Beckett Grading System is the premier sports card grading stale and has secured the title for "Best Grading Service" six years in a row. Ensure your investment cards are top-notch with a Beckett grading.
ByCynthia Chidimma
Updated Apr 21, 2023
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For collectors, using a card grading system to verify the value of a trading card is similar to checking with a jeweler to know the quality of a watch or gem. It’s a critical step to secure investments, detect counterfeits, and anticipate high returns.
The Beckett Grading System card a row by readers of Card Trade, thanks to its commitment to integrity and expertise making it a reliable way for investors to make sure they're getting the best cards for their collections.
The Beckett Grading System (BGS) is one of the many services collectors use to ascertain the value of their cards. It might also be one of the oldest card grading systems. Still, it's a reliable way for investors to make sure they're getting the best cards for their collections—and potentially make more money when they sell.
Beckett Grading’s commitment to integrity and expertise got it voted the "Best Grading Service" in the world for six years in a row by readers of Card Trade—a literal stamp of legitness. It also is the largest and most popular sports card grading division in the industry due to its objective grading system and a BGS grading tends to boost card value.
What is the Beckett Grading System?
Beckett Grading Services (BGS) is a renowned third-party grading provider specializing in sports cards, gaming cards, and memorabilia, with a strong foothold in the post-1980s autograph market. As collectors increasingly acknowledge the advantages of professional grading, BGS accurate and consistent evaluations have become highly valued in the collectibles sector.
Initially a magazine publisher in 1984, Beckett expanded into sports card grading in 1991 and now boasts a respected reputation among collectors, dealers, and investors. Their offerings extend beyond grading, providing essential pricing details, news, and analysis for the collector community.
BGS employs a 1 to 10 point scale, incorporating half-points and subgrades for precise grading based on card centering, corners, edges, and surfaces. Cards are then enclosed in a secure, tamper-proof holder featuring a labeled BGS grade, ensuring optimal protection.
Sports cards graded using the Beckett Grading System (BGS).
Source:beckett.com
For investors, BGS grading delivers an impartial, trustworthy assessment of card conditions, supporting informed buying and selling decisions. Grading fees—starting at $100 without subgrades or $150 with subgrades—depend on submission quantities and preferred turnaround times.
BGS’s on-time guarantee provides added assurance, refunding fees if grading isn't completed within the specified timeframe. Beckett Grading Services offers a reliable, yet slightly expensive, method for investors to ensure their collections contain top-quality cards.
Difference between PSA and BGS card grading?
BGS andPSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) are two of the most well-known grading companies when it comes to trading cards and collectibles, but they have some key differences.
In terms of grading trading cards, Beckett Grading Services and Professional Sports Authenticator offer two different, albeit similarly structured, services. PSA uses a point-based system that assigns grades from1 which is “Poor” or10 which is “Gem Mint.” On the other hand, BGS utilizes a more subjective approach and grades cards on a 10-point scale that includes 9.5 grades which they call “Gem Mint”.
For those who want their cards to look sharp and pristine, PSA's grading system breaks down their grades into points, while BGS has a more subjective system and their labels come in different colors to represent the grades they assign.
BGS also includes subgrades for categories like centering and corner wear, allowing for a more detailed evaluation of the card.
A BGS grader examining a sports card.
Source:beckett.com
If you're looking for a faster turnaround time and lower fees, BGS might be the way to go since their wait times and fees are both lower than those of PSA. While PSA has a larger community of collectors and dealers who trust their grading services, BGS has more high-quality slabs and cards with a UV-protection and a penny sleeve for added protection.
Desired turnaround time, budget, and the grades you expect for your cards are just some things to consider when deciding on a grading service—whether you prefer your cards graded by points or looks. In the end, BGS and PSA have different strengths and weaknesses, making it all come down to your preference and what works best for you and your collection.
How does Beckett Grading Service work?
When customers send in their cards, BGS logs and matches up the cards, and places them in a bin. Next, the invoicing department calculates the order, sets the guaranteed turnaround time, and processes the payment.
Once the cards are all accounted for, the verification department identifies each card and produces a unique sticker with a unique submission number, a unique serial number, a barcode, a due date, and a place for graders to assign grades.
Once the cards are identified, the graders get to work. They use a 1 to 10 scale that includes half pints to assign a numerical grade to each of the four subgrade categories:centering, corners, edges, and surface. If the card is deemed to be altered, BGS can either send it back to the customer with a note or encapsulate it and label it as “Authentic-Altered.”
