Top 10 Sports Card Grading Mistakes to Avoid in 2026

Sports card grading has become a major part of the collecting hobby. Whether you're submitting a Patrick Mahomes rookie card, a vintage Mickey Mantle, or a modern autograph card, professional grading can help authenticate your collectibles, protect their condition, and make them more appealing to other collectors.

But grading sports cards isn't always the right decision.

After more than 20 years of buying, selling, and working with sports cards, I've seen collectors make some expensive mistakes. Sometimes it's submitting cards that never should have been graded. Other times it's choosing the wrong grading company, overlooking shipping insurance, or spending unnecessary money on services.

In our latest episode ofThe Powers Sports Memorabilia Show, I discuss 10 common sports card grading mistakes collectors should avoid in 2026.

Here are the biggest lessons I've learned and how you can make better decisions with your collection.

1. Thinking Every Sports Card Needs to Be Graded

One of the biggest mistakes collectors make is assuming every sports card needs to be professionally graded.

That's simply not true.

Some cards aren't in good enough condition to justify the expense. Others may not be particularly desirable, even with a high grade.

Before submitting a card, you need to consider the entire cost of grading, including:

• The grading company's submission fee

• Shipping costs to and from the grading company

• Shipping insurance

• Potential selling fees

• The time required to receive your card back

You also need to consider what the card might grade.

For example, if you have a modern card that appears likely to receive a PSA 8, you should research whether grading it makes sense compared with keeping it ungraded.

Another important consideration is timing.

Sometimes a particular athlete or card becomes extremely popular because of a major performance, championship, or other event.

If you plan to sell that card, waiting several weeks or months for grading could mean missing the period when collectors are most interested.

Collector takeaway: Not every card needs a plastic slab. Evaluate the card's condition, desirability, grading expenses, and your goals before submitting it.

2. Not Checking the Cost of Already Graded Cards

Here's something collectors sometimes overlook.

It might actually be easier and less expensive to purchase the exact graded card you want rather than submitting an ungraded copy yourself.

Let's say you're looking for a PSA 10 of a particular rookie card.

You already own an ungraded copy, but you're unsure whether it will receive a PSA 9 or PSA 10.

Before submitting it, research what that same card costs in both grades.

You may discover that purchasing an existing PSA 10 makes more sense than paying for grading and hoping your card receives the grade you want.

This is especially important with modern cards that have large grading populations.

There are plenty of cards available in PSA 9 and PSA 10 holders, so collectors should compare their options before submitting additional copies.

You can research graded examples through eBay sold listings, auction results, and other sports card marketplaces.

Collector takeaway: Always compare your potential grading costs with the availability of already graded examples.

3. Assuming PSA Is the Only Grading Company Worth Using

PSA is one of the most recognized names in sports card grading, but that doesn't mean it's the only company collectors should consider.

There are several established grading companies in the hobby, including:

• PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator)

• SGC

• CGC Cards

• Beckett Grading Services (BGS)

Each company offers different advantages.

For example, I particularly like how vintage baseball cards look inside SGC holders. The black insert provides a nice contrast against older card designs.

We've also had success using CGC for many of the lower-priced cards we grade.

Depending on the available service levels, CGC can offer competitive pricing and turnaround times compared with PSA.

For collectors submitting autographed cards, it's also worth understanding each company's autograph authentication options.

CGC works with JSA for certain autograph authentication services, which can be particularly useful when dealing with signed cards.

PSA may be the preferred choice for certain high-end cards, but that doesn't mean every card belongs in a PSA holder.

Before choosing a grading company, compare its current pricing, turnaround times, grading standards, authentication options, and the preferences of collectors who pursue that particular card.

Collector takeaway: Choose the grading company that makes the most sense for the card you're submitting, not simply the company everyone else uses.

4. Not Inspecting Your Cards Before Submitting Them

This is one of the easiest mistakes to avoid, yet collectors make it all the time.

Before submitting any card, you should inspect it as carefully as possible.

Think like a professional grader.

Look for anything that could prevent your card from receiving the grade you're hoping for.

There are four primary areas to examine.

Surface

Look for scratches, print lines, dents, stains, fingerprints, and other imperfections.

Modern chromium cards can be particularly challenging because surface defects may be difficult to see without proper lighting.

Corners

Examine all four corners carefully.

Look for soft corners, whitening, bends, and other signs of damage.

