How to Pack Pokémon Cards for PSA (So They Arrive Safe)

A great card can still get hurt on the way to the grading company. Packing is not glamorous, but it is part of earning the grade you hope for.

The standard sandwich

For most raw submissions, the common approach is:

1. Soft sleeve the card (penny sleeve), art facing the non-seal side carefully.
2. Place it in a semi-rigid holder (often called a Card Saver–style holder).
3. Group holders in order matching your submission form.
4. Add rigid support and cushioning inside a sturdy box.

Follow the grading company's latest packing guidelines — they publish preferred materials for a reason.

What not to do

• Do not ship loose cards in a team bag with no rigid protection.
• Avoid overstuffing a box so cards can flex or rub.
• Do not use sticky tape on sleeves in a way that could touch the card.
• Skip toploaders if the company asks for semi-rigids instead — mismatched materials can slow intake.

Documentation and order

Keep cards in the exact order of your online submission. Include required forms and label the outside correctly. A mixed-up stack creates headaches and delays.

Insurance and tracking

Use a tracked method and insure for a realistic replacement value. Photograph your packed stack before sealing the box so you have a record of what left your hands.

Grade candidates before you ship

Packing protects condition — it does not improve it. Confirm each card is submission-worthy with a Cardemon scan first, then pack only the ones that clear your bar.

A quick pre-submission checklist

Before you spend on grading, confirm four things: the exact card and variant, recent comps for the grade you hope to hit, front-and-back condition under good light, and whether the fee still leaves upside. If any answer is fuzzy, slow down. Cardemon is built to sharpen the condition answer in minutes so the money questions get clearer.