Grading

How do TAG, SGC, and Ace grade differently from PSA, BGS, and CGC?

Published · By the Cards from Japan editors

Summary

The biggest differences are in how the grade is scored and what comes with it. TAG converts a 1,000-point score into a 1 to 10 grade and includes a QR-linked grading report at every tier. Ace Grading, based in the U.K., shows four subgrades for surface, centering, edges, and corners at no charge. SGC is a U.S. grader that has been grading cards since 1998.

TAG and Ace Grading compared

TAGAce Grading
Scale1 to 10, with half grades everywhere except between 9 and 10. A 10 is either Pristine (990 to 1,000 points) or Gem Mint (950 to 989)Whole grades from 10 GEM MINT to 1 POOR. A 10 needs centering better than 60/40
What you getA DIG grading report at every tier; Priority and Walkthrough get DIG+ with three-digit subscoresA cert page with four subgrades, same-grade and higher-grade population, and population by label
Price per cardHelp article dated April 2, 2026: Basic $22, Standard $39, Express $59, Priority $149, Walkthrough $299Basic £18, Standard £25, Premier £32, Ultra £60, Luxury £120, labels and shipping extra
Estimated turnaroundFrom 45+ business days (Basic) to 2 to 3 (Walkthrough)From 30 business days (Basic) to 2 (Luxury)

TAG uses the grade names differently from BGS. BGS calls a 10 Pristine and a 9.5 Gem Mint, while TAG splits its 10 into Pristine at 990 points and up and Gem Mint from 950 to 989.

On September 24, 2026, TAG's site said regular tiers were paused and limited Priority grading was available. Its storefront listed Express at $79.95, not the $59 in the help article. Ace Grading accepts submissions from the U.K., the EU, the U.S., Canada, Japan, Australia, and New Zealand.

SGC

SGC has been grading since 1998 and is based in Boca Raton, Florida. Its pricing page lists two services, Standard at an estimated 40+ business days and Expedited at 2 to 3 days, counted from when the order is unboxed and logged into its system.

Sources

  1. TAG grading services (help)
  2. TAG storefront
  3. TAG grading scale
  4. Ace Grading prices
  5. Ace Grading turnaround
  6. Ace Grading grading scale
  7. Ace Grading cert example
  8. Ace Grading
  9. SGC
  10. SGC Services and Pricing

Details are as published on these pages on the date above and can change. Check the official page before you buy or submit.

More grading guides

8 articles
GradingWhat should you check before buying a graded card?A slab is a card that a grading company has assessed and sealed in a hard holder, with the grade and a certification number printed on the label…Read the guide →GradingDoes a 10 mean the same thing at PSA, BGS, and CGC?No. All three top out at 10, but each company writes its own standard. CGC splits its 10 into Pristine 10 and Gem Mint 10, and Beckett also calls its…Read the guide →GradingWhat happens after you send a card to PSA for grading?PSA's cheapest open tier in the U.S. is Standard at $59.99 a card, with an estimated 90 to 100 business days. The card either comes back sealed in a…Read the guide →GradingWhat do the four small numbers on a BGS label mean?They are subgrades for centering, corners, edges, and surface. BGS gives an overall grade from 1 to 10 in half-point steps, calling a 10 Pristine and…Read the guide →GradingHow much does CGC charge per card, and what won't it grade?For direct U.S. submissions, CGC Cards' cheapest tier is Bulk at $17 a card (25-card minimum, $500 maximum value), followed by Economy at $20. Both…Read the guide →GradingDo graded card boxes and sleeves fit every grader's slabs?Not necessarily. Storage makers name the graders each product is meant for, and the lists differ. BCW's cardboard graded box and its resealable graded…Read the guide →GradingBesides mailing, how else can you send cards to PSA in the U.S.?An order you create on PSA's website or app can be handed in at a local submission event instead of being mailed. You can also skip the online order…Read the guide →GradingCan a PSA cert page tell you how many copies of a card have been graded?Only part of the picture. A cert page opens without signing in and shows the card details, the grade, and a figure called PSA Pop Higher. The full…Read the guide →

All grading guides · All guides and search