Pokémon card grading in the UK: PSA vs ACE vs Imperium
For most UK collectors the choice comes down to this: PSA for high-value cards you may sell internationally, and a UK grader, ACE or Imperium, for everything else. ACE and Imperium quote in pounds, include subgrades and avoid shipping cards abroad. Imperium starts at £12 a card and code ICONIC takes 5% off.
Key facts
- Prices on this page were checked on the graders' own websites on 28 September 2026 and do change.
- Imperium Grading (UK): Bronze £12, Silver £15, Gold £25, Platinum £35 per card; Red Label for a perfect card needs a 10 on every subgrade and 51/49 centering.
- ACE Grading (UK): Basic £18 (30 business days) to Luxury £120 (2 business days), with Core £12 and Value £15 for AceSelect members.
- PSA is US-based; UK collectors usually submit through an official PSA dealer.
- ACE and Imperium include subgrades; PSA gives one overall grade.
- Code ICONIC gives 5% off Imperium Grading submissions.
What does grading actually do?
A grading company checks that a card is genuine, assesses its condition, gives it a grade (usually on a 1–10 scale) and seals it in a tamper-evident plastic case, known as a slab, with a label and certificate number. The grade is based on four things: centering, corners, edges and surface. A graded card is easier to sell, harder to fake and better protected than a raw one.
Grading only pays for itself when the graded card is worth clearly more than the raw card plus the fee and postage both ways. Our checklist on how to prepare cards for grading covers what to check before you send anything.
PSA vs ACE vs Imperium at a glance
| PSA | ACE Grading | Imperium Grading | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Based | USA (European facility in Frankfurt) | UK | UK |
| How UK collectors submit | Usually through an official UK dealer | Direct, online account | Direct, online account |
| Cheapest per-card price (28 Sept 2026) | Quoted in US dollars; dealer fees extra | £18 Basic (£12 Core for AceSelect members) | £12 Bronze (five-card minimum) |
| Fastest tier | Premium tiers, at a steep price | Luxury, £120, 2 business days | Platinum, £35, 1–2 business days |
| Subgrades | No, one overall grade | Yes: corners, edges, surface, plus centering | Yes, with a report including defect photos and centering |
| Games | Pokémon and most other TCGs | Pokémon and other TCGs | Pokémon, One Piece, Disney Lorcana and Dragon Ball Z |
PSA: the biggest name, the longest route
PSA is the largest grading company in the world, and PSA 10s of chase cards generally sell for more than equivalent grades from anyone else. That resale premium is the main reason to use it, and it matters most on expensive cards: vintage holos, modern Special Illustration Rares and anything you expect to sell to an international buyer.
For a UK collector it is also the slowest and least predictable route. PSA opened a grading facility in Frankfurt in 2026, but its direct European service is aimed at EU countries, and the UK is not in the EU. Most UK submissions therefore go through an official PSA dealer, who groups cards together, ships them and deals with customs. The dealer charges its own fee on top of PSA's, and PSA's prices are set in US dollars and restructured several times during 2026. Check the current price with your dealer before you commit, and ask how they handle import VAT on the way back.
ACE Grading: UK-based with detailed subgrades
ACE is a UK grading company that grades cards on a whole-number 1–10 scale and includes free subgrades for corners, edges and surface, with centering measured on the front and back. A Gem Mint 10 needs centering better than 60/40. Its prices per card, from its own pricing page on 28 September 2026:
| ACE tier | Price per card | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Core (AceSelect members only) | £12 | 75 business days |
| Value (AceSelect members only) | £15 | 60 business days |
| Basic | £18 | 30 business days |
| Standard | £25 | 15 business days |
| Premier | £32 | 10 business days |
| Ultra | £60 | 5 business days |
| Luxury | £120 | 2 business days |
Labels and shipping are extra: the standard label is free, and colour-match and art labels cost more. Some third-party websites still quote older ACE prices, so go by ACE's own site.
Imperium Grading: UK-based, fast and cheap at volume
Imperium is a UK grader covering Pokémon, One Piece, Disney Lorcana and Dragon Ball Z. Every card comes with a report showing subgrades, defect photos and centering figures, and a QR code linking to its certificate database. Its top label, the Red Label, is reserved for cards scoring a 10 on every subgrade with 51/49 centering or better. Its tiers on 28 September 2026:
| Imperium tier | Price per card | Turnaround | Minimum cards |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bronze | £12 | 15–30 business days | 5 |
| Silver | £15 | 10–15 business days | 3 |
| Gold | £25 | 3–5 business days | 1 |
| Platinum | £35 | 1–2 business days | 1 |
Art labels cost £3 extra per card. Iconic Trading Cards is an Imperium partner: enter code ICONIC when you submit to take 5% off. The Imperium Grading discount code page shows every tier with the discount worked out.
Which grader should you use?
- A high-value card you may sell abroad: PSA, accepting the dealer fee and the wait.
- A batch of modern hits for your own collection: Imperium Bronze or ACE Basic keeps the cost per card low, with subgrades that tell you exactly why a card missed a 10.
- A card you need back quickly, for a show or a sale: Imperium Platinum (1–2 business days) or ACE's faster tiers, without the international shipping.
- One Piece or Lorcana cards: both UK graders take them. Imperium lists One Piece and Lorcana by name.
Whichever you choose, the card has to be worth it. A common with a scuffed corner will not pay back any fee, however cheap. The cards collectors most often grade are Illustration Rares, Special Illustration Rares, full arts and vintage holos in excellent condition. Browse our in-stock Pokémon singles and Disney Lorcana singles if you are looking for a card to send off. If you are unsure what the rarity on a card means, our guide to Pokémon rarity symbols explains each one.
Frequently asked questions
Which grading company is best for Pokémon cards in the UK?
It depends on the card. PSA slabs usually command the highest resale prices for high-value vintage and modern chase cards, but UK collectors normally submit through a dealer and wait longer. ACE and Imperium are UK-based, quote in pounds, return cards without international shipping and include subgrades, which makes them the practical choice for most modern cards and personal collections.
How much does it cost to grade a Pokémon card in the UK?
As of 28 September 2026, Imperium starts at £12 a card (Bronze, five-card minimum) and ACE at £18 a card on its Basic tier, with cheaper ACE tiers for AceSelect members. PSA prices are in US dollars and change often; UK dealers add their own fees on top. Always add return postage and insurance.
Can I send cards to PSA directly from the UK?
PSA opened a European facility in Frankfurt in 2026, but its direct European service is aimed at EU countries, and the UK is not in the EU. Most UK collectors use an official PSA dealer, who groups submissions and handles the shipping and customs paperwork.
Is there a discount code for Imperium Grading?
Yes. Code ICONIC takes 5% off an Imperium Grading submission. Our Imperium Grading discount code page lists every tier with the discount applied.
Do UK graders give subgrades?
Yes. ACE includes subgrades for corners, edges and surface with centering measured front and back, and Imperium includes a report with subgrades, defect photos and centering figures on every card. PSA gives a single overall grade.