CGC vs SGC: scales, labels, fees and waits

CGC Cards and SGC grade on near-identical scales, from 1 to 10 in half steps with two kinds of 10. The real differences are price, speed and what you get back. CGC’s cheapest levels cost far less, from $17 a card, with estimates of about 150 working days at Bulk and 90 at Economy. SGC has two levels for standard-size cards. Standard starts at $50 and is listed at 40 or more business days, with no upper figure, and Expedited starts at $150 for 2 to 3 business days.

How do the grading scales compare?

Closely. Both companies name their top two grades as two kinds of 10, and both ask for 50/50 centering at Pristine.

CGC keeps its Pristine label for cards flawless under 10-times magnification. SGC’s Pristine is close to flawless, with no wear visible under magnification.

Two differences matter for planning. CGC states its centering figures from 9 down for sports and non-sports cards only. For TCG cards it describes handling and manufacturing defects instead. And SGC calls its grade descriptions guidelines: factors beyond them can still affect a grade. Our checklist before grading compares both scales grade by grade. Rip.fan’s centering checker takes a card’s border widths and finds the highest CGC and SGC grades whose published centering figures it meets. The glossary entries for the grading scale and subgrades define the terms.

How do the labels and holders differ?

CGC is not consistent on size: in one place it sets the limit above, in another it says any factory-cut card that fits a CGC holder can be certified, and it lists a $20 Jumbo Card level it does not define. Ask CGC before you send a large card.

SGC’s holders are not waterproof or UV-resistant. Our guide to reading a CGC label decodes CGC’s grade names and codes, and spotting a fake slab covers the security checks for both.

What does each company charge?

Each company prices a card by its declared value. At each value, the cheapest levels are:

CGC’s estimated waits are about 150 working days at Bulk, 90 at Economy, 10 at Standard, 5 at Express and 2 at WalkThrough and Unlimited Value. SGC’s are 40 or more business days at Standard and 2 to 3 at Expedited.

For speed alone, CGC’s WalkThrough costs $300 for about 2 working days at any value up to $100,000. SGC’s Expedited starts at $150 for 2 to 3 business days on a card declared up to $3,500.

Two other costs differ. CGC offers paid memberships at $39, $159 and $329 a year that take 10% or 20% off grading, while SGC lists no membership. And CGC counts its wait from the day a box is delivered, while SGC counts from when it unboxes and logs the order. Our guide to how long grading takes explains what that means for planning.

What does sending the cards back cost?

The figures here read CGC’s declared value for shipping as the order’s total.

What do five sample orders cost?

Grading plus the cheapest trip back each company lists, before your own postage to it:

The 25-card SGC order is worth $2,500 in all, over the $2,000 limit of SGC’s USPS Priority column, which would have cost $30 for 25 cards, against $35 by Ground. On the $15,000 card, FedEx 2-Day costs less than Ground because of Ground’s $40 surcharge above $10,000.

Which one fits which card?

On these price lists, a few rules follow:

• Many cheaper cards, no deadline: CGC’s Bulk or Economy costs less than half of SGC’s Standard per card, if you can wait for CGC’s 90 to 150 working days (SGC lists 40 or more business days and no upper figure).
• One card declared at $1,001 to $1,500, or $3,001 to $3,500: SGC’s Standard fee is $5 or $15 lower than CGC’s cheapest level, but CGC’s estimate is 10 or 5 working days against SGC’s 40 or more business days.
• Anything declared above $3,500: CGC’s Express, WalkThrough or Unlimited Value level costs less than SGC’s Expedited at every value, with waits of days at both.
• A card already in the other company’s slab: CGC’s CrossOver takes SGC slabs and moves a card only at the same grade or higher, unless you ask otherwise. SGC prices crossovers on its normal grid and asks for a minimum grade. See how crossover grading works.
• A damaged slab: CGC’s ReHolder costs $10 for a card still in its original CGC or CSG holder. SGC’s reholder costs from $50 at Standard for a sealed SGC holder. An opened SGC holder means the card must be graded again.

Which holder a card sells for more in is a separate question, card by card. Compare sold prices for the same card in each slab, using our guide to finding what a card sold for, and run the arithmetic in whether a card is worth grading. Rip.fan’s grading cost calculator shows each company’s cheapest and fastest level for the declared value and card count you enter, with the day each price was read. It does not include shipping or insurance. For the steps, see how to submit cards to CGC and how to submit cards to SGC. The CGC and SGC glossary entries describe each company.

Frequently asked questions

Can you submit to CGC from outside the US?

Yes. CGC's London, Munich and Hong Kong offices take TCGs, sports cards and non-sports cards, and its Shanghai office takes submissions through certain dealers.

How many people check a CGC grade?

At least 2. Under the CGC Guarantee, every submission is inspected by at least 2 professionals, and a slabbed card is guaranteed authentic and not overgraded.

Does CGC grade the autograph on a signed card?

Only cards with 2 autographs or fewer get an autograph grade at CGC, and with 2 signatures the one grade covers both.

What if CGC values a card above your declared value?

CGC moves the card to the higher tier that value calls for and bills you the difference, even if the card later proves fake or altered.