PSA vs BGS vs CGC: Which Grading Company Is Best for Pokémon Cards?

The differences between PSA, Beckett (BGS) and CGC for grading Pokémon cards: scales, subgrades, resale value and which one to choose.

Updated September 30, 2026

Three graded trading card cases side by side with red, silver and blue labels

PSA, Beckett (BGS) and CGC are the three best known companies for grading Pokémon cards. All three put your card in a sealed plastic case (a "slab") with a grade from 1 to 10, but they are not the same.

PSA

PSA is the largest and most popular grading company for Pokémon cards. PSA gives one overall grade without subgrades. A PSA 10 Gem Mint is the most recognized grade in the hobby, and PSA slabs usually have the highest resale value, especially for vintage cards.

BGS (Beckett)

Beckett grades in half points and shows four subgrades on the label: centering, corners, edges and surface. A BGS 9.5 is called Gem Mint, and the rare BGS 10 Pristine and the Black Label (four perfect 10 subgrades) can sell for more than a PSA 10. Collectors who like detail often prefer BGS.

CGC

CGC started in comics and became popular for trading cards thanks to competitive prices and fast turnaround. CGC also uses half points and offers a Pristine 10 above Gem Mint 10. CGC slabs often sell for a bit less than PSA for the same grade, but the gap depends on the card.

Quick comparison

	PSA	BGS	CGC
Scale	1 to 10	1 to 10, half points	1 to 10, half points
Subgrades	No	Yes, on the label	Optional
Top grade	Gem Mint 10	Pristine 10, Black Label	Pristine 10
Resale value	Usually highest	High for 9.5 and up	Often a bit lower

Which one should you choose?

Want the best resale value? PSA is the safe choice for most cards.
Think your card is close to perfect? BGS can reward that with a Pristine 10 or Black Label.
Grading many cards on a budget? CGC is often cheaper and faster.

Before paying any grading fee, get a free estimate with our AI grading tool and check what the raw card is worth in our price guide. See also: the grading scale explained.