If you are looking to grade your Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, or One Piece cards in 2025, the landscape has shifted. Prices have risen, turnaround times have fluctuated, and the market is now a battleground between the “Big Four” (PSA, CGC, BGS, SGC), the tech-disruptor TAG, and the aesthetic-king Ace Grading.
This guide breaks down the exact costs, membership requirements, and return-on-investment (ROI) potential for each service to help you decide where your cards belong.
1. Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA)
The Market Leader: PSA remains the “King of Liquidity.” A PSA 10 Gem Mint is the standard currency of the card hobby. While it is often the most expensive and slowest option for bulk, it typically offers the highest resale value for standard Gem Mint cards.
2025 Pricing & Service Levels
In 2025, PSA adjusted its pricing and extended turnaround times due to high demand.
- TCG Bulk:$18.99 per card.
- Requirement: Requires PSA Collectors Club Membership ($149/year).
- Turnaround: Est. 65 Business Days (approx. 3 months).
- Value Cap: Cards must be valued under $199.
- Value Bulk:$21.99 per card.
- Requirement: Membership required. Applies to sports and non-TCG as well.
- Turnaround: Est. 65 Business Days.
- Value (Non-Bulk):$27.99 per card.
- Requirement: No membership required.
- Value Cap: Cards up to $500.
- Turnaround: Est. 65 Business Days (often faster, but not guaranteed).
- Regular:$74.99 per card.
- Turnaround: ~15 Business Days. Value cap of $1,500.
The “Hidden” Costs
- Membership: To get the $18.99 rate, you must pay the $149 annual fee for the Collectors Club. If you grade fewer than 17 cards a year, the non-member “Value” price ($27.99) is actually cheaper overall.
- Upcharges: PSA aggressively checks declared values. If you submit a Charizard in the $18.99 Bulk tier (max value $199) and it grades a 10 worth $600, PSA will hold the card and charge you the difference for the “Regular” tier service (approx. $55 extra).
Official Pricing Page: https://www.psacard.com/services/tradingcardgrading
Track Your TCG Collection
Create your free Card Codex account to monitor card prices, view real-time market trends, and analyse your portfolio’s growth.
Start Tracking Now — It’s Free2. TAG Grading (TAG)
The Tech Disruptor: TAG (Technical Authentication & Grading) is rapidly gaining market share by using computer vision and automation to grade cards, removing human subjectivity. They are best known for their transparent “DIG” reports (Digital Imaging and Grading), which show you exactly why your card received its grade.
2025 Pricing & Service Levels
TAG distinguishes itself with a simple pricing structure that explicitly does not charge upcharges based on card value.
- Value:$20 per card.
- Requirement: 10-card minimum.
- Turnaround: Est. 30 Business Days.
- Insurance Cap: $200 (Note: This is for insurance payout only; they do not upcharge if the card is worth more).
- Regular:$30 per card.
- Requirement: No minimum.
- Turnaround: Est. 20 Business Days.
- Insurance Cap: $500.
- Express:$39.95 per card (Sale Price, normally $60).
- Turnaround: Est. 10 Business Days.
- Insurance Cap: $1,000.
- Walkthrough:$300 per card.
- Turnaround: Est. 1-2 Business Days.
Why Choose TAG?
- No Value Upcharges: Unlike PSA, TAG will not charge you extra fees if your card grades a 10 and spikes in value.
- Transparency: Every graded card comes with a digital report (DIG) allowing you to see the defects the computer found.
- The “TAG Score”: You can opt for a 1000-point scale score to see exactly where your card ranks on their leaderboard.
Official Pricing Page: https://taggrading.com/pages/pricing
3. Ace Grading (Ace)
The Aesthetic Choice (UK Based): Ace Grading has carved a massive niche in the UK and Europe by focusing on the visual appeal of the slab. Their “Ace Labels” extend the card’s artwork onto the label itself, creating a stunning display piece.
2025 Pricing & Service Levels
Ace operates in GBP (£).
- Basic:£12.00 per card.
- Turnaround: 80 Business Days.
- Value Cap: £500.
- Standard:£15.00 per card.
- Turnaround: 30 Business Days.
- Value Cap: £1,000.
- Premier:£18.00 per card.
- Turnaround: 15 Business Days.
- Value Cap: £2,000.
- Ultra:£25.00 per card.
- Turnaround: 5 Business Days.
- Value Cap: £5,000.
- Luxury:£50.00 per card.
- Turnaround: 2 Business Days.
The Label Fees (Optional Add-Ons)
Ace’s main draw is the custom label, which is an additional cost on top of the grading fee:
- Standard Label: Free.
- Colour Match Label: £1.00 per card (Matches the card’s color palette).
- Ace Label: £3.00 per card (Custom artwork extension—the most popular choice).
