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How to get Pokémon cards graded, and only grade the ones that pay

Grading costs money and takes weeks. Done right, it turns a $20 card into a slab worth far more. Done wrong, you pay to learn your card is a 7. Here's the full process. Want to see real cards checked step by step? Get the free video training.

  • The 4-check pre-grade. Centering, corners, edges, surface, in two minutes.
  • The profit math. Which cards beat the fee, using our daily list.
  • The submission, step by step. Forms, service levels and packing.
55/45Front centering a card needs for a PSA 10. A PSA 9 allows about 60/40 to 65/35.PSA grading standards
41,000+Pokémon cards and printings we price every day, 30,000+ of them with PSA 9 and 10 values.Price checker
DailyWe rank which cards make money graded, after real PSA fees.Cards to grade
9 vs 10On many cards the PSA 10 is worth several times the PSA 9. Condition is the whole game.Grading calculator

Updated October 2026

The short answer

To get a Pokémon card graded, pick a card worth more graded than the fee, check its condition, choose a grading company (PSA, CGC or BGS), fill out a submission online with the card's value, pack it in a penny sleeve and a semi-rigid holder, and ship it insured. You get it back sealed in a slab with a grade from 1 to 10.

  1. Pick cards where the graded value beats raw price plus fees.
  2. Pre-grade: centering, corners, edges, surface.
  3. Choose a company and a service level that fits the card's value.
  4. Create the submission online and print the form.
  5. Pack: penny sleeve, semi-rigid holder, cardboard, box.
  6. Ship insured with tracking.
  7. Get the slab back, then keep it or sell it.

In this guide

  1. Which cards are worth grading
  2. The 4-check pre-grade
  3. PSA, CGC or BGS?
  4. How to submit to PSA
  5. How to pack cards for grading
  6. When the slabs come back
  7. Mistakes that waste fees
  8. Common questions

Which cards are worth grading

Grading pays when the graded card sells for more than everything it cost you. The math is simple:

Profit = graded sale price − selling fees − (raw card cost + grading fee + shipping)

The catch is the grade. A card that's worth a lot as a PSA 10 can be worth little more than raw as a PSA 8. So run the math at a 9 too, not just a 10. If the card only pays at a 10, you need it to be close to perfect.

You don't have to do this by hand. Our best Pokémon cards to grade list ranks thousands of cards by profit after PSA's real fees, every day. The PSA grading calculator does the math for any card you own.

The 4-check pre-grade

Check every card under a bright light before you pay to grade it. Most cards that come back as 8s could have been spotted at home.

1. Centering

Compare the borders left to right and top to bottom. For a PSA 10, the front can be off by no more than about 55/45, and the back about 75/25. A PSA 9 allows about 60/40 to 65/35 on the front, and 90/10 on the back. Our 4-step centering test shows how to measure it.

2. Corners

Look for any rounding or white at the tips. One soft corner usually caps a card below a 10.

3. Edges

Check the back edges for white specks ("whitening") and the front for chips. Dark-bordered backs show every flaw.

4. Surface

Tilt the card under the light. Look for scratches, print lines, dents and fingerprints, especially on holo and full-art cards. A light that rakes across the surface finds what a straight-on look misses.

For a deeper walkthrough, see the four checks before you send cards to PSA.

See what a 10 really looks like

The free video training measures real card photos up close, so you learn to spot a 10.

Get the free training

PSA, CGC or BGS?

CompanyBest forKeep in mind
PSAResale value. PSA slabs usually sell for the most on Pokémon.Fees rise with the card's declared value, and cards that grade into a higher value can be upcharged.
CGCLower fees and strict grading. Popular with modern collectors.Slabs often sell for less than PSA at the same grade.
BGS (Beckett)Subgrades for centering, corners, edges and surface. A "Black Label" 10 sells for a premium.Fewer Pokémon buyers pay up for BGS than for PSA.

For the full comparison, read card grading explained. For PSA's current prices and tiers, see PSA grading cost. We check it against PSA's site so you don't have to.

How to submit Pokémon cards to PSA

  1. Create a free account on PSA's website.
  2. Start a submission and choose the service level. Service levels are set by the card's declared value, which is what you think it's worth after grading.
  3. Add each card: year, set, card number and name, plus the declared value.
  4. Pay and print the submission form. It goes in the box with your cards.
  5. Pack and ship (below), then track it in your PSA account.

Don't want to ship? Many card shops and card shows collect submissions and send them in for you, for a fee. PSA also takes cards in person at some large shows.

