You’ve got a valuable card. Should you grade it? And if so, which company?
The grading wars are real. PSA dominates market share, BGS has the prestige of Black Label 10s, and SGC is the scrappy underdog with fast turnarounds. But which one deserves your money?
We’ve graded hundreds of cards with all three companies. Here’s the no-BS breakdown.
The Three Major Grading Companies
PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator)
Founded: 1991 Market Share: ~75% Known For: Industry standard, highest resale value, largest population reports
BGS (Beckett Grading Services)
Founded: 1999 Market Share: ~20% Known For: Subgrades, Black Label 10s, stricter grading on modern cards
SGC (Sportscard Guaranty Corporation)
Founded: 1998 Market Share: ~5% Known For: Vintage expert, fast turnaround, tuxedo slabs
Head-to-Head Comparison
Grading Scale
| Company | Scale | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| PSA | 1-10 (whole numbers) | 10 = Gem Mint, 9 = Mint, 8 = NM-MT |
| BGS | 1-10 (half grades) | 9.5 = Gem Mint, 10 = Pristine (subgrades all 9.5+), Black Label 10 (all 10s) |
| SGC | 1-10 (half grades) | 10 = Pristine, 9.5 = Mint+, 9 = Mint |
Winner: BGS (most detailed with subgrades)
Subgrades
PSA: None. You get one number.
BGS: Four subgrades (Centering, Corners, Edges, Surface). Each graded separately. Final grade is calculated from subgrades.
SGC: None on standard service. Available on premium tiers.
Example BGS Slab:
- Centering: 9.5
- Corners: 10
- Edges: 9.5
- Surface: 9.5
- Overall Grade: 9.5
Why It Matters: Subgrades explain the grade. If your PSA 9 has perfect centering but dinged corners, you’ll never know. BGS tells you.
Winner: BGS
Turnaround Time (February 2026)
| Service Level | PSA | BGS | SGC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Economy ($25/card) | 45-60 days | 50-70 days | 20-30 days |
| Regular ($50/card) | 20-30 days | 25-35 days | 10-15 days |
| Express ($150/card) | 5-10 days | 5-10 days | 3-5 days |
Winner: SGC (consistently fastest)
Cost
| Service | PSA | BGS | SGC |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $25 | $30 | $25 |
| Declared Value $500 | $40 | $50 | $35 |
| Declared Value $2,500 | $75 | $100 | $65 |
Note: All prices are per card. Membership required for PSA ($99/year).
Winner: SGC (slightly cheaper on higher value tiers)
Resale Value (The Big One)
This is where the rubber meets the road. Which slab commands the highest price?
Test Case: 2018 Luka Doncic Prizm Silver
| Grade | PSA | BGS | SGC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $1,850 | $1,650 | $1,200 |
| 9.5 | N/A | $1,300 | $950 |
| 9 | $480 | $420 | $350 |
PSA commands a 10-20% premium over BGS and 30-40% premium over SGC.
Exception: BGS Black Label 10 (all subgrades perfect 10) commands a 300-500% premium over PSA 10.
Example: BGS Black Label 10 Luka Prizm Silver sold for $8,500 in January 2026. PSA 10? $1,850.
Winner: PSA for standard grades, BGS for Black Label 10s
Population Control
Population = how many of a specific card exist in a specific grade.
PSA: Public population reports. You can see exactly how many PSA 10s exist for any card.
BGS: Public population reports, but less detailed.
SGC: Public population reports, but smaller sample size (fewer submissions).
Why It Matters: Scarcity drives value. A PSA 10 with a population of 5 is worth way more than one with a population of 500.
Winner: PSA (most transparent, largest data set)
Grading Standards
PSA: Lenient on vintage, moderate on modern. PSA 10s are achievable with good centering and clean surfaces.
BGS: Strict on modern, moderate on vintage. BGS 9.5 is harder to achieve than PSA 10. BGS 10 is extremely rare.
SGC: Moderate across the board. Standards are consistent, but the market perceives them as “easier” than PSA.
