PSA vs BGS vs CGC: which should you choose?
A 10 is not the same grade at every company. Compare CGC Pristine 10 with PSA Gem Mint 10 and Beckett Black Label, then choose an eligible service by total costs, time and your collecting goals.
CGC Pristine 10 vs PSA 10
Both describe cards at the top of their respective scales, but their published criteria and labels differ. There is no official one-to-one conversion, and submitting the same card to another grader does not guarantee the same number.
PSA Gem Mint 10
PSA 10 (Gem Mint) is PSA's highest grade, described in its standards as virtually perfect. PSA assesses corners, edges, surface and centring, and allows limited tolerances. No pre-review guarantees a PSA 10 or a higher resale price. PSA uses half grades from 1.5 to 8.5, with no PSA 9.5.
PSA's current standard allows approximately 55/45 front centring and 75/25 on the reverse. A slight printing imperfection may be allowed if it does not impair overall appeal.
PSA grading in Europe: tiers and submissionCGC Pristine 10 / Gem Mint 10
Pristine 10 is CGC's highest current grade, with 50/50 centring and flawless colour and registration. Gem Mint 10 is an overall 10 where one grading criterion does not meet Pristine requirements; front centring is approximately 55/45 or better and reverse centring 75/25 or better. Perfect 10 and subgrades belong to earlier labels and are no longer assigned. Historical Gem Mint 9.5 is equivalent to Gem Mint 10 under CGC's updated scale; current Mint+ 9.5 is a different grade. A review cannot guarantee a grade or selling price.
CGC grading: costs and requirementsReading older CGC labels
Perfect 10 is a retired grade, not a tier you can request today. Existing Perfect 10 cards retain that designation. Older Gem Mint 9.5 and today's Mint+ 9.5 are not the same grade. Check the full grade name and certification, rather than comparing only the number on the label.
BGS Pristine 10 and Black Label subgrades
Beckett assesses four subgrades: centering, corners, edges and surface. Black Label 10 requires 10 in all four. A regular BGS Pristine 10 is not necessarily Black Label, and PSA 10 does not automatically correspond to BGS 9.5 or 10. A more expensive service level buys a different processing speed, not a higher grade.
Beckett grading in Europe: Base, Express and costsChoose by costs, eligibility and time
- Check your card type, exact printing and declared value. The lowest-priced service is not suitable if the card exceeds its value limit. Slabbed's BGS service does not accept sports or mixed-game submissions.
- Compare the same card count. Only open, eligible tiers appear as priced options below. A bulk minimum is different from a quantity-discount threshold.
- Budget for grading, return shipping and selected add-ons, plus your own shipment to Slabbed. Do not treat grading fees alone as the complete cost.
- Time at the grader is an estimate. Pre-dispatch waiting, transport and registration are additional. Choose a faster tier only when its current estimate fits your needs.
- For resale, compare recent completed sales for the exact printing, language, grader and grade, not asking prices or a general brand hierarchy. Consider selling costs and the risk of a lower grade. No grading company guarantees profit.
Compare PSA, BGS, CGC, PCG and Ace
Same card count, lowest-priced open tier at each grader. Prices include applicable taxes and handling, excluding return shipping and optional extras; mandatory insurance is additional by declared value.
