How do you get Pokémon cards graded?

Choose a grading company (PSA, CGC or BGS), create an account and build a submission declaring each card's value, protect each card in a penny sleeve and semi-rigid holder, then ship the package with tracking and insurance. The grader inspects, scores and encapsulates the card and mails it back in a sealed slab.

Where can I get Pokémon cards graded?

You can submit directly to PSA, CGC or BGS online, drop off at their booths at card shows, or use a local card shop or a group/bulk submitter who batches cards to lower the per-card cost.

How much does it cost to grade a Pokémon card?

Grading typically ranges from about $15 to $75+ per card depending on the company, service level and declared value, plus shipping and insurance both ways. Faster tiers cost more, and bulk submissions lower the per-card price.

How long does it take to get a Pokémon card graded?

Turnaround depends on the service tier — economy and bulk tiers can take one to several months, while express tiers can be days to a few weeks at a higher cost.

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How to Get Your Pokémon Cards Graded

Grading turns a raw Pokémon card into a sealed, authenticated, numerically scored slab — and can multiply its value. Here's the full process in 2026: deciding what to grade, choosing a company, prepping and packing, submitting, and what it costs.

Step 1 — Decide if the card is worth grading

Grading isn't free, so start with the maths. Grade a card when the expected graded value minus the grading cost is clearly higher than the raw value. That's usually true for near-mint copies of chased cards (modern alt-arts, vintage holos, first editions) and rarely worth it for bulk commons or played cards. If you're unsure, run the numbers with our is my card worth grading guide first.

Step 2 — Choose a grading company

The three majors are PSA, CGC and BGS. They differ on price, turnaround, and which slabs sell for the most in a given category. For modern Pokémon, PSA and CGC slabs are both liquid; BGS is known for subgrades and its coveted Black Label 10. Compare them in our PSA vs CGC vs BGS breakdown, then pick based on cost and resale in your niche.

Step 3 — Create an account and build a submission

Add each card and declare its value (this sets the service tier you're eligible for and the insurance).
Pick a service level — economy/bulk (cheapest, slowest) up to express (fastest, priciest).
Print the submission form to include in the package.

Be honest with declared value: it determines both cost and how much you're covered for in transit.

Step 4 — Protect and pack your cards

How you pack matters — damage in transit is on you, not the grader. For each card:

Slide it into a soft penny sleeve.
Place the sleeved card into a semi-rigid holder (e.g. a Card Saver) — not a hard top-loader, which graders dislike for submissions.
Group the cards, wrap them together, and pad the box so nothing shifts.

More on safe handling and packing in how to store and protect trading cards and how to ship trading cards safely.

Step 5 — Ship with tracking and insurance

Send the package to the grader's intake address using a service with tracking and insurance for the declared value. Keep the receipt and tracking number until your cards are safely back.

Step 6 — What happens next

The company verifies authenticity, inspects centring, corners, edges and surface, assigns a grade (typically 1–10), and encapsulates the card in a sealed, labelled slab. You'll get status updates through your account, and the graded cards ship back to you when done.

Where to get Pokémon cards graded

You have a few routes:

Direct online submission — submit straight to PSA, CGC or BGS via their websites. Best control, standard pricing.
Card shows — the majors run on-site intake booths at big shows, sometimes with express turnaround.
Local card shop (LGS) or group submitters — many shops and community submitters batch cards into one bulk order, lowering the per-card cost and handling the logistics for you. Great for larger lots.

Once your slabs are back, sell them where you keep the most. List graded Pokémon cards on The Bubble Art with multi-angle photos, the cert number, and a verifiable Digital Passport — and keep 97% with 0% commission. Not grading? Sell raw with clear photos and let the buyer decide.

Sell graded Pokémon cards — keep 97%

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