How to Grade Pokémon Cards in 2024: A Detailed Step-by-Step Guide

Welcome to Pokémon card grading! Whether you've got some Pokémon cards that you believe are in excellent condition and want them preserved for personal enjoyment, or you're eyeing that perfect 10 grade for resale, we've got you covered with all the information you need on the entire Pokémon grading process. We'll also guide you on which companies offer the best grading services and how to ship out your cards to keep them in pristine condition!

Table of Contents

• Simple steps for grading your Pokémon cards
• Step 1: Card Grading Process
• Step 2: Choose a Grading Company
• Estimated Pricing for Card Grading
• Step 3: How to Secure Your Cards for Grading
• Step 4: Submission Form
• Step 5: Packaging and Shipping

Simple steps for grading your Pokémon cards

Understanding card grading is super useful if you're a collector or trader. Start by carefully examining your cards for any wear and tear – think scratches, bends, or anything else that might knock down their value. Once you've got a good sense of their condition, you might want to send them over to professional grading services like PSA or Beckett. These pros are experts at assessing card quality and can give your cards an official grade. Every step in this process is important for determining the true worth of your cards, and honestly, it's pretty exciting to see how your collection measures up!

This guide breaks down the process, helping you get the best grades for your Pokémon cards. Let's explore the basics and dive into four simple steps to get your Pokémon card grading journey started.

Things You Should Know

Card Grading Companies

There are numerous grading card companies out there, but for top-notch quality, we recommend focusing on well-known ones like PSA, Beckett, and CGC. We've had our own Pokémon cards graded by each of these companies, so we know the drill. We'll share our experiences and knowledge about their standards with you,

helping you get familiarized with what all these companies have to offer so you can choose the most suitable company to grade your Pokémon card collection.

Why Should You Get Pokémon Cards Graded?

• Authentication: Shield your cards from counterfeits with the authenticity that grading provides.
• Preservation: Safeguard cards against wear and environmental damage through encapsulation.
• Market Value: Potentially increase the value of your Pokémon cards by having them professionally graded, as graded cards usually sell for higher prices.

Choosing the perfect grading company is like finding the VIP pass for your collectibles' success story! Imagine a service that not only grades your treasured Pokémon cards but also significantly enhances their monetary value. With the vast selection of grading companies available today, it can be overwhelming to pick the right one. That's why we've narrowed it down to the three main contenders for those chasing perfectly graded cards.

PSA is my personal recommendation for most grading needs. Their consistent reliability and broad service range make them a top choice for a variety of collectibles. However, this doesn't diminish the unique strengths and use cases of CGC and Beckett. CGC is excellent for quick turnarounds and special cases like error or misprint cards, while Beckett shines when it comes to increasing the value of near-perfect condition cards, especially when aiming for that elusive black label. Each of these companies brings its own advantages to the table, ensuring that your prized collectibles get the grading they deserve.

PSA Regular Grading Services

Our Recommended Choice

For the majority of my card grading needs – about 90% of the time – PSA is my top pick. Their reliability and the breadth of services they offer make them a versatile choice for a wide range of cards. Whether it's a common collectible or something more unique, PSA's grading services are comprehensive. The PSA pricing table is particularly useful for getting a clear picture of costs for various grading services, making it my go-to resource for most of my grading requirements

CGC Cards Grading Services and Fees



Great for affordability and speed

I turn to CGC mainly for two reasons. Firstly, when I need my cards back really fast, CGC's quick turnaround time is unbeatable. Secondly, for those unique error cards or misprints that I want slabbed, CGC's expertise in this area is top-notch. CGC's pricing table is straightforward, catering to these particular needs, and is ideal for when you're dealing with special cases or in a rush.

Beckett Card Grading Services and Pricing

Awesome Black labels

Beckett is my choice for two specific scenarios. First, when I have a collection of $5-10 cards in great condition – getting them black labeled by Beckett can significantly increase their value, sometimes by 100 times. Second, for those rare, flawless vintage cards that are near perfect, aiming for a black label is a worthwhile gamble. While these occasions are extremely rare, the Beckett pricing table will help you understand the potential costs for these specific grading purposes.

When it comes to protecting and grading your precious Pokémon cards, the choice of sleeves and holders is just as important. You wouldn't want those super rare cards you are shipping off to be damaged, so having solid protection is key. Dragon Shield, Vault X, and Ultra Pro are three renowned brands in the world of collectible card protection. In my opinion, they offer the best protection for keeping your cards in fantastic condition. In this section, we will be covering only Ultra Pro, but feel free to explore other brands such as Dragon Shield or Vault X if Ultra Pro is not the right fit for you.

