Two grading companies, two different 10-point scales, and two very different label designs. If you’re deciding where to send a Pokemon card — or trying to work out what a slab you already own actually says about the card inside it — the details that matter are published, dated, and different enough between PSA and CGC Cards that they’re worth reading side by side rather than taking on faith.
This guide sets PSA’s and CGC’s own published grading standards next to each other: top grades, centering tolerances, sub-grade policy, slab and label design, and whether each company grades Japanese-language cards at all. Every figure below is quoted or sourced directly from psacard.com or cgccards.com, checked in September 2026; where we convert our own prices to USD, we use ¥159/USD (September 2026) throughout this article. We don’t rank the two companies against each other — we lay out what each one actually publishes so you can judge for yourself.
PSA’s top grade is GEM-MT 10; CGC Cards currently issues two top grades, Pristine 10 and Gem Mint 10. Both companies publish the same centering tolerance for their standard Gem Mint/PSA 10 tier — approximately 55/45 front, 75/25 back — though that shared number doesn’t make the two grades interchangeable. Every graded card we currently list, including the PSA10 MEGA Lopunny ex 114/080 SAR, is a PSA 10.
The Two Grading Scales Side by Side
Both companies use a 10-point scale, but the way each one subdivides that scale is different enough to catch out anyone comparing a number without checking the label.
| Unternehmen | Top grade(s) | Named tiers | Half-grades | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | GEM-MT 10 | 11 (10 down to 1) | Only one, at 1.5 (between Poor 1 and Good 2) | psacard.com/gradingstandards |
| CGC Cards | Pristine 10 and Gem Mint 10 | 20 (two tens, then 9.5 down to 1) | Every half-step from 9.5 to 1.5 | cgccards.com/card-grading/grading-scale |
PSA’s page states the structure plainly: „Grading is assessing the quality and condition of a trading card using PSA’s 10-point grading scale,“ and „If your cards pass authentication, PSA grades the condition of each card on a scale of 1-10, with 10 being best.“ The named tiers below the top grade — MINT 9, NM-MT 8, NM 7, EX-MT 6, EX 5, VG-EX 4, VG 3, GOOD 2, FR 1.5, PR 1 — appear on PSA’s site, though only the GEM-MT 10 definition came back as a direct verbatim quote on this check; treat the lower tiers as PSA’s published labels rather than a fully re-confirmed standard.
CGC Cards runs a denser scale. Its own page describes it as a „highly accurate 10-point grading scale,“ but that single top number splits into two named grades — Pristine 10 and Gem Mint 10 — and every step down to Poor 1 has a half-grade: Mint+ 9.5, NM/Mint+ 8.5, Near Mint+ 7.5, Ex/NM+ 6.5, Excellent+ 5.5, VG/Ex+ 4.5, Very Good+ 3.5 and Good+ 2.5, on top of Fair 1.5. That gives CGC 20 named tiers against PSA’s 11.
One historical wrinkle worth knowing if you’re reading older CGC slabs: the brand’s Legacy Grade Key states „CGC Trading Cards Gem Mint 9.5 → CGC Cards Gem Mint 10“ and lists the older „CGC Trading Cards Perfect 10“ label as a retired grade — it is not part of today’s active scale, though cards already holding that legacy label keep it. The same update folded the separate CSG (Certified Sports Guaranty) scale into the same CGC Cards numbers.
Grading fees, as published on psacard.com in September 2026: PSA’s current published tiers are Regular at $79.99/card (up to $1,500 insured value, an estimated 70–80 business days), Express at $149.00 (up to $2,500 insured value, 20–30 days), Super Express at $349.00 (up to $5,000 insured value, 10–15 days), and Walk-Through at $599.00 (up to $10,000 insured value, 7–10 days); the page directs cards worth more than $10,000 to separate Premium options without listing a fixed price or turnaround for those. PSA’s page also currently flags Value-tier services (its lower-cost bracket) as temporarily paused due to demand, so treat the entry-level Regular rate above as a live status rather than a fixed floor. CGC’s figures come from a fee announcement posted 2025-04-22, effective 2025-05-06: Bulk $14, Economy $17, Standard $45, Express $85, Walk-Through $275, and Unlimited Value at $275 plus 1% of declared value; CGC’s site also gives per-tier value ceilings (Bulk up to $500/card in a 25-card minimum batch, Economy up to $1,000, Standard up to $3,000, Express up to $10,000, Walk-Through up to $100,000) but does not publish turnaround days for these tiers.
