Grading guide
PSA vs CGC vs BGS vs TAG vs SGC Compared
All five companies check a card, give it a grade and seal it in a protective case. They differ in how the scale is built, what is printed on the label and how you can check a slab.
The short answer
PSA, Beckett (BGS), CGC, SGC and TAG all grade trading cards on a 1 to 10 style scale and encapsulate the card in a tamper-resistant holder. Where they differ is in the details: whether you get subgrades, how the top grade is named, what the label looks like and how much detail you can look up afterwards.
This page does not rank them. A grade from one company is not a grade from another, and the right choice depends on the card and on what you plan to do with it. Below we only describe differences that the companies publish themselves.
What every company looks at
The same four things come up again and again in official grading standards: centering (how evenly the picture sits within the borders), corners, edges and surface (gloss, scratches, print spots, staining).
What changes is how those four are turned into a result. PSA presents a single overall grade. Beckett scores the four categories separately and prints them on the label, and the overall grade is weighted rather than a plain average. CGC describes each grade in words and ranges, including centering limits for some grades. TAG scores on a 1,000-point scale and maps that score onto the familiar 1 to 10 grades.
Scale design and the top grade
Each company names its best grade differently, so a "10" is not always the same thing.
- CGC has two tens: Pristine 10 and Gem Mint 10, then half-point steps down to Poor 1. Pristine 10 is described as 50/50 centering and flawless under 10x magnification. Gem Mint 10 allows centering up to roughly 55/45 on the front.
- TAG reports a TAG Grade from 1 to 10 plus a TAG Score out of 1,000 that shows where inside the grade the card sits. TAG also uses the name Pristine for its top tier.
- Beckett uses half-point grades and a Pristine 10, with the Black Label reserved for four subgrades of 10.
- PSA uses Gem Mint 10 as its top grade.
- SGC publishes its own scale and grade names; read them on SGC's site before comparing.
Subgrades and score detail
Subgrades are separate marks for centering, corners, edges and surface. They tell you why a card got its overall grade.
Beckett is the company most associated with printed subgrades: all four appear on the label. CGC has offered subgrades on some cards in the past and has since retired its Perfect 10 grade, so check CGC's current service list to see whether subgrades are available.
TAG goes further in its online report. The standard report highlights the defects that drove the grade, and the more detailed report adds the 1,000-point score, population position and a set of subscores covering centering, corners, surface and edges for front and back. Which service level includes that score is listed on TAG's own pages.
Labels and slab design
A slab is the hard plastic case, and its label is where the grade, card name and certificate number live. Designs differ.
- CGC uses an ultrasonically welded holder. Its security features include microprinting, UV ink, holographic foil and a unique certification number and barcode. Pristine 10 cards get their own special label. The back of the label carries a QR code that links to the card's page and images.
- TAG describes a transparent, paperless slab with the grade and data inscribed inside, UV-resistant acrylic and its PROOF security technology, plus a QR code to the online report.
- Beckett prints the four subgrades on the label, and the Black Label is black with gold type.
PSA and SGC publish their own label and holder descriptions, which we could not read in full for this page. See their sites for current designs.
Checking a certificate
Every company puts a certificate number on the slab and offers an online lookup. Compare the number, grade and card details on the screen with the label in your hand. If anything does not match, do not buy.
CGC lets you look up the certification and see images of the graded card, and its label has a QR code. TAG offers a cert search, a population report and a smartphone authenticity check, and every report can be opened by scanning the slab's QR code. For PSA, Beckett and SGC, use the lookup on the company's own website, not a link sent to you by a seller.
How to choose between them
Start with what you will do with the card. If you plan to keep it, pick the label, slab and report style you like. If you plan to sell, check which companies your buyers already look for in that game, and compare real sold prices for the same card in the same grade from each company.
- Want to see why a card scored as it did: look at companies that publish subgrades or detailed reports.
- Want the grade most buyers recognise: check what recent sales for your card show.
- Not sure a card is worth grading at all: read Is Card Grading Worth It?
U.C.M, the free scanner app, shows a card's raw price next to graded prices from several companies where sales data exists, which makes that comparison quick.
Where to check what is current
Fees, turnaround times, service names, accepted card types and minimum orders change often, and each company has its own rules. We deliberately do not quote them here.
Before you submit, read the company's own services and pricing page, its grading standards page and its submission instructions. Our guide How to Submit Cards for Grading walks through the general steps, and the PSA 10 price guide shows what a top grade can do to a card's value.
Questions
Is a 10 from one company the same as a 10 from another?
No. Each company defines its own standards and names its top grades differently, and some add subgrades or a finer score. A 10 only means something within that company's own scale, so compare the published standards before comparing grades.
Which grading company gives subgrades?
Beckett prints four subgrades on its labels. TAG's more detailed online report includes subscores, and CGC has offered subgrades in the past. Offerings change by service level, so confirm on each company's own page.
What is the difference between Pristine 10 and Gem Mint 10 at CGC?
CGC describes Pristine 10 as a virtually flawless card with 50/50 centering that is flawless under 10x magnification. Gem Mint 10 is still an overall 10, but at least one criterion falls short of Pristine, for example centering up to about 55/45 on the front.
How can I check that a graded slab is real?
Look up the certificate number on the grading company's own website and compare the grade, card details and images with the slab. Many labels also carry a QR code. Never rely on a lookup link supplied by a seller.
Does the app tell me which company to use?
No. U.C.M shows a card's raw price and graded prices side by side where sales data exists, so you can compare the grades yourself. Which company suits you depends on the card and your plans.
Official sources and further reading
We checked this guide against the publisher's own pages. Rules and products change, so always confirm the details there.
More collector guides
Card names and images belong to their owners. U.C.M is an independent app and is not affiliated with any card game publisher or grading company. General information, not financial advice.