How to submit cards to ACE for grading
A UK grader with prices in pounds, free subgrades on every card and optional colour-matched or illustrated labels. UK collectors post domestically, with no customs. Here's how to prepare and post your cards, what each ACE service level costs, and what your submission will cost in total, in euros or pounds.
Sending cards from the UK or Europe
ACE grades in the UK (Banbury, Oxfordshire), so UK collectors post their cards domestically with no customs forms or import VAT. Collectors in the EU and other supported countries can submit too and pay their own import VAT when the cards come back.
How to submit cards to ACE, step by step
Check the card is worth grading
Look the card up on Search Cards and compare its ungraded value with what it sells for at the grade you realistically expect, e.g. PSA 9 or 10. Grading pays off when that graded value is clearly higher than the ungraded value plus the total cost from the calculator below. Most modern cards are only worth grading if they could get a 9 or 10.
Look up a card's value →Inspect centering, corners, edges and surface
Under a bright light, check the borders are even, the corners are sharp, the edges have no whitening and the surface has no scratches, dents or print lines. A loupe and a centering tool make this much easier. Or scan it with the pre-grade scanner for a score out of 10 on each and a predicted grade. Compare what you see with ACE's grading scale.
ACE grading scale ↗Clean and handle it safely
Wash and dry your hands, or wear gloves, and hold the card by its edges. Only remove dust and fingerprints with a dry, clean microfibre cloth, wiping gently from the centre outwards. Never use liquids, erasers or anything abrasive: graders can spot altered cards and won't grade them.
Can you clean a card before grading? →Sleeve and protect it
Each card in a penny sleeve, then in a semi-rigid holder (Card Saver I size). Follow the packing steps in ACE's submission portal.
Cheapest supplies on eBay →Choose a service level and fill in the order
Create an account on acegrading.com, open the submission portal, add your cards and choose a service level and label style (Standard free, Colour Match +£1, ACE Label +£3), then print the packing slip. ACE invoices you once your cards are graded. Declare each card at what it would sell for in the grade you expect. If ACE thinks it is worth more, the card is moved to a higher tier and you pay the difference.
Start a ACE submission ↗Pack and post it
Stack the holders, wrap the stack in bubble wrap and pack it tightly in a small box so nothing moves. Print the packing slip and put it inside. Send it tracked and insured for the full declared value. Sending abroad? Use the grading company's customs instructions and declare the parcel as cards sent for grading that will be returned. That way you usually only pay import VAT on the grading fee and return shipping when the cards come back, not on the cards' value.
ACE official site ↗Track it and check your grades
Follow your order online. Grades usually appear on your account before the cards are posted back. When the slabs arrive, look up each certification number on ACE's website to make sure it matches. Then keep the slabs in graded card sleeves and a storage box so they don't get scratched.
ACE certificate lookup ↗
Grading budget calculator
ACE (United Kingdom) fees
| Service level | Price per card | Max. value per card | Turnaround | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic | €21.52£18.00 | €598 | 30 business days | Open |
| Standard | €26.30£22.00 | €1,195 | 15 business days | Open |
| Premier | €33.47£28.00 | €2,391 | 10 business days | Open |
| Ultra | €59.77£50.00 | €5,977 | 5 business days | Open |
| Luxury | €119.53£100.00 | €11,953 | 2 business days | Open |
Supplies for your ACE submission
Penny sleeves
A soft sleeve for every card before it goes in a holder.
Sleeves100x -35pt Kartenhüllen - Penny Sleeves - Softsleeves - TCG - Cards - NEWSemi-rigid holders (Card Saver I)
The holder most graders ask for. Card Saver I size fits a sleeved card.
☽✧ Ultra Pro Semi Rigid Lip Sleeves ✧☾ 10x Card Saver Hülle Pokémon Magic TCGTop loaders (35pt)
Rigid holders for posting and storing raw cards. Some graders accept them.
Toploader Versand Schutzcase - Karten Schutz - Pokémon One Piece TCG SportkartenTeam bags
Resealable bags that keep a stack of holders together and dust-free.
Team Bags Resealable Sleeves 100 Bags for Toploader 86x142mm OVP 81130 - NeuCentering tool
A clear overlay that shows how centred the borders are.
Card Centering Tool TCG Sportcards Kartenbewertung Schablone Zentrierung PSA CGCJeweller's loupe
Magnifies corners, edges and the surface so you spot flaws before the grader does.
Magnifying Glass Jewellers Loupe Jewellery Eye Lens Magnifier Loop 10X-40XPadded mailers
Bubble mailers for posting cards. Pack them inside a small box for grading.
Sammelkarten gepolsterte Umschläge 11x13cm | Luftpolsterversandtaschen für Pokémon, MTG, TCGGraded card sleeves
Resealable sleeves that stop slabs getting scratched.
Sleeves für PSA Grading Graded Pokemon Card ☆ Schutzhüllen 10 StückGraded card storage box
A box that holds slabs upright and protected.
1x Graded Card Box Sammelkarten Koffer Magnetic Flip Storage Case 273x100x121mmSlab display stand
Shows off a graded card on a shelf.
Graded Card Display Kratzfest Sammelkartenständer LanglebigOfficial ACE links
Questions about card grading
How much does ACE grading cost?
The cheapest ACE service level open right now is Basic at about €21.52 per card, before shipping and import VAT. Core (£12, 75 days) and Value (£14, 60 days) are for paying AceSelect members only, so they are left out of the calculator. The maximum value per card is the compensation cover for each tier, as reported by fee trackers.
How do I submit cards to ACE from the UK or Europe?
ACE grades in the UK (Banbury, Oxfordshire), so UK collectors post their cards domestically with no customs forms or import VAT. Collectors in the EU and other supported countries can submit too and pay their own import VAT when the cards come back. Follow the steps on this page and use ACE's customs instructions when you post.
How should I pack cards for ACE?
Each card in a penny sleeve, then in a semi-rigid holder (Card Saver I size). Follow the packing steps in ACE's submission portal.
What grading scale does ACE use?
1 to 10 in whole grades, with free subgrades for centering, corners, edges and surface. ACE grading scale ↗