This chapter will take you through the steps for submitting your cards to a grading company - from preparing and packaging your cards to service levels, costs and getting your cards back.
Getting a card graded follows the same basic steps at every major grading company - check the card, choose a company and service level, fill out an online submission form, package the cards and ship them. This chapter goes through each step and the costs involved. If you are new to grading, start with What is card grading and how does it work?.
Before you submit
1. Check the condition of the card
Grading companies assess centering, surface, corners and edges. Look over the front and back of the card under good light before submitting it - the examples in chapter 6 show the common flaws for each of these four areas.
Grading companies will not give a numeric grade to cards that show signs of alteration. PSA’s grading standards list trimming, restoration, recoloring, cleaning and altered stock as reasons a card can be returned without a numeric grade - and the grading fee still applies in most of these cases.
2. Check the value of the card
Grading fees are charged per card and the price of each service level is based on the value of the card. Before submitting, check what the card sells for both raw (ungraded) and graded - How to check the value of a card? covers the free and paid tools for doing this. The value of the card also determines which service level it must be submitted under (see Step 2).
3. Choose a grading company
The four major card grading companies are PSA, BGS (Beckett), SGC and CGC. Each has different grading scales, labels, prices and turnaround times. These differences are compared in PSA vs BGS vs SGC vs CGC - which grading company?.
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How to submit cards for grading
Step 1 - Create an account
All four companies take submissions through an online account on their website.
- PSA - joining the paid Collectors Club is not required to submit, according to the PSA FAQ. Members get access to member-only service levels and grading specials.
- Beckett (BGS) - submissions are started from the Beckett submission page.
- SGC - submissions are started from the “Start New Submission” link on the SGC website.
- CGC - free accounts are available, with paid memberships offering discounts on grading fees.
Step 2 - Choose a service level
Every grading company offers several service levels (also called tiers). Each service level has:
- a price per card,
- a maximum value per card - also called the declared value, max insured value or fair market value (FMV) and
- an estimated turnaround time - the number of business days it takes to grade the order once it has been received and entered into the company’s system.
The declared value is what the card is worth in its graded condition, and it decides the minimum service level the card can be submitted under. If the grading company decides a card is worth more than the declared value, it can move the card to a higher service level and charge the difference. CGC explains this in its services and fees notes.
Turnaround times are estimates and are not guaranteed by any of the four companies.
Step 3 - Complete the online submission form
The submission form lists each card being submitted - usually the year, manufacturer, set, card number and player name. Some companies fill in these details automatically:
- PSA offers two ways to submit. Assisted Submission lets you scan cards in the PSA app, and PSA will estimate each card’s graded value and recommend a service level. Classic Submission lets you choose the item type and service level yourself.
- At the end of the form you choose where the graded cards go - for PSA this can be your home address, the PSA Vault or listing the card on eBay.
Once the form is complete, print it out - it goes in the box with your cards.
Step 4 - Package your cards
PSA and CGC both publish packaging instructions, and the main steps are the same.
- Place each card in a clear card sleeve (penny sleeve). PSA asks you to avoid solid or opaque sleeves.
- Slide each sleeved card into a semi-rigid card holder. PSA asks submitters not to use toploaders, tape, pull tabs or sticky notes, and lists the holder size for standard trading cards as 3 5/16” x 4 7/8”. CGC asks for a semi-rigid sleeve sturdy enough for the card to be removed safely.
- Stack the cards in the same order as they appear on your submission form.
- Place the stack between two pieces of cardboard and hold them together with rubber bands - tight enough to stop the cards moving, but not so tight that they damage the cards.
- Wrap the stack in bubble wrap or other packing material and place it in a sturdy (PSA asks for new) shipping box, filling any empty space.
- Put the printed submission form inside the box and seal every seam with packing tape.
Full instructions are on the PSA Shipping Guide and the CGC Shipping Your Cards page. Beckett links to a packaging video tutorial from its grading FAQ.
For more on card sleeves and holders, see Protecting your cards.
