PSA vs BGS vs CGC: Which Grader for Pokémon Cards?
Updated 10 July 2026 · 7 min read
Grading turns a raw card into a sealed, authenticated slab with a number on it. For Pokémon, three companies do the vast majority of that work: PSA, BGS and CGC. They grade to different philosophies, their slabs sell for different money, and — if you're sending from Australia — they cost different amounts of time and postage to reach. This guide walks through how they differ and which one fits what you're trying to do.
None of this is grading advice on a specific card; condition is a judgement call best made with the card in hand. If you'd rather skip the wait and buy something already slabbed, every slab in our graded range is a real PSA, BGS or CGC holder, photographed individually.
The three graders at a glance
PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) is the most recognised name in the hobby. It grades on a whole-number 1–10 scale, seals cards in its familiar red-labelled slab, and — crucially for Pokémon — has the deepest resale market of the three.
BGS (Beckett Grading Services) is known for printing four subgrades on the label — centring, corners, edges and surface — plus the coveted Black Label: a 10 with four perfect 10 subgrades, one of the most sought-after modern slabs there is.
CGC (Certified Guaranty Company) came out of comic-book grading and is newer to trading cards, but its Pokémon presence has grown quickly. It uses half-point grades (like 9.5) and a clean slab a lot of collectors like the look of.
Subgrades: numbers on the label
BGS prints four subgrades, so a buyer can see exactly why a card landed where it did. Two BGS 9.5s aren't equal — one with strong centring and corners reads very differently from one scraping in. For high-end cards, that transparency is part of the value.
PSA gives a single overall grade with no subgrades on its standard tier. Simpler — and because decades of Pokémon cards have been graded this way, comparable sales are easy to find, which makes pricing straightforward.
CGC sits in between: a single grade with half-point steps, with subgrades available on some tiers if you want them.
Resale liquidity — who buys it back
For Pokémon specifically, PSA has the deepest, most liquid resale market. Most buyers recognise it, price guides are built around it, and a PSA 10 usually sells fastest. At the very top end, a BGS Black Label or Pristine 10 commands strong premiums. CGC demand is narrower but rising.
- Selling quickly and to the widest audience → PSA tends to move fastest.
- Chasing a top-end trophy card where perfect subgrades matter → BGS Black Label.
- Value-conscious, or you just like the slab → CGC is worth a look.
Doing it from Australia
All three graders are US-based, so grading from Australia means international shipping both ways. Build in turnaround time, return postage, insurance and customs paperwork. Prices and turnaround change often, so check each company's current tiers before you commit — we won't quote numbers here that'll be stale next month.
- Insure the parcel both ways — a grade-worthy card is worth more than standard postage cover.
- Factor in return shipping and any import handling on the way back into Australia.
- A group submission can cut the per-card cost and paperwork if you're grading several.
So which one?
Want the safest resale and the most recognised holder? PSA. Grading a near-perfect card and want the subgrade breakdown (and a shot at Black Label)? BGS. Want a clean slab, half-point grades and often a gentler price? CGC. There's no wrong answer — just different priorities.
Prefer to buy the grade rather than gamble on it? Browse our graded slabs. Or if you've got cards you're thinking of sending in, we also buy collections.
Grading standards and pricing shift over time — treat this as a map, not a rulebook, and always check each grader's current tiers before you submit.