Grading basics · Grading company guides
TAG Grading Review: The Computer-Imaging Grader Explained
TAG takes a different approach to grading: instead of relying only on a grader’s eye, it photographs every card with patented imaging and scores its defects on a 1,000-point scale. Here is how that works, what you get, and whether a TAG slab is a smart choice.
TAG (Technical Authentication & Grading) is a Los Angeles grader that began grading cards in 2022. It uses photometric stereoscopic imaging to find defects, converts a 1,000-point TAG Score into a 1–10 grade and gives each card a digital report showing every flaw it found. Its fee doesn’t rise with the card’s value. TAG is growing fast but has less resale history than PSA.
What TAG does
TAG authenticates and grades trading cards using its own imaging system. Every card is photographed under controlled lighting from several angles, which reveals dents, scratches, print lines and edge wear in 3D. Software measures and scores what it finds, and graders review the results. The outcome is a TAG Score out of 1,000 that maps to a familiar 1–10 grade.
Each graded card comes with a Digital Imaging and Grading report (DIG) online: high-resolution images with every defect marked, a scoring breakdown, the card’s ranking against other copies and its population. TAG prints the grade inside the slab rather than on a separate paper label.
| Full name | Technical Authentication & Grading (TAG) |
|---|---|
| Founder | Steve Kass, a long-time collector |
| Based in | Los Angeles, California |
| Grading cards since | 2022, after years of developing patented technology |
| Scale | 1–10, from a 1,000-point TAG Score |
| UK access | Through a UK submission partner |
TAG’s history and reputation
TAG’s founder, Steve Kass, built a huge sports card collection over a lifetime. When he had cards graded, he found that copies he expected to match often came back with different grades. That inconsistency led him to spend years developing an automated, measurable grading system. TAG filed its first patents in the mid-2010s and began grading publicly in 2022.
TAG’s reputation has grown quickly, especially in Pokémon, where collectors like seeing exactly why a card scored what it did. TAG says it has now graded more than a million cards, and it keeps leaderboards that rank the best-scoring copy of each card. The main doubts are about the future: TAG is young, and its slabs don’t yet have the long sales history that gives PSA its resale strength. High demand has also led TAG to cap orders and pause tiers at times.
Which cards does TAG grade?
TAG grades Pokémon, sports cards, Magic: The Gathering, Yu-Gi-Oh!, One Piece, Lorcana and other major TCGs, in standard sizes. Because its system is built around consistent measurement, TAG doesn’t grade miscut cards or printing errors. Check TAG’s accepted card list before sending thick or unusual cards.
TAG grading prices and service tiers
Unlike most graders, TAG charges the same fee whatever your card is worth; the tier decides speed and the per-card protection level. These are the reported US prices after TAG relaunched its tiers at the end of September 2026.
| Tier | Price per card | Protection per card | Estimated turnaround |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base (grade only, min. 5 cards) | $39.95 | $500 | About 60 business days |
| Standard | $59.95 | $1,000 | About 45 business days |
| Priority | $79.95 | $1,500 | About 30 business days |
| Express | $149.95 | $2,500 | About 10 business days |
| Premier | $299.95 | $5,000 | 3–5 business days |
Base is grade-only; Standard and above include the full TAG Score. UK submission partners may charge in pounds with shipping and customs included. Our TAG submission guide and calculator works out the total for a direct US submission.
TAG turnaround times
TAG’s estimates start when the cards reach its Los Angeles facility and range from about 3–5 business days on Premier to around 60 on Base. TAG has used order caps and a public backlog tracker to manage demand, so tiers can fill up or close at short notice. From the UK, add the time your cards spend in transit and customs, or the batching time of a UK partner.
How to submit cards to TAG from the UK
Through TAG’s UK partner
TAG has a UK submission partner that acts as a local gateway: you submit online or hand cards in at partner shops and UK card shows, and the partner handles shipping, insurance and customs to California. This is the simplest route for most UK collectors.
Directly to TAG
You can also order online with TAG and post the cards to the US yourself. Pack each card in a penny sleeve and a Card Saver I holder, follow TAG’s packing steps and declare the parcel as cards sent for grading that will be returned, so UK import VAT applies to the fee and return shipping only.
