The Top 10 Card Grading Services for TCGs Ranked

Loran of the Third Path | Illustration by Steven Belledin

Entering the world of card collecting can be both thrilling and bewildering, especially for newcomers in hopes of adding value and preserving cards worth hundreds, if not thousands of dollars.

If you find yourself navigating the maze of choices and are still uncertain about where to begin, fear not. In the quest to find the best grading company, I’ve gathered insights on various singularities for each service to aid in your decision-making process. Below, you’ll discover key details about some of the prominent players in the field, shedding light on aspects such as pricing, turnaround time, items graded daily, and the unique features they offer.

Without further ado, let’s dive right in.

What Are Card Grading Services?

Mishra's Research Desk | Illustration by Matt Stewart

Card grading services are companies that evaluate and assign grades to collectible trading cards, like sports or gaming cards, based on factors such as corners, edges, surface, and centering.

Customers send cards to the grading service individually or in bulk, depending on their value. Then, the grading company realizes a process of authentication to ultimately return the cards to their owner in protective cases that include details of the card, such as the grade, card information, and the grading company's logo, to preserve the card and enhance its market value.

This process offers collectors a standardized and objective measure of a card's condition. Authentication ensures the card's legitimacy, while grading criteria assess wear, creases and scratches, typically using a scale of 1 to 10, with 10 indicating mint or near-mint condition.

In addition to cards, grading services are used for many other products and objects, such as autographs, event tickets, photographs, and even Funkos!

#10. Arena Club Grading

While there are mixed reviews about Arena Club Grading, some aspects stand out about them. The primary one is their dual role as both a card grading company and a market where collectors can showcase their cards in what they refer to as “The Vault.”

Arena Club Grading “keeps” your graded cards safe and stored, allowing you to digitally showcase them. The cards are under 24/7 surveillance, and transactions are recorded for security and transparency.

The base price starts at $10 for a card graded and stored in the vault (i.e., they keep the cards). The alternative option is priced at $15 for traditional grading with a turnaround of 10 business days for orders under 200 cards. Additionally, you have the option to send your already graded cards from other grading services to be minted and vaulted within 10 days for as low as $5 per card. These cards can be returned to you at a cost of $1 plus shipping.

While this may sound appealing on paper, collectors claim to experience longer turnaround times than advertised, and the shipping cost can be somewhat expensive when returning your cards. In the meantime, your cards are showcased on Arena Club's marketplace.

#9. Get Graded

Most of the grading companies on this list are based in the United States, so I wanted to highlight a few from the UK, with Get Graded being one that has garnered the most attention, albeit with limited reviews or information available.

It's plausible to assume that the dominance of the major top three brands on this list contributes to the relative scarcity of reviews for Get Graded. Nonetheless, their prices are notably competitive, starting at £9.99 per card with a turnaround time of 20-30 business days. They also offer an express service priced at up to £17.99, promising a delivery time of 2-4 business days.

Apart from the location, there isn't much deviation from the other companies on the list, as Get Graded employs a grading scale starting at A (Authentic-Poor) and reaching up to 10 (Flawless, a tier below Pristine).

#8. KSA Certification

KSA grading company engages in the assessment of a variety of items, including sports cards, TCGs, autographs, and coins, accommodating multiple languages in the process.

Their base price starts at $20 for 1-25 items and decreases to as low as $12 for orders exceeding 100 cards. The average turnaround times for regular and bulk services range from 3-5 weeks.

For those seeking quicker results, express services are available for approximately $30, with a turnaround time of one week.

While their prices may appear higher compared to others on this list, it's important to note that it's a flat fee, independent of the card's value; the cost remains constant.

However, one aspect that may be less favorable is the separation between the card and the package, which seems somewhat larger than other services on the list. This design could potentially result in cards hitting the borders during transit, posing a theoretical risk of damage to the cards.

As far as grading goes, they go from 1 (Poor) to 10 (Gem Mint).

