After nearly 3,000 grading submissions, I’ve dialed in exactly what supplies work—and which ones waste money. This is what I actually use for every PSA, CGC, and Beckett submission.
The Essentials (What’s Actually in My Workflow)
Inner Sleeves
Every card gets sleeved before going into a Card Saver. I use:
- KMC Perfect Fit: My go-to. Tight fit, consistent quality, ~$0.03/sleeve
- Dragon Shield Perfect Fit: Slightly better clarity. I use these for high-value vintage.
Skip penny sleeves for grading submissions. They’re too loose—cards shift and can get damaged.
Card Saver 1s
This is non-negotiable. PSA and BGS require Card Saver 1s. They’ll reject toploaders.
I buy in bulk (500+ at a time) from Amazon. Cardboard Gold is the brand I trust. Works out to about $0.20/card.
Cleaning Supplies
Before any card goes in a sleeve:
- Giottos Rocket Blower: Removes dust without touching the surface. $12-15, lasts forever.
- MagicFiber Microfiber Cloths: For fingerprints. Lint-free. I wash and reuse them.
- 60x Jeweler’s Loupe: Essential for inspecting surface scratches. I rejected 40% of potential submissions after I started using one.
What I don’t use: Compressed air cans (leave residue), any liquids (never), erasers (damage surface).
Organization
- Team Bags: I group 10 Card Savers per team bag. Keeps submissions organized and protects during shipping.
- Rubber Bands: Loose bundles only. Tight rubber bands can crack Card Savers.
- Painter’s Tape: For securing Card Saver openings. Never use regular tape—residue is a nightmare.
My Budget Kits
$25 Starter (Your First 20 Cards)
This is what I’d buy if starting from scratch:
- 100 KMC Perfect Fit sleeves ($5)
- 50 Card Saver 1s ($10)
- Painter’s tape roll ($4)
- 10 team bags ($2)
- Microfiber cloth 3-pack ($4)
$60 Standard (Regular Submissions)
- Everything above, plus:
- 200 more Card Saver 1s ($25)
- Giottos Rocket Blower ($12)
- Shipping boxes 5-pack ($8)
- Bubble wrap roll ($6)
$120 Pro (50+ Cards/Month)
- Everything above, plus:
- 500 Card Saver 1s ($45)
- 60x Jeweler’s Loupe with LED ($15)
- Portable lightbox ($30)
- Foam sheet pack ($10)
What I Actually Buy (With Links)
These are the exact products from my workflow. All Amazon affiliate links—I earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
Cardboard Gold Card Saver 1 (50-Count)
The industry standard. PSA requires these specifically. I’ve submitted thousands of cards in these holders with zero issues.
Price: ~$15 for 50
Ultra Pro Penny Sleeves (500-Pack)
I use these for storage and shipping, not grading submissions. Perfect for cards under $10 value. Won’t yellow over time.
Price: ~$9 for 500
Ultra Pro Toploaders (25-Count)
For shipping sold cards and storing valuable raw cards. CGC accepts these for submissions (though I still prefer Card Savers).
Price: ~$5 for 25
Rayvol Resealable Team Bags (300-Pack)
I use these to organize Card Saver stacks. Fits 10-20 cards per bag. Resealable opening makes sorting easy.
Price: ~$15 for 300
MagicFiber Microfiber Cloths (6-Pack)
Lint-free, washable, safe for all card surfaces. One pack has lasted me 2+ years.
Price: ~$9 for 6
Card Shipping Protectors with Tape (120-Pack)
For mailing sold cards. Prevents bending during transit. Saved me from multiple damage claims.
Price: ~$15 for 120
My Packing Process
After 3,000 submissions, this is my exact workflow:
Step 1: Inspect
- Wash and dry hands
- 60x loupe inspection: centering, corners, edges, surface
- If any issues, this card doesn’t get submitted
Step 2: Clean
- Rocket blower to remove dust
- Microfiber cloth for fingerprints (edges only)
- Final loupe inspection
Step 3: Sleeve and Load
- KMC Perfect Fit sleeve (insert top-first to push air out)
- Slide into Card Saver 1
- Tape opening with painter’s tape (optional but I do it)
Step 4: Organize
- Stack Card Savers in team bags (10 per bag)
- Rubber band loosely
- Match order to submission form
Step 5: Pack for Shipping
- Small box (6x4x4″)
- 1″ bubble wrap on bottom
- Card stack in center
- Fill all gaps—shake test (nothing should move)
- Submission form on top
- Seal, tape seams, fragile sticker
Mistakes I Made (Learn From These)
- Using toploaders for PSA: Rejected. Wasted time and shipping costs.
- Compressed air cans: Left residue on a vintage card. Never again.
- Tight rubber bands: Cracked Card Savers. Cards shifted and got edge damage.
- Skipping the loupe: Submitted cards with surface scratches I couldn’t see. Came back as 8s.
- Regular tape: Residue nightmare. Painter’s tape only.
The Checklist I Use
Before every submission:
- ☐ All cards inspected with loupe
- ☐ Dust and fingerprints removed
- ☐ Perfect fit sleeves on all cards
- ☐ Card Saver 1s used (for PSA/BGS)
- ☐ Cards organized in team bags
- ☐ Stack matches submission form order
- ☐ Box passes shake test
- ☐ Insurance matches declared value
📥 Download my complete printable checklist (PDF)
Related Guides
- PSA vs CGC vs Beckett – Choose the right company
- Is Grading Worth It? – ROI from my 3,000 submissions
- Storage & Workflow – How I organize thousands of cards
- Complete Guide – Full overview