Collector Guide · PSA® Submissions

How to Submit Cards to PSA

PSA's submission process looks intimidating on the first pass — service tiers, declared values, prep supplies, shipping insurance. This is the step-by-step walkthrough we use in the vault. Roughly 30 minutes end-to-end for your first submission, under 10 once you have a rhythm.

1. Step 01

   Create your PSA account

   Sign up at psacard.com. Optional but recommended: join the Collectors Club — it unlocks Value-tier vouchers and priority support that pays for itself on your first bulk order.

2. Step 02

   Pick the right service tier

   Match each card to the cheapest tier whose declared-value ceiling covers its PSA 10 comp. See the full breakdown in our PSA grading cost guide.

3. Step 03

   Set an accurate declared value

   Use recent PSA 10 sales comps, not raw comps. The declared value determines PSA's insurance ceiling and the return-shipping fee — under-declaring saves cents and risks dollars.

4. Step 04

   Prep and sleeve each card

   Penny sleeve first, then semi-rigid (Card Saver 1) with the card top flush to the opening. Tape the top of the semi-rigid to the sleeve, not to the card. No top-loaders — PSA charges to unpack them.

5. Step 05

   Fill out the submission form

   Enter each card in the exact order it sits in the stack. Include year, set, player, card number, and any parallel/variation. Errors here delay grading — double-check before printing.

6. Step 06

   Pack and ship insured

   Sandwich cards between two pieces of cardboard, bundle with rubber bands, then bubble mailer inside a small box. Ship via a carrier with tracking and insurance to the declared value.

7. Step 07

   Track and receive grades

   PSA moves your order through Received → Research & ID → Grading → Assembly → Shipped. Grades post to your account before the package leaves — usually a 1–3 business day lead.

Common submission mistakes

• Cards out of order versus the form — PSA charges a research fee to reconcile.
• Sleeving with the opening at the bottom of the Card Saver — cards slip out during transit.
• Skipping insurance to save on shipping — the carrier only covers up to $100 without it.
• Submitting obvious low grades at Express-tier pricing. Pre-screen for surface, corners, edges, centering.

Next step

Not sure which tier fits your card? Read the PSA grading cost guide for tier-by-tier pricing and declared-value rules — then queue your submission in the vault.