Both TGA and BGS use a numeric grading scale with subgrades, but the details underneath that similarity differ enough to matter when deciding where to send your cards. TGA is a Canadian company based in Surrey, British Columbia, while BGS operates through Beckett's established, long-running infrastructure.
Collectors already holding BGS-graded cards, or considering a first submission to either company, benefit from understanding exactly where the two diverge.
Here's a practical comparison.
None of this requires prior grading experience to follow, and the same considerations apply whether you're new to grading or switching companies.
TGA's scale runs 1-10 with half-point increments throughout, alongside four subgrades per card. Grading scales and subgrade methodologies vary by company, so comparing exact numeric equivalents between TGA and BGS requires checking each company's current published standards directly.
What matters most for most collectors is understanding one scale well rather than assuming direct equivalency between different companies' numbers.
Both TGA and BGS place real emphasis on subgrades alongside the overall numeric grade, breaking condition down into centering, surface, corners, and edges. This detailed approach helps collectors understand exactly why a card landed at a particular grade rather than just seeing a single number.
For collectors who care about the story behind a grade, not just the headline number, this shared approach is a meaningful similarity between the two.
Slabs from different grading companies often have slightly different dimensions, so matching your protective gear to the right slab matters. EVORETRO's Graded Card Sleeves for Beckett are sized specifically for BGS slabs.
For BGS-specific protection, EVORETRO's Bumper for BGS Slabs adds a layer of drop protection.
TGA's Surrey, British Columbia base gives Canadian collectors a domestic shipping option, avoiding the cross-border logistics that come with submitting to companies based elsewhere. That convenience factor is independent of grading quality but genuinely affects the overall submission experience.
Confirming current shipping requirements and any regional considerations directly with either company before submitting avoids surprises.
TGA's tiered system gives collectors a clear choice between $15 Value Price grading and $50 Same Day service based on speed and volume needs. Fee structures across the broader grading industry vary and shift over time, so checking current pricing directly with each company remains the most reliable approach.
Having four distinct tiers gives TGA submitters more granular control over the cost-versus-speed tradeoff than a single flat rate would.
Collectors already holding a BGS-graded collection may have practical reasons to stay consistent with that company for future submissions, while newer collectors or those specifically drawn to a Canadian domestic option may lean toward TGA. Neither choice is wrong on its own.
Checking which cards and games each company currently accepts for grading is worth doing before committing either way.
Buyer familiarity with a grading company's slab and labeling can influence how quickly a card sells and at what price, since some buyers gravitate toward companies they already trust and recognize. This is a real, if somewhat subjective, factor worth weighing alongside the more concrete pricing and shipping considerations covered above.
Newer or regionally focused grading companies may see this recognition grow over time as more collectors become familiar with their standards and reputation.
Many experienced collectors end up using more than one grading company depending on the specific card and circumstance, rather than committing exclusively to a single grader for every submission. A vintage sports card might go to one company while a fresh TCG chase pull goes to another, based on turnaround needs or accepted categories.
There's nothing wrong with this mixed approach, and it can actually be the most practical way to match each submission to the right grader for that specific situation.
Both use numeric scales with subgrades, though exact methodologies differ by company.
TGA's Surrey, B.C. base offers a domestic shipping option.
Yes, both assign subgrades for centering, surface, corners, and edges.
That depends on your priorities around shipping, pricing, and grading consistency.
Yes, matching your display and storage products to the specific company's slab size matters.
Both companies offer legitimate paths to a professionally graded card. Browse EVORETRO's graded card accessories collection to prep for either, and remember that using more than one grading company across your collection is a perfectly normal approach.
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