The four companies that grade Pokémon cards at scale are PSA, Beckett (BGS), CGC and SGC. They all assign a numeric grade on a 1–10 scale, but they differ on price, speed, whether you get subgrades, and — the part that actually affects your wallet — how much the market pays for a card in their holder.
| PSA | BGS (Beckett) | CGC | SGC | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scale | 1–10, half grades below 10 | 1–10 in 0.5 steps + subgrades | 1–10 in 0.5 steps + optional subgrades | 1–10 in 0.5 steps |
| Subgrades | No | Yes (centring/corners/edges/surface) | On request | No |
| Top grade | PSA 10 "Gem Mint" | BGS 10 "Pristine" / rare "Black Label" 10 | CGC 10 "Pristine" / 10 "Gem Mint" | SGC 10 "Gem Mint" |
| Turnaround (typical) | Weeks to months by tier | Weeks to months | Often faster than PSA | Often the fastest |
| Resale premium (Pokémon) | Highest — the market default | Strong for 9.5 / Black Label; a plain BGS 9.5 can lag a PSA 10 | Growing; usually below PSA for the same grade | Thin for modern Pokémon; better for vintage |
PSA
PSA is the default for Pokémon. A PSA 10 has the deepest pool of buyers and the clearest comps, so it's the easiest to sell and price. The trade-off is cost and turnaround at busy times, and PSA doesn't give subgrades — you get one number.
BGS (Beckett)
Beckett gives four subgrades and a rare all-10 "Black Label" that commands enormous premiums. A BGS 9.5 ("Gem Mint") is a strong grade, but for many modern cards the market still pays more for a PSA 10 than a BGS 9.5, so submitting borderline cards to Beckett can cost you.
CGC
CGC came from comic grading and has grown fast in TCG. Turnaround is often quicker and pricing competitive. Resale is improving but for the same grade a CGC slab usually sells for a little less than PSA on popular Pokémon cards.
SGC
SGC is fast and well regarded for vintage sports and cards, with a distinctive black insert. For modern Pokémon the resale pool is smaller, so it's more of a specialist choice — often used for raw vintage where speed matters.
Rule of thumb: for a card you intend to sell, PSA maximises liquidity. Choose BGS only if you're confident of a 9.5+ and want subgrades or a Black Label shot. Use CGC or SGC when turnaround or cost matters more than squeezing the last few percent of resale.
Before you submit anything
Grading only makes sense when the graded comp clearly beats the raw price plus fees. Check the centring with PokeHive's Pre-Grader, be honest about corners, edges and surface, and read the grading-cost guide to run the numbers for your specific card.
- Which grading company is best for Pokémon cards?
- PSA, because a PSA 10 has the largest buyer pool and clearest pricing, making it the easiest to sell. BGS, CGC and SGC are credible alternatives with trade-offs in resale premium, subgrades or speed.
- Is a BGS 9.5 the same as a PSA 10?
- Both are "Gem Mint"-level, but they're not interchangeable in the market. For many modern Pokémon cards a PSA 10 sells for more than a BGS 9.5, though a BGS 10 Black Label sells for far more.
- Is CGC as good as PSA?
- CGC is a legitimate, widely accepted grader with often-faster turnaround. For the same card and grade, a CGC slab typically resells slightly below PSA on popular Pokémon cards.
- How accurate are PokeHive's graded price estimates?
- They are statistical models based on the raw price and observed graded premiums, not observed sales for your specific card. Treat them as a guide and confirm against recent comps for anything high-value.