Guide 07 / Grading companies · 7 minute read · Updated 29 September 2026

Quick answer: To submit cards to PSA, identify every card precisely, inspect and decide, choose a currently open service level whose max insured value fits the card, complete and save the online order, place each card in a clear penny sleeve and a semi-rigid holder of 3 5/16 × 4 7/8 inches (no toploaders, tape, pull tabs or sticky notes), pack it to PSA's shipping guide, then track the order and check the return carefully. EU collectors can now submit directly to PSA Europe in Frankfurt.

A successful PSA submission starts with the right service and an accurate inventory, not with a prediction that every card will receive a PSA 10. Decide why you are grading, identify the exact cards and follow PSA's current submission instructions from order creation through return.

Service update, September 2026: On 14 September 2026 PSA opened a new Standard service level and renamed two others: Regular is now Priority, and Walk-Through is now Premier. The Value tiers remain paused. Since 15 September 2026, collectors in the European Union can also submit directly to PSA Europe in Frankfurt; see our guide PSA Frankfurt: How to Submit Cards to PSA Europe. Check the live service page before purchasing or shipping.

Understand the result you are buying

PSA assesses cards under its own grading standards. A numerical grade is not interchangeable with another company's grade or with an informal seller description. Read the full service description when the card is signed, unusually sized, already encapsulated or potentially altered.

Do not purchase a standard grading service expecting every autograph question to be resolved automatically. The card's condition, the signature's authentication and any signature grade are separate considerations.

Step 1: Identify every card precisely

Create a list before starting the online form. Record the year or release, set, card number, name, language, variant, finish and any serial numbering. Add details that distinguish a promotional issue from a regular set card.

Use front and back photographs to preserve a record of the exact examples. When submitting duplicates, keep them in a fixed sequence and note distinctive features. If the catalogue entry does not clearly match the card, use PSA's current process for assistance rather than selecting a similar-looking entry.

Step 2: Inspect and decide whether to submit

Check centering, corners, edges and surfaces under useful lighting. Record concerns without assigning an unsupported final grade. A newly opened card should still be inspected.

Compare a realistic middle or disappointing result with the full cost, rather than relying only on a Gem Mint sale. Do not treat cleaning, pressing or edge touch-ups as submission preparation.

Step 3: Select the PSA service level and value correctly

Use the live PSA service page for current availability, value limits, options and estimated timing. A price shown in an old guide is not proof that the service remains open. EU collectors ordering through PSA Europe see euro prices and European insured-value limits, which differ slightly from the US figures.

Each service level has a maximum insured value. PSA's terms direct customers to select a level above their estimate of the card's post-grading fair market value, and allow a fee adjustment when PSA determines that the value exceeds the selected limit. This is separate from transit coverage.

Budget for the complete order: grading, eligible add-ons, shipping in both directions, supplies, any membership cost and applicable taxes. Do not intentionally understate a card's value to fit a lower tier.

For a submission made on your behalf, verify that the submitter is an authorised PSA dealer using a permitted route. Obtain a written explanation of the service, fees, custody, insurance, updates and returns.

Step 4: Complete and save the order

Check the card count, item descriptions, service selection, contact details and return address before finalising. Review any options for minimum grades or authentication-only results; do not choose a setting you do not understand.

Save the order confirmation and download the required paperwork. Place the cards in the precise order shown on that paperwork and keep this sequence unchanged during preparation.

Step 5: Follow PSA's sleeve-and-holder requirements

For standard trading cards, PSA currently specifies a clear penny sleeve and a semi-rigid holder measuring 3 5/16 × 4 7/8 inches. Both sides must be visible. Its instructions say not to use toploaders, tape, pull tabs or sticky notes.

That means a convenient pull-tab storage method, including our own Pull Tab Card Sleeves, is not the method to carry over into a PSA order. The rule does not state an exception for a sleeve with an integrated tab.

Compare any holder's published measurements with PSA's specification and seek clarification where measurement conventions differ. Do not assume that every product called a card saver has identical dimensions or acceptance status. Use a controlled transfer routine and stop if the card catches or the sleeve wrinkles. See How to Prepare Cards for Grading and Toploader vs Card Saver.

Step 6: Assemble the package and verify labels

Use PSA's current shipping guide for the stack, supports, cushioning, paperwork and external labels. Keep multiple submissions separated as instructed, and distinguish the PSA tracking label from the carrier's own label. Use the destination printed on your own order paperwork, whether that is PSA Europe in Frankfurt or a US facility.

Before sealing, reconcile the physical count with the order. Photograph the prepared package and resolve transit coverage and any international documents before handover.

Step 7: Follow the order without confusing delivery and grading

Keep the carrier's delivery record and monitor the PSA account for intake and processing. A courier scan does not mean the card has already reached the grading stage.

Use the order number and a clear timeline when contacting support. Avoid making a firm onward-sale promise based only on an estimated turnaround.

Step 8: Inspect the returned cards and information

Match every card to its inventory entry. Check the set, language, number, variant, certificate and grade designation. Inspect the holder for damage and compare the card with your pre-submission records.

PSA offers grader notes for eligible services and results, but they are not universal. Report a genuine discrepancy promptly and retain the packaging. Do not open the slab or try to correct an apparent label issue yourself. Protect the returned slab with a PSA Graded Slab Sleeve.

Frequently asked questions

Does a card that looks like a 10 have to receive a PSA 10?

No. Your inspection is a screening exercise, not PSA's assessment. Use observations and realistic cost scenarios rather than a guaranteed-grade promise.

Can I send the card to PSA in my usual toploader?

Not under the current standard-card shipping method described above. Read the live instructions for your card and service.

What does PSA Gem Mint 10 require for centering?

PSA's current standard describes approximately 55/45 or better on the front and 75/25 on the reverse. Centering is only one part of the assessment.

What happened to PSA Regular and Walk-Through?

Since 14 September 2026, Regular is called Priority and Walk-Through is called Premier. PSA also added a new Standard level; the Value tiers remain paused.

Can I submit to PSA from Germany without shipping to the US?

Yes. Since 15 September 2026, EU collectors can submit directly to PSA Europe in Frankfurt. See our PSA Frankfurt guide.

Can PSA grade a card that has been cleaned or altered?

An altered or treated card can receive a different outcome from an ordinary numerical grade, and fees may still apply. Do not assume treatment will be invisible or that an unsuccessful submission is free.

Prepare for a documented result, not a promised grade

A good PSA submission is correctly identified, appropriately serviced and traceable. Choose protection that fits the official method, preserve the card's actual condition and keep the records needed to understand the result.

Related guides

Sources and current requirements

Updated 29 September 2026. Use the current official instructions for the service and route you select. Sources: PSA - PSA Opens New Standard Service Level and Begins Grading in Europe (September 2026); PSA - Backlog Tracker; PSA - Grading Standards; PSA - Trading Card Grading Services; PSA - Terms and Conditions; PSA - Shipping Guide; PSA - Frequently Asked Questions.

Grade Saver Pro is the grading sub-brand of Saver Pro and is independent of PSA. This is educational guidance, not a grading service or a promise of a result. No grading-company endorsement is implied.