How to properly prepare your cards before sending them for grading

Preparing a card for grading is a ritual you shouldn’t improvise. From choosing the right protection to keeping the parcel rigid and the shipment discreet, every detail matters so that your card reaches the PSA intact and your order is processed as quickly as possible. Here is our step-by-step guide to best practices, from packing the card itself to the alternative of handing it over in person at one of our partner shops.

1. Individual protection: sleeve + toploader

The golden rule for a raw card is simple: it must be protected against scratches, but above all against bending. The sleeve + toploader combo is the universal standard, and Ultra Pro is a well-established brand among collectors.

The sleeve: gently slide your card into a clear sleeve. This first layer protects the surface from micro-scratches and dust. Ultra Pro sleeves are appreciated for their clarity and their suitability for long-term storage. Always handle the card by its edges, never touching the surface.
The toploader: insert the sleeved card into a rigid toploader. This is what stops the card from bending, the main cause of damage in transit. Ultra Pro 3″ x 4″ toploaders are designed for standard-size cards and are widely used by collectors.

2. Assembling the batch: the cardboard ‘sandwich’ and rubber bands

Once your cards are individually protected, the whole batch needs to be made rigid for shipping.

The cardboard sandwich: place your stack of toploaders between two pieces of stiff cardboard. This ‘sandwich’ keeps the parcel from bending in transit. Important: cut both pieces of cardboard wider than your cards and toploaders. That way the rubber bands go around the cardboard without ever touching the cards or sleeves, avoiding any risk of marks or pressure on the edges.
Rubber bands, not tape: to hold the cardboard and the stack together, use 2 or 3 rubber bands. Tighten them enough that nothing moves, but leave a little slack so they don’t mark the cards. Do not use tape to bind the batch: it can stick to the sleeves or tear pieces of cardboard when unpacked.

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3. Outer packaging: bubble wrap and discretion

The parcel must absorb shocks and must not draw attention.

Bubble wrap: wrap the cardboard sandwich generously in several layers of bubble wrap. This cushions impacts and fills empty space so the batch doesn’t rattle around inside the parcel.
A plain envelope or box: this is where shipping security is decided. Never write ‘trading cards’, ‘TCG’ or the PSA name on the outer packaging. Valuable cards become targets when the contents can be identified. Use a padded envelope or a small standard shipping box with a neutral address label.
Postage: use a service with tracking and, ideally, insurance if the value of your cards justifies it. A basic untracked shipment is an unnecessary risk.

4. The alternative for the most cautious: in-person drop-off at a partner shop

If handing your cards to a carrier makes you nervous, there is a solution with no individual shipping at all: dropping them off in person at one of our PSA partner shops.

In practice, you place your order on the website and choose the shop where you will drop off your cards. You then receive a drop-off code by email: simply go to the shop with your cards and this code. The shop owner checks every card in your order, then handles the grouped shipment to PSA. You later collect your graded cards at the same place.

Sleeves and toploaders are provided by the shop; if not, bring your own: they will be returned to you with your graded cards.

The benefits:

Zero logistics stress: no complicated packing, no fear of loss or theft in the postal system.
A human contact: you can ask your questions directly to the partner shop owner, who knows the PSA grading process.
A grouped, discreet shipment: your cards don’t travel in an individual envelope. They are part of a grouped batch, so the courier cannot guess what’s inside.
A B2B carrier network: transport is handled by professional B2B carriers rather than the standard carriers used by private individuals, which makes shipping safer and more reliable.

Both the outbound and return trips go through the shop: you pay no shipping costs. Ask your usual shop whether it is already part of our partner network.

In short: the four habits of ideal preparation

Individual protection with an Ultra Pro sleeve and toploader.
A batch held together with rubber bands and cardboard cut wider than the cards, never tape.
Padded, anonymous outer packaging, sent with tracking.
For the most cautious, the stress-free option of an in-person drop-off at a partner shop.

Your card will reach PSA in the best possible condition, and our experts can focus on what really matters: giving it the grade it deserves.