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How Does Card Grading Work?

Technology-assisted grading for consistency. Human-verified for authenticity. Every card is scored across four categories, then sealed in a tamper-evident NFC-verified slab and added to our population database.

HOW IT WORKS

Four Steps to Certified

Step 1

Submit Online

Create your order through our portal. Select your slab edition, add your cards, and print your submission form. The whole process takes under five minutes.

Submit Online

Step 2

Send Your Cards

Ship your cards to our UK facility using your preferred tracked service. We currently accept Pokémon TCG cards in both English and Japanese.

Send Your Cards

Step 3

Grading + Authenticity Check

Every card is scanned at high resolution and assessed for centering, edges, surface, and print quality using technology-assisted analysis. A human expert then verifies authenticity, checking for fakes, trimming, and restoration.

Grading + Verification

Step 4

Receive Your Slabs

Your cards are encapsulated in tamper-evident RKT slabs with NTAG 424 DNA NFC chips, entered into the population registry, and returned to you via insured shipping. Tap the slab with your phone to verify instantly.

Receive Your Slabs

What is Card Grading?

Card grading is when a professional service checks the condition and authenticity of your trading cards. Each card gets scored on a 1-10 scale, then sealed in a tamper-evident case called a "slab". The grade is printed on the label, so buyers know exactly what they're getting.

Graded cards typically sell for a lot more than raw ones. A Gem Mint 10 can be worth many times what the same card sells for ungraded. Grading also protects your cards physically and gives buyers a trusted, objective condition report they can rely on.

PRECISION GRADING

How Our Grading Technology Works

Our system analyses every card with a level of detail and consistency that removes human subjectivity from condition grading.

Centering Analysis

Pixel-precise measurement of card borders. Our system calculates left/right and top/bottom ratios to determine centering accuracy.

Surface Inspection

Advanced texture analysis detects scratches, print lines, whitening, and surface imperfections invisible to the naked eye.

Edge & Corner Analysis

Every edge and corner is checked for wear, nicks, and damage at a level of detail you can't get with the naked eye.

Consistency Guarantee

The same card submitted twice receives the same grade. No subjectivity, no fatigue, no resubmission lottery.

GRADING STANDARDS

Our Grading Scale

Every card is assessed across four sub-grade categories: Centering, Edges, Surface, and Print Quality. The overall grade is a weighted composite of these scores.

3
Poor-GoodSignificant damage. Cards in this range show major creases, tears, or staining.
4
Very Good-ExcellentHeavy wear with possible creasing or significant corner damage.
5
ExcellentObvious wear across multiple areas but structurally sound.
6
Excellent-Near MintModerate wear including noticeable corner and edge wear.
7
Near MintVisible wear that does not significantly impact eye appeal.
7.5
Near Mint+Noticeable but minor wear. May show slight corner softening or light surface marks.
8
Near Mint-MintMinor imperfections visible on close inspection. Light edge wear or slight off-centering.
8.5
Near Mint-Mint+Very slight imperfections. Minimal corner wear or a small centering variance.
9
MintExcellent condition with a minor flaw that does not detract from the overall appearance.
9.5
Mint+Near-perfect with only the most trivial imperfection detectable under magnification.
10
Gem MintFlawless card in every respect. Perfect centering, sharp corners, pristine surface, and immaculate print quality.

Understanding Card Grading Sub-Grades

Available with Argent and Imperator editions, sub-grades break down the overall grade into four categories so you can see exactly where a card excels or falls short.

Centering

How well-centred the card image is within the borders. Perfect centering means equal border widths on all sides. Even slight off-centering affects the grade.

Edges

The condition of all four edges. Looks for nicks, rough cuts, whitening, and any damage along the card's perimeter.

Surface

The front and back surface condition. Detects scratches, print lines, ink spots, surface creases, and any marks that affect the card's appearance.

Print Quality

The quality of the printing itself. Evaluates colour saturation, registration alignment, and any factory defects in the print process.

SUPPORTED GAMES

What We Grade

Pokémon (English)

Pokémon (Japanese)

Ready to Grade?

Your cards deserve better than guesswork.

Every slab ships with NFC tap-to-verify authentication built in. Submit your first order today and see what proper card grading looks like.

Submit Cards NowView Pricing
RKT Grading

The UK's professional trading card grading service. Consistent AI-powered grades, NFC tap-to-verify slabs, and a population registry you can trust.

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Card Grading

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