TAG vs PSA: how the two grading companies compare
PSA gives a card one grade from 1 to 10. TAG scores it on a 1000-point scale that maps to a 1–10 grade and returns a digital report of every defect it found. Across the most valuable Pokémon cards in the Cardinal catalog, a TAG 10 typically sells for 96% of a PSA 10 of the same card — though far fewer cards have TAG prices, so treat that as approximate.
Updated 2026-10-18 · Standards from taggrading.com and psacard.com · Prices from the Cardinal catalog as of 2026-10-16
The differences that matter.
| TAG | PSA | |
|---|---|---|
| Scale | 1000-point score mapped to 1–10; Pristine 10 (990–1000) above Gem Mint 10 (950–989) | 1–10; Gem Mint 10 is the top grade |
| Half grades | On every level except between 9 and 10 — no 9.5 | 2.5 to 8.5 (and 1.5) — no 9.5 |
| What you get back | A DIG report with every card: imaging plus the defects found, by corners, edges, centering and surface | The grade; written grader notes at higher service levels |
| Verification | QR code, cert search, and a Proof Mark on the slab back | Cert lookup and the PSA app |
| Eligibility | Currently excludes Yu-Gi-Oh!, pre-1989 cards and cards over 50pt | Broad |
What the slabs sell for.
On cards with both prices, a TAG 10 typically sells for 96% of a PSA 10 (173 cards) and a TAG 9 for 90% of a PSA 9 (250 cards). TAG prices are thinner than PSA's, and the comparison mixes market sources, so small differences mean little.
Which to choose
PSA's population report and cert lookup are what most buyers check, which matters when you plan to sell. TAG's report shows exactly why a card got its grade, which some collectors prefer for cards they keep. Check TAG's eligibility and current capacity before you choose it — its value tiers were paused through much of 2026.
Whichever you choose, the grade your copy can reach decides whether grading pays. Cardinal's pre-grade reads the four attributes both companies score. For PSA vs CGC, BGS and SGC, see PSA vs CGC.
- TAG: scale, DIG report, verification, submissions
- PSA: grading standards, FAQ
TAG or PSA for your card?
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