How to Grade Pokemon Cards: Complete 2026 Submission Guide

Grading a Pokemon card transforms it from a piece of cardboard into a certified, authenticated, liquid collectible. A PSA 10 Charizard ex from Obsidian Flames sells for 3-5x the price of the same card raw. But grading is not free, and not every card is worth grading. This guide walks through every step of the process in 2026, from pre-screening your cards to receiving your slabs in the mail.

The full process from eyeball inspection to slab in hand takes 3-8 weeks for standard tiers and up to 4+ months for economy/bulk tiers. The steps below apply to all four major grading companies — PSA, CGC, BGS, and TAG — with notes on where their requirements differ.

Step 1: Determine If Grading Is Worth It

Before you spend a dollar on grading fees, run the math. Grading is an investment, and like any investment, it should have a positive expected return. The formula is straightforward:

Example: You have a raw Charizard ex from Obsidian Flames. Raw NM price is $100. PSA 10 median sold price on eBay is $500. Grading fee is $25 (PSA Bulk). Shipping and supplies are $10.

• Net graded proceeds: $500 × 0.87 − $5 = $430
• Grading profit: $430 − ($100 + $25) = $305
• ROI: 244% — this is a strong grading candidate.

Now consider a $15 bulk rare. PSA 10 sells for $20. Grading fee is $25. The math: $20 × 0.87 − $5 = $12.40 net. Grading profit: $12.40 − ($15 + $25) = -$27.60. This card should not be graded.

Sentimental cards, authentication-only submissions, and cards you plan to keep long-term are exceptions to the math. If you are grading for your personal collection and do not intend to sell, the resale math matters less.

Step 2: Pre-Screen Your Cards

Pre-screening is the single most important step in the grading process. Over 70% of cards that come back at PSA 8 or lower could have been identified as non-candidates with careful home inspection. You need three tools: a 10x jeweler's loupe ($10-15 on Amazon), a bright desk lamp, and a centering measurement tool.

Check Centering First

Centering is the #1 reason Pokemon cards fail to achieve PSA 10. PSA requires 55/45 or better on the front and 75/25 or better on the back for a Gem Mint 10. BGS is stricter: 50/50 to 55/45 on the front for a 10.

To measure centering, use a centering tool app (several are available on iOS and Android) or a physical centering guide. Measure the border widths on all four sides. Calculate the ratio: wider border ÷ (wider border + narrower border) × 100. If the result is worse than 55/45 on either the left-right or top-bottom axis, the card is not a PSA 10 candidate.

PSA changed its front centering standard from 60/40 to 55/45 in 2025. Cards with certification numbers below approximately 100,000,000 were graded under the older, more lenient 60/40 standard. If you are using population reports as a guide, look for cards with higher certification numbers to understand current standards.

Inspect All Four Corners

Examine each corner under 10x magnification. You are looking for any whitening, fuzziness, rounding, dings, or bends. Even the slightest imperfection on one corner can drop a card from a 10 to a 9. A corner that looks razor-sharp to your naked eye can reveal micro-fraying under a loupe.

Corner wear is the most common issue on vintage cards. Cards that were played with or stored loosely in the 1990s almost always have some corner wear. Pack-fresh modern cards are more likely to have sharp corners, but factory cutting can still produce micro-imperfections.

Examine Edges Under Angled Light

Tilt the card at different angles under a bright light. Edge whitening shows up as tiny white dots or lines along the card's borders. Black-bordered cards (1st Edition Base Set, etc.) reveal edge wear instantly. Look for chipping, notching, fraying, and any rough spots along all four edges on both sides.

Check the Surface

Hold the card under a bright light at an angle. Rotate it slowly. Holographic cards will reveal surface scratches, print lines, and other defects when the light catches them. Surface issues are the #1 reason pack-fresh cards do not get a 10.

Common surface defects that kill a PSA 10:

• Print lines: Thin horizontal lines from the factory printing process. Not your fault, but PSA counts them against you.
• Holo scratches: Scratches on the holographic foil that only show at certain angles.
• Ink spots: Tiny blobs of excess ink from printing.
• Fingerprints: Oil from your fingers leaves permanent marks, especially on holofoil. Always handle cards by the edges.
• Silvering: Metallic sheen where the foil layer shows through, common on older holos.

Look at the Back

Do not forget the back. Whitening on back edges, print defects, and centering all count toward the final grade. Flip the card and repeat the corner, edge, and surface inspection. PSA evaluates both sides equally.

Step 3: Choose Your Grading Company

Your choice of grading company depends on three factors: card type, value tier, and goal (resale vs. personal collection). Here is a quick decision guide:

If your card is...	And your goal is...	Choose
Vintage WOTC (1999-2003), $500+	Maximum resale value	PSA
Modern Pokemon, under $500 raw	Best cost-to-value ratio	CGC ($17 Bulk)
Condition-sensitive modern, flawless	Sub-grade transparency / Black Label	BGS
Multiple copies of same card	Consistent grading	TAG
High-value card for eBay flip	Fastest resale liquidity	PSA

For a detailed comparison of pricing, turnaround times, and grading standards across all four companies, see our PSA vs CGC vs BGS vs TAG comparison guide.

