Card Grading Prices 2026
PSA vs CGC vs BGS: what each service costs, how long it takes, and which one is right for your cards.
Side-by-side price comparison
All prices reflect the latest 2026 rates after both PSA (February 2026) and CGC (January 2026) raised prices. BGS pricing was last updated in late 2025.
| Speed | PSA | CGC | BGS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Budget / Bulk | $24.99 65 biz days | $15 ~150 biz days | ~$20 ~90 biz days |
| Economy | $24.99 65 biz days | $18 ~120 biz days | ~$25 ~60 biz days |
| Standard | $49.99 45 biz days | $55 ~14 biz days | ~$50 ~30 biz days |
| Express | $149.99 10 biz days | $100 ~7 biz days | ~$100 ~10 biz days |
| Walk-through | $600+ 2 biz days | $300 2 biz days | ~$250+ ~2 biz days |
| Membership | $99/year | None | None |
| Sub-grades | No | Optional (free) | Always included |
| Min order (bulk) | 20 cards | 25 cards | Varies |
PSA: the market standard
PSA is the most recognized grading company and commands the highest resale premiums. A PSA 10 typically sells for 10–30% more than the same card graded CGC 10 or BGS 9.5. The trade-off is higher cost: $24.99/card minimum plus a mandatory $99/year Collectors Club membership. After February 2026, per-card fees rose $3–$5 across most tiers. For the full PSA pricing table with all-in cost calculations, see our PSA Grading Guide.
Best for: Cards you plan to sell. High-value vintage cards. Building a portfolio for maximum liquidity.
CGC: the budget option
CGC is the cheapest entry point at $15/card (Bulk tier) with no annual membership required. They include sub-grades on the label at no extra charge, showing centering, corners, edges, and surface scores individually. CGC built its reputation grading comic books and has become a fast-growing force in Pokémon and TCG cards specifically. They graded 400,000+ cards in November 2025 alone, growing 95% year-over-year. The trade-off is longer turnaround at budget tiers (150+ business days for Bulk) and lower resale premiums versus PSA slabs.
Best for: Budget submissions. Pokémon and TCG cards. Personal collections where you want sub-grade detail without paying PSA prices.
BGS: the collector’s choice
BGS (Beckett Grading Services) includes sub-grades on every slab by default — centering, corners, edges, and surface are each scored individually. This gives collectors the most detailed condition assessment available. The BGS Black Label 10 (perfect 10 on all four sub-grades) is the rarest and most prestigious grade in the hobby, commanding premiums even over PSA 10 for the same card. A BGS 9.5 is roughly equivalent to a PSA 10 in market perception.
Best for: Collectors who want maximum condition detail. Cards where a Black Label 10 would carry a significant premium. Sports cards where BGS has strong market presence.
Hidden costs to budget for
The per-card fee is never the full cost. Here’s what else adds up:
Shipping outbound: $10–$50 depending on how many cards, insurance level, and carrier. Use tracked, insured shipping — never send ungraded cards without tracking.
Return shipping: $10–$20 minimum. Heavier submissions cost more. PSA and BGS charge for return shipping on top of the grading fee.
Insurance/declared value: PSA charges 1–2% for cards declared above $499. CGC and BGS have similar value-based tiers at higher price points.
Supplies: Penny sleeves ($0.02/each), Card Saver I semi-rigid holders ($0.15–$0.30/each), bubble mailers or small boxes ($2–$5). Budget $0.50–$1 per card for supplies.
All-in cost example: 10 cards at PSA Value tier: $249.90 (grading) + $99 (membership) + $20 (outbound shipping) + $15 (return shipping) + $5 (supplies) = $388.90 total = $38.89 per card all-in.
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Browse the Live Floor →Which service for which cards?
Selling on eBay? PSA. The resale premium pays for the higher grading cost.
Pokémon on a budget? CGC. Cheapest per-card, no membership, strong TCG reputation.
Condition-obsessed collector? BGS. Sub-grades tell you exactly where the card fell short.
High-value vintage ($1,000+ raw)? PSA for maximum liquidity, or BGS if you think you have a Black Label 10 candidate.
Bulk modern cards ($10–$30 raw)? Don’t grade them. The math doesn’t work at any service’s current pricing.
Want to sell your graded cards for cash? Submit them to HoodCar — we buy PSA, CGC, BGS, and SGC slabs with data-backed offers.