Slabs, Labels and Sub-Grades
Neither company publishes numeric sub-grades for corners, edges, surface and centering the way some collectors expect. PSA’s card-grading page describes optional written „Grader Notes that detail card defects“ on Express-tier submissions and above — a note, not a number. CGC’s holder and label page describes a single overall numeric grade plus an optional autograph grade and pedigree note, with no published numeric breakdown by category either.
Where the two differ is the slab itself. PSA’s page states: „PSA encapsulates each card in its own sonically sealed, tamper-evident case. The card’s grade and certification number are displayed on the PSA LightHouse™ label.“
CGC’s holder is built around anti-counterfeiting features rather than a single security-seal claim: „The CGC Cards holder and label combine enhanced security features, crystal-clear optics and the most advanced archival materials… the sturdy, ultrasonically-welded case resists impacts and tampering… the CGC Cards label features microprinting, UV ink, holographic foil and a unique certification number and barcode… a QR code enables you to quickly look up a card and its images.“ Cards graded Pristine 10 get a further distinct marker: CGC’s page notes it „provides a special Pristine 10 label, which identifies the card’s flawless condition.“
Centering, Surface, Edges, Corners: What Each Company Publishes
Centering is the one measurement both companies publish a specific number for at their top standard tier — and the two numbers happen to match.
PSA’s Gem Mint 10 standard: „The image must be centered on the card within a tolerance not to exceed approximately 55/45 percent on the front, and 75/25 percent on the reverse.“ PSA’s page also carries a centering note: „At the grader’s sole discretion, a small variance may be permitted on occasion based on the card’s overall eye appeal.“
CGC’s Gem Mint 10 tier publishes an identical figure — „Centering is not to exceed approximately 55/45, and reverse centering is not to exceed 75/25“ — while CGC’s Pristine 10 sets a tighter, exact requirement: „The centering is 50/50, and the card has flawless color and registration.“
PSA 10 and CGC Gem Mint 10 publish the same centering tolerance. That’s a match in one published measurement — it isn’t a statement that the two grades are interchangeable. Grading philosophy, population, and how each label is received by buyers weren’t part of what we verified here.
Beyond centering, neither company’s public grading-standards page spells out a separate numeric threshold for surface, edges and corners at the trading-card level the way it does for centering. CGC’s Mint 9 tier text specifically separates TCG cards from sports and non-sports cards: „For TCG cards, cards will have only a few minor manufacturing or handling defects. For sports and non-sports cards, centering must be 60/40 or better for the front of the card, and 90/10 for the back.“ That 60/40 / 90/10 figure applies to sports and non-sports cards at Mint 9, not to Pokemon or other TCG cards — CGC does not publish a separate numeric front/back centering percentage for TCG cards at that tier.
Do They Grade Japanese Cards?
Yes, both companies grade Japanese-language Pokemon cards — and CGC says so explicitly, while PSA’s evidence is in its own population data.
CGC’s statement is direct: „CGC Trading Cards now grades all standard-sized Pokemon TCG cards in all languages. All standard-sized Pokemon cards in all languages are now eligible to be graded by CGC Trading Cards.“ The same announcement adds a caveat worth knowing before submitting: „Some foreign promo cards may be rejected if CGC Trading Cards is not able to discern their origins.“
PSA doesn’t publish an equivalent policy statement, but its own Population Report maintains dedicated categories for Japanese-language Pokemon sets — separate listings for Japanese Scarlet & Violet promos, Japanese Sword & Shield Battle Region, and Japanese 1998–99 promos, among others. That’s direct evidence PSA catalogues and grades Japanese-language cards as a matter of course; we’re citing the existence of those categories, not the population counts inside them, which aren’t a market or rarity signal on their own.
