Magic Card Grading Guide
Compare PSA, CGC, and BGS grading companies, learn how to submit cards, and understand what makes a perfect 10.
PSA Grading for Magic Cards
PSA is the most widely recognized grading company in trading cards, and a PSA 10 can multiply what a Magic card is worth. Here is how the scale works, what a Gem Mint 10 demands, and how to submit.
BGS Grading for Magic Cards
Beckett Grading Services pioneered the four-subgrade system and the legendary Black Label perfect 10. Here is how BGS scores Magic cards and what each top designation means.
CGC Grading for Magic Cards
CGC Cards brought decades of comic and coin grading experience to trading cards and has grown fast in the TCG space. Here is how its scale works and why collectors keep choosing it.
PSA vs BGS vs CGC
The three major graders take different approaches to the same card. This is how they stack up for Magic on resale value, subgrades, cost, turnaround, and slab look.
Should You Grade That Card?
Not every card belongs in a slab. The decision comes down to condition, raw value, and whether the graded premium clears the fee. Here is how to think it through.
How Card Grading Works
From intake to slab, grading follows the same core process at every company. Here is what graders actually inspect, how the number is assigned, and why population reports matter.
Grading Vintage Cards
Old-border and Reserved List cards play by different rules. Rounded corners, period print quirks, and altered copies make authentication as important as condition.
What Grading Costs
Grading fees scale with a card's declared value and how fast you want it back. Here is how the tiers work across PSA, BGS, and CGC, and when the premium is worth it.
Centering and Edges
Centering and edge wear are the two attributes that most often cap a Magic card at a 9 instead of a 10. Here is how graders measure them and why frames matter.
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