Even a card pulled directly from a pack can have corner issues.

Edges

Pay attention to chipping, rough cuts, and visible wear.

Cards with black or dark-colored borders can make edge damage particularly noticeable.

Centering

Look at how evenly the card's design is positioned.

Compare the borders from left to right and top to bottom.

Some cards have naturally challenging centering, making high grades more difficult to achieve.

Research the Gem Mint Rate

Another useful step is checking the grading population report.

If a particular card has a high percentage of PSA 10 grades, that can provide useful context about how frequently the card receives a Gem Mint grade.

If only a small percentage of submitted examples receive a PSA 10, you should be more cautious about expecting one.

Keep in mind that population reports reflect previously submitted cards, not necessarily every copy produced.

And remember, even a card fresh from a sealed pack isn't guaranteed to receive a PSA 10.

Collector takeaway: Spend time inspecting your cards before paying grading fees. The more cards you examine, the better you'll become at recognizing potential grading problems.

5. Choosing the Wrong Autograph Pen for Your Sports Cards

This is a mistake I see frequently during autograph signings.

Collectors automatically request blue Sharpie signatures because that's what they're accustomed to seeing.

And there's nothing wrong with blue Sharpie.

In fact, it's one of the most popular choices for autographed sports cards.

But it doesn't look great on every card.

Imagine having a beautiful card with a dark blue or black background.

A blue Sharpie autograph might be difficult to see.

In that situation, a silver, white, yellow, or another appropriately selected paint pen could create a much more attractive autograph.

The important thing is choosing a pen that complements the card.

When preparing cards for our private autograph signings, we consider the background, design, available signing space, and how the autograph will appear once completed.

Some collectors focus heavily on receiving a perfect PSA 10 autograph grade.

However, I don't believe you should sacrifice the overall appearance of a signed card simply to chase a numerical grade.

A bright, well-placed autograph can look fantastic even if it doesn't receive a perfect autograph grade.

Of course, paint pens require additional preparation and drying time. You also need to consider the card's surface and whether the ink will adhere properly.

Collector takeaway: Choose your autograph pen based on how the finished card will look, not simply which pen you believe might receive the highest autograph grade.

6. Overlooking Dual Grading for Autographed Cards

If you're submitting autographed sports cards, consider whether dual grading makes sense.

Dual grading means receiving separate numerical grades for the card's physical condition and the autograph itself.

These are two completely different things.

For example, a card could receive a PSA 8 while the autograph receives a PSA/DNA 10.

That tells collectors the card is in one condition while the signature has received a separate assessment.

I particularly like this option when both the card and autograph are strong.

A beautiful autograph with excellent placement and clean ink can look even more appealing when it receives a high numerical autograph grade.

However, not every card or signature needs a numerical grade.

If you have a modern card in poor condition, receiving a low card grade may not be particularly helpful.

Likewise, an autograph with noticeable streaking, smudging, or other problems may be better suited for authentication without a numerical autograph grade.

Remember that autograph authentication and autograph grading are separate services.

Authentication evaluates whether the signature is genuine, while autograph grading evaluates its quality.

Collector takeaway: Consider dual grading when both the card and autograph are strong, but make sure the additional fees are worthwhile for your particular collectible.

7. Not Insuring Your Cards During Shipping

This is one of the most important lessons I can share.

If you're shipping valuable sports cards to a grading company, you need to understand your insurance coverage.

Packages can get lost, stolen, or damaged.

It doesn't matter whether you're shipping through UPS, FedEx, or USPS. Problems can happen with any carrier.

If you're submitting a few inexpensive cards, you might decide that additional insurance isn't necessary.

But if you're sending thousands of dollars' worth of sports cards, the situation is completely different.

You need to protect yourself.

One common misunderstanding involves the declared value entered during a grading submission.

Collectors sometimes assume that entering a declared value automatically protects their shipment throughout the entire process.

That isn't necessarily true.

For example, the coverage provided by a grading company while your cards are in its possession or being returned may be different from the coverage available while your cards are traveling to the grading facility.

PSA offers shipping label and insurance options that collectors can review during the submission process.

Always verify the current coverage limits, exclusions, and requirements before shipping.

Also, keep documentation of your cards, including photographs, purchase records, and submission information.

Collector takeaway: Don't assume your cards are insured. Verify exactly when coverage begins, when it ends, and what losses are covered.