TAG’s grading scale and TAG Score explained
TAG measures defects and turns them into a score out of 1,000. Each band (approximate figures below; TAG’s own grading scale page has the full table) maps to a grade on the usual 1–10 scale, and the very top scores earn TAG’s Pristine label.
| TAG Score | Grade |
|---|---|
| 990–1000 | Pristine 10 |
| 950–989 | Gem Mint 10 |
| 900–949 | Mint 9 |
| 850–899 | NM-MT+ 8.5 |
| Lower bands | Down to TAG 1 (Poor), which starts at 100 |
Because the score is precise, two TAG 10s are not equal: a 998 outranks a 952, and TAG’s leaderboards show where your copy sits. The DIG report shows the exact location and severity of each defect. You can still check centering and surface yourself first with our guides to centering and corners.
Advantages and disadvantages of TAG
Advantages
- Measured, repeatable grading backed by patented imaging.
- A detailed defect report and 1,000-point score for every card.
- Flat fees that don’t rise with a card’s value.
- Leaderboards and rankings that reward truly top copies.
- A UK partner that handles shipping and customs.
Disadvantages
- Less resale history than PSA, CGC or Beckett, so prices are harder to predict.
- TAG 10s usually sell for less than PSA 10s.
- Order caps and paused tiers when demand is high.
- Doesn’t grade miscuts or error cards.
- Base tier is grade-only, without the full score.
Does TAG grading increase resale value?
Yes, for clean cards, and the report itself helps: buyers can see every flaw before they pay, which builds confidence in online sales. A high TAG Score, especially Pristine, can attract a premium from collectors who chase leaderboard rankings. For most cards, though, a TAG 10 still sells for less than a PSA 10, because the PSA market is far deeper.
TAG and ACE prices aren’t on our grade charts yet, so compare eBay sold listings for TAG copies with the PSA and CGC values on the card’s Search Cards page.
TAG vs PSA, ACE, CGC and Beckett
- TAG vs PSA: TAG explains every point it takes off; PSA has the strongest resale value and buyer base.
- TAG vs ACE: ACE grades in the UK and prices in pounds; TAG offers deeper imaging detail and global leaderboards.
- TAG vs CGC: both have Pristine labels; CGC has a London office and a longer track record.
- TAG vs Beckett: both give detail beyond one number; Beckett’s subgrades are judged by graders, TAG’s are measured by imaging.
Who is TAG best for?
- Collectors who want to know exactly why a card got its grade.
- Owners of high-value cards who prefer a flat fee to value-based pricing.
- Competitive collectors who want to rank their copy against everyone else’s.
- Anyone curious about data-driven grading.
If you want the slab that is easiest to resell at the highest price, PSA is still the safer bet.
Chasing a high TAG Score? Start with a cheap, clean copy
TAG rewards near-flawless cards, so it pays to be choosy when buying. Search the card on searchcards.co to compare live listings with real sold prices, and look at several copies before buying the cleanest one at a fair price. Scan it with the pre-grade scanner, which estimates a TAG Score, then use the cost calculator to compare TAG’s flat fee with value-based graders.
Frequently asked questions
How does TAG grading work?
TAG photographs each card with patented photometric stereoscopic imaging, measures every defect and converts the result into a 1,000-point TAG Score, which maps to a 1–10 grade. Each card gets a digital report showing the defects.
Is TAG grading good?
TAG is respected for consistent, transparent grading and detailed reports. Its main drawback is resale value: TAG slabs have less sales history and usually sell for less than PSA slabs.
Is TAG owned by PSA?
No. TAG is an independent company based in Los Angeles.
Can I submit cards to TAG from the UK?
Yes, through TAG’s UK submission partner, which handles shipping and customs, or directly by posting cards to TAG in the US.
What is a good TAG Score?
Scores from 950 are Gem Mint 10, and 990 or above earns a Pristine 10.
Does TAG charge more for valuable cards?
No. TAG’s fee depends on the tier you choose, not the declared value; the tier sets turnaround and the per-card protection level.
Prices, tiers and turnaround times were checked in October 2026 and grading companies change them often. Always confirm on the company’s official website before you submit. Search Cards is independent and not affiliated with ACE, PSA, CGC, Beckett or TAG.
Buy the card at the right price, predict its grade and work out the full cost before you submit.
TAG submission guide and calculator → Pre-grade with a TAG Score Search card prices How the grading scanner works