01 / CENTERING
Centering
60/40 front, 65/35 back for PSA 10. Tighter than most collectors expect.
PSAProfessional Sports Authenticator
The most recognized name in card grading.
PSA is the largest and most widely recognized grading company in the hobby. PSA grades are the most liquid on the secondary market — a PSA 10 commands a premium across virtually every card category.
GRADING SCALE
1–10 numeric scale
TOP GRADE
PSA 10 (Gem Mint)
TURNAROUND
Varies by service level — Economy to Super Express
WATCH OUT FOR
PSA grades holistically — a single flaw can drop a card multiple grades. Surface scratches and print lines are heavily penalized at the PSA 9/10 threshold.
GRADING CRITERIA
What PSA looks for
02 / CORNERS
Corners
Must be sharp and free of wear. Any whitening or softness drops the grade.
03 / EDGES
Edges
Clean, no nicks or roughness. Rough cuts from factory are noted but may not penalize.
04 / SURFACE
Surface
No scratches, print lines, stains, or loss of gloss. The most common reason a card misses PSA 10.
KNOWN FOR
Market liquidity, vintage cards, sports rookies, high-volume submissions
BGSBeckett Grading Services
The subgrade standard for serious collectors.
BGS is known for its rigorous subgrade system — each card receives individual scores for centering, corners, edges, and surface. A BGS 9.5 Black Label (all 10 subgrades) is one of the most coveted grades in the hobby.
GRADING SCALE
1–10 with half-point increments and subgrades
TOP GRADE
BGS 10 Pristine / BGS 9.5 Gem Mint
TURNAROUND
Varies by service level — Economy to Express
WATCH OUT FOR
BGS is stricter than PSA on surface and centering. A BGS 9.5 requires near-perfect subgrades across all four categories.
GRADING CRITERIA
What BGS looks for
01 / CENTERING
Centering
55/45 front and back for BGS 9.5. Strictest centering standard of the major graders.
02 / CORNERS
Corners
Four corners graded individually. Any corner wear drops the subgrade significantly.
03 / EDGES
Edges
All four edges evaluated. Chips, nicks, or roughness penalized at every grade level.
04 / SURFACE
Surface
Front and back surface graded separately. Print defects, scratches, and gloss loss all factor in.
KNOWN FOR
Subgrade transparency, modern cards, Pokémon, basketball
CGCCertified Guaranty Company
The go-to grader for TCG and Pokémon.
CGC built its reputation in comic book grading and has become a major force in TCG and Pokémon card grading. CGC is known for competitive pricing and strong recognition in the Pokémon and modern TCG market.
GRADING SCALE
1–10 numeric scale with half-point increments
TOP GRADE
CGC 10 Pristine
TURNAROUND
Varies by service level
WATCH OUT FOR
CGC Pristine 10 is extremely rare and requires perfection across all attributes. CGC is strict on surface and centering for top grades.
GRADING CRITERIA
What CGC looks for
01 / CENTERING
Centering
Strict centering requirements for top grades. Off-center cards are penalized heavily at the 9.5/10 threshold.
02 / CORNERS
Corners
Sharp, clean corners required for high grades. Whitening or fraying drops the grade.
03 / EDGES
Edges
Clean edges with no nicks or chips. Factory cuts are noted.
04 / SURFACE
Surface
No scratches, print lines, or gloss issues. Surface is a primary factor in CGC top-grade decisions.
KNOWN FOR
Pokémon, TCG, modern cards, competitive pricing
SGCSportscard Guaranty
Fast turnaround and a clean slab aesthetic.
SGC has made a strong comeback in the hobby with fast turnaround times, competitive pricing, and a clean slab design that collectors love. SGC is particularly popular for vintage cards and sports cards.
GRADING SCALE
1–10 numeric scale
TOP GRADE
SGC 10 Pristine
TURNAROUND
Among the fastest in the industry
WATCH OUT FOR
SGC is generally considered slightly more lenient than PSA and BGS on surface, but still strict on corners and centering for top grades.
GRADING CRITERIA
What SGC looks for
01 / CENTERING
Centering
Strict centering for top grades. SGC uses similar standards to PSA at the 9/10 threshold.
02 / CORNERS
Corners
Sharp corners required. Any wear or whitening is penalized.
03 / EDGES
Edges
Clean edges with no nicks. Factory defects may be noted.
04 / SURFACE
Surface
Surface scratches and print lines penalized. SGC is considered slightly more forgiving than BGS on surface.
KNOWN FOR
Vintage sports cards, fast turnaround, clean slab design
Pre-screening intel
What APSB4G looks for before you submit
01
Surface first
Surface flaws are the #1 reason cards miss PSA 10 and BGS 9.5. APSB4G checks under direct light for scratches, print lines, and gloss loss before anything else.
02
Centering is math
APSB4G measures centering against each grader's published tolerances. A card that passes PSA's standard may still fail BGS's stricter requirement.
03
Corners under magnification
Whitening and soft corners are invisible to the naked eye. APSB4G inspects corners under magnification to catch what you'd miss in hand.
04
Know your target grader
Each grader has different standards. Knowing which company you're targeting changes the pre-screen call — APSB4G factors that in.
GRADE
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