PSA vs ACE vs CGC: Which Grading Service Is Best in the UK?

If you collect or buy graded Pokémon cards, you've seen the three letters everywhere: PSA, ACE and CGC. Each one grades your cards on a 1–10 scale and seals them in a tamper-proof slab — but the price you'll pay, the time you'll wait, and even how a "10" looks on the label differ more than most guides let on. Here's a straight breakdown for UK collectors.

The short version

  • PSA — the most widely recognised name and the biggest driver of resale value, but it's a US company. UK submitters have historically had to ship cards to America, which meant customs delays and international postage on top of the grading fee. That's changing: PSA has announced a dedicated UK Receiving Center, opening later in 2026, which will let UK collectors submit domestically, pay in GBP, and avoid the cross-border customs wait entirely.
  • ACE Grading — UK-based from the start, with by far the widest spread of turnaround options, from budget membership tiers stretching past three months to a 2-day "Luxury" service. Fairly good for UK collectors who want a quick sale. Ace slabs aren't considered investment criteria and the insurance scandals have left some users feeling uncertain about their future.
  • CGC — also grades from a UK operation, with a flat set of tiers based on card value rather than turnaround speed, and one of the more transparent published fee structures of the three. See our dedicated PSA vs CGC comparison for more on how the two stack up head to head.

Pricing at a glance

Prices below are per card and pulled from each company's own published rate cards — always check the grader's site directly before submitting, as pricing and tiers change.

PSA (priced in USD)

A UK submitter currently also factors in international shipping and customs, though this changes once the UK Receiving Center opens.

  • Regular — $79.99, ~40–50 business days, cards insured up to $1,500
  • Express — $149, ~20–30 business days, insured up to $2,500
  • Super Express — $349, ~7–10 business days, insured up to $5,000
  • Walk-Through — $599, ~5–7 business days, insured up to $10,000
  • Premium tiers run from roughly $999 up to $9,999+ for higher-value cards

ACE Grading (priced in GBP, UK-based submission)

  • Core / Value (AceSelect members only) — £12–£15, ~75–95 business days
  • Basic — £18, ~45 business days
  • Standard — £25, ~25 business days
  • Premier — £32, ~10 business days
  • Ultra — £60, ~5 business days
  • Luxury — £120, ~2 business days

CGC (priced in GBP, UK-based submission)

All tiers currently quoted at roughly a 50-day turnaround.

  • Bulk — £16.80, cards valued up to £400 (25-card minimum)
  • Economy — £19, up to £800
  • Standard — £54, up to £2,500
  • Express — £96, up to £8,000
  • WalkThrough — £288, up to £80,000
  • Unlimited Value — £288 + 1.2% of fair market value

What this means if you're buying, not submitting

Most visitors landing on this page aren't about to post a card off — they're trying to work out what they're looking at on a listing. A few things worth knowing when you're comparing graded cards from different companies side by side:

  • A grade isn't directly comparable across companies. A PSA 9 and an ACE 9 aren't guaranteed to reflect identical centering, surface and edge standards — each company grades to its own internal scale.
  • PSA's grading population reports and long track record generally command the strongest resale premiums, particularly on vintage and high-value cards, but that gap has been narrowing as ACE and CGC build up their own track records in the UK market.
  • Slab quality, label options and holder security are worth comparing too, not just the number on the label — this matters if you plan to resell later.

Every graded card in our Graded Cards collection lists the grading company and grade clearly, so you can compare like for like.

Is your card worth grading before you sell it?

Not every card clears the bar — condition and demand decide that more than which company you'd pick. Our Grading & Condition Guide walks through how to check before you spend on submission fees.

Thinking about getting your own cards graded?

We're building our own invite-only grading service for collectors — register your interest here to hear when spots open up.

FAQ

Is PSA still the best grading company for Pokémon cards?

PSA remains the most recognised name and, historically, the strongest for resale value on high-end and vintage cards. ACE and CGC have closed the gap considerably in the UK market, particularly on turnaround time and price.

Can I submit to PSA from the UK?

Yes, though historically this has meant shipping to the US and covering international postage and customs handling. PSA has announced a UK Receiving Center due to open later in 2026, which is expected to simplify this significantly for UK submitters.

Which grading company is cheapest?

On list pricing, ACE Grading's membership-only Core and Value tiers and CGC's Bulk/Economy tiers are the least expensive per card, though both require a membership or bulk minimum to access those rates.

Which grading company is fastest?

ACE Grading's Luxury tier (2 business days) and Ultra tier (5 business days) are the fastest currently published turnaround times among the three, at a premium price point.

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