PSA vs CGC vs TAG vs SGC vs BGS for Pokémon cards (2026): fees, turnaround, and which to use

This guide compares the five graders Pokémon collectors use most, using only what each company publishes on its own site. Everything below was checked on Oct 24, 2026. Fees are per card, for standard-size cards submitted directly in the US, before shipping and tax.

The short version

• PSA: Value tiers are paused. The cheapest open tier is Standard, $59.99, up to $1,000 insured value, with an estimated 90 to 100 business days. PSA says Standard orders are processed after existing Value and Bulk orders.
• CGC: Bulk, $17 (25-card minimum, games can be mixed, up to $500 per card, about 150 working days) and Economy, $20 (up to $1,000, about 90 working days). Standard is $55 for up to $3,000 with about 10 working days. CGC members get 10% to 20% off.
• SGC: $50 for cards declared up to $1,500, listed as "40+" business days. Up to $3,500 costs $85 standard or $150 expedited (2 to 3 business days).
• BGS (Beckett): Base and Standard were sold out when we checked. Express, $79.95, about 15 business days, with subgrades included.
• TAG: Value, $29.95 (10-card minimum, about 90 business days, protection up to $250 per card, limited capacity) and Base, $39.95 (5-card minimum, about 60 business days, up to $500). Standard is $59.95 and includes the TAG Score. TAG says its price never changes with a card's value.

Every tier we could verify

"Max value per card" is the grader's declared or insured value cap for that tier. If you declare too low, graders can move the card to a higher tier and bill the difference; CGC spells this out on its fee page.

Not included: PSA's Value fees (PSA doesn't show them while paused), Beckett Priority ($124.95, 5 business days), because we couldn't confirm it was taking orders, and Beckett value caps, which its grading page doesn't list.

Which grader for which card

There's no single best grader. The right one depends on three things you can check yourself: what the slab will sell for at each company, how much the card is worth (which sets the tier), and how long you can wait.

Lower-value cards you're grading in a batch

If you have 25 or more cards, CGC Bulk at $17 is the lowest fee per card. TAG Value ($29.95, 10+ cards) and TAG Base ($39.95, 5+ cards) are the next cheapest, if TAG has capacity. Both CGC Bulk and TAG Value have long estimated waits (150 working days and 90 business days), so only use them for cards you're happy to hold.

A single card under $1,000

CGC Economy ($20) is the cheapest open option for one card. SGC ($50, up to $1,500) and PSA Standard ($59.99, up to $1,000) cost more, so they only make sense if their slabs sell for enough more to cover the difference. That's worth checking for your exact card.

Cards worth $1,000 to $3,000

Value caps start to matter here. PSA Standard stops at $1,000, so a $1,200 card goes to Priority ($79.99, up to $1,500). SGC's $50 tier covers up to $1,500, and CGC Standard ($55) covers up to $3,000 with about 10 working days. TAG prices don't change with value, but its built-in protection does (Standard covers up to $1,000, Priority up to $1,500).

When you need it back fast

CGC Express ($100, 5 working days, up to $10,000), SGC Expedited (2 to 3 business days, from $150), TAG Express ($149.95, 10 business days) and Beckett Express ($79.95, 15 business days) are the faster paid options. PSA Express is $199 (20 to 30 business days).

If you want subgrades or a score

Beckett prints four subgrades (centering, corners, edges, surface) on every label. TAG's Standard tier and above include a 1000-point TAG Score. If you or your buyers care about that detail, it can be worth the higher fee.

What these tables don't tell you

• Resale price by grader. The same grade often sells for different prices at different graders. Look up recent sold listings for your card at each one before you decide. You can enter those numbers in the checker as a percentage per grader.
• Real turnaround. All of these are the graders' own estimates, and none are guaranteed. SGC says its clock starts when the order is unboxed and logged; CGC says cards not yet in its database can take longer.
• Shipping and insurance. These are on top of the fee. Spread across a bigger box, they cost less per card.

FAQ

What is the cheapest way to grade a Pokémon card right now?

Per card, CGC Bulk at $17 is the lowest listed fee, but it needs 25 or more cards and CGC estimates 150 working days. For a single card, CGC Economy at $20 (up to $1,000 value, about 90 working days) is the cheapest open tier we found. TAG Value is $29.95 with a 10-card minimum and reopened Oct 21, 2026 with limited capacity.

Are PSA Value tiers open?

No. When we checked on Oct 24, 2026, PSA listed Value Bulk and Value as temporarily paused. PSA's cheapest open tier was Standard at $59.99 per card, up to $1,000 insured value, with an estimated 90 to 100 business days.

Which grader is fastest for Pokémon cards?

Among standard-priced tiers, SGC Expedited (2 to 3 business days, from $150) and CGC Express (5 working days, $100) are the quickest we found short of walk-through services. CGC Standard lists 10 working days at $55 for cards up to $3,000.

Does the grader change what my card sells for?

Often, yes. The same grade can sell for different prices depending on which company graded it. Check recent sold listings for your exact card at each grader before you choose, because that difference can be bigger than the fee difference.

Keep reading

• Is my Pokémon card worth grading? The math, step by step
• How to prep a bulk Pokémon grading submission
• Free Worth grading? checker