Scroll sideways to compare all five graders
| What you get | PSA | BGS (Beckett) | CGC | PCG | Ace Grading |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price per card | €36.74 | €29.24 | €23.10 | €25.85 | Unavailable |
| Lowest-priced eligible tier | Value Launch OfferLimited time price | Base | Economy | Express | - |
| Time at the grader | 90-100 business days | 75+ business days | Approx. 50 working days | 14-28 business days | - |
| Minimum and value limit | 1 cardUp to ~EUR 450 per card | 1 cardUp to ~EUR 1,500 per card | 1 cardUp to ~EUR 1,000 per card | 1 cardNo stated limit | - |
| Slabbed quantity discount | No quantity discount | 5% from 10 cards10% from 25 cards | 3% from 10 cards5% from 25 cards | 5% from 3 cards10% from 5 cards20% from 10 cards | No quantity discount |
| Grade and slab | Gem Mint 10. Half grades from 1.5 to 8.5, no 9.5. | Black Label 10 for four subgrades of 10. Subgrades for centering, corners, edges and surface. | Pristine 10 is the highest grade, above Gem Mint 10. Perfect 10 is retired. | Collector's Slab, Player's Slab Classic or Slim. Standard or Flipped orientation. Classic costs extra. | Label: Standard, Colour Match or Ace Label. The last two cost extra per card. |
| Subgrades | No, one overall grade | Yes, four individual grades | No, one overall grade | Not specified in our service description | Not specified in our service description |
| Service levels | Value Launch Offer · Value · Standard Launch Offer · Standard · Priority Launch Offer · Priority · Express · Super Express · Premier · Premium 1 · Premium 2 · Premium 3 · Premium 5 · Premium 10 | Base · Express | Bulk · Economy · Standard · Express · WalkThrough · Unlimited Value | Express | Core · Value · Basic · Standard · Premier |
| Next step | Start gradingRead the guide | Start gradingRead the guide | Start gradingRead the guide | Start gradingRead the guide | Start grading Check current options in the form. Read the guide |
CGC Bulk requires at least 15 cards, and Ace has minimums from 5 to 25 cards depending on the level. Below that, another eligible tier is compared. Times are estimates at the grader, not total delivery times. Transport, pre-dispatch waiting and registration add time. Choose a tier that covers your card value. The grader may assess the value differently.
Calculate your submission's total cost
Select the service, count, declared value and return destination. The calculator adds return shipping and selected extras; your own shipment to us is separate. Mandatory insurance must be paid before cover applies. Your own shipment to us is not covered.
Grading fees and PSA cost examples · PSA submission questions
Start a submissionGrading price calculator
BGS currently only accepts non-sports cards (Pokémon, Magic, Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece, Lorcana). Sports cards cannot be submitted through Slabbed.eu right now.
Mandatory insurance
€2.68 per started €135 of declared value incl. applicable VAT. Cover starts when we receive your cards. Your own shipment to us is not covered.
Enter a positive actual value. The shown subtotal excludes mandatory insurance.
Price details and terms
Includes the grading company fee and Slabbed handling. Prices shown include applicable VAT. Bulk discount: BGS 5% from 10 cards and 10% from 25, CGC 3% from 10 cards and 5% from 25. PSA has no bulk discount. You pay your own shipping to Slabbed separately.
Official grading standards
Grade definitions checked against the following official sources on 25 October 2026. These define grades, not Slabbed's availability or prices. The service comparison uses our shared current catalog and quote calculator.
Frequently asked questions
Is CGC Pristine 10 the same as PSA 10?+
No. CGC Pristine 10 and PSA Gem Mint 10 are different companies' grades, not an automatic conversion. CGC requires 50/50 centring for Pristine 10; PSA describes Gem Mint 10 as virtually perfect and allows limited tolerances. A stricter published criterion does not guarantee a higher sale price or a successful cross-grade.
What is the difference between CGC Gem Mint 10, Pristine 10 and Perfect 10?+
Pristine 10 is CGC's highest current grade, above Gem Mint 10. Gem Mint 10 is an overall 10 where one criterion does not meet Pristine requirements. Perfect 10 is retired, but existing Perfect 10 cards retain their status. Historical Gem Mint 9.5 corresponds to Gem Mint 10 under the updated CGC scale, not today's Mint+ 9.5.
What makes a BGS Black Label 10 different?+
BGS evaluates centering, corners, edges and surface. Black Label 10 requires all four subgrades to be 10. A regular BGS Pristine 10 is not necessarily a Black Label. PSA and current CGC labels do not show these four subgrades, and there is no guaranteed grade conversion between companies.
Which grading company should I choose from Denmark or Europe?+
Compare the same number of cards, an open tier that accepts your card type and declared value, total costs and current time estimates. Slab preference and collecting goals also matter. No company guarantees a grade, profit or higher resale value; use recent sales of the exact printing and grade if resale is your goal.
How do I compare the total cost of a PSA, BGS or CGC submission?+
Use the shared calculator with your card count, service tier, declared value and return country. Grading and handling are included in the displayed grading fee; return shipping and selected add-ons are additional. Your shipment to Slabbed is separate. Mandatory insurance applies once paid. Minimum quantities and value limits can change which tier is eligible.