UK Card Grading in 2026: TFG vs PSA, CGC, Beckett, and Other UK Graders
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By Jordan
Published 02-07-2026 00:00:00
If you collect Pokémon, sports cards, or TCG cards in the UK, choosing a grading company is harder than it used to be. You are no longer picking only between sending cards to the USA or grading at home - you can compare TFG, PSA, CGC, Beckett (BGS), and a growing list of UK graders including ACE, Majesty, Get Graded, Pokegrade, and SSINT, plus international options like TAG (check current availability before submitting).
So which one should you use? The honest answer: it depends where you sell, what you grade, and whether speed or slab brand matters more.
In this article we summarise what UK collectors should know in 2026 - and link to our full comparison guide with tables for all major services.
Read the full guide: Card Grading Comparison - TFG vs PSA, CGC, Beckett & UK Graders
UK graders vs international graders
The first split is simple:
| UK-based | International (mainly USA) | |
|---|---|---|
| Examples | TFG, ACE, Majesty, Get Graded, Pokegrade, SSINT | PSA, CGC*, Beckett (BGS), TAG† |
| Currency | GBP | Typically USD (GBP via UK office or dealer where noted) |
| Shipping from UK | Domestic post | International courier both ways*; CGC via UK office is domestic |
| UK import VAT on return | No | Possible on US-bound submissions; no via CGC UK office |
| Best when | UK selling, speed, cost control | US/global brand premium |
*CGC is US-headquartered but operates a UK office (London) that accepts direct UK submissions in GBP - no transatlantic shipping and no import VAT on return. US-bound CGC submissions carry the same international shipping and customs considerations as PSA.
PSA no longer accepts direct submissions from the UK. Since US tariff rules changed in April 2025, UK collectors must go through a PSA Authorised Dealer (middleman) service, which adds handling fees on top of PSA's own pricing.
†TAG core submissions were closed as of July 2026 on both direct and UK dealer routes. Check taggrading.com before planning a submission.
International graders are not automatically "better" - they are often better recognised globally, especially PSA and Beckett. UK graders win on convenience, total cost, and turnaround for collectors who sell locally.
The grading fee is not the full cost
For PSA, Beckett, TAG (when open), and US-bound CGC submissions, the USD grading fee is only part of the story. From the UK you typically also pay:
- International courier outbound and return (often £30-£60+ per shipment)
- Insurance for valuable cards
- Possible UK import VAT and customs when slabs come back
- FX on card payments
- For PSA: the Authorised Dealer's handling fee on top, since direct UK submissions are paused
CGC via its UK office is different: pricing is in GBP from the London office (from roughly £27 + VAT per card on Modern Bulk, minimum 25 cards, July 2026), with domestic postage and no customs loop on return.
UK graders - TFG, ACE, Majesty, Get Graded, Pokegrade, SSINT - price in GBP with domestic postage. No customs loop.
TFG starts at £10 per card (Economy, minimum 3 cards). See all tiers on our grading services page.
A worked example: a 10-card TFG Economy submission costs £95 in grading fees once the automatic bulk discount is applied - roughly £100-£110 all-in with tracked domestic postage, back within 30 business days. The same 10 cards sent to PSA via a UK dealer at around £22-£23 per card (July 2026, when Value-level dealer tiers are open) run roughly £240-£250 all-in, with a realistic total wait of six months or more. PSA paused its own Value-level services in mid-2026 amid a backlog of roughly 14 million cards, and several dealers periodically close their cheapest tiers - always check availability before you submit.
Turnaround: weeks at home vs months away
TFG turnaround by tier:
| Service | Price | Est. turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Economy | £10/card | Up to 30 business days |
| Standard | £15/card | Up to 15 business days |
| Express | £30/card | Up to 7 business days |
| Report | £30/card | Up to 15 business days |
Other UK graders publish their own timelines - entry tiers run from Get Graded's 15-20 business days and SSINT's 20 days, through Pokegrade's 30 days and Majesty Bronze's 2-8 weeks, up to ACE Basic at up to 80 working days. Faster paid tiers are available at every UK grader.
International graders add transit both ways and customs on top of their stated queue time. PSA via a UK dealer currently quotes 140-160+ business days before slabs return. Beckett entry tiers run 75+ business days before transit. CGC via its UK office is typically 4-8 weeks with no transatlantic leg. TAG was closed to new submissions from the UK as of July 2026. From the UK, cards sent overseas are often away for months, not weeks.
