PSA vs CGC vs ACE: which grading company for Lorcana?

Grading turns a raw Lorcana card into a sealed, authenticated slab with a number on it, and that number can change what a card sells for. But grading costs money and time, and the "right" company depends on where you live, what you're grading, and where you plan to sell. Before you grade Lorcana cards, here's an honest look at the three names that come up most: PSA, CGC and ACE.

What grading actually does

A grading company checks a card is genuine, then scores its condition — centring, corners, edges and surface — usually on a 1 to 10 scale. A high grade on a scarce card can add a real premium over the raw price; a low grade rarely does. Grading doesn't make a common card valuable. It mostly matters on cards that are already sought after, which is why it pays to know which Lorcana cards are actually worth money before you spend anything.

PSA

PSA is the most globally recognised name and typically carries the biggest resale premium, especially with international and US buyers. That recognition is the main reason people choose it. The trade-offs are cost and turnaround, historically higher and slower than the alternatives, and for UK submitters there's the added friction of shipping to and from the US (postage, insurance, customs). If your endgame is selling into the US market, that premium can still be worth it.

CGC

CGC is well established in trading cards and popular with the TCG crowd. It offers subgrades — separate scores for centring, corners, edges and surface — which some collectors like for transparency. Pricing and turnaround are often more competitive than PSA, and it has a strong following, though on some cards the resale premium sits a little below PSA. In the PSA vs CGC Lorcana debate, CGC tends to be the balanced middle ground.

ACE

ACE is UK-based, which is its main advantage for British collectors: no transatlantic postage, usually quicker turnaround, lower cost and prices in pounds. The catch is recognition — ACE slabs are gaining ground in the UK but don't yet command the same international premium as PSA. If you're grading cards to keep, or selling mainly to UK buyers, that gap matters far less.

So which is best for Lorcana?

There's no single best grading company for Lorcana — it's a trade-off between resale premium, speed, cost and where your buyers are. Roughly: PSA for maximum resale and US sales, CGC as a balanced all-rounder with subgrades, and ACE for fast, affordable UK grading. TCGHits also works with an affiliated grading partner, Calibre Grading, if you'd rather keep the process closer to home. We're a price-intelligence site, not the grader ourselves.

Does grading pay off?

Only sometimes. The premium has to beat the grading fee, postage and the risk of a lower-than-hoped grade. The way to check is realised sold prices — graded versus raw — not asking prices. Our Grade & Flip tool compares recent graded and ungraded sold data side by side, so you can see whether a specific card clears the cost of grading before you commit. When you're ready to move a card on, our guide to selling Lorcana cards covers where and how, and if you're still weighing it up, should you grade your Lorcana cards walks through the decision.

These are market prices, not valuations, and none of this is investment advice.

See whether a card is worth grading before you pay a penny — check it with Grade & Flip on TCGHits.