Step 4: Create an Account and Submission

PSA Submission Process

1. Create a free account at psacard.com. Free accounts can submit at Economy ($33/card) and above. For regular submissions, consider the Collectors Club membership ($99/year), which unlocks the Bulk tier at $24.99/card for cards under $499 declared value.
2. Click "Submit" and start a new order. For each card, enter: card name, set name, card number, year, and declared value.
3. Choose your service tier. Declared value determines the minimum tier. Cards under $499 qualify for Economy ($33) or Bulk ($24.99 with membership). Cards $500-$1,999 require Regular ($50+). Cards $2,000+ require Express ($150+).
4. Review your submission summary and pay. PSA charges the full grading fee at submission. Select return shipping speed and insurance ($10-15 standard).
5. Print the submission form. PSA generates a packing slip with a barcode. This form goes inside your shipping box. Without it, PSA cannot match your cards to your order.

CGC Submission Process

CGC's process is similar. Create an account at cgccards.com, start a new submission, enter card details, choose your tier (Bulk at $17, Economy at $25, Standard at $45, Express at $85), pay, and print the packing slip. CGC accepts toploaders unlike PSA, which makes packaging slightly easier for first-time submitters.

BGS Submission Process

Create an account at beckett.com. BGS offers Base ($14.95, no sub-grades), Standard ($34.95 with sub-grades), Express ($79.95), and Priority ($124.95). Sub-grades are included at Standard and above. Choose your tier based on declared value and desired turnaround.

TAG Submission Process

TAG's submission process is the newest of the four. Create an account, enter card details, and choose your service level (~$18/card standard). TAG's AI-powered system means your card is graded by machine, not human, ensuring consistency across submissions.

Step 5: Prepare and Pack Your Cards

Proper packaging is critical. Cards damaged in transit cannot be graded, and you will have lost both the card and the fee. Follow these steps for every submission:

Sleeve and Holder

1. Wash and thoroughly dry your hands. Natural oils from your fingers can leave marks on the surface, especially on holographic cards. Some collectors wear lint-free cotton gloves for extra precaution.
2. Place each card in a fresh penny sleeve. Slide it in gently — do not force it, as bending corners during insertion is a common and avoidable mistake.
3. Slide the penny-sleeved card into a Card Saver 1 (semi-rigid holder). Do not use toploaders. PSA specifically recommends Card Saver 1 holders. BGS and CGC accept them too. Toploaders allow cards to rattle during transit, causing edge damage. Graders charge extra to remove cards from toploaders.

Bundle and Protect

1. Stack your Card Savers together. If sending multiple cards, wrap them as a single bundle using a rubber band or painter's tape. Do not let individual Card Savers float loose inside the package.
2. Place a piece of cardboard on each side of the bundle for extra rigidity. Cut the cardboard slightly larger than the Card Savers so the edges do not poke through the bubble wrap.
3. Wrap the entire bundle in 1-2 layers of small-bubble bubble wrap. Tape it shut. The bubble wrap serves two purposes: impact protection and preventing cards from sliding.

Choose Your Mailer

Use either a rigid cardboard mailer (the kind used for photographs) or a small box. A padded envelope on its own is not rigid enough. If you must use a padded envelope, put the bubble-wrapped bundle inside a folded piece of cardboard first to create rigidity. Fill any empty space with crumpled paper or packing peanuts. Shake the package gently — if you can feel things moving, add more packing material.

Include Paperwork

Print your submission form or packing slip and include it inside the package. Put it in a small plastic bag or sleeve so it does not get damaged in transit. Your submission number needs to be clearly visible. Do not write "Valuable Cards Inside" on the package — this invites theft.

Step 6: Ship Safely

Use a tracked, insured shipping service. USPS Priority Mail with tracking and insurance works fine for submissions under $1,000 in declared value. For higher-value submissions, use UPS or FedEx with full insurance coverage and signature confirmation.

Drop your package at the post office counter, not in a blue drop box. Keep your tracking number and receipt. Monitor delivery. Most grading companies will confirm receipt within 1-2 business days of delivery.

Declared Value	Recommended Shipping	Insurance
Under $500	USPS Priority Mail	$500 included
$500-$2,000	USPS Priority Mail + extra insurance	Full declared value
$2,000+	UPS or FedEx with signature	Full declared value + signature

Step 7: Track and Receive

After your submission is received, you can track its progress through your account dashboard. The stages typically include:

1. Received / Arrived: Your package has been logged into the system.
2. Scheduled for Grading: Your cards are in the grading queue.
3. Grading Complete: Cards have been evaluated and encapsulated.
4. Assembly: Slabs are being prepared for return shipment.
5. Shipped Back: Your graded cards are on their way home.

Turnaround times vary by company and tier. PSA Economy currently takes 60-120+ business days. CGC Bulk takes 25-40 business days. BGS Economy takes 45-75 business days. TAG takes approximately 20-30 business days. Express tiers from all companies range from 2-15 business days.

Once your slabs arrive, inspect them immediately. Check that the grade matches your expectations, the card is properly seated in the slab, and there is no damage from return shipping. If there is an issue, contact the grading company's customer service immediately.

Frequently Asked Questions

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