Grading scales and sub-grades
All serious graders assess centering, corners, edges, and surface. Labels differ:
- PSA - 1-10, single overall grade, no sub-grades
- CGC - 1-10 with half-points; sub-grades as a paid add-on
- Beckett (BGS) - 1-10 with sub-grades on the label; famous for Black Label 10s
- TAG - 1-10 (plus 10 Pristine) built from a 1,000-point score; sub-grades in a digital report (submissions closed July 2026 - check availability)
- TFG - 1-9, Bravo 10, Alpha 10, plus sub-grades on every card
- ACE - 1-10; condition detail shown in the online dashboard
- Majesty (MGC) - 1-10; no sub-grades, digital cert lookup on every slab
- Get Graded - 1-10; sub-grades as an optional add-on (roughly £3-£4 per card)
- Pokegrade (PG) - 1-10; sub-grades included on every card, with a report linked from the label QR code
- SSINT - 1-10; condition detail via digital defect reports
There is no official grade conversion between companies. For PSA→TFG mapping, see our grading scale guide.
Who are you selling to?
This usually decides the grader.
PSA - strongest global brand; top choice when US buyers pay a PSA premium (sports, high-end Pokémon). From the UK, you must use a PSA Authorised Dealer - no direct submissions since April 2025. In 2026 PSA raised prices twice and paused its Value-level services amid a large backlog, so entry-level costs and wait times are volatile. Check dealer tier availability before you commit.
CGC - well recognised in TCG and comics crossover markets. Its UK office accepts direct submissions in GBP with domestic post and no import VAT on return - entry pricing from roughly £27 + VAT per card (Modern Bulk, minimum 25, July 2026). US-bound CGC submissions carry the same international shipping and customs costs as PSA.
Beckett (BGS) - strong globally; collectors who want sub-grades with international recognition. Beckett still accepts direct UK submissions, but small orders are expensive once return shipping is included; UK dealer services are often more practical.
TAG - technology-led grading with detailed digital reports. As of July 2026, TAG was closed to new submissions on every route from the UK. Worth comparing when reopening if you value scan-based condition reports over label sub-grades.
TFG - established UK grader (17,000+ cards graded, 4.8/5 on Trustpilot); strong for eBay UK, Vinted, and UK shows. Sub-grades on every label.
Pokegrade (PG) - Pokémon-focused UK specialist at a flat £13 per card, with sub-grades included as standard.
ACE - well-established UK grader known for its slab presentation and hand-drawn label art, with a wide range of speed tiers.
Majesty (MGC) - simple three-tier pricing and a rare ability to grade thick cards up to 180pt, including patch and memorabilia cards.
Get Graded - low-cost UK grading from £11 per card with no value-based upcharges and optional sub-grades.
SSINT - distinctive security-focused slabs with laser-engraved aluminium labels, from £9.99 per card.
Quick rules for UK collectors:
- Sell mainly in the UK → a UK grader (TFG, ACE, Majesty, Get Graded, Pokegrade, SSINT) is usually faster and cheaper
- Sell to US buyers who want PSA → consider PSA for those cards, via a UK Authorised Dealer (check tier availability first)
- Want a global TCG slab without transatlantic shipping → CGC via its UK office
- Want sub-grades without sending overseas → TFG or Pokegrade include them on every card; Beckett if the global BGS premium matters
- Pokémon-only UK focus → compare TFG, Pokegrade, and ACE
Quick snapshot
| TFG | PSA | CGC | Beckett | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Region | UK | USA | USA (UK office) | USA |
| GBP pricing from UK | Yes | Via UK dealer only | Yes (UK office) | Via UK dealer or direct USD |
| UK customs risk | No | Possible | No (via UK office) | Possible |
| Sub-grades on label | Yes | No | Optional add-on | Yes |
| Best for UK sellers | Strong | US premium plays | Global brand + UK route | Sub-grade + global |
UK alternatives (ACE, Majesty, Get Graded, Pokegrade, SSINT) all price in GBP with domestic post. Pokegrade includes sub-grades on every label; Get Graded offers them as an add-on; ACE, Majesty, and SSINT provide condition detail digitally rather than on the label.
For the full 10-company table, FAQs, and decision guide, see Card Grading Comparison.
Our take
UK collectors have real choice in 2026 - not just "send to PSA or leave cards raw."
We built Tree Frog Grading to offer professional, transparent grading at home: GBP pricing from £10 per card, sub-grades on every label, and turnaround from 7 business days - without customs or months in international post.
PSA, CGC, and Beckett remain the right call when global slab brand drives your sale price - PSA via a UK dealer when US buyers want PSA; CGC via its UK office when you want a recognised international slab without transatlantic shipping. ACE, Majesty, Get Graded, Pokegrade, and SSINT give UK collectors additional domestic options worth comparing on price and turnaround. The best grader is the one that fits your cards and your market - and our comparison guide is there to help you decide.
Ready to grade?
- View grading services & pricing
- Start a submission
- Card grading in the UK
- Full grading comparison guide
- What cards are worth grading
Published by Tree Frog Grading.