How to Grade Trading Cards 2026: A Beginner's Step-by-Step Guide

Perks and drawbacks of grading your cards

There are plenty of positives that come from grading your cards, like the potential for an increase in value, better presentation, and the preservation of your cards. However, that doesn’t mean that the process doesn’t come without its stresses.

For instance, despite the amount of checks you put in place, you can’t guarantee that your graded cards will return as a 10. Additionally, wait times will vary, and quicker turnaround times will incur a surcharge. Of course, when your cards have returned (and all has gone to plan), you are likely to find a well-presented card and the potential for greater value to now be attached, which is certainly something that none of us would grumble at.

• Improved presentation
• Greater preservation of your collection
• Potential for increased value
• Surcharge for quicker turnaround times
• No guarantee of higher grades

How will your grade impact card value?

One important thing to consider is that grading Pokémon cards, sports cards, and similar won’t instantly increase the value of your cards.

Due to recent spikes in popularity, some PSA 9 slabs are now valued at the same as ungraded cards, meaning anything below a 9 could actually decrease the value of your card. That said, there are some collectors who love 1s and 2s, but this recent boom has now steered the market in such a way that 10s are the only way to guarantee an increase in value.

You’ll also notice there are some discrepancies in the value of your 10s based on the card grading company you select. We have covered three examples in this convenient table. It is also worth noting that each grading company often offers a tiered system, which can directly affect the initial outlay and potential turnaround times. As you would anticipate, quicker turnarounds for high-end cards cost more than lower-end cards with a longer processing time.

Checks to perform prior to card submission

Before you look at how to grade cards, you’ll want to consider what cards are worth grading. Generally speaking, you will find that most grading companies focus on four key areas, making your checklist rather straightforward.

• Centering: How central or even your card has been printed
• Edges: The condition of the edges of your card
• Corners: The condition of the corners of your card
• Surface: Scratches, ink blots, blemishes, and the condition of your card is taken into account here

Although you can complete all of these checks yourself, you can also soon get hold of tools that allow you to judge the centering for you. There are also online tools that allow you to upload a photo, or you can even take your collection down to a card show for a vendor to assist.

With these tick boxes checked, you can then consider sending your gradable cards off to your chosen company. Then, you’ll have to sit back, be patient, and wait for the results to come in.

Other options for those who do not want to send off cards for grading

For those who don’t like the idea of sending off your own collection and leaving it in the hands of grading companies, a couple of alternative options await.

Conclusion: Learn how to grade cards and add to your collection

Without the know-how, the prospect of grading cards can feel a little daunting. However, as you can see, the key things for you to review are the edges, surface, corners, and centering of the card, as these will impact your grade significantly.

To aid your grading, you can use physical tools, AI and online systems, or chat to friendly card vendors. Once you’re happy, you’ll then need to choose your card grading company, a suitable turnaround time, and package things up well. Your cards and grades are then in the hands of the company you select, and it is then a case of waiting for your cards to be returned.

Should you wish to get your hands on graded cards a little quicker, physical purchases or card rip sites could be a better option. You’ll find the banners on this page offer snippets into card rip sites that we have recently reviewed.

How to grade cards FAQ