PSA vs BGS vs CGC: Which Grading Company Should You Use?
The three major graders, how their scales differ, and how to choose the right slab for your card.
Sending a card to be graded is often the single biggest decision a collector makes about it - and the first question is always which company to use. Three names dominate: PSA, BGS and CGC.
The three majors
PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) is the most widely recognised grader, especially for sports cards and Pokémon. Its top grade is Gem Mint 10, and its slabs are among the most liquid in the market - a PSA 10 tends to sell quickly and predictably.
BGS (Beckett Grading Services) is known for subgrades: separate scores for centring, corners, edges and surface printed on the label. Its most coveted designation, the Black Label, is reserved for a card that earns a perfect 10 across all four subgrades - exceptionally rare and correspondingly prized.
CGC (Certified Guaranty Company) built its reputation in comics before expanding into trading cards and TCGs. It also offers subgrades and a Pristine 10 designation, and it has become a serious force at the very top of the market - the record Alpha Black Lotus was a CGC Pristine 10.
How to choose
For most sports and Pokémon cards, PSA offers the deepest, most liquid market, which usually means the cleanest resale. If you want a detailed breakdown of a card’s condition - or you are chasing that perfect-subgrade trophy - Beckett’s subgrades and Black Label are the draw. CGC is a strong choice across TCGs and increasingly at the high end.
The practical rules
Grade high-value or high-grade candidates, not bulk. Match the grader to the market you will eventually sell into. And remember the constant across all three: a higher grade generally means a higher value, so honest self-assessment before you submit saves both money and disappointment.