How to grade Pokémon cards, step by step
In short: choose a grading company (PSA, CGC or Beckett), check your card carefully, create an account and an online submission, pick a service tier that suits the card's value, put the card in a penny sleeve and card saver, and ship it with tracking. The grader checks the card is genuine, gives it a score from 1 to 10 and returns it sealed in a slab.
Step 1: Choose a grading company
| Grader | Best known for |
|---|---|
| PSA | The most popular for Pokémon, and PSA 10s usually sell for the highest prices. |
| CGC | Lower fees, plus a "Pristine 10" grade above Gem Mint 10; popular for modern cards. |
| Beckett (BGS) | Separate subgrades for centering, corners, edges and surface; a Black Label 10 is the hardest grade to get. |
| TAG and others | Newer graders that provide detailed scoring reports. |
Step 2: Check the card
- Centering: compare the borders left to right and top to bottom. A PSA 10 allows only a small difference on the front.
- Corners: look for whitening or rounded corners under a bright light.
- Edges: inspect the back edges for white flecks, known as silvering.
- Surface: tilt the card in the light to find scratches, print lines, dents and fingerprints.
Only send cards that look nearly perfect, unless you just want them authenticated rather than valued.
Step 3: Set up the submission
Create an account on the grader's website, start a submission and add each card with its year, set, number, name and declared value. Then pick a tier. The declared value decides which tiers you can use and how the return shipment is insured. Current prices are in our grading cost guide.
Step 4: Pack the cards properly
- Put each card in a new penny sleeve and then a semi-rigid card saver. PSA asks for no toploaders.
- Stack the cards between two pieces of cardboard and secure them with a rubber band.
- Pack them in a padded box with the printed submission form, and ship with tracking and insurance.
Step 5: Track the order and see your grades
You can follow progress online. Turnaround depends on the tier: a few days on expensive express tiers, several weeks on value tiers. Cards come back in tamper-evident slabs with a label and a certification number you can check on the grader's website.
Grading Japanese cards
PSA, CGC and Beckett all grade Japanese Pokémon cards, and many collectors choose Japanese cards for grading because of their print quality and centering. Our Japanese singles ship from Japan.
Common questions
How do I get cards graded?
Pick a grading company, submit online, send the cards with the printed form, and they return in slabs.
Can a local card shop grade cards for me?
Some local shops collect customers' cards and send them in bulk for a fee, which can save you the membership and shipping costs.
Which company is best for Pokémon cards?
PSA for resale value, CGC for lower cost, Beckett for subgrades.