Once the grading process is complete, the cards are enclosed in a BGS holder and placed in a bag to protect against scratching. The shipping department checks each card before securely packing them and the customer will receive tracking information and a link to the final grades. The BGS labels on a cards holder show its numerical grade that classifies it under each of the four subgrade categories:
Four categories of BGS:
- Centering: The assessment of centering is essential when considering the value of sports cards. A 10 grade will only be given if the card is virtually perfectly centered. When a card grader evaluates centering, they divide the card into left/right and top/bottom sections and observe the amount that is off-centered. A card that has a 50/50 distribution (50% of the card on the left/right side and 50% on the top/bottom) is viewed as perfectly centered.
- Corners: Collectors of raw sports cards can extend the life of their collections through proper storage and, when applicable, professional grading services. But it’s important to note that even if a card appears to have perfect corners without frays, grading companies use precise magnification to scrutinize cards’ condition and will only assign a 10 grade if all corners are in pristine condition.
- Edges: The edges of sports cards may be prone to deterioration such as chipping, which can expose white borders on the card. For a card to receive a 10 on the BGS grading scale, the edges must be pristine and almost perfect when viewed under magnification.
- Surface: The condition of a card's surface is an important factor for card graders to consider, as it can be easily damaged by wax stains, scratches, loss of gloss, and printing defects. Due to their delicate nature, sports cards are especially prone to surface damage.
BGS card grading assigns each card a grade from 1 to 10 for each of the four main categories. These individual grades are then added together to provide an overall grade of 1 to 10 with 1 being the worst and 10 being the best. Lower graded cards can affect the overall BGS grade and value of a card.
For example, if a card receives a grade of 8.5 for condition, 9.5 for centering, 8.5 for corners, 8.5 for edges, and 9.5 for surface, the card's overall grade would be 8.8. A grade of 9 or higher is considered a Mint and is potentially the highest grades for that card and could be worth book value or higher.
A grade of 9.5 is Gem Mint—cards with such high grades are often coveted by collectors. The rarest grade is a Pristine 10, which can turn a $10 card into a valuable collector's item worth thousands of dollars.
Pros & Cons of Beckett Grading Services
Pros
BGS provides assurance that your items are authentic and in the condition described and can increase their value.
The BGS online submission system makes it easy to submit items for grading and to keep track of progress.
BGS offers strong protection for your items with its crystal-clear holders and archival material.
Cons
BGS is a less established company with a smaller community of collectors and dealers who use it as their go-to grader compared to PSA.
BGS labeling system is not uniform and has a different color label for each grade which some collectors find less visually appealing.
BGS is considered by some collectors to have a more lenient grading system and only grades autographs as “real” or “fake.”
Is grading sports cards worth it?
Many investors are getting their dollars' worth when grading cards because third-party certification provides greater trust and transparency for buyers and sellers. However, sports card grading isn't always a sure bet for investors since it doesn't boost a card's value.
It's important to consider the card's condition, availability, desirability, and liquidity before investing in grading. Unless you're looking at vintage cards, there is a chance that your card will not increase in value.
Nevertheless, grading still has a good chance of increasing its value compared to the raw cards. Grading costs around $20 per card, not including the cost of shipping, but it's often worthwhile due to the added security, protection from counterfeits, buyer assurance, and higher resale value. Plus, card grading companies like PSA, Beckett, and SGC will provide an encased holder for your graded card to keep it safe.
Before grading, assess the value of the card on eBay to verify that the asking price is worth the costs associated with grading. As most graders rely on the naked eye, assess if any magnification tools will be helpful in evaluating the card.
Collectible Contenders
Popfolios│Rarest Funko Pops to CollectBest V STAR Pokemon CardsThe Dugout │Best Mike Trout Rookie CardsUltimately, grading expenses should be considered a sunk cost and should only be done if it will increase the card value or make the sale of the card easier. In other words, you want to be sure the cards you submit to be graded will be worth more than the money you must pay for shipping and grading the cards.
Investors should also be conservative with grade estimations, and research population report, eBay prices, and auction sales from places likePWCC andGoldin before submitting their cards to make sure it’s worth it. So when it comes to consciously investing, submitting cards to be graded can potentially be a wise decision.
Still, it’s good to keep in mind that you might not get a return on investment from submitting your cards. So it’s only a good idea to submit your trading card if you think you’ll get back more than what you paid to have cards graded when you sell the investment.
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FAQs
Would a Beckett 9.5 be a PSA 10? ›
The average PSA 10 sells at least 2.5x more than a BGS 9.5.
