Official Trading Card Grading Service

Degree Grading is here to compete, accepts a wide range of types of cards and takes steps to make your submission process easy. This process offers collectors a standardized and objective measure of a card's condition. 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.
Every grade earns a color-coded label — Black for perfect 10s, Gold for Gem Mint, Silver for all others. 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. 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. Who knows, maybe you just want to have your favorite version of a card in a perfect 10 condition because it was one that helped you win a big event or you just simply have a deep emotional connection with it. However, for lower-value cards, the cost of grading might outweigh the potential profit, and because of that, I would go with one of the cheaper services if all I want is to get my card into a slab, regardless of how much it costs. For NYC card shop -end collectors and investors, a high grade (such as a 9 or 10 from PSA, BGS, or CGC) can ensure and improve the card’s price.
Their pricing is flexible and competitive, starting at $22 per card for value grading with a 45+ day turnaround, and they offer bulk discounts for larger submissions. The end result provides you with a Digital Image and Grading report (DIG) that gives you a detailed breakdown of each graded card that you can view by scanning a QR code on the slab or by entering the certification number online. Plus, you can add insurance at 2% of the declared value to keep your cards safe. Unlike others that offer a flat fee, CCC Grading pricing is based on the card’s value. To give the exact grade for premium cards, ISA uses grades from 1-10 in half-point increments.
Please note that national holidays and the Fridays before a major convention are not counted as business days for submission processing. CGC does not return Mylars, backing boards, card savers, sleeves or any other storage/shipping materials sent in with collectibles. For more information on determining fair market value, review the Declared Value Policy. And PSA is significantly ahead by volume in the #1 position (it’s not even close). Judging by grading volumes alone, the top four companies in this list (PSA, SGC, CGC, BGS) make up almost the entire market share of graded cards.
So, if you’re solely focused on adding value to a card, for resale purposes, and grading reliability then PSA or BGS are still the card grading companies to go for overall, despite the long turnaround times, and high prices, for more valuable cards. While their slabs don’t hold the same weight as some of the bigger companies, like PSA, BGS and SGC, ISA has built a good reputation for fast card grading, however there have been questions around the consistency of their grading. Their custom labels match the color scheme and design of the card in the slab, so it makes for some really nice looking slabs. The concept of software based card grading is still very much new, and unproven, so it could take some time before collectors fully trust it; This will have an effect on the value of cards with their slabs.
What types of cards are accepted by KSA Certification? Sports cards, trading cards, Pokémon, custom slabs What types of cards are accepted by HGA? Former CSG slabs like the one below will be replaced with new CGC slabs when reholdered. What types of cards are accepted by CGC? BCCG slabs are labeled with the BCCG acronym as opposed to BGS.
CGC offers competitive pricing and is particularly popular in the TCG and Pokemon card communities. Originally known for comic book grading, CGC expanded into trading card grading and has quickly gained market share. Current Standard, Express, and Priority services include them, while Base can be ordered without subgrades. Their population reports and brand recognition make PSA-graded cards the most liquid in secondary markets.
Card grading has become a huge part of the collectable card hobby, and while some companies have been around since the 90s, there’s more choice than ever after some unprecedented years of demand in recent years. Whether vintage, modern or TCG, PSA authenticates and grades cards throughout the hobby. Part of the Certified Collectibles Group, CGC is the definitive leader in the certification of pop culture collectibles, including comic books, magazines, cards, video games, home video and more.
32-subgrade report Shatterproof slab QR-verified grade HD raw-card imaging Every card is evaluated across four key subgrades and given an overall grade that reflects its unique condition. A card with perfect centering has even borders on all sides.
Although the company has been around longer, BGS started their card grading service in 2001, and they’ve gone on to establish themselves as one of the most reliable card graders. That’s a huge reduction in price compared to PSA’s like-for-like service, for example. SGC’s entry-level service for card grading is one of the cheapest on the market, they charge $15 for any cards with a value of less than $1,500, with no quantity requirement.
Four subgrades – The front and back of your card is assessed with subgrades categories, and full card description for complete transparency. For the hobby, it's the difference between opinion and fact. The label on your slab tells the whole story at a glance.
They turn cards around at express pricing in 7-10 business days for about $50 per card, and otherwise charge about $20 per card to send them back after about 6 weeks. The name recognition may not be there with Premier Card Grading, but if you're looking for something a little different or like subgrades and a metal label, this could be your service. Unlike some grading services, you do not declare the value of your card, so if you want a change of pace, this offers a lot.
SGC is another card grading company that has been around since the 90s, and has established itself in the hobby. PSA, which stands for Professional Sports Authenticator, was founded in 1991 and grades all types of collectible cards, including sports cards and Pokemon cards, as well as offering an autograph authentication service. If you’ve spent any amount of time in the card collecting hobby, there’s a good chance you’ve heard of PSA grading; They’re arguably the most well-known and popular card grading company right now.
Nonetheless, their prices are notably competitive, starting at £11 per card with a turnaround time of business days. With a flat €12 per card, MTG Grade offers one of the most transparent and affordable card grading services in Europe as they also offer additional discounts based on the number of cards you submit. Whether you are a veteran sports card collector or new to the hobby, CGC is the perfect companion. Submissions are $49.99, and although PSA retains the declared value of $500, the turnaround time is estimated at only 45 business days. Auction Brokerage / Consignment (Best for high-value collections to achieve maximum market price; handled via our verified auction partner).
Encase your collectibles with signatures by artists, writers, creators and celebrities that were witnessed under direct observation of a CGC or JSA authorized representatives during a Concept / Concept partnered faciliated event. Today, CGC is the world's largest and most trusted third-party grading service for comics, trading cards, video games, home video, magazines, concert posters and related collectibles with more than 10 million collectibles certified since 2000. Certified Guaranty Company® (CGC®) revolutionized the comic book marketplace when it was founded in 2000 by providing clear, objective and impartial assessments of authenticity and grade.
The slabs distinctly display the BVG monicker as opposed to BGS. What types of cards are accepted by BGS? What types of cards are accepted by SGC?