Community Perception:
- “PSA 10 = BGS 9.5”
- “BGS 10 = 1 in 1,000 cards”
- “SGC 10 = PSA 9.5”
Winner: BGS (most respected for gem grades)
When to Use Each Company
Use PSA When:
- You want maximum resale value
- You’re grading modern rookies (Prizm, Select, Topps Chrome)
- You’re grading cards for long-term investment
- You don’t care about subgrades
Best For: Flippers, investors, modern cards
Use BGS When:
- You want subgrades to understand the card’s condition
- You’re grading a potential Black Label 10 candidate
- You’re grading high-end modern cards ($500+)
- You want to submit to the most respected grading standard
Best For: Premium modern cards, trophy pieces, show-off slabs
Use SGC When:
- You’re grading vintage (pre-1980)
- You need fast turnarounds
- You’re grading cards for your personal collection (not resale)
- You want to save $5-$10 per card
Best For: Vintage collectors, budget-conscious graders, PC builders
Real-World Grading Results
I submitted the same card (2020 Prizm LaMelo Ball Base) to all three companies. Here’s what happened:
Card #1: PSA 10 Card #2: BGS 9.5 (9.5, 9.5, 10, 9.5) Card #3: SGC 10
Resale Comps:
- PSA 10: $525
- BGS 9.5: $475
- SGC 10: $400
Same card, different slabs, 30% variance in value. PSA wins.
The Black Label 10 Myth
BGS Black Label 10s are legendary. All four subgrades must be perfect 10s. It’s statistically insane.
Odds of Black Label 10: ~1 in 5,000 submissions (estimated)
Premium: 300-500% over PSA 10
Example: Victor Wembanyama 2023 Prizm Silver BGS 10 Black Label sold for $9,200. PSA 10? $2,400.
Should You Chase It? No. Unless your card is perfect out of the pack (dead center, flawless surface, razor edges), you won’t hit Black Label. Don’t gamble.
Grading Hacks
1. Pre-Grade Your Cards
Buy a jeweler’s loupe (10x magnification) and inspect:
- Centering: Measure borders with a ruler
- Corners: Look for dings, whitening
- Edges: Check for chipping
- Surface: Look for scratches, print lines
Only submit cards that look flawless.
2. Use Bulk Submissions
PSA and BGS offer bulk pricing (20+ cards). You can save 30-40% per card.
3. Don’t Grade Commons
If the card is worth less than $50 raw, grading costs more than the card. Only grade cards worth $100+ raw.
4. Check Comps First
Before grading, check eBay sold listings for PSA 10 vs raw prices. If the PSA 10 premium doesn’t justify the grading cost + risk, don’t grade.
Common Grading Questions
Q: Can I crack a PSA 9 and resubmit for a PSA 10?
A: Yes, but it’s a gamble. You might get a PSA 8. Cracking slabs is risky.
Q: Which company grades fastest?
A: SGC (economy is 20-30 days).
Q: Which company is cheapest?
A: SGC (slightly cheaper on high-value tiers). PSA requires $99/year membership.
Q: Should I grade my vintage cards?
A: Yes, with SGC or PSA. SGC is the vintage expert, but PSA has higher resale value.
Q: What’s the minimum card value to grade?
A: $100 raw. Otherwise, the $25 grading fee + shipping isn’t worth it.
Final Verdict
Best Overall: PSA
- Highest resale value, largest market share, most trusted
Best for Modern Premium Cards: BGS
- Subgrades, Black Label prestige, stricter standards
Best for Vintage & Budget: SGC
- Fast, cheap, respected for vintage
My Strategy:
- Modern rookies → PSA
- High-end modern ($500+) → BGS
- Vintage → SGC
- Personal collection → SGC (fast + cheap)
Grading Checklist
Before you ship your cards, ask:
- ✅ Is the card worth $100+ raw?
- ✅ Did I inspect it with a loupe?
- ✅ Does it have a shot at PSA 10 / BGS 9.5+?
- ✅ Did I check eBay comps for graded vs raw prices?
- ✅ Did I use proper shipping supplies (card saver, bubble mailer, tracking)?
If you answered yes to all five, ship it. If not, hold.
Bottom Line
Grading is expensive, slow, and risky. But for the right cards, it’s the difference between a $50 card and a $500 card.
Choose your grading company based on your goals:
- Resale? PSA.
- Prestige? BGS.
- Speed and vintage? SGC.
Now go grade some heat.