How to ship cards for grading
Most damage happens in transit, not at the grader. Pre-grade first so you only ship cards worth the fees, then pack them so nothing moves between your door and intake.
What you need
- Penny sleeves (one per card, snug fit)
- Semi-rigid card savers — graders require these, not top loaders
- Painter's tape or a rubber band to bundle small stacks (never tape the card itself)
- Team bags for extra moisture protection
- Bubble wrap and a sturdy corrugated box slightly larger than your stack
- Printed submission form and packing slip
Step by step
- 1
Pre-grade before you pay for shipping
Scan each card first so you only ship the ones likely to hit the grade that justifies the fee. A card estimated at a 7 rarely returns enough value to cover grading plus shipping both ways.
- 2
Sleeve, then card saver
Slide the card into a penny sleeve top-first, then into a semi-rigid card saver. Never use top loaders for submissions — most graders reject them and it slows intake.
- 3
Bundle and label
Stack cards in the same order as your submission form, bundle with painter's tape or a rubber band around the card savers, and slip the stack into a team bag.
- 4
Pack with immobile padding
Wrap the bundle in bubble wrap so nothing shifts, then box it. Fill every void — movement in transit is the single biggest cause of new corner dings.
- 5
Declare value and insure
Insure for the full declared value on your submission form and require signature confirmation. Keep the tracking number and a photo of the packed box before you seal it.
- 6
Track and log the return
Note the submission number, date shipped and expected turnaround. When the slabs come back, compare the assigned grades against your pre-grade estimates to calibrate your next submission.
Before you seal the box
- Card order matches the submission form, line by line
- Every card is sleeved and in a semi-rigid card saver
- Declared value entered and insurance purchased
- Signature confirmation and tracking added
- Photo taken of the packed contents
Common questions
How should I package cards for grading?
Penny sleeve each card, place it in a semi-rigid card saver, bundle the savers with painter's tape or a rubber band, wrap the bundle in bubble wrap, and pack it in a sturdy box with no room to shift.
Can I ship cards in top loaders?
Most grading companies ask you not to. Semi-rigid card savers let intake staff remove the card without flexing it, so top loaders can delay your order or get returned.
Should I insure a card grading shipment?
Yes. Insure for the declared value on your submission form and add signature confirmation. Photograph the packed contents before sealing the box as proof of what shipped.
How much does it cost to ship cards for grading?
Domestic ground with tracking and modest insurance typically runs a modest flat cost for a small box, rising with declared value. Grading fees and return shipping are separate — factor both in before submitting a low-value card.
How do I decide which cards are worth shipping?
Run a pre-grade scan on each card. Cards estimated at a 9 or 10 usually justify the fees; borderline cards often do not once you add grading, shipping and insurance both ways.
Pre-grade before you ship
Get an AI pre-grade estimate on centering, corners, edges and surface so you only pay to submit the cards that are worth it — free, 5 scans a month.