How to check Pokémon cards before grading

Before sending a Pokémon card for grading, check both sides for surface marks, corner wear, edge damage and uneven borders. A careful inspection helps you record what you can see and decide whether a submission fits your collecting goal.

This guide covers condition checks you can carry out at home or at a card show. A visual check does not authenticate a card or predict its final grade.

Set up a consistent inspection

Work on a clean, uncluttered surface with good lighting. Handle the card by its edges and avoid touching the artwork. If the card belongs to a seller, ask permission before removing it from a sleeve or holder. Do not place the inspection tool directly on the card.

Look at the whole card first, then inspect smaller areas. Follow the same route each time: front surface, back surface, four corners, four edges, then centring. Consistency makes it easier to compare cards without overlooking an area.

Check the surface from more than one angle

Slowly tilt the card under a light. Look for fine scratches, straight lines, dents, creases, stains and changes in the finish. A mark that is hard to see head-on may become clearer at another angle. Check the back as carefully as the front.

Sleeves and holders can have their own marks. If you cannot establish whether a line is on the card or the holder, record that uncertainty rather than treating the card as clean.

Inspect all four corners and edges

Check each corner on the front and back for whitening, rounding, bends or separation. Work around the full edge rather than checking only the most visible section. Note chips, fraying and small white areas. Keep the card supported while inspecting it.

Compare the borders

Compare left and right borders, then top and bottom, on both sides. Keep the card square to your view. An angled photo can make borders appear uneven. CardSpector's on-screen measurement guide provides a reference while examining details; it does not automatically calculate a grading company's centring assessment.

Decide what you want from grading

Write down the marks you found before looking at likely sale values. If resale is your goal, compare recent sold examples of the exact card at several grades and allow for grading, postage and selling costs. If preservation or sentimental value is your goal, record that separately.

Grading companies apply their own standards. For PSA submissions, consult the official PSA grading standards rather than treating a home inspection as a grade.

Where CardSpector fits

CardSpector is a handheld trading card inspection tool with a built-in screen, illumination and an on-screen measurement guide. It gives collectors a magnified view while checking condition before buying, trading or submitting cards. It does not assign grades or guarantee a grading outcome.

Next, read how to inspect scratches and print lines, or follow our checklist before buying a Pokémon card.