For a closer look at what a PSA 10 designation means in practice on a Japanese card, see our PSA 10 meaning and grading scale guide.
Why Our Catalogue Is PSA 10 Only
This is a store fact rather than a recommendation: every graded card currently listed on samuraiswordtokyo.com is a PSA 10. Every graded-card product title on the site begins with „PSA10“ — the catalogue carries no CGC-slabbed or other-grade PSA listings.
That’s simply what we stock today, not a claim that PSA grading outperforms CGC’s. If you’re comparing the two companies to decide where to submit your own cards, the published standards above are the same ones we’d point a customer to.
Buying Graded Japanese Cards from Tokyo
Every PSA 10 we carry ships from Tokyo with tracked delivery, and the current spread runs from under ¥10,000 to six figures.
| Band | Karte | Preis |
|---|---|---|
| Under ¥10,000 | MEGA Eelektross ex 235/193 SAR | ¥6,050 (~$38) |
| Under ¥10,000 | MEGA Lopunny ex 114/080 SAR | ¥7,502 (~$47) |
| ¥10k–30k | Enamorus V 088/071 CSR | ¥13,199 (~$83) |
| ¥10k–30k | Galarian Articuno V SR: SA [S5a 074/070] | ¥17,599 (~$111) |
| ¥10k–30k | M Sharpedo EX [XY 071/171] (The Best of XY) | ¥19,800 (~$125) |
| ¥30k–100k | Morty’s Conviction 097/071 SAR | ¥30,470 (~$192) |
| ¥30k–100k | Charmeleon C :1ED [CP3 004/032] (Pokekyun Collection) | ¥35,420 (~$223) |
| ¥100k+ | Zekrom 009/027 [CP2] | ¥100,488 (~$632) |
Browse the full run in our PSA 10 graded card collection, or build a mixed order — graded singles alongside sealed product — through Schnellbestellung. If you’re shortlisting cards or pricing a submission target rather than comparing grading companies, our best Japanese cards worth grading PSA picks list and PSA 10 price guide and buying checklist go deeper on cards and pricing than this comparison does. For the current top of our own price ladder, see the most expensive PSA 10 cards currently on our site.
Häufig gestellte Fragen
What is PSA’s top grade, and what is CGC’s?
PSA’s top grade is GEM-MT 10. CGC Cards currently issues two top-tier grades: Pristine 10 (exact 50/50 centering) and Gem Mint 10 (centering not exceeding approximately 55/45 front, 75/25 back).
Are PSA 10 and CGC Gem Mint 10 the same grade?
They publish the same centering tolerance — approximately 55/45 front, 75/25 back — at that tier. That’s a match in one published measurement, not confirmation that the grades are equivalent; grading philosophy, population size and market reception weren’t compared here.
Do PSA and CGC publish numeric sub-grades for corners, edges and surface?
No. PSA offers optional written Grader Notes on Express-tier submissions and above rather than numeric sub-grades. CGC issues a single overall numeric grade plus an optional autograph grade and pedigree note, with no published numeric breakdown by category.
Does CGC grade Japanese Pokemon cards?
Yes. CGC’s own announcement states it grades „all standard-sized Pokemon TCG cards in all languages,“ with a note that some foreign promo cards may be rejected if their origin can’t be confirmed.
Is „Perfect 10“ still a CGC grade?
No. CGC’s Legacy Grade Key lists „Perfect 10“ (from the earlier CGC Trading Cards and CSG scales) as a retired grade. Today’s top CGC grades are Pristine 10 and Gem Mint 10.
Does samuraiswordtokyo.com sell CGC-graded cards?
Not currently. Every graded card in our catalogue as of September 2026 is a PSA 10 — a catalogue fact, not a statement about which company grades better.
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