#7. Hybrid Grading Approach (HGA)

Relatively new to the card grading market, HGA claims to have revolutionized the collectible card market with a novel software approach. This approach involves scanning, analyzing, and grading cards at high resolution without subjectivity, aiming to detect imperfections that human eyes may often overlook.

One distinctive feature offered by HGA is the option to send custom labels for them to print on your graded cards or choose from a unique set of label options they provide. This customization feature comes with additional fees ranging from $8 to $20.

Another notable feature is the introduction of subgrades. Subgrades consider different parts of the card, such as corners, edges, and surfaces, each individually evaluated with a grade ranging from 1 (poor) to 10 (flawless). For instance, you could have perfect edges (10) and corners (10), but perhaps the surface of the card is a bit rough (5). This detailed evaluation provides more comprehensive information about the card and contributes to transparency regarding its total net worth.

The price range for HGA's services varies, starting at $14 per card with a turnaround time of 60 days and going up to $40 per card with a 2-day turnaround. Although the company is in its early stages, it’s managed to establish a strong position in the industry. However, due to its newness, there may be limitations in grading certain types of cards or products.

#6. Cardmarket Grading

Primarily recognized for their online store, Cardmarket also provides a grading system for the UK. Their pricing is competitive, commencing at €15 per single card, with a bulk option available at €140 for 100 cards.

The standard turnaround time for their services ranges from 30-60 business days. Additionally, there are slightly pricier options that can expedite the grading process.

Cardmarket also distinguishes itself by offering subgrades for cards, allowing collectors to know the details that contribute to the final grading.

It's worth noting that, while the cards are protected by the standard case, commonly referred to as a “Slab,” Cardmarket takes an extra step by enclosing the cards in an inner sleeve. Some may appreciate this feature for the added layer of protection it provides, while others may find it less appealing due to the potential for added reflection on the card.

#5. Rare Edition

Introducing a newer card grading company that utilizes various technologies to assess a wide range of sport and TCG cards. What sets Rare Edition apart is the size of the envelope in which the cards are graded—it's notably large, resembling an iPhone case, according to some.

When you choose to grade cards with them, each card comes with the following features:

• Crystal Clear Polycarbonate surrounding the card
• Corning Gorilla Trademark Glass
• QR code and NFC Chip providing the full and subgrade report for each card
• UV Protection

While they strive to innovate and create a distinct product not currently available in the market, the most noteworthy aspect of this new approach is its limited replicability. Unlike other grading companies that have experienced attempts at forgery, this model appears to be challenging to imitate.

However, given their incorporation of newer features and technologies, there is an impact on prices. Their lower-tier option starts at around $29 per card with a turnaround time of 60 business days, going up to $149 with a 15-day turnaround. The positive aspect is that each of these options includes subgrades and grading reports, somewhat justifying the higher price when compared to other companies in the market.

#4. Certified Guaranty Company (CGC)

CGC is one of the many card grading companies in the market that’s been around for a while, providing collectors with an option to assign a value to their cards and safeguard them from potential damage. The fees start as low as $12 per card when submitted in bulk, with a minimum of 25 cards and a turnaround time of approximately 40 working days. The cards’ value does not exceed the $250 threshold.

Beyond that, fees can vary based on the card's value, reaching up to $150 for grading the most expensive ones, with a quick turnaround of only three days. Their grading scale ranges from 1 (poor) to 10 (pristine or 10+), with the latter representing cards that are flawless under 10-times magnification.

Previously, CGC was a strong contender in the card grading market. However, I must acknowledge that around mid-2023, a set of changes rendered it less reliable. The most impactful change was their decision to alter their grading standards, resulting in inconsistencies, saturation, and averaging scores, issues compared to their previous grading system.

For instance, a CGC Pristine Card may not be as “perfect” as a PSA top grading scale, leading to a significant difference in market value between the two grading companies despite the card being marked with the highest grade.