Even though a few of those cards with a BGS 9.5 grade would typically get a PSA 10 when sent to PSA. PSA 10 cards scored anything from 91 – 100 on the grading scale, while BGS 9.5 cards received 91 – 96.
Beckett grading costs range anywhere from $20 per card all the way up to $250 per card (or more), depending on the value of the card, the age of the card, how many cards you're submitting at one time, how fast you want the turnaround to be, and other factors.
Is it harder to get a PSA 10 or a Beckett 10? ›BGS 10 sold for over twice a PSA 10, even though it's between 15 and 100 times harder to get.
What are the Beckett grading categories? ›- Pristine 10. Centering: 50/50 all around on front. ...
- Gem Mint 9.5. Centering: 50/50 one way, 55/45 the other on front. ...
- Mint 9. Centering: 55/45 both ways on front. ...
- Near Mint/Mint 8. Centering: 60/40 both ways or better on front. ...
- Near Mint 7. ...
- Excellent Mint 6. ...
- Excellent 5. ...
- Very Good/Excellent - 4.
PSA 10 sells for more than double a “true gem” BGS 9.5. A “true gem” 9.5 sells for more than 50% more, but largely the same when containing both a 9 and 10 sub-grade (effectively cancelling out) BGS 9.5 sell for about a quarter-to-third more than PSA 9.
How much is a PSA 10 worth compared to a BGS 10? ›10 is the highest overall grade a sports card can receive, though BGS also offers a Black Label Pristine 10, which means the card received a 10 for all four subgrades. While a Black Label Pristine 10 and PSA 10 are the highest grades a card can obtain, that isn't to say that other grades aren't of value.
How much is a PSA 9 worth compared to a PSA 10? ›PSA 10s are worth about 3.5x as much as PSA 9.
So if you're getting your cards graded, that means you score big with a 10. If you're buying, it means you'll be shelling out the big bucks to a Gem Mint 10.
Lower fees: BGS fees are generally lower than those of PSA, making it a more cost-effective option for grading your cards. They don't tie your fees to the value of your cards, which makes for a simpler system as well. Superior Slabs: BGS slabs are sturdier than those used by PSA and include UV-protection.
Is Beckett or PSA better? ›Beckett Grading Services has a lot more bells and whistles than PSA: they offer color-coded tags for the cards based on their grade (gold is a 9.5 or 10, for example), they award subscores so you can see exactly how your cards faired in their four subcategories, and they have a “Black Label” offering for the rare ...
Does PSA 10 have to be perfect? ›A PSA Gem Mint 10 card is a virtually perfect card. Attributes include four perfectly sharp corners, sharp focus and full original gloss. A PSA Gem Mint 10 card must be free of staining of any kind, but an allowance may be made for a slight printing imperfection, if it doesn't impair the overall appeal of the card.
How rare is a PSA 10? ›
The 1961 Topps Baseball set has a gem rate of just 0.3%, making PSA 10s rare despite the large population (just 1,024 total PSA 10s). The most popular and highest graded card in the set is the #300 Mickey Mantle, which received just 2 gems out of 8,321 cards submitted.
What percentage of cards get a PSA 10? ›13% of all cards sent to PSA whereas the remainder of the foil cards receive a 10 in 2.4% of all cards submitted.
What is the cheapest card grading company? ›Of the major grading companies, BGS currently offers the cheapest card grading service, which is $18 to grade a single card at the “Base” level. This is $2 less than CSG's “Economy” level, $5 less than PSA's “Value” service, and $4 less than SGC.
Will Beckett grade any card? ›Grading Cards - BGS. Beckett Grading Services can grade virtually any card from any set.
What is the difference between BGS 9.5 and PSA 10? ›BGS argument, and the grading scales of the two companies. If a PSA 10 is the absolute best grade a card can receive from PSA but a BGS grading scale has a 9.5 one step below the best grade a card can receive from BGS, then it's tough to say the cards are equal.
How much is a PSA 9 worth vs raw? ›The difference between the SGC 9.5s and PSA 9s might not seem like much, but for an average $50 raw card assuming $25 grading costs, one would net $10 buying, grading, and selling for a PSA 9 but $30 with an SGC 9.5.
How hard is it to get a Beckett Black Label? ›Your card must be pristine across the board to achieve the perfect 10. This means it must achieve a score of 10 (out of 10) on corners, edges, surface and centering. Check for whitening and chips. Look very carefully as even the smallest nick will eliminate your chances of getting that 'Black Label'.
