Grading & Submission
PSA vs BGS
A single number that sells, or four numbers that explain. Pick the one you need.
By Brijon M. · Published October 6, 2026 · Last updated October 6, 2026
Disclosure: Slab & Stack is funded by affiliate commission. If you buy through a link on this page we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you, and that never changes which product we put first. How we pick · Full disclosure
The short answer
PSA to sell. BGS to understand the card.
BGS reports centering, corners, edges and surface separately, which turns a grade into a diagnosis — genuinely valuable if you buy raw to grade or are learning to assess cards. PSA reports one number and that number carries the deeper market. If the card is leaving your collection, PSA. If you want to know why it graded what it graded, BGS.
The useful way to frame this one is to ask what you want the slab to do. A PSA slab is a sales instrument: one number, a deep market, a price history anyone can look up. A BGS slab is an assessment: four numbers that tell you exactly where the card lost points.
What sub-grades are actually good for
Sub-grades matter in three situations. If you are learning to assess cards, having your own judgment checked against four separate scores is the fastest way to calibrate. If you buy raw to grade, sub-grades tell you whether your evaluation of a seller's card was right. And if you are deciding whether to resubmit, knowing it was the edges rather than the centering tells you whether there is any point.
What they do not do is sell the card for more. For ordinary modern cards, the market pays for the PSA number.
The slab itself
BGS cases are the thickest of the four majors, which has real consequences. They offer more impact protection, and they fit worse: a display case or slab box designed around PSA dimensions will hold noticeably fewer BGS cases, and some wall cases will not take them at all. If you submit to BGS, check the fit of your display and storage before you buy either — PSA slab dimensions covers what is and is not published.
Quick picks
| # | Product | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CG Cardboard Gold Card Saver 1 Semi-rigid holders are the submission format at every major grader. Required by both | Standard modern cards going to PSA | Check price on Amazon |
| 2 | L Luxiv Card Grading Centering Tool Kit Sub-grades are informative after the fact. A gauge and a loupe give you most of the same information before you pay. Learn what BGS would tell you | Pre-screening centering before you pay a fee | Check price on Amazon |
| 3 | B BCW Graded Card Storage Box BGS cases are the thickest of the four, so slab storage sized for mixed graders matters more if you submit there. For storing the thicker slab | Storing slabs you are not displaying | Check price on Amazon |
#ad We earn a commission if you buy through these links, at no cost to you. Prices move constantly, so we link to the live listing instead of printing a number that would be wrong next week. How we are funded.
1. Required by both
Cardboard Gold Card Saver 1
Cardboard Gold · Standard modern cards going to PSA
The semi-rigid holder PSA's own shipping guide points you toward, at the size its instructions name. If you submit standard-thickness modern cards, this is the default and the decision is made.
Why it takes this slot: Semi-rigid holders are the submission format at every major grader.
- Holder size
- 3 5/16" x 4 7/8"
- Card thickness
- Standard cards up to roughly 20pt
- Material
- Acid-free, PVC-free rigid vinyl
- Common pack sizes
- 50, 100 and 200 count
What it does well
- Matches the semi-rigid dimensions PSA's shipping guide specifies
- Consistent fit from pack to pack, which matters when you are loading 200 cards
- Thin enough to band and ship in bulk without a bulky box
Where it falls short
- A snug fit — a thick or already-curved card needs care going in
- Priced above generic semi-rigids precisely because it is the submission standard
#ad We link to the listing rather than printing a price that would be wrong next week. How we are funded
2. Learn what BGS would tell you
Luxiv Card Grading Centering Tool Kit
Luxiv · Pre-screening centering before you pay a fee
An acrylic centering guide plus a 30x magnifier and cloths. Centering is the single most common reason a card misses a 10, and this is the cheapest way to find that out before you pay for grading.
Why it takes this slot: Sub-grades are informative after the fact. A gauge and a loupe give you most of the same information before you pay.
- Contents
- Acrylic centering guide, 30x magnifier, two microfiber cloths
- Material
- Transparent acrylic
- Works with
- PSA, BGS and CGC centering standards
What it does well
- Catches an off-center card before a submission fee is spent on it
- The magnifier doubles as your surface and edge check
- Costs a fraction of one grading fee
Where it falls short
- Measuring by eye on a gauge is less precise than a scan-based measurement
- Does nothing for surface or edge wear on its own
#ad We link to the listing rather than printing a price that would be wrong next week. How we are funded
3. For storing the thicker slab
BCW Graded Card Storage Box
BCW · Storing slabs you are not displaying
A slotted cardboard box sized for slabs rather than raw cards. Most of a graded collection should live here, not on a wall.
Why it takes this slot: BGS cases are the thickest of the four, so slab storage sized for mixed graders matters more if you submit there.
- Capacity
- Roughly 30 graded slabs per the manufacturer
- Fits
- PSA, BGS, SGC, CSG and HGA slabs, plus BCW 4-screw holders
- Material
- Corrugated cardboard with slots
What it does well
- Slots stop slab-on-slab scuffing
- Takes mixed grading companies and screwdowns together
- The cheapest way to store slabs properly
Where it falls short
- Cardboard offers no moisture or impact protection
- Thicker BGS cases eat the stated capacity
#ad We link to the listing rather than printing a price that would be wrong next week. How we are funded
| Factor | PSA | BGS |
|---|---|---|
| Grade reported | One overall number | Overall plus four sub-grades |
| Resale premium | Highest for modern sports | Lower, except for top-tier labels |
| Slab thickness | Thinnest of the majors | Thickest of the majors |
| Diagnostic value | Low — one number | High — tells you where points went |
| Best for | Cards you intend to sell | Learning, buying raw to grade, resubmission decisions |
What about a Black Label
A BGS 10 with four 10 sub-grades is a genuinely rare object and trades accordingly. It is not a reason to choose BGS, because you cannot plan for one — you can only discover you had one. Choose BGS for the information, and treat the rare label as upside rather than a strategy.
Common questions
Do BGS sub-grades increase a card's value?
Are BGS slabs bigger than PSA?
Which grader is stricter?
Can I submit the same supplies to BGS as PSA?
Back to Grading & Submission.
Sources
About the author
Brijon M. is the hands-on owner behind MadGrey LLC and the person who writes and maintains every page on Slab & Stack. He buys supplies in bulk, submits cards for grading, and keeps this site's recommendations tied to what a working collection actually needs.
Brijon M. · Owner, MadGrey LLC · Read the full bio
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