Comparing Card Grading Companies: Which One is Right for You?

Card grading has become a crucial part of the sports and trading card hobby. Whether you’re looking to protect your investment, increase your card’s value, or just ensure authenticity, choosing the right grading company can make all the difference. In this post, we’ll compare the top grading companies and provide some tips for submitting your cards to get the best results.

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Top Card Grading Companies

1. PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator)

Overview: PSA is the most recognized grading company, known for its strong market reputation and premium resale value.

Pros:
✅ Highest resale value for graded cards
✅ Strong authentication process
✅ Pop report (population report) database available

Cons:
❌ Longer turnaround times (especially for bulk submissions)
❌ Higher grading fees compared to competitors

2. BGS (Beckett Grading Services)

Overview: BGS is well-regarded for its sub-grading system, which provides detailed breakdowns of centering, corners, edges, and surface.

Pros:
✅ Sub-grades give collectors more insight into a card’s condition
✅ Tougher grading scale makes high-grade cards more valuable
✅ Sturdy and aesthetically pleasing slabs

Cons:
❌ Can be harder to sell lower-graded BGS cards compared to PSA
❌ Longer grading process at times

3. SGC (Sportscard Guaranty Corporation)

Overview: SGC has been gaining popularity, especially for vintage cards, due to its consistent grading and competitive pricing.

Pros:
✅ Faster turnaround times than PSA and BGS
✅ Trusted in the vintage card community
✅ Unique black-bordered label design

Cons:
❌ Lower resale value compared to PSA for modern cards
❌ Some collectors prefer PSA/BGS over SGC

4. CGC (Certified Guaranty Company)

Overview: Originally focused on comic books, CGC has expanded into card grading with an emphasis on non-sports cards like Pokémon and Magic: The Gathering.

Pros:
✅ Competitive pricing
✅ Fast turnaround times
✅ Popular choice for TCG (trading card game) collectors

Cons:
❌ Still growing in reputation for sports cards
❌ Labels and slabs are polarizing among collectors