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How to pack cards for grading or posting

Follow the receiving grader's current packing instructions and keep submission protection separate from display protection.

By the Trading Card Preservation team · Checked 2026-11-02

Grading prices and turnaround times change often. Use the individual source dates shown with the service figures; check the current price before you submit.
This isn't financial advice. A grade doesn't guarantee a resale price, and grading fees and postage can cost more than a card is worth.

The recipient's instructions come first

A good display case is not automatically an accepted submission holder. Check the receiving grader or dealer's current guide before ordering supplies. If instructions conflict with general accessory advice, ask the receiving service which requirement applies to your submission.

PSA's checked preparation sequence

PSA's shipping guide, checked 2 November 2026, specifies clear penny sleeves inside semi-rigid holders. It says not to use toploaders, tape, pull tabs or sticky notes on those holders. Cards should follow the submission-form order, with the stack protected and boxed to prevent movement. For standard cards, the checked guide specifies semi-rigid holders measuring 3 5/16 × 4 7/8 inches. Confirm the live guide for your card format before buying supplies.

Use the full live guide for holder dimensions and the complete packing sequence. Do not assume this is also the required format for Ace, CGC, a UK dealer or ordinary person-to-person posting.

Prepare records before sealing

Check the card list against the parcel, keep the submission reference and take a record of what you are sending. Confirm the delivery address from the current submission process, not an old article. Keep your tracking and any coverage terms together.

For an unusual card, stop and ask

Thick, oversized, fragile or already encapsulated cards may need different arrangements. Do not force one into a normal semi-rigid holder because that is what a general guide illustrates. Contact the recipient for the accepted format first.

If you are still choosing a route, read how to get cards graded in the UK before packing.

A packing checkpoint before the box closes

Check What to confirm
Identity Each card matches the submission entry and the stack follows that order
Protection Sleeves and holders follow the receiving route’s current instructions
Separation Different submissions remain separately bundled with their paperwork
Movement The protected bundle is supported inside a new, suitable shipping box
Records Keep the submission reference, item list, tracking and a record of visible condition

PSA describes supporting the stack with cardboard dividers and securing it without damaging the cards, then filling empty space in the shipping box. This does not mean applying tape or a label to an individual sleeve or holder. Its shipping guide distinguishes outer parcel sealing from card-level preparation.

For a UK intermediary, use the address and process in that dealer’s current instructions. Sending a parcel to a grader directly when you booked an intermediary route can break the intended chain of handling. Check the recipient and submission reference together before producing the shipping label.

Separate ordinary posting from a grading submission

A private recipient may agree a different enclosure from a grader. Agree the format first, then plan support against bending and movement. Do not assume that a grading-ready stack is a complete postal package, or that a rigid display holder is accepted by every grader. Use the collection inventory guide to keep records of items that leave their usual storage location.

Sources & checks