Step 5 - Ship the box to the grading company
Ship the box to the address given by the grading company for your submission type - each company lists its address on its shipping page or at the end of the submission form. Some companies also ask for extra markings on the box:
- PSA asks you to attach the tracking label ID from your submission confirmation page to the outside of the box.
- CGC asks you to mark each side of the box with “EX” for Express or “WK” for WalkThrough submissions.
You are responsible for the package until it arrives. CGC states that you are responsible for safely shipping your cards to CGC, and PSA states that it is not liable for damage or loss that happens during shipping. Using a tracked and insured shipping service protects the package while it is in transit.
Step 6 - Track your order
Once the package arrives, the grading company enters the order into its system and the estimated turnaround time begins.
- PSA - orders can be tracked through each stage in the PSA app and your online account.
- Beckett - sends an email after delivery, invoicing, verification, grading and shipping. Orders can also be checked in your Beckett account.
- SGC - orders are listed under “My Orders” in your SGC account.
- CGC - submissions appear in “Submission Tracking” once the contents of the package have been confirmed and entered into the system.
Step 7 - Pay and get your cards back
Your cards are returned encapsulated in the grading company’s holder (slab), with the grade and a certification number printed on the label. The certification number can be looked up on the company’s website to check the grade.
Return shipping is charged on top of the grading fee. PSA’s FAQ states that you are charged once your submission is complete and ready to be shipped back to you.
Prices and turnaround times
Grading companies change their prices and turnaround times often, so this chapter links to each company’s official pricing page rather than listing amounts. The total cost of grading a card depends on:
- Service level - faster service levels cost more per card.
- Declared value - higher value cards must be submitted under higher (more expensive) service levels.
- Autographs - grading the autograph as well as the card costs extra (see chapter 13).
- Oversized or thick cards - some companies charge extra for cards larger than a standard card.
- Subgrades - Beckett offers its lowest service level with or without subgrades printed on the label, at different prices.
- Return shipping and insurance - charged by the grading company based on the number of cards, their value and your address.
- Membership - optional paid memberships at PSA and CGC give access to discounts or member-only service levels.
- Shipping to the grading company - paid by you, with any import duties and taxes for submitters outside the United States (see the next section).
Estimated turnaround times are counted from when the order is received and entered into the grading company’s system, and they are not guaranteed.
PSA
PSA offers several service levels, plus a Dual Service for grading a card and its autograph.
Current prices and turnaround times: PSA - Trading Card Grading Services
BGS (Beckett)
Beckett offers several service levels, plus extras such as autograph and oversized card fees.
Current prices and turnaround times: Beckett - Grading Service Levels & Pricing
SGC
SGC offers several service levels, priced by the declared value of the card.
Current prices and turnaround times: SGC - Card Grading Services and Fees. Return shipping: SGC - Shipping Fees
CGC
CGC offers several service levels, plus add-on services such as CGC x JSA autograph authentication.
Current prices and turnaround times: CGC Cards - Services & Fees
Submitting cards from outside the United States (including Australia)
PSA, Beckett, SGC and CGC all grade cards at facilities in the United States. Collectors outside the US - including in Australia - can submit directly, but there are extra steps and costs to plan for.
Submitting directly
- PSA - the PSA FAQ states that international submissions are subject to international shipping rates and longer shipping times, and that the submitter is responsible for any duty or tax fees on incoming and outgoing shipments.
- Beckett - the Beckett grading FAQ states that BGS services international customers, with shipping and insurance calculated from the address on your account.
- SGC - SGC publishes FedEx international return shipping rates on its shipping fees page.
- CGC - the CGC Cards FAQ states that international submitters must name themselves as the “importer of record” and are responsible for all customs duties and fees. If CGC is charged customs fees for a submission, it bills them to the submitter along with an administrative fee.
Submitting through a dealer
Some grading companies appoint dealers who can submit cards on behalf of collectors.
- PSA’s Dealer Directory can be searched by location and filtered to dealers that offer submission services.
- CGC appoints Authorized Dealers and Official Submission Centers in a number of countries - CGC announces these on its news page, and CGC customer service can confirm which are currently active.
Before using a dealer or a third-party submission service, confirm with the grading company that the dealer is currently authorised.