How much is a PSA 9 card worth? ›A PSA 9 is worth $300. A PSA 10 is worth $700.
Which is better PSA 1 or PSA 10? ›The Trading Card Authentication & Grading Process
If your cards pass authentication, PSA grades the condition of each card on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being best. PSA encapsulates each card in its own sonically sealed, tamper-evident case.
Professional Sports Authenticator - Wikipedia
PSA grading is expensive because they use a 10-point grading process to grade and value cards. Not every grading company has such an extensive grading process. Since PSA does, it makes its services a bit more expensive.
What is the most rare PSA 10 card? ›
The most expensive Pokémon card is the Pikachu Illustrator which sold for $5.275 million in July 2021. It's the true Holy Grail of Pokémon card collecting and only one PSA 10 is known to exist.
Does PSA 9.5 exist? ›How the Scale Works. PSA will add a half-point grade within each of the 1-10 numbers with the exception of a 9.5 grade.
Is PSA 8 good? ›Is PSA grade 8 bad? A PSA NM-MT 8 is a super high-end card that appears Mint 9 at first glance, but upon closer inspection, the card can exhibit the following: a very slight wax stain on reverse, slightest fraying at one or two corners, a minor printing imperfection, and/or slightly off-white borders.
What does a PSA 8 look like? ›A PSA NM-MT 8 is super high-end card that appears Mint 9 at first glance, but upon closer inspection, the card can exhibit the following: a very slight wax stain on reverse, slightest fraying at one or two corners, a minor printing imperfection, and/or slightly off-white borders.
Which grading company is the best? ›In conclusion, when it comes to card grading, it's important to do your research and choose a reliable grading company. PSA, BGS, SGC, and CGC are all respected grading companies, but PSA is generally considered the most reliable by the majority of collectors.
What is the hardest card grading company? ›PSA is known for their tough grading standards and their registry which allows collectors to register their PSA graded baseball cards along with the grade. This is both a way to "keep score" and a way to market your cards.
Is PSA grading even worth it? ›Is PSA card grading worth it? PSA card grading is mostly worth it since card grading tends to boost protection and sports card prices. The added protection comes from being in a protective card holder, while increased resale value is due to savvy collectors viewing unsheathed cards as less worthy.
What is the most popular card grading service? ›1. PSA (Professional Sports Authority) PSA stands for Professional Sports Authority and is one of the more popular grading companies among collectors. You can easily identify PSA from their simple red-bordered white label (and PSA hologram on newer slabs).
How do I know if my card is worth grading? ›In order to tell if a card is worth grading, there are two main factors. One, check to make sure the condition is worthy of grading. Visually inspect the corners, centering, surface, and edges. If the corners are sharp, the card is centered, and the surface and edges are free of blemishes, it's a great first step.
What is the most graded PSA card of all time? ›| Rank | Set Name | Set Rating |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | TakiTaki3518 | 11.00 |
| 1 | SOK Collection | 11.00 |
| 1 | Top 10 Graded PSA Cards | 11.00 |
| 4 | mcholke PSA's Top 10 Most Graded Cards of All Time | 10.84 |
Is PSA 9 good? ›
A Mint 9, as defined by PSA, is a card that is in “superb condition” and has only one minor flaw. This flaw can be a range of things, but most commonly PSA will grade a card a Mint 9 if there is simply a “minor printing imperfection”.
What does PSA 7 mean? ›In the past, PSA levels of 4.0 ng/mL and lower were considered normal. However, some individuals with PSA levels below 4.0 ng/mL have prostate cancer and many with higher PSA levels between 4 and 10 ng/mL do not have prostate cancer (1). In addition, various factors can cause someone's PSA level to fluctuate.
How long does it take for PSA to grade a card? ›PSA Grading currently takes about 20 days to grade a card at the “value plus” service level ($40/card) and 10 days at the “Regular” service level ($75/card). Not too long ago, in April of 2021, most of the basic services were suspended, and in March of 2022, “Regular” service was $100 without a stated turnaround time.
How many PSA 10 Charizards are there? ›With only 58 PSA 10s in existence, the value of the Carddass Prism Charizard isn't driven so much by nostalgia, instead it's more about owning a piece of Pokemon history from the place it all began.
How hard is it to get a PSA 10 baseball card? ›Some cards are extremely difficult in getting a PSA 10, while others are relatively easier. For instance, there isn't a PSA 10 1971 Reggie Jackson in existence according to the PSA pop report. On the other hand, there are 476 PSA 10 2022 Topps Chrome Refractors (out of 837 total graded, for a “gem rate” of 57%).
