BGS grading

Beckett (BGS) card grading in Europe

Submit Pokémon and other eligible non-sports cards to Beckett through Slabbed.eu. Compare Base and Express costs, follow your submission in your account, and understand the four subgrades before choosing.

BGS submissions are open at the listed service levels

Base: 1 card: €29.24 per card; 10 cards: €27.78 per card; 25 cards: €26.32 per card. Express: 1 card: €114.54 per card; 10 cards: €108.81 per card; 25 cards: €103.09 per card

Base: 75+ business days; Express: ~15 business days

Includes Beckett grading and Slabbed handling. Prices shown include applicable VAT. Return shipping and mandatory insurance based on declared value are additional. Times are estimates at Beckett, not the whole journey; transport, registration and waiting before dispatch add time.

No minimum quantity - submit a single card or a whole set.

Compare grading fees and calculate your total

Not sure which tier? Find the right service in five questions, weigh whether grading can pay off, or see the status journey in a demo.

BGS currently only accepts non-sports cards (e.g. Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece, Lorcana). Sports cards such as football, basketball and baseball cards cannot be submitted to BGS through Slabbed.eu right now.
1. What is BGS

Beckett Grading Services, in short

BGS is a US grading service that assesses trading cards and seals them in protective slabs. It was founded by Beckett Media, an authority on card values since 1984. BGS grades Pokémon, One Piece, Lorcana, Magic the Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh, sports cards and everything in between.

BGS shows an overall grade alongside four subgrades. These describe centering, corners, edges and surface, so you can see which aspects influenced the assessment.

2. Sub-grades

The four sub-grades and Black Label

Beckett assesses centering, corners, edges and surface on its 1 to 10 scale. Beckett determines the overall grade; do not treat it as a simple average of the four subgrades.

Centering

How centered the card's print is, measured on the front and back.

Corners

Wear, whitening and sharpness on all four corners.

Edges

Edges checked under a loupe for chipping, whitening and nicks.

Surface

The surface for print lines, scratches, holo scratches and fingerprints.

Black Label 10

Black Label 10 requires 10 in all four subgrades. It describes the grading result, not a guaranteed selling price or investment return.

Beckett grading standards and Black Label

3. The scale

How to read the BGS scale from 1 to 10

GradeLabelMeaning
10PristineAs close to perfect as a card can be.
9.5Gem MintFlawless to the naked eye, minimal deviations under a loupe.
9MintNear perfect, minor cosmetic flaws.
8.5NM-MT+Very strong condition, small flaws.
8Near Mint - MintSolid collector quality.
7 and belowNear Mint to PoorVisible signs of wear, common for vintage cards.
4. Prices

BGS grading costs through Slabbed.eu

Prices below are per card, including Beckett's grading fee, Slabbed's handling and applicable taxes. Return shipping and mandatory insurance based on declared value are added. You pay for shipping to us. BGS grading has no declared-value surcharge; mandatory insurance based on declared value depends on the declared value.

BGS Base
from €26.32
€29.24 under 10 cards

10 cards: €27.78 per card · 25 cards: €26.32 per card

  • 75+ business days
  • Up to ~€1,500 per card
  • Modern cards, set and volume submissions
BGS Express
from €103.09
€114.54 under 10 cards

10 cards: €108.81 per card · 25 cards: €103.09 per card

  • ~15 business days
  • Up to ~€5,000 per card
  • Vintage, expensive chase cards, cards you want to sell fast

The from-price applies to 25+ cards in one submission. Bulk discount: 5% from 10 cards and 10% from 25 cards. The available discount is capped by the service level's minimum-price rule; EUR prices follow the European pricing rules. Indicative prices. The final price is confirmed before submission based on current exchange rates and Beckett's applicable fees.

Price examples

Beckett/BGS grading price: totals for 1, 5 and 10 cards

Illustrative example: declared value of €100.00 per card, return shipping to Germany, no optional extras. Your own postage for sending the cards to us is not included. Return shipping differs by country, and you enter your own actual declared values when you submit.