#3. Sportscard Guarantee Corporation (SGC)

Sportscard Guarantee Corporation (SGC) is a card grading service that’s mostly focused on sports cards, especially vintage ones.

Like PSA, SGC's prices vary depending on the declared value of the product, starting at $15 for products valued at less than $1500, to $3750 if the value is above $100,000. However, for each additional $10,000 over $100,000 in card value, $375 is added to the base fee.

What I love about them is that they have a neat app where you can submit and track orders as they go through the grading process. In terms of turnaround time, SGC comes out on top of every other competitor, usually ranging from 5-10 business days to deliver the final grading.

#2. Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA)

Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) is widely considered the most popular card grading service, offering a diverse range of options that cover everything from cards to autographs, accommodating a variety of items for grading. They provide multiple packages, with fees ranging from $15 to $10,000 depending on the assessed value of the card.

The process is straightforward: Initially, they authenticate the card to verify its legitimacy. Once the card successfully passes the authentication test, it proceeds to the grading phase, which involves assigning a numerical grade on a scale from 1-10. Subsequently, the card is securely encapsulated in a sonically sealed, tamper-evident case. The label on the case prominently displays the card's grade and certification number.

This whole process can last around 65 business days; however, for the pricier options starting at $300 per card, the turnaround time dramatically decreases to only three business days.

While PSA is primarily known for grading sports cards, it also extends its services to various other types of collectible cards, including trading cards from different categories, such as gaming cards (e.g., Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering), non-sports cards, and even autographed cards.

Last but not least, PSA offers something that not many other card-grading services provide: the Card Grading Guarantee. While it may seem a bit complex, there’s a comprehensive disclaimer explaining it. Essentially, this guarantee means that PSA will purchase your graded card at market value if it was inaccurately graded. This might not appear significant at first glance, but it is actually noteworthy. If they happen to grade a card at a lower value, they commit to rectifying the situation by ensuring you receive the correct and fair compensation for it.

#1. Beckett Grading Services (BGS)

Beckett Grading Services (BGS) is a grading service that specializes in the field of sports collectibles. They also evaluate cards for the most popular trading card game (TCG) brands and non-sports cards. What’s outstanding about them is that instead of providing an overall grade, they offer subgrades for cards. This involves assigning individual grades to different aspects of the card, such as corners, edges, surfaces, and centering, providing collectors with a more detailed breakdown of the card's condition. They also offer average grading for cards, which are usually cheaper than the ones with subgrades. However, I personally would always love to see the details of the cards, especially since the difference isn’t that high, usually at $2 per card.

This last detail is significant because the process is more meticulous due to the evaluation of many details. Getting a 10 with BGS is slightly better than getting a 10 with PSA, for example, and this is reflected in the price when looking to buy cards with the same rating but from different grading services. A black label BGS 10 tag means that it’s a pristine card with no issues on any of its subgrades, while a regular one, despite having a 10, may have slight imperfections around some parts of the card. Another interesting thing about them is that their prices range from $18-$140 and the only difference between them is the turnaround time.

Wrap Up

Nissa's Encouragement | Illustration by Tommy Arnold

Choosing your grading company can be challenging if you’re new to the hobby, as there are many options to consider outside of the ones I’ve shown.

Still, the ones I've showcased today are the most popular, thanks to their pristine work.

If you still have doubts about where to choose from, below, I have compiled a list of singularities across the top three grading companies that can hopefully make your decision easier.

Overall, the most popular one is definitely PSA, as it has a wider variety of item types they can grade. However, if you would love to go the extra mile and be as detailed as you can in terms of a card's condition, BGS is where you would like to be.

What do you think? Do you know of another grading company that’s to your liking? Let us know in the comments. As always, writing useful topics for you is a pleasure; if you want to see more, remember to follow us on Twitter/X to never miss an article.

Take care, and we will meet each other next time!

Note: this post contains affiliate links. If you use these links to make a purchase, you’ll help Draftsim continue to provide awesome free articles and apps.