8. Using the Wrong Shipping Service or Packaging

Shipping is another area where collectors can make unnecessary mistakes.

At Powers Sports Memorabilia, we use UPS for the overwhelming majority of our shipments.

We've found UPS to be a dependable option for our business, particularly when using negotiated shipping rates available through online platforms.

That doesn't mean USPS or FedEx can't be appropriate choices.

However, I encourage collectors to compare the available carriers rather than automatically choosing the one they've always used.

Look at the total shipping cost, delivery estimates, tracking, insurance options, and destination requirements.

But there's another part of shipping that I believe is even more important.

Stop shipping valuable sports cards in flimsy packaging.

I regularly see collectors spending excessive amounts of time cutting cardboard and assembling multiple layers of mailers when they could simply use a sturdy shipping box.

A properly sized box with adequate padding provides better protection against crushing and bending than a thin mailer.

For graded cards, protect the slab from movement and impact.

For ungraded cards, use appropriate card holders and additional protection to prevent bending or surface damage.

Make sure everything fits securely without placing unnecessary pressure on the cards.

Collector takeaway: Choose a reliable shipping service and use packaging that protects your cards throughout their journey.

9. Not Considering Sports Card Vault Services

Sports card vault services are becoming another option collectors should understand.

These services allow collectors to store eligible graded cards at specialized facilities rather than keeping everything at home.

Depending on the provider, vault services may offer storage, inventory management, marketplace integration, and shipping assistance.

This can be particularly useful for collectors who regularly buy and sell cards.

Maybe you have a full-time job and sell sports cards during evenings and weekends.

Packing orders, printing shipping labels, managing inventory, and making trips to drop off packages can become time-consuming.

A vault service may simplify that process.

Instead of keeping hundreds of graded cards at your house, you can have them stored at a facility that handles some of the logistics.

There can also be security advantages to storing valuable cards away from your home, although you still need to understand the facility's security practices and insurance coverage.

Before using any vault service, research its fees, withdrawal policies, storage conditions, insurance terms, and selling restrictions.

Not every vault service is right for every collector.

Collector takeaway: If you regularly sell graded cards, vault services may save time and simplify inventory management.

10. Not Using AI to Create Sports Card Listings

This is something we've started using more frequently at Powers Sports Memorabilia, and it's made listing sports cards considerably easier.

If you're regularly selling graded cards, you know how repetitive the process can become.

You have to type the athlete's name, year, manufacturer, card number, grade, autograph details, and other information.

And if you're listing dozens or hundreds of cards, those small tasks add up.

That's where artificial intelligence can help.

For example, you can upload photographs of your graded sports cards into ChatGPT and provide instructions for how you want your listings written.

You can specify:

• Your preferred product title format

• Maximum title length

• Information to include in descriptions

• Grading company and numerical grade

• Autograph authentication details

• Card year, manufacturer, and card number

You can even provide examples of previously completed listings so the system understands your preferred format.

Instead of manually typing every title and description, AI can generate drafts using the information visible on the card and grading label.

However, AI isn't perfect.

It can misread labels, confuse card numbers, or generate incorrect details.

That's why you should always review the final listings and verify important information before publishing.

Used correctly, though, it can eliminate a significant amount of repetitive work.

Collector takeaway: Use AI to make listing sports cards faster and more consistent, but always double-check the information before publishing.

Final Thoughts: Make Smarter Sports Card Grading Decisions in 2026

Sports card grading can be a great way to authenticate, protect, and organize your collection.

But it isn't something you should do automatically with every card.

After more than two decades in the sports memorabilia industry, I've learned that successful collecting often comes down to paying attention to the smaller details.

Knowing which cards to grade, which companies to use, how to inspect your cards, and how to protect them during shipping can make a tremendous difference.

The same goes for autographed cards.

Choosing the right pen, understanding autograph authentication, and deciding whether dual grading makes sense are all important parts of the process.

And as the hobby continues to evolve, tools such as vault services and artificial intelligence can help collectors manage their cards more efficiently.

The most important thing is making decisions that fit your particular collection and collecting goals.

Not every card needs a PSA 10.

Not every autograph needs a numerical grade.

And not every card needs to be graded at all.

Whether you're collecting modern rookie cards, vintage baseball cards, or autographed sports memorabilia, take the time to understand your options before submitting your next batch.