  • 1 card · BGS Base
    Grading and handling
    €29.24
    Mandatory insurance (€100.00 declared)
    €2.68
    Return shipping to Germany
    €17.00
    Total
    €48.92

    Up to ~€1,500 per card

    Start with Base
  • 5 cards · BGS Base
    Grading and handling
    €146.20
    Mandatory insurance (€500.00 declared)
    €10.72
    Return shipping to Germany
    €17.00
    Total
    €173.92

    Up to ~€1,500 per card

    Start with Base
  • 10 cards · BGS Base
    Grading and handling
    €292.40
    Volume discount (5%)
    -€14.62
    Mandatory insurance (€1000.00 declared)
    €21.44
    Return shipping to Germany
    €17.00
    Total
    €316.22

    Up to ~€1,500 per card

    Start with Base

Calculate with your own values

5. Turnaround times

What you can realistically expect

Beckett's own turnaround times apply from when the cards are registered with them, not from when you send them off. On top of Beckett's time, allow for:

  • Intake, photo documentation and packing at Slabbed, plus waiting before dispatch.
  • Transport and registration at Beckett.
  • Base: 75+ business days; Express: ~15 business days
  • Return transport to Slabbed and onward to you.
What happens if Beckett pauses?

If Beckett temporarily closes for submissions, we store your cards securely until the service reopens. If the price rises, an amount matching the increase may be added.

6. Comparison

BGS vs PSA vs CGC

There is no single right answer as to which company is best. It depends on the card, your goal, and the buyer base. Here are the key differences at a glance:

CompanyStrengthsTurnaroundSlab
BGS (Beckett)Four subgrades; Black Label 10 requires four 10s.Base: 75+ business days; Express: ~15 business daysBGS
PSAOne overall grade; Gem Mint 10 and half grades from 1.5 to 8.5, no 9.5.Value Launch Offer: 90-100 business days; Value: 90-100 business days; Standard Launch Offer: 70-80 business days; Standard: 70-80 business days; Priority Launch Offer: 50-60 business days; Priority: 50-60 business days; Express: 25-30 business days; Super Express: 25-30 business days; Premier: 25-30 business days; Premium 1: 25-30 business days; Premium 2: 25-30 business days; Premium 3: 25-30 business days; Premium 5: 25-30 business days; Premium 10: 25-30 business daysPSA
CGCOne overall grade; Pristine 10 above Gem Mint 10. Perfect 10 is retired.Bulk: Approx. 85 working days; Economy: Approx. 50 working days; Standard: Approx. 50 working days; Express: Approx. 50 working days; WalkThrough: Approx. 50 working days; Unlimited Value: Approx. 50 working daysCGC

Compare graders by goals and total costs

7. How to submit

A BGS submission through Slabbed.eu, step by step

  1. 1. Build your submission on Slabbed.eu. Choose an open BGS tier, enter your cards and see the price before signing in to pay.
  2. 2. Pay online. The price covers Beckett's grading fee, our handling and applicable taxes.
  3. 3. Send us the cards. Pack in penny sleeves and card savers, between two layers of cardboard, and ship tracked. Arrange cover for your own outbound shipment if needed.
  4. 4. We QA and photograph every card. You see the photos in your account before we send it onward.
  5. 5. We submit to Beckett in one combined shipment. You follow the status live.
  6. 6. Returned to you once the slabs come home, tracked return shipping with documentation for every grade. Insurance is mandatory.

Optional grading insurance

Insurance is mandatory: €2.68 per started €135 of declared value incl. applicable VAT. It is included in the submission payment. Cover begins when we receive the cards, and applies while they are with us, in transit to and from Beckett and on return to you. Your shipment to us is not covered. Insurance is mandatory for new submissions and must be paid before cover applies. Your own shipment to us is not covered. We photograph submissions and update their status.

