How to pack cards safely for grading
With the right packaging, every card reaches us undamaged – here’s how, step by step.
The most common cause of transit damage is packaging that’s too loose. With just a few standard materials, you can reliably protect your trading cards on their way to us – the basis for a clean grading result.
What you need
- One penny sleeve (a thin protective sleeve) per card
- One toploader (a rigid holder) per card
- One team bag (a resealable bag)
- A sturdy padded envelope or small box
Packed in 4 steps
Step 1 of 4: Into the penny sleeve
Slide the card into a penny sleeve, a thin protective sleeve. It protects the surface from scratches and dust.
Step 2 of 4: Into the toploader
Put the sleeved card into a toploader, a rigid holder. It keeps the card stiff and crease-free.
Step 3 of 4: Into the team bag
Seal the toploader inside a team bag, a resealable bag. Never tape the toploader shut directly.
Step 4 of 4: Into an envelope or box
Place everything into a padded envelope or small box – no loose cards.
Common packing mistakes
- Loose cards with no sleeve or toploader.
- Taping the toploader shut directly – this damages the card when opened.
- An oversized envelope in which everything shifts around.
- No padding for valuable or multiple cards.
Shipping & return
Insure valuable cards when sending them in to us, too. You’ll receive the shipping address after placing your order. Your cards come back insured and with tracking in your customer account – sealed in a slab and with an online certificate at check.apgrading.de.