Why Choose Ace?
- Best Looking Slabs: For “Personal Collection” (PC) cards, many collectors prefer Ace over PSA because the slab enhances the artwork.
- UK Location: For UK/EU collectors, you avoid the nightmare of US Customs, import VAT, and expensive international shipping fees associated with PSA/CGC.
Official Pricing Page: https://acegrading.com/pricing
4. Certified Guaranty Company (CGC Cards)
The Best Value & Speed: Rebranded simply as “CGC Cards,” this company has become the go-to for TCG collectors who want speed, crystal-clear slabs, and affordability. They are significantly cheaper than PSA for bulk orders.
2025 Pricing & Service Levels
- Bulk:$12 per card.
- Requirement: 25-card minimum.
- Turnaround: Typically 30-50 days (often faster than estimates).
- Value Cap: $250.
- Economy:$15 per card.
- Requirement: No minimum.
- Value Cap: $1,000.
- Standard:$40 per card.
- Value Cap: $2,500.
Memberships & ROI
CGC offers paid memberships that discount these fees further:
- Associate ($39/yr): 10% off grading fees.
- Elite ($329/yr): 20% off grading fees.
- ROI Note: A CGC Pristine 10 (Gold Label) often outsells a PSA 10, sometimes by 20-50%. However, a standard CGC Gem Mint 10 typically sells for slightly less than a PSA 10.
Official Pricing Page: https://www.cgccards.com/submit/services-fees/cgc-grading/
5. Beckett Grading Services (BGS)
The Premium Gamble: BGS is famous for its “Black Label” (four perfect subgrades of 10). It is the preferred choice for high-end modern cards where the owner believes the card is perfect.
2025 Pricing & Service Levels
BGS pricing is bifurcated by whether you want “Subgrades” (detailed scores for Centering, Corners, Edges, Surface) printed on the label.
- Base (No Subgrades):~$18 per card (plus surcharges).
- Warning: BGS cards without subgrades generally have poor resale value compared to PSA.
- Standard (With Subgrades):$34.95 per card.
- Turnaround: 20-25 Business Days.
- Express:$79.95 per card.
- Turnaround: 7-10 Business Days.
Is it Worth it?
Submitting to BGS is a gamble. If you get a BGS 10 (Pristine) or Black Label, you win the lottery—values can be 2x to 10x that of a PSA 10. However, if you get a BGS 9.5 (Gem Mint), the card often trades for the price of a PSA 9, meaning you may lose money on the grading fee.
Official Pricing Page: https://www.beckett.com/grading-pricing-turnaroundtimes
6. Sportscard Guaranty (SGC)
The Budget & Vintage Alternative: SGC is known for its “Tuxedo” holder (black insert). While historically a sports card grader, they are popular for TCG collectors who want cards for their personal collection (PC) without the wait.
2025 Pricing & Service Levels
- Standard:$15 per card.
- Turnaround: 15-20 Business Days.
- Value Cap: $1,500.
- Immediate:$40 per card.
- Turnaround: 1-2 Business Days.
Pros & Cons
- Pros: No membership fees required. Extremely fast compared to PSA Bulk (15 days vs 65 days).
- Cons: Lower resale value for modern TCG cards compared to PSA. Ideal for quick flips or personal collections, not for maximizing long-term investment value on modern cards.
Official Pricing Page: https://gosgc.com/card-grading/services-pricing
Summary Comparison Table (2025)
| Feature | PSA (TCG Bulk) | Ace (Basic) | TAG (Value) | CGC (Bulk) | BGS (Standard) | SGC (Standard) |
| Cost Per Card | $18.99 | £12.00 | $20.00 | $12.00 | $34.95 | $15.00 |
| Membership? | Yes ($149/yr) | No | No | Optional | No | No |
| Turnaround | ~65 Days | ~80 Days | ~30 Days | ~30-40 Days | 20-25 Days | 15-20 Days |
| Min Quantity | 10 Cards | None | 10 Cards | 25 Cards | None | None |
| Value Upcharges? | Yes | No | No | Yes | Rare | Rare |
Which Should You Choose?
- For Maximum Resale Profit: PSA. Despite the cost and wait, the “PSA 10” commands the most liquidity.
- For Aesthetics & UK Locals: Ace Grading. If you want the card to look amazing on a shelf and avoid international shipping risks, Ace is the clear winner.
- For Technology & Transparency: TAG. If you hate upcharges and want to know exactly why your card got a specific grade, TAG is the best option.
- For Bulk / Cheaper Cards: CGC. At $12/card, it protects your margins on cards worth $20-$50.
- For “Perfect” High-End Cards: Beckett (BGS). If you think your card is flawless, chase the Black Label.
