Thinking of grading with Imperium?
Here’s what you need to know…
A bit about us
Imperium Grading are a UK-based authentication and grading company for the TCG community. Whether you are looking to preserve a high-value “Grail” or just protect your favourite Pokémon or One Piece cards, our tiered service levels are designed to meet your specific timeline and budget.
All Imperium Grading submissions include our signature Imperium Reports as standard—providing you with subgrades, defect call-outs, and a transparent rationale for your card’s final grade. Giving you a better understanding of why your card received it’s given grade, and what to look out for on future submissions.
We have no hidden fees and no upcharges. If you have any questions about our services before you’re thinking about ordering, reach out to our customer services team at [email protected], or join our discord to speak to other members in the community.
Getting Started
1
Submit your order
Use the form on our submission page to select the service type (grading, crossover, reholder, authentication) that you’d like.
2
Enter your details & pay
Make sure the details on your delivery address and contact details are correct. Pay for the order and await a confirmation email.
3
Delivery slip
Download and print off the delivery slip that is included in the order email (you can also access this from the user dashboard). If you don’t have access to a printer you can include a hand written version, just make sure it includes the order number correctly.
4
Prep your cards
Package your cards securely, in semi-rigid toploaders, with plenty of protection to avoid them getting damaged in transit. Be sure to include your delivery slip inside the box, so that when we receive the order we can trace it to your online order easily.
5
Follow your submission
You’ll receive email updates as well as being able