How to pack cards for grading

  1. Clear penny sleeve on every card.
  2. Semi-rigid holder (the Card Saver type), not a toploader. No tape, no tabs, no sticky notes.
  3. Stack them in the order on your submission form, item 1 on top.
  4. Sandwich the stack between two pieces of cardboard with a couple of rubber bands, snug but not tight.
  5. Use a sturdy box with padding so nothing moves. Movement is what dings corners.
  6. Ship insured with tracking.

When the slabs come back

Check every slab against your list. Then decide: keep, or sell. Graded cards sell well on eBay, on Whatnot (see how to sell on Whatnot), and to shops. Our guide on how to sell Pokémon cards compares the options and fees.

Mistakes that waste grading fees

MistakeWhat it costsDo this instead
Grading cards that only pay at a 10Paying fees on a card that comes back a 9 and loses moneyRun the math at a PSA 9 before you send
Skipping the light checkSurface scratches you could have seenRaking light, both sides, every card
Lowballing declared valueUpcharges when the card grades highDeclare what it's worth graded
Toploaders in the boxDelays and handling riskPenny sleeve + semi-rigid holder
Selling raw cards that would pay gradedLeaving money on the tableCheck our daily cards to grade list first

Updated daily

Cards worth grading right now

SM Trainer Kit: Lycanroc & Alolan Raichu pricesShining Legends pricesDeck Exclusives pricesGenerations pricesAerodactyl cardsNidoking cardsZorua cardsFeraligatr cardsMuk cardsZamazenta cards

See all cards to gradeMost valuable cardsPSA cost and tiers

One Piece card pricesMost expensive One Piece cardsAdventure on Kami's Island Release Event Cards card listExtra Booster: One Piece Heroines Edition card listExtra Booster: One Piece Heroines Edition Vol. 2 card listYu-Gi-Oh card pricesMost expensive Yu-Gi-Oh cardsBeyond the Brave card listBlazing Dominion card listBurst Protocol card listGundam card pricesMost expensive Gundam cardsEternal Nexus card listFreedom Ascension card listPhantom Aria card list

The full workshop

Grading for Profit Workshop

The free training shows the process. The workshop gives you the whole system: what to buy to grade, how to pre-grade like a pro, and how to sell slabs for the most.

  1. The profit mathWhen grading pays, at a 10 and at a 9, using live prices.
  2. Pre-grading, up closeReal card photos measured up close: centering, corners, edges, surface.
  3. Finding cards worth gradingCollections, card shows and bulk: where 10s are hiding.
  4. Company and service levelPSA vs CGC vs BGS by card, and how to avoid upcharges.
  5. The submission, click by clickA full screen walkthrough of a real submission.
  6. Selling the slabWhere graded cards sell for the most, and when to hold.
  • Bonus: printable centering guide and pre-grade checklist
  • Bonus: submission tracker spreadsheet
  • Bonus: grading profit calculator spreadsheet

Start here

Free

Watch the 15-minute training first. You'll see how to unlock the full class after.

Watch the free training
  • 6 recorded lessons
  • Checklists and tracker
  • Watch anytime, on any device
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Free, no card neededIt plays right after you sign up.

Who's teaching

We price 41,000+ Pokémon cards a day. We know which grades pay.

Greedy TCG started as a reseller crew. Today we run the daily price data behind our cards to grade list and grading calculator, and help sellers and shops with the business side of cards. Meet the team.

Greedy TCG is independent and not affiliated with PSA, CGC, Beckett or The Pokémon Company. Grades are never guaranteed.

Questions

Common questions

How much does it cost to get a Pokémon card graded?

It depends on the company, the service level and the card's declared value. PSA prices by value tier, and higher-value cards cost more to grade. See our PSA grading cost page for today's tiers.

How long does it take to get Pokémon cards graded?

From a couple of weeks on the fastest (most expensive) service levels to several months on the cheapest. See current PSA turnaround times on our PSA grading cost page.

Can I get Pokémon cards graded at a local card shop?

Many card shops and card shows collect submissions and send them to PSA or CGC for you, usually for a fee per card. It saves you the paperwork and shipping.

Is it worth grading modern Pokémon cards?

Only when the graded value beats the fees. For many modern cards, a PSA 10 pays and a PSA 9 doesn't. Check the card in our grading calculator first.

Should I use PSA or CGC for Pokémon?

PSA slabs usually resell for the most, so PSA is the default when you plan to sell. CGC is often cheaper and popular with collectors who plan to keep their cards.

Is the training really free?

Yes. The video training is free. At the end we'll tell you about the paid workshop. Buying it is optional.

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