How to Get Your Pokemon Cards Graded In 2024

Pokemon cards have become an amazing collectable that many love but they’ve also become a valuable asset that has a lot of value. So, If you have a Pokemon collection you may want to find out how to get your Pokemon cards graded. Grading cards can add an extra layer of protection, authenticity, value and more to your collection.

Contents

• Why Grade Cards?

• Choose a service

• The Grading Scale

• How much can it cost?

• How to submit your cards

Why Grade Your Pokemon Cards?

There are so many reasons why you should grade your Pokemon cards but here are a few:

Authenticity: Grading proves your cards are authentic and It shows the cards' condition.

Preservation: All graded cards are encased In Protective slabs, which protects them from any potential damage.

Value: Once a card is graded the higher It’s grade the more It’s worth. So If your cards are in relatively good condition they can be worth a lot more after being graded.

Facts: When you use grading services like PSA you can access extra information and facts about your card!

Choose a Grading Service

When choosing a Grading service the location, reputation and price are all very important. Some of the most reputable Grading Services Include:

• Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA Grading Service): This is the most popular option In the Pokemon Card Community and uses the 1 to 10 scale.

• Beckett Grading Services (BGS Grading Service): BGS also uses the 1 to 10 scale but adds subgrades for extra detail.

• Certified Guaranty Company (CGC Grading Service): CGC offers a very well-rounded grading with the traditional 1 to 10 scale.

• Platinum Card Grading (PCG Grading Service): This service is located in the UK and uses a 1 to 10 scale.

The Grade Scale

The grading scale is how most grading services rank cards. Every grade represents a different level of condition for example 10 means a mint condition which is Perfect. The higher the grade your card receives the greater Its value in the marketplace. The different Grades are as follows.

• Gem Mint (10): Perfect or virtually perfect condition, with no visible flaws.

• Mint (9): Extremely close to perfect but may have minor imperfections.

• Near Mint - Mint (8-9): Slight wear but still in excellent condition, often considered near-perfect.

• Excellent - Mint (6-7): Minor flaws like small scratches or minor wear.

• Excellent (5): Moderate wear and noticeable flaws.

• Very Good - Excellent (3-4): Significant wear and noticeable flaws.

• Good (2): Heavily worn with major flaws.

• Poor (1): Severe damage, almost unrecognizable.

Factors That Determine Grading

The most important factors are

1. Centering (The size of each of the 4 sides on a card)

2. Corners (What is the condition of each corner)

3. Edges (How sharp and consistent are the edges)

4. Surface (Scratches and surface damage)

How Much Does It Cost to Grade Pokemon Cards?

Grading your collection can be quite an expensive task so It’s important to choose wisely. The price can depend on how many cards you send, the distance from the Grading company, which grading service you choose and more. It's hard to give exact figures as it can vary massively from as low as $10 to $1000 and above. The highest options are there for grading items that are extremely rare and need the most care and attention.

Prepare Your Pokemon Cards

Before submitting your cards for grading, take the following steps to prepare them:

• 1. Check your Cards to make sure there isn’t any dirt or dust on the surface.

• 2. Place the Cards into separate penny sleeves and then into a Toploader.

• 3. Organise the cards according to condition to make the grading process more efficient.

Complete Submission Forms

Each grading service will ask you to fill out a form which can be found on their official websites. The forms will ask what cards you plan on submitting, their sets and estimated values. To accurately answer this information use the link below.

Package Securely

You must make sure you package your cards safely to prevent any damage to them or any problems in the shipping process. To Learn More on How to Send Cards Correctly Click here to Learn More.

• Use Cardboard: Place your cards in between two pieces of cardboard.

• Bubble Wrap: Wrap the cardboard package in bubble wrap for added protection.

• Label Clearly: Clearly label the package with the grading service's address and any specific instructions they provide for submissions.

• Insurance and Tracking: Use a reliable shipping method with insurance and tracking to ensure your cards are safe during transit.

Submit Your Pokemon Cards

Once your cards have been Submitted the process goes as follows:

• 1. The cards arrive at the grading facility.

• 2. The company grades the cards, this can take a few months due to the quantity of submissions a service receives daily.

• 3. The cards are sent back to you. Once received you can check the Grades your cards received.

What to Do with Graded Pokemon Cards

Now that your cards have arrived It’s really up to you what you do with them. You could display them with their new gradings, the cards can be sold for more money depending on their rankings or you could even safely store them in a cool area for the future.

Conclusion

Receiving your newly graded cards can be an amazing and even profitable experience for many collectors. That’s why It’s worth grading your collection in 2023 no matter the size, value or age of the collection, you should grade it. Good Luck with your Gradings and I hope you receive some 10s! If you want to find out how to protect your Pokemon cards with binders click here.

Want More?

This blog is a dedicated guide to all things Pokemon cards. From product reviews to the best and most expensive Pokemon cards, we've got you covered. My goal is to Introduce people to the amazing world of collecting Pokemon Cards. So feel free to check out some of our other posts below!