How to Grade Your Pokémon Cards (Step-by-Step Guide)

ByLucky John

Grading your Pokémon cards can massively increase their value — especially for high-demand cards like Charizard, Umbreon, or early WOTC holos.

This guide walks you through the full process of preparing and submitting your cards to PSA, CGC, or Beckett — with tips to protect your cards and avoid common mistakes.

🧐 Why Grade Pokémon Cards?

  • ✅ Authentication – Proven real
  • ✅ Condition verified – Surface, corners, edges, centering
  • ✅ Preserved value – Slabs protect cards long-term
  • ✅ Increased resale value – Especially for high grades (PSA 9, PSA 10)

🧰 What You’ll Need

  • Soft sleeves (penny sleeves)
  • Semi-rigid card holders (e.g., Card Savers)
  • Microfiber cloth (for gently removing dust)
  • Submission form (from PSA, CGC, or Beckett’s site)
  • Shipping supplies (box, padding, tracking number)

Card Saver vs Toploader

🧼 Step 1: Prep Your Cards

  1. Clean gently using a microfiber cloth (no moisture)
  2. Check for visible flaws:
    • Scratches
    • Whitening on edges
    • Print lines or dents
  3. Slide into a soft sleeve
  4. Insert sleeved card into a semi-rigid card holder

✅ Avoid toploaders — PSA and CGC prefer semi-rigid holders like Card Saver 1s.

📝 Step 2: Choose a Grading Company

🥇 PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator)

  • Most popular & highest resale value
  • PSA 10 = Gold standard
  • psacard.com

🥈 CGC (Certified Guaranty Company)

  • Slightly faster turnaround
  • Clean, modern slabs
  • cgccards.com

🥉 Beckett (BGS)

  • Known for subgrades (center, edges, etc.)
  • Black Label BGS 10 = extremely rare
  • beckett.com/grading

💸 Step 3: Select Service Level

Pricing varies based on:

  • Declared value
  • Speed
  • Bulk vs. single submissions

Example (PSA, as of 2025):

  • Value Tier (bulk, slow): ~$20/card
  • Regular Tier (faster): ~$40–75/card

🧠 Most collectors use the Value or Economy tiers for non-holy grails.

📨 Step 4: Fill Out Submission Form

Each grading site has an online portal:

  • Select your service level
  • Enter card details, shipping address, and payment
  • Print and include the packing slip

📄 Some services require prepaid return shipping, others bill later.

📦 Step 5: Ship Your Cards

  1. Pack securely with bubble wrap
  2. Use a sturdy box, not an envelope
  3. Add return label if needed
  4. Ship via tracked & insured service

How to Pack a Grading Submission

🛡️ For cards worth $500+, strongly consider insurance.

⏳ Step 6: Wait for Grades

  • PSA: ~1–2 months (Value tier)
  • CGC: Often 2–4 weeks
  • Beckett: Varies; typically longer

You’ll get an email with your grades and a tracking number when they ship back.

🔍 Bonus: What Grades Mean (PSA Scale)

Grade Description
PSA 10 Gem Mint — virtually perfect
PSA 9 Mint — very minor flaw or print line
PSA 8 NM-Mint — small wear on edge/corner
PSA 7↓ Flaws like whitening, dents, or scratches

📉 Anything below PSA 8 can dramatically reduce resale value.

🧠 Pro Tips

🔗 Related Reading

💬 Final Thoughts

Grading is one of the best ways to protect and enhance your Pokémon card collection — especially for iconic cards from Base Set, Neo Genesis, Evolving Skies, and modern alt-arts.

Take your time prepping, pick the right tier, and you’ll be holding slabs that are display-worthy — or ready for resale.

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