Can a PSA 10 have whitening? ›But how does this factor into grading? When cards are graded, every edge and corner is looked over multiple times. One of the first things a grader is going to look for is whitening. Only the slightest amount of whitening can pass for a 10 at PSA.
Can you grade cards for free? ›Now with that out of the way, let me rephrase that as you probably can't get cards graded for free. And most likely not in the way you're thinking. But there are cheap grading options, and ways to minimize your costs. Card grading is a service, just like dining out is a service provided by restaurants.
Are graded cards a good investment? ›But when it's time to sell, you'd usually get higher returns for a graded card than the ungraded one. So, raw cards are generally ideal for recreation purposes. But if you're serious about sports card investments, then graded cards can be a great choice.
Where is the best place to get your cards graded? ›PSA is the largest and most trusted card grading service in the world. Submitting your trading cards to PSA is the first step towards getting the most from your trading card collection. Learn more about the different types of grading services and the benefits of PSA grading.
How long does Beckett take to grade cards? ›| Service Levels | Current Turnaround Times as of 1/11/2023 |
|---|---|
| Collectors' Special | 40-60 Days |
| Base | 40-60 Days |
| Standard | 10-20 Days |
| Priority | 2-5 Days |
Did Beckett change their grading scale? ›
Beckett has updated their grading scale to include “Gem Mint 10” & “Mint+ 9.5.” A couple of days ago, Beckett announced that they're updating their grading scale to offer a more comprehensive scheme for individuals who plan to avail of their services.
Does Beckett do walk in grading? ›The most established and recognized grading services in the card collecting hobby, like Beckett and PSA, are based in the US. Taking cards to their offices for 'Walk-Through' services, or card shows, is possible for in-person card grading.
What counts as PSA 10? ›What Does PSA 10 Mean? According to PSA, a PSA 10 card will have, “four perfectly sharp corners, sharp focus, and full original gloss”. This means that the card is virtually flawless with little to no imperfections.
How does Beckett grading compare to PSA? ›Beckett Grading Services has a lot more bells and whistles than PSA: they offer color-coded tags for the cards based on their grade (gold is a 9.5 or 10, for example), they award subscores so you can see exactly how your cards faired in their four subcategories, and they have a “Black Label” offering for the rare ...
How much is a PSA 9 compared to a PSA 10? ›The Price Differences In Graded Pokémon Cards
Using the PSA Price Guide, a PSA 10 of this card is valued at around $375,000. In comparison, a PSA 9 drops down to around $20,000. That is a huge drop in value for just one number, and depending on the collector, a 9 could be just as good as a 10.
Around 2.5 percent of them are PSA 10s.
How hard is it to get PSA 10? ›Some cards are extremely difficult in getting a PSA 10, while others are relatively easier. For instance, there isn't a PSA 10 1971 Reggie Jackson in existence according to the PSA pop report. On the other hand, there are 476 PSA 10 2022 Topps Chrome Refractors (out of 837 total graded, for a “gem rate” of 57%).
How much value does a PSA 10 add? ›PSA 10s are worth about 3.5x as much as PSA 9.
So if you're getting your cards graded, that means you score big with a 10. If you're buying, it means you'll be shelling out the big bucks to a Gem Mint 10.
However, PSA is generally considered the most reliable grading company by the majority of collectors. PSA's grading process is consistent, and their grades are widely accepted in the collecting community. While BGS and SGC are also respected grading companies, PSA is often considered the gold standard.
What is the toughest card grading company? ›PSA is known for their tough grading standards and their registry which allows collectors to register their PSA graded baseball cards along with the grade. This is both a way to "keep score" and a way to market your cards.
What is the cheapest way to grade cards? ›
Of the major grading companies, BGS currently offers the cheapest card grading service, which is $18 to grade a single card at the “Base” level. This is $2 less than CSG's “Economy” level, $5 less than PSA's “Value” service, and $4 less than SGC.
What is the most expensive PSA 10 card? ›The most expensive Pokémon card is the Pikachu Illustrator which sold for $5.275 million in July 2021. It's the true Holy Grail of Pokémon card collecting and only one PSA 10 is known to exist.
Is it worth getting cards PSA graded? ›You should ONLY get your cards graded IF it will increase the value or make the sale of the card(s) easier. You should NOT get your card graded just because you THINK it will improve the value. Grading cards costs money.