Guides for card collectors
What graders look for, what grading and selling really cost, and how to ship and photograph cards. Each guide pairs with a free tool.
Card centering requirements for PSA, BGS and CGCCentering is the one flaw you can measure before you pay to grade. Here's what PSA, BGS and CGC allow at each grade, front and back, and how to read a ratio like 60/40.With the Centering CalculatorHow to check card centering at homeYou can measure centering accurately with a phone, a ruler or a flatbed scanner. Here's how to do each one, and the mistakes that make a well-centered card look off.With the Centering CalculatorIs it worth grading your cards?Grading pays when the jump from raw to graded value beats the fee, shipping and the risk of a lower grade. Here's how to work that out for any card in a few minutes.With the Grading CalculatorHow much does PSA grading cost?PSA charges per card, and the price depends on the service level your card's value requires. Here are the October 2026 levels and the other costs that come with a submission.With the Submission PlannerPre-grading checklistGraders look at four things: centering, corners, edges and surface. Checking them yourself first is the cheapest way to avoid paying to grade a card that comes back a 7.With the Centering CalculatoreBay fees for trading cardsTrading cards have their own fee rate on eBay. Here's how it works, what changes it, and what eBay keeps on sales from $5 to $10,000.With the eBay Fee CalculatorHow to ship trading cardsThe right way to ship a card depends on what it's worth. Here's how to pack each one and which shipping method to pick, from a $2 base card to a slab.With the Shipping CalculatorHow to photograph trading cards for eBayGood photos sell cards faster and prevent returns. Buyers want to judge condition from the listing, so the goal is a sharp, straight, glare-free shot of both sides.With the Listing Photo MakerHow long does PSA grading take?PSA quotes turnaround in business days by service level, from about 5 days at the top to 100 at Standard. Here's how to turn that into a real date for your submission.With the Turnaround TrackerHow to price a card lotA lot turns cards that aren't worth selling one at a time into a single sale. Price it from comps, take a fair discount, and check it against what singles would really net you.With the Lot CalculatorBuying and selling at card showsMost card show deals come down to one number: a percentage of comps. Here's why dealers offer what they do, and how to work out a fair price whether you're buying or selling.With the Card Show CalculatorCard centering chartEvery common ratio from 50/50 to 90/10, with the PSA, BGS and CGC grade each allows.Reference