Trading Card Grading & Submission Guide
Compare top grading companies, master 60/40 pre-grading inspection, calculate ROI, and learn how to safely package your cards.
Top 6 Professional Grading Agencies
Flip through the major card grading brands active globally. Compare authentic slab aesthetics, grading specialties, and official portal links:
PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator)
United States (Global)The absolute market leader in sports and trading cards. PSA grading holds the highest resale premium in the secondary market.
Pricing & Turnaround Times
Approximate per-card costs and estimated turnaround times by service tier. Prices shift frequently — always verify on each agency's official submission page before sending.
Full Grading Scale Translation Matrix
Every numeric grade maps to a named condition. Use this table to translate what a PSA 7, BGS 8.5, or CGC 9 actually means.
| Grade | PSA | BGS | CGC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Gem Mint | Pristine / Black Label | Pristine |
| 9.5 | — | Gem Mint 9.5 | Near Mint/Mint+ |
| 9 | Mint | Mint 9 | Near Mint/Mint |
| 8.5 | — | NM-Mint+ 8.5 | — |
| 8 | Near Mint-Mint | Near Mint-Mint 8 | Near Mint |
| 7 | Near Mint | Near Mint 7 | Fine/Very Fine |
| 6 | Excellent-Mint | Excellent-Mint 6 | Fine |
| 5 | Excellent | Excellent 5 | Very Good/Fine |
| 4 | Very Good-Excellent | VG-Excellent 4 | Very Good/Excellent |
| 3 | Very Good | Very Good 3 | Good/Very Good |
| 2 | Good | Good 2 | Good |
| 1 | Poor / Fair | Poor 1 | Poor |
Buying Graded Cards: What to Look For
Not everyone submits their own cards — many collectors buy pre-graded slabs. Here's how to verify authenticity and avoid tampered or fake slabs before handing over your money.
Verify Slab Authenticity
- ✓Look up the cert number on the grading company's official website (PSA, BGS, and CGC all have free cert lookup tools). Confirm the card name, year, set, and grade all match what you're buying.
- ✓Scan the QR code or barcode on modern slabs with your phone to confirm it links directly to the official registry entry.
- ✓Inspect label security features under bright light. Official labels have fine micro-printing and rainbow holograms. Fakes look flat and slightly blurry.
Red Flags to Avoid
- ✗Seller refuses to share the cert number before purchase — this is an immediate deal-breaker.
- ✗Price is suspiciously below market comps — a PSA 10 Charizard priced 50%+ below eBay sold listings is almost certainly a counterfeit or tampered slab.
- ✗Visible gaps or seam damage along slab edges — the case has likely been cracked and poorly resealed.