacle of card grading. For high-end modern cards, Black Labels are trophy pieces.

2. PSA 10 Gem Mint — The industry standard. PSA 10s consistently sell for 10–20% more than BGS 9.5 or CGC 10 equivalents. The brand recognition, massive pop reports, and collector trust make PSA 10 the most liquid graded card on the market.

3. BGS Pristine 10 / BGS 9.5 — A BGS 9.5 is widely considered equivalent to a PSA 10 in actual card quality, but it trades at a significant discount. Data shows BGS 9.5 cards can sell for as low as 18% of a comparable PSA 10's value — a stark gap.

4. CGC 10 Pristine — Rising fast. The gap between CGC 10 and PSA 10 values has been narrowing through 2025-2026, but CGC 10s still trade below PSA 10s for most cards. CGC's strict grading means their 10s may actually be higher quality, but the market hasn't fully priced that in yet.

Winner: PSA for resale value. BGS Black Label if you can achieve it — but that's a big if.

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Slab Design & Quality

PSA Slabs

• Slim, lightweight, iconic white label with red trim
• Interlocking ridges make them the easiest to stack (minimal wobble)
• Clean, simple aesthetic refined over decades
• Slightly frosted plastic along edges

BGS Slabs

• Thickest and heftiest of the three — premium feel in hand
• Gold, silver, or black foil labels (depending on grade) — highest visual appeal
• More bulky and harder to store
• The "luxury" slab — appeals to high-end collectors

CGC Slabs

• Middle ground between PSA and BGS thickness
• Ultra-clear plastic — best card visibility of all three services
• Modern, clean design
• Crystal-clear view of the card surface and edges

| Feature | PSA | BGS | CGC | |---|---|---|---| | Stackability | Best | Worst | Middle | | Card visibility | Good | Good | Best | | Premium feel | Moderate | Best | Good | | Weight | Lightest | Heaviest | Middle |

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Population Reports & Transparency

PSA

• Most extensive population database (largest grading volume)
• Free public access at psacard.com/pop
• Individual cert lookup with photos
• Industry standard for population tracking

BGS

• Population data available but less comprehensive
• Sub-grade breakdowns offer the most transparency in grading rationale
• You can see exactly why your card received its grade

CGC

• Population report at cgccards.com/population-report
• Lower populations than PSA (fewer cards graded = potentially more preserved value)
• Organized by game, era, and set

Pro tip: GemRate aggregates population reports across PSA, BGS, SGC, and CGC — search once, see populations across all services.

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Market Share (2025-2026)

The grading industry saw 26.8 million cards graded in 2025 — a 32% increase over 2024.

• PSA: ~67% of all graded sports cards; with the Beckett acquisition, combined share reaches ~79%
• CGC: 121% year-over-year growth in grading volume
• TAG: 83% year-over-year growth (emerging competitor)

PSA's acquisition of Beckett in 2025 raised monopoly concerns among collectors and industry analysts. A combined 79% market share by a single parent company has some collectors actively diversifying to CGC and other services.

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Which Service Is Best for Your Cards?

Choose PSA if:

• You want maximum resale value and liquidity
• You're grading sports cards or vintage collectibles
• You prioritize brand recognition over cost
• You're willing to pay more and wait longer

Choose BGS if:

• You want detailed sub-grades and transparent grading
• You're pursuing a Black Label 10 for a trophy card
• You value the premium slab aesthetic (gold/silver labels)
• You're grading modern chrome sports cards or high-end rookies

Choose CGC if:

• You want the best value (lowest cost + fastest turnaround)
• You're grading TCG cards (Pokemon, One Piece, Yu-Gi-Oh, Magic)
• You prefer strict grading standards (a CGC 10 means something)
• You want the clearest slab for card visibility
• You're building a graded collection on a budget

Quick Decision Guide

| Your Priority | Best Choice | |---|---| | Highest resale value | PSA | | Lowest cost | CGC | | Fastest turnaround | CGC | | Most detailed grading | BGS | | Best slab clarity | CGC | | Trophy/prestige card | BGS Black Label | | TCG cards | CGC | | Sports cards | PSA | | Vintage cards | PSA |

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The Bottom Line

There's no single "best" grading service — only the best service for your specific situation.

PSA owns the market and commands the highest resale premiums. If you're grading to sell, PSA 10 is still king.

BGS offers the most detailed and transparent grading with the aspirational Black Label designation. It's the connoisseur's choice.

CGC is the value play — cheaper, faster, and strict in grading standards. It's growing rapidly and may close the resale gap with PSA as adoption increases.

Many collectors use multiple services: PSA for their most valuable cards (maximizing resale), CGC for mid-range TCG cards (saving on cost), and BGS for their personal trophy pieces (chasing that Black Label).

Track All Your Graded Cards in One Place

No matter which service you use, Kard lets you catalog your entire graded collection — PSA slabs today, with more services coming soon. Build your visual collection, set prices, and share your profile with the collector community.

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Data accurate as of February 2026. Grading costs, turnaround times, and market valuations change regularly. Always verify current pricing before submitting cards.