How to submit cards to BGS for grading
Subgrades show exactly why a card got its grade. A BGS Black Label 10 is one of the most valuable slabs in the hobby. Here's how to prepare and post your cards, what each BGS service level costs, and what your submission will cost in total, in euros or pounds.
Sending cards from the UK or Europe
No grading office in Europe. Collectors in the UK and EU post their cards to the US.
How to submit cards to BGS, step by step
Check the card is worth grading
Look the card up on Search Cards and compare its ungraded value with what it sells for at the grade you realistically expect, e.g. PSA 9 or 10. Grading pays off when that graded value is clearly higher than the ungraded value plus the total cost from the calculator below. Most modern cards are only worth grading if they could get a 9 or 10.
Look up a card's value →Inspect centering, corners, edges and surface
Under a bright light, check the borders are even, the corners are sharp, the edges have no whitening and the surface has no scratches, dents or print lines. A loupe and a centering tool make this much easier. Compare what you see with BGS's grading scale.
BGS grading scale ↗Clean and handle it safely
Wash and dry your hands, or wear gloves, and hold the card by its edges. Only remove dust and fingerprints with a dry, clean microfibre cloth, wiping gently from the centre outwards. Never use liquids, erasers or anything abrasive: graders can spot altered cards and won't grade them.
Can you clean a card before grading? →Sleeve and protect it
Each card in a penny sleeve, then in a semi-rigid holder or a top loader. Check Beckett's current packing instructions before you post.
Cheapest supplies on eBay →Choose a service level and fill in the order
Submit online on beckett.com and choose a service level. During autumn 2026 Beckett took submissions through a temporary form while its website was rebuilt, so start from beckett.com/grading for the current link. Declare each card at what it would sell for in the grade you expect. If BGS thinks it is worth more, the card is moved to a higher tier and you pay the difference.
Start a BGS submission ↗Pack and post it
Stack the holders, wrap the stack in bubble wrap and pack it tightly in a small box so nothing moves. Print the packing slip and put it inside. Send it tracked and insured for the full declared value. Sending to the US? Use the grading company's customs instructions and declare the parcel as cards sent for grading that will be returned. That way you usually only pay import VAT on the grading fee and return shipping when the cards come back, not on the cards' value.
BGS official site ↗Track it and check your grades
Follow your order online. Grades usually appear on your account before the cards are posted back. When the slabs arrive, look up each certification number on BGS's website to make sure it matches. Then keep the slabs in graded card sleeves and a storage box so they don't get scratched.
BGS certificate lookup ↗
Grading budget calculator
Beckett (United States) fees
| Service level | Price per card | Max. value per card | Turnaround | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Base (with subgrades) | €16.04$17.95 | €223 | 75+ business days | Open |
| Standard | €31.22$34.95 | €893 | 45 business days | Open |
| Express | €71.43$79.95 | €2,234 | 15 business days | Open |
| Priority | €111.63$124.95 | €4,467 | 5 business days | Paused |
Supplies for your BGS submission
Penny sleeves
A soft sleeve for every card before it goes in a holder.
Sleeves100x -35pt Kartenhüllen - Penny Sleeves - Softsleeves - TCG - Cards - NEWSemi-rigid holders (Card Saver I)
The holder most graders ask for. Card Saver I size fits a sleeved card.
☽✧ Ultra Pro Semi Rigid Lip Sleeves ✧☾ 10x Card Saver Hülle Pokémon Magic TCGTop loaders (35pt)
Rigid holders for posting and storing raw cards. Some graders accept them.
Toploader Versand Schutzcase - Karten Schutz - Pokémon One Piece TCG SportkartenTeam bags
Resealable bags that keep a stack of holders together and dust-free.
Team Bags Resealable Sleeves 100 Bags for Toploader 86x142mm OVP 81130 - NeuCentering tool
A clear overlay that shows how centred the borders are.
Card Centering Tool TCG Sportcards Kartenbewertung Schablone Zentrierung PSA CGCJeweller's loupe
Magnifies corners, edges and the surface so you spot flaws before the grader does.
Magnifying Glass Jewellers Loupe Jewellery Eye Lens Magnifier Loop 10X-40XPadded mailers
Bubble mailers for posting cards. Pack them inside a small box for grading.
Sammelkarten gepolsterte Umschläge 11x13cm | Luftpolsterversandtaschen für Pokémon, MTG, TCGGraded card sleeves
Resealable sleeves that stop slabs getting scratched.
Sleeves für PSA Grading Graded Pokemon Card ☆ Schutzhüllen 10 StückGraded card storage box
A box that holds slabs upright and protected.
1x Graded Card Box Sammelkarten Koffer Magnetic Flip Storage Case 273x100x121mmSlab display stand
Shows off a graded card on a shelf.
Graded Card Display Kratzfest Sammelkartenständer LanglebigOfficial BGS links
Questions about card grading
How much does BGS grading cost?
The cheapest BGS service level open right now is Base (with subgrades) at about €16.04 per card, before shipping and import VAT. Beckett reopened submissions in mid-September 2026 through a temporary form; Priority and Base without subgrades were not offered.
How do I submit cards to BGS from the UK or Europe?
No grading office in Europe. Collectors in the UK and EU post their cards to the US. Follow the steps on this page and use BGS's customs instructions when you post.
How should I pack cards for BGS?
Each card in a penny sleeve, then in a semi-rigid holder or a top loader. Check Beckett's current packing instructions before you post.
What grading scale does BGS use?
1 to 10 in half grades, with four subgrades (centering, corners, edges, surface) and a Black Label for perfect 10s. BGS grading scale ↗