PSA Grading: What to Look For & How to Prep for Submittal

Grading is where value gets created — or destroyed. PSA rewards precision, discipline, and consistency. If you want 10s, you need a repeatable process, not vibes and hope.

This guide walks you through exactly what to look for and how to prep your cards before you submit.

Step 1: Raw Card Inspection

You’re hunting for four main issues: centering, corners, edges, and surface. Miss on any of these and your shot at a 10 drops fast.

Centering

Centering is the #1 silent killer of PSA 10s.

Targets:

• Front: Ideally 55/45 or better
• Back: Ideally 60/40 or better

On most modern Topps, Chrome, Prizm, Optic, etc., centering is usually the primary risk factor. If it’s clearly off, don’t talk yourself into it — move on.

Corners

Use a clean LED light at an angle and slowly rotate the card.

Check for:

• Whitening
• Micro-frays
• Lifted coating
• Uneven or “hooked” cut edges

Soft corners on a modern card are almost always a grade killer.

Edges

Scan the full perimeter of the card.

Common problems:

• Roller marks
• Blade chatter (jagged edge cuts)
• Micro-chips
• Flaked foil on chromium/foil sets

Edges can look fine head-on but show damage when tilted in the light. Don’t skip this.

Surface

This is where a ton of value evaporates.

Look for:

• Print lines
• Dimples and indents
• Scratches and scuffs
• Refractor streaks
• Fingerprints and smudges
• Glue or pack residue

Use a microfiber cloth and a card-safe air blower to remove dust and oils after inspection.

Step 2: Cleaning (Safe, Minimal, Non-Abrasive Only)

You’re not “fixing” the card. You’re just removing loose junk that shouldn’t be there.

Safe tools:

• Microfiber cloth
• Optical-grade lens cloth
• Air blower

Avoid completely:

• Liquids
• Erasers
• Abrasive pads
• Any chemical or tool that alters the card’s surface

A light, single-direction wipe to remove oils and dust is all you should be doing. If you’re aggressively scrubbing, you’re doing it wrong.

Step 3: Card Protection for Submission

Once a card makes the cut, protect it like it’s already a PSA 10.

Standard PSA prep:

1. Card into a penny sleeve
2. Penny sleeve into a Semi-Rigid Holder

Avoid:

• Tight-fit sleeves — they can catch corners and roll them
• Jamming cards deep into holders — always push from the sleeve, not the card itself

You want the card secure, not suffocating.

Step 4: Pre-Submission Judgment

Before you add it to your PSA pile, ask yourself three hard questions:

1. Is this a legitimate PSA 10 candidate?
2. Does this card have enough upside to justify the grading fee?
3. Would I be happy with a PSA 9 on this card at this cost?

If the answer to #3 is “no,” don’t grade it. You’re just tying up money in a slab you’ll resent.

Step 5: Submission Strategy & Fee Math

PSA pricing changes, but the basic tiers look like:

• Bulk (usually 10+ cards, lower declared value)
• Value
• Regular
• Express / higher-end tiers

You should always line up grading fee vs. projected value as a PSA 10.

Simple rules of thumb:

• If grading is around $25, the card should realistically be worth $75–$100+ as a PSA 10
• If grading is around $40, target cards that will be $150+ as a PSA 10
• Premium/express tiers are reserved for big cards only — true “monster” upside

If the math doesn’t make sense, sell it raw or hold it. Grading is an investment decision, not a reflex.

Step 6: After PSA Arrival

Check the PSA order carefully:

• Confirm the right cards are received
• Inspect for serious damage in the PSA Photos. Minor scuffs are common as Photos are taken with the card still in the sleeve and holder.
• Verify the card descriptions are correct
• Decide if you want PSA to
  
  • Send back to you
  • Send to your PSA Vault
  • List and sell the card for you

Once all that is completed & confirmed

Wait for an eternity......

Final Step: Receive your Cards

This is your last quality-control loop before you:

• List the card for sale
• Move it to a vault
• Lock it into your PC

Treat it like receiving inventory — verify labeling and Slabs are correct and intact, inspect, then move it into your next step (sell, stash, or trade).

Dial this process in, run it the same way every time, and your PSA results stop feeling random and start looking intentional.

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