PSA Grading Tips: How to Maximize Your Card's Value

Expert tips on preparing your Pokemon cards for PSA grading to achieve the highest possible grades and maximize resale value.

Professional grading can dramatically increase your Pokemon card's value, but submitting the wrong cards or preparing them incorrectly can waste money. Here's how to maximize your chances of achieving high grades.

Understanding PSA Grading Criteria

PSA evaluates cards on four primary factors, each weighted equally in the final grade:

Centering: How well the card's image is centered within the borders
Corners: Sharpness and condition of all four corners
Edges: Condition of the card edges, checking for whitening or chips
Surface: Scratches, print lines, and other surface imperfections

Centering guidelines (approximate)

PSA grades holistically and does not publish one fixed numeric centering chart for Gem Mint. Collectors often use rules of thumb like those below — TCGDetect's Gem Mint gate matches the PSA 10 row.

PSA 10: ~55/45 or better front, ~75/25 or better back
PSA 9: ~60/40 or better front, ~90/10 or better back
PSA 8: ~65/35 or better front, ~90/10 or better back

Use a centering tool or app to measure your cards before submission. Even slightly off-center cards are unlikely to achieve PSA 10.

Pre-Submission Inspection

Before submitting any card, perform a thorough inspection:

Use proper lighting: Natural daylight or LED panels reveal surface issues
Check corners with magnification: 10x loupe helps spot micro-damage
Inspect both sides: Back condition matters as much as front
Look for print defects: Print lines, ink spots, and roller marks

Card Preparation Best Practices

Never attempt to "clean" or modify cards—this can result in altered designation or rejection. However, proper handling and storage before submission is essential:

Store cards in penny sleeves inside toploaders
Use team bags for added protection during shipping
Handle cards by edges only, never touch surfaces
Remove any debris with a microfiber cloth (gently)

"A PSA 10 Charizard can be worth 5-10x more than a PSA 9. The difference between grades often comes down to careful pre-submission inspection."

Which Cards Are Worth Grading?

Grading costs ($20-150+ per card) mean not every card is worth submitting. Consider grading when:

Raw card value is $50+ and condition appears excellent
PSA 10 value is 2x+ the grading cost plus raw value
Card is vintage with significant premium for high grades
You plan to hold long-term or sell immediately

Submission Service Levels

PSA offers multiple service levels with different turnaround times and costs. For most collectors:

Economy: Best value for non-urgent submissions
Regular: Good balance of speed and cost
Express/Super Express: Only for high-value or time-sensitive cards

After Submission

Track your submission through PSA's website and be prepared for the possibility of lower grades than expected. Even experienced graders are surprised sometimes—PSA's standards are strict.

If you receive a grade lower than expected, you can request a review (for a fee) or crack the case and resubmit. However, resubmission rarely results in significant grade improvements.