Pokémon card grading explained: PSA, BGS and CGC
Scroll through any marketplace and you will see the same card listed "raw" and "PSA 10", with prices that can differ several times over. Grading is the reason. It turns an opinion about condition into a number that strangers trust, and that trust is what buyers pay for. It also costs money and time, and for most cards it is not worth it. This guide explains how it works so you can tell the difference.
What grading actually is
You send a card to an independent company. Their graders confirm it is genuine, examine its condition and assign a grade, then seal the card in a tamper-evident plastic case (the "slab") with a label showing the card, the grade and a certification number. Anyone can look that number up on the grader's website to confirm the slab is real.
Grading does not make a card better. It makes the card's condition verifiable, which matters most when you sell to someone who cannot inspect it in person.
The four things graders look at
| Area | What they check |
|---|---|
| Centering | How evenly the printed border sits on each side, front and back |
| Corners | Sharpness: no rounding, dings or soft points |
| Edges | No whitening, chipping or nicks along the sides |
| Surface | Scratches, print lines, dents, stains or loss of gloss |
Centering surprises a lot of people because it has nothing to do with how the card was treated. A card can be untouched from the pack and still miss a 10 because it was cut off-center at the factory.
PSA
Professional Sports Authenticator is the largest grader in the US hobby and the one most buyers default to. Cards receive a single overall grade from 1 to 10, with half points available on most of the scale. A PSA 10 Gem Mint is the grade most collectors chase, and for modern cards the price gap between a 10 and a 9 is often large.
BGS (Beckett)
Beckett Grading Services gives four subgrades, one for each area above, plus an overall grade. That extra detail is useful when you want to know why a card landed where it did. A BGS 9.5 is labelled Gem Mint, while a 10 is Pristine. A card that earns a perfect 10 in every subgrade receives the famous Black Label, one of the hardest results to achieve in the hobby.
CGC
CGC Cards has grown quickly in the Pokémon market and is generally known for clear labels and a strict approach to the top grades. Its scale also runs from 1 to 10, with a Pristine 10 above the standard Gem Mint 10. CGC slabs often sell for less than PSA slabs of the same grade, which can make them good value as a buyer.
Grades are not interchangeable between companies. A PSA 10, a BGS 9.5 and a CGC 10 for the same card can all sell at different prices. Compare sold listings for the exact grader and grade, not just the number.
When is grading worth it?
Grading fees depend on the declared value of the card and how fast you want it back, and they change often, so check the current price list before you plan anything. Then add shipping both ways, insurance and a turnaround that can stretch to months. A simple test before you submit:
- Look up recent sold prices for the card raw in Near Mint.
- Look up sold prices for the grade you realistically expect, not the one you hope for. Be honest about centering and edges.
- Subtract the raw price and all your costs from the graded price.
If the result is small or negative, keep the card raw in a top loader. Grading usually makes sense for:
- Vintage cards in strong condition, where clean copies are scarce.
- Modern chase cards with a big price gap between the top grade and everything else.
- Cards you plan to sell online, where a slab removes the buyer's doubt about condition and authenticity.
- Personal favourites you simply want sealed and protected for the long run.
Preparing a submission
Inspect each card under good light with a magnifier, wipe the surface gently with a clean microfibre cloth if needed, put it in a fresh penny sleeve and then a semi-rigid holder. Never try to "fix" a card by pressing, trimming or cleaning with liquids. Graders look for alterations, and an altered card comes back without a grade.
Population reports
Every major grader publishes a population report showing how many copies of each card have received each grade. A card with very few 10s will carry a bigger premium for that grade. Checking the population before you submit is also a good reality check on how hard a 10 is for that particular card.
Where to go next
Authentication is one of the main reasons to grade an expensive card. If you are buying raw, the next guide shows how to catch most fakes yourself.