Things you'll need & how to secure your Pokémon cards:

There are several companies you can use when it comes to purchasing sleeves for grading Pokémon cards. My personal recommendation is using the company Ultra Pro for your penny and rigid sleeves; they offer the best bang for your buck and the best protection. I have used them on multiple occasions and have always been completely satisfied with the protection they offer. This is a big deal when shipping, and I always have peace of mind using this brand.

• Penny Sleeves
• Penny sleeves,  also known as soft sleeves, are thin, flexible plastic sleeves typically made from polyethylene. They are also the first step when packaging your Pokémon cards and  they are excellent for basic protection against scratches, dust, and minor wear when sending your Pokémon cards off to be graded .

• Rigid Sleeves
• Rigid card sleeves are stiff protective enclosures made from materials like PET or acrylic. They come in a variety of sizes to accommodate different card dimensions.

• These sleeves are suitable for shipping your Pokémon cards. They offer enhanced protection against physical damage and allow easy access for the card grader to remove your Pokémon card without damaging it.

• Bubble Wrap
• Bubble Wrap is a protective packaging material made of plastic with air-filled bubbles. It's commonly used to shield fragile items during shipping, providing cushioning to prevent breakage. The bubbles come in various sizes, offering effective shock absorption.

I have attached a picture below, using my Ultra Pro penny and rigid sleeves, to illustrate the difference between each type of sleeve. First, place your Pokémon cards in the penny sleeve, and then insert the penny-sleeved card into the rigid sleeve. The penny sleeve is depicted on the left, and the combination of the penny sleeve and rigid sleeve is displayed on the right. This is the recommended method for keeping all your graded cards safe. Once this step is complete, wrap all your sleeved cards in bubble wrap and place them in a small box to be shipped for grading.

Once you have chosen your preferred grading company and sleeved your cards with an additional layer of bubble wrap, it's time to complete a submission form.

In this example, we will be using PSA's submission form. Simply log-in to PSA and follow the provided steps to complete and print out the necessary documents based on the cards you are sending in.

Keep in mind each of the companies will have a different variations of a submission form, but for the most part are all the same.

Congratulations, you have made it to the final step in the grading card process. In the section we are going to cover what your final packaging should look like as well as where to put your submission form. We will also cover estimated shipping times and choosing the best shipping service.

If you have made it this far your cards should already be sleeved and wrapped in bubble wrap, but if you decided to skip some of the steps I will break down all the material you will need for proper shipping.

• Materials:
• Penny Sleeve
• Rigid sleeve
• Bubble Wrap
• Small Cardboard Box

This is an important step so we are going to go over some of the material stated earlier for clarification

• Step 1: Put your Pokémon cards in the Penny Sleeve
• Step 2: Put your Penny Sleeve in the Rigid Sleeve
• Step 3: Bubble wrap your sleeved cards( You don't need to wrap it like an expensive gift just keep it secure)
• Step 4: Place the bubble-wrapped sleeves in a small cardboard box using either packing peanuts, or more bubble wrap placed at the bottom of the box.
• Step 5: Place your submission form papers inside the cardboard box on top of the sleeves
• Step 6: Seal up your cardboard box and put the submission barcode on the outside of the box. (Do not let the shipping company cover that label)

Now that you have completed the packaging, let's go over the different shipping companies you can use. When selecting a shipping company to send your Pokémon cards for grading, it's essential to choose a reliable and secure service. Trusted carriers such as UPS, FedEx, and USPS are popular choices for safely transporting valuable items. Ensure that the shipping method you choose provides tracking, insurance, and a secure packaging option to safeguard your graded cards during transit. Additionally, check for any specific guidelines or requirements set by the grading company and the chosen shipping service to ensure a smooth and secure submission process for your Pokémon cards.

Once you have shipped your cards with your chosen carrier there will be different estimated wait times depending on the value of your cards and chosen plan. If you skipped that step, please refer back to our pricing guide section which goes over when you should expect your graded cards to be returned. Keep in mind those are all estimated dates and although they tend to be quite accurate, make sure to keep in mind weather, and other outside factors as those can cause delays.

Final Thoughts: Grade your Pokémon cards with confidence!

Getting your Pokémon cards graded is all about finding the right balance. Our simple, step-by-step process ensures that you don't get lost and have everything you need for successful grading. By protecting your cards, staying organized, and closely following our guide and the submission guidelines, you won't run into any problems. Each step you take helps maintain the value and integrity of your Pokémon card collection, ensuring trouble-free grading. So get out there and get your Pokémon cards graded with your newfound Pokémon card grading knowledge!