Grading card terms

Do not submit counterfeit, cleaned or otherwise altered cards that cannot be graded. We only make a quick, general check on receipt because we handle many cards, so we may miss alterations or counterfeits. The grading company makes the final determination. If a card is rejected or returned without a grade for this reason, the agreed grading fee is still charged and is not refunded.

If you fill in the card list yourself, it is your responsibility to enter the correct version of each card, such as the right set, number and variant. If a card is entered incorrectly, you forfeit your right to the grading fee if the card therefore does not get graded.

8. FAQ

Frequently asked questions about BGS

Can I send sports cards to BGS through Slabbed.eu?+

No. BGS currently only accepts non-sports cards through our submission account, meaning Pokémon, Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece, Lorcana and similar trading cards. Sports cards such as football, basketball and baseball cannot be submitted to BGS via Slabbed.eu right now.

What does BGS stand for?+

BGS stands for Beckett Grading Services. It is the professional grading arm of Beckett Media, which has been assessing sports cards since 1984 and trading cards, including Pokémon, One Piece, Lorcana, Magic and Yu-Gi-Oh, for more than two decades. Beckett is known for using sub-grades and for the iconic Black Label on a perfect 10.

What is the difference between a BGS 10 and a BGS Black Label 10?+

A BGS 10 is Pristine. Black Label 10 requires all four subgrades, Centering, Corners, Edges and Surface, to be 10. A grade does not guarantee a selling price.

How do you read a BGS grade?+

BGS uses a 1 to 10 scale in half-point steps. The four subgrades describe centering, corners, edges and surface; Beckett determines the overall grade, not a simple average.

What does BGS grading cost through Slabbed.eu?+

BGS submissions are open at the listed service levels. Base: 1 card: €29.24 per card; 10 cards: €27.78 per card; 25 cards: €26.32 per card. Express: 1 card: €114.54 per card; 10 cards: €108.81 per card; 25 cards: €103.09 per card. Prices shown include applicable VAT. Includes Beckett grading and Slabbed handling. Return shipping and mandatory insurance based on declared value are additional; shipping to us is paid by you.

What happens if Beckett pauses submissions?+

If Beckett temporarily closes for new submissions, we store your cards securely with us until Beckett reopens. If Beckett's prices rise during the pause, a surcharge matching the increase may apply. We contact you before sending anything on, so you can choose to wait or get your cards back.

How long does BGS grading take?+

Base: 75+ business days; Express: ~15 business days. These are estimates at Beckett, not total delivery times. Shipping, registration and waiting before dispatch add time. Follow progress in your Slabbed account.

Is BGS better than PSA for Pokémon cards?+

Choose by your goals, budget, service terms and preference for subgrades. Neither grader guarantees a grade, profit or higher selling price. Compare current service levels and costs before submitting.

Can I get my BGS grade cracked and regraded?+

Cracking removes a card from its slab; crossover or regrading may lead to a different grade. Contact Slabbed about your specific card before submitting. Do not assume this is included in a standard submission.

How do I pack my Pokémon cards for BGS grading?+

Put each card in a penny sleeve, then in a semi-rigid card saver. Never tape directly onto the card. Pack several cards in a team bag or card saver, place them between two layers of cardboard and ship tracked to our address. Arrange cover for your own outbound shipment if needed. See the full guide on the Grading process page.

What does BGS grading cost in total for 1, 5 or 10 cards?+

Illustrative example: declared value of €100.00 per card, return shipping to Germany, no optional extras. Your own postage for sending the cards to us is not included. Return shipping differs by country, and you enter your own actual declared values when you submit. Totals including grading, handling, mandatory insurance and return shipping: 1 card (Base): €48.92; 5 cards (Base): €173.92; 10 cards (Base): €316.22. Minimum quantities and value limits apply per service level.

Ready to get your cards BGS graded?

Create a submission, pay online, send us the cards and follow their status through Beckett and back. Grading includes applicable taxes; return shipping and mandatory insurance based on declared value are shown before payment.