How to Prepare Cards for a Grading Submission
Quick answer
Before submitting, pre-grade and pick the cards, protect each one in a soft sleeve and a rigid holder if the company allows it, complete the submission paperwork accurately, pack securely and insure the shipment. Always follow the grading company's own packing instructions, which can change.
The order of operations
Preparation starts long before you tape a box shut.
- Pre-grade and select. Pick the cards that pass a pre-grade and clear the economics.
- Choose a company and service level. Match the tier to the declared value and timeline.
- Protect each card.
- Complete the paperwork.
- Pack and insure.
- Track the shipment.
Protecting the cards
Corners and edges are the most vulnerable parts of a card in transit. The usual approach:
- a soft sleeve around each card
- a rigid or semi-rigid holder around the sleeved card if the company's instructions allow it
- no loose cards in a box
Check the grading company's current packing rules. They publish specific instructions on acceptable holders and how to arrange cards, and those rules can change.
Do not alter anything
Do not clean, press, trim, recolor or otherwise improve a card. PSA lists evidence of trimming, restoration, recoloration, cleaning and altered stock among its no-grade reasons. For several of them, the grading fee still applies. See no-grade codes.
The paperwork
- Accuracy: list each card correctly, with year, set, player or character and card number.
- Declared value: declare honestly. It affects the tier and the insurance.
- Service level: choose the tier that fits the highest declared value in the batch, or split the batch.
- Options: read the optional services and make sure you want each one.
Packing the box
- Stack the protected cards so they cannot slide.
- Add rigid backing at the top and bottom of the stack.
- Fill voids so the stack does not move inside the box.
- Use a sturdy outer box and seal all seams.
- Insure the shipment for the declared value, and use tracking.
After you ship
Keep your tracking number and a copy of the submission form. Photograph the cards before you send them, so you have a record of their condition and a baseline if something goes wrong. A set of clear photos taken for a pre-grade doubles as that record.
Avoiding the usual mistakes
See common grading mistakes for the broader list, and grading costs and budgeting for the full cost picture.
Frequently asked questions
How should I pack cards for grading?
Follow the grading company's current instructions. In general, each card goes in a soft sleeve and a rigid or semi-rigid holder, the stack is secured so it cannot move, and the box is padded and insured.
Should I clean my cards before submitting?
No. Cleaning or altering a card can lead to a no-grade result, and PSA states the fee can still apply.
Should I declare the real value?
Yes. Declared value affects the service level you need and your insurance, so under-declaring to save money can cause problems.
Before you pay for grading
Put your card through the same tests, free.
Before The Grade turns the grading companies' published standards into measurable checks. Upload the front and back of a card and get a condition report that shows every measurement and every flaw it found, so you can judge the prediction yourself. 1 free report when you confirm your email.
Grading companies revise their standards and service levels. Figures here reflect what each company has published at the time of writing, so confirm details on the company's own site before you submit. Before The Grade is independent and is not affiliated with PSA, BGS, CGC or SGC.