In short: Proper prep — clean workspace, gloves, fresh penny sleeve, Card Saver 1, snug packing — prevents grade drops between your hands and the grader's desk. Before any of that, pre-screen with AI so you only prepare cards worth the effort.
Why Card Preparation Matters
The gap between pulling a card from your collection and having it graded by PSA, BGS, or CGC is where grades are won or lost. A card that looks like a 10 in your hand can arrive at the grading company as a 9 if it picks up a surface scratch during shipping or gets an edge ding from a poorly packed box.
Proper preparation protects your investment. This guide walks through every step of the process, from cleaning and handling to sleeving, packaging, and filling out submission forms. Follow these steps and you eliminate the variables that turn potential gem mints into near mints.
Step 1: Pre-Screen Your Cards
Before investing time and money in preparation and submission, make sure the cards you plan to grade are actually worth grading. This is the step most collectors skip, and it is the step that saves the most money.
Self-Evaluation
Inspect each card across all four grading criteria:
- Centering: Measure with the CardGrade.io centering tool or a centering guide
- Corners: Check all four corners under 10x magnification
- Edges: Inspect all four edges for chips, whitening, or rough cutting using the edge analysis tool
- Surface: Tilt under bright light at multiple angles to reveal scratches or print defects with the surface tool
For a complete self-evaluation framework, see our complete card grading strategy guide.
AI Pre-Screening
After your manual inspection, run your top candidates through CardGrade.io for AI-predicted grades. The AI analyzes 47 inspection points and predicts grades for PSA, BGS, and CGC simultaneously. Cards that score poorly in the AI analysis should be reconsidered, even if they looked good to your eye.
Start your free 3-day trial — 3 credits to start pre-screening before you commit to a submission.
Step 2: Set Up a Clean Workspace
Your workspace directly affects your cards. A dusty table or a stray crumb can create the kind of surface damage that drops grades.
Workspace Requirements
- Clean, flat, hard surface: A clean desk or table. Avoid surfaces with texture that could press into cards
- Good lighting: A bright LED desk lamp positioned to cast light across the work area. You need to see dust and debris
- Lint-free cloth or microfiber mat: Place this under your work area. It catches dust and provides a soft landing for cards
- Clean, lint-free gloves: Cotton or nitrile gloves prevent fingerprint oils from transferring to card surfaces
- No food, drinks, or pets: Keep everything that could contaminate cards out of the workspace
Supplies You Will Need
| Supply | Purpose | Approximate Cost |
|---|
| Penny sleeves (new, clean) | Initial card protection | $0.02-$0.03 each |
| Card Saver 1 semi-rigid holders | Preferred by PSA; protects during transit | $0.20-$0.30 each |
| Top-loaders (for BGS/CGC) | Alternative holders accepted by BGS and CGC | $0.15-$0.25 each |
| Team bags or resealable bags | Sealing holders against dust | $0.03-$0.05 each |
| Microfiber cloth | Gentle surface cleaning | $3-$5 |
| Compressed air (canned) | Removing dust and debris | $5-$8 |
| Small shipping box | Fits your submission snugly | $2-$5 |
| Bubble wrap or packing material | Prevents movement during shipping | $3-$5 |
Step 3: Cleaning Your Cards
Cleaning is about removing dust, loose debris, and minor surface contaminants. It is NOT about removing scratches, stains, or other permanent defects. Attempting to "fix" a card's condition is considered alteration by grading companies and can result in your card being flagged or rejected.
What You Can Clean
- Dust and loose particles: Use a quick burst of compressed air from 6-8 inches away. Do not use prolonged blasts, which can force debris into the card surface
- Light fingerprint oils: Gently wipe with a clean, dry microfiber cloth using minimal pressure. One light pass, not repeated scrubbing
- Debris on the surface: If a small particle is stuck to the surface, try compressed air first. If that fails, use a very soft brush (like a clean, new makeup brush) with the lightest possible touch
What You Must NOT Do
- Do not use water, cleaning solutions, or alcohol on cards. These can damage the ink, warp the cardboard, or leave residue
- Do not use erasers to remove marks or stains. This is considered alteration
- Do not attempt to flatten bent or warped cards with heat, weight, or pressing. This is alteration
- Do not trim edges to remove chips or imperfections. This is fraud and will result in a permanent ban from grading companies
- Do not use adhesives to reattach peeling layers or repair tears
Card Cleaning Best Practices
- Put on clean gloves before handling any cards
- Hold the card by its edges only
- Use a short burst of compressed air to remove any visible dust
- If needed, one gentle pass with a clean microfiber cloth
- Immediately sleeve the card after cleaning
Step 4: Sleeving and Carding
The order in which you sleeve and card matters. Done incorrectly, this step itself can cause edge or surface damage.
For PSA Submissions (Card Saver 1)
PSA strongly prefers cards in Card Saver 1 semi-rigid holders. Here is the correct process:
- Insert the card into a new penny sleeve. Slide the card in gently, top-first. Do not force it. The sleeve should be slightly larger than the card
- Ensure the card is fully seated in the penny sleeve with no edges exposed
- Slide the sleeved card into the Card Saver 1. Insert it gently and straight. Do not bend or flex the Card Saver during insertion
- Verify the card sits flat inside the Card Saver with no bunching of the penny sleeve
Do not use top-loaders for PSA submissions. PSA specifically recommends Card Saver 1 holders because they allow the grading team to remove cards without the pressure and friction that top-loader removal requires.
For BGS Submissions
BGS accepts both Card Saver 1 holders and top-loaders, but their preference is Card Saver 1:
- Follow the same sleeving process as PSA
- If using top-loaders, use a standard 35pt top-loader for regular cards (adjust for thicker cards)
- Place a piece of blue painter's tape across the top opening to prevent the card from sliding out, but do not let the tape contact the card or penny sleeve
For CGC Submissions
CGC also accepts Card Saver 1 holders and top-loaders:
- Follow the same sleeving process
- CGC does not have a strong preference between holder types, but Card Saver 1 is generally the safest option for transit
Common Sleeving Mistakes
- Using old or scratched penny sleeves: Always use new sleeves. Old sleeves can have micro-abrasions that scratch card surfaces
- Forcing cards into too-tight sleeves: If the sleeve is a tight fit, it will scrape the edges during insertion. Use standard-sized sleeves that allow the card to slide in with minimal resistance
- Double-sleeving unnecessarily: Unless specifically required, one penny sleeve is sufficient. Double-sleeving can create pressure points
- Sleeve orientation: Insert cards so the opening of the penny sleeve faces the closed end of the Card Saver or top-loader. This prevents the card from sliding out of the sleeve
Step 5: Organizing and Labeling
Once all cards are sleeved and carded, organize them to match your submission form:
- Number each Card Saver with a small label or piece of tape on the top (not touching the card). Match these numbers to your submission form line items
- Group by declared value tier if submitting to different service levels
- Stack Card Savers together and secure the stack with a rubber band around the outside of the bundle. The rubber band goes around the Card Savers, NEVER touching the cards themselves
- Place the stack in a team bag or resealable plastic bag for additional dust protection
Each grading company has its own submission form. Accuracy here prevents delays and potential upcharges.
General Tips for All Companies
- Fill out forms online when possible. PSA, BGS, and CGC all offer online submission systems that reduce errors
- Declare values honestly: Under-declaring can result in upcharges if the graded value exceeds your declared value. Over-declaring wastes money on a higher service tier
- Double-check card identification: Ensure the year, set, card number, and player/character name are correct for each card
- Select the correct card type: Sports, Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh, Magic, etc. Getting this wrong can delay processing
- Print a copy of your form and include it inside the shipping box
PSA: Use the PSA submission center online. Select your service level, enter card details, and print the packing slip. PSA uses a barcode system tied to your online account.
BGS: Beckett's online submission system generates a pre-filled form. Pay attention to the sub-grade request option if you want sub-grades displayed (they are included by default with BGS, but verify).
CGC: CGC's submission form includes an option for sub-grades at additional cost. Decide in advance whether you want sub-grades, as adding them later is not possible.
For pricing details on each company, see our guides: PSA grading costs, BGS grading costs, and CGC grading costs.
Step 7: Packaging for Shipping
Packaging is the last line of defense between your preparation and the grader's table. Poor packaging is responsible for more grade-drops than most collectors realize.
The Correct Packaging Method
- Choose a box that fits your card bundle snugly. Too much empty space allows movement. A 6x6x4 inch box works for most submissions of 10-30 cards
- Wrap the card bundle in bubble wrap. Use enough to cushion all sides, but do not over-wrap to the point of creating pressure on the cards
- Place the wrapped bundle in the box and fill any remaining space with crumpled packing paper or additional bubble wrap. The bundle should not move when you shake the box
- Include your submission form in a resealable bag on top of the cards, so it is the first thing the receiving team sees
- Seal the box with strong packing tape. Tape all seams
- Label the outside with the shipping label from your carrier and any required return address information
Shipping Best Practices
| Submission Value | Recommended Carrier | Insurance |
|---|
| Under $500 total | USPS Priority Mail | Included $100, add more if needed |
| $500 - $2,000 | USPS Priority Mail or UPS Ground | Add full declared value insurance |
| $2,000 - $10,000 | UPS or FedEx with tracking | Full declared value + signature required |
| Over $10,000 | UPS/FedEx with declared value | Full insurance, consider registered mail |
- Always use tracked shipping. Never send a submission without a tracking number
- Require signature on delivery for submissions valued over $500
- Keep your tracking number and monitor delivery. Once the carrier shows delivery, contact the grading company if the submission does not appear in your account within a few business days
Packaging Mistakes to Avoid
- Using a box that is too large: Cards bounce around during transit and can sustain edge and corner damage
- Newspaper as packing material: Ink from newspaper can transfer to card surfaces through sleeves and holders
- Packing peanuts without a barrier: Loose packing peanuts can work into Card Savers. Wrap your cards first, then use peanuts to fill space
- Reusing old boxes: Weakened cardboard offers less protection. Use a fresh, sturdy box
Step 8: After Submission
Track Your Order
All three major grading companies provide online tracking:
- PSA: Track via the PSA Cert Verification or your account dashboard
- BGS: Track through your Beckett account
- CGC: Track through the CGC submission tracker
Expected Timelines
Turnaround times vary by service level and current demand. For current pricing and turnaround details, see:
When Cards Come Back
When you receive your graded cards:
- Inspect the slabs for any damage during return shipping
- Verify the grades match your online account
- Compare actual grades to your pre-submission estimates to calibrate your future evaluations
- Record the results in your tracking spreadsheet. Over time, this data makes you a better evaluator and submitter
Pre-Screen Before You Prepare
The most cost-effective step in the entire grading process happens before any of the preparation above. CardGrade.io uses AI to predict your card's grade across PSA, BGS, and CGC in 29 seconds. Cards that the AI flags as likely 7s or below can be set aside, saving you the time and cost of preparing and submitting cards that will not return a profit.
The preparation process described in this guide takes real time and real money. Make sure every card you prepare is worth the effort.
- Use the free centering tool to check centering instantly
- Run edge analysis to catch edge defects before they cost you
- Check surface quality to identify hidden scratches and print lines
- Sign up for CardGrade.io with 3 trial credits and get full predicted grades before your next submission
For a broader look at grading strategy, including when to grade, which company to choose, and how to maximize your ROI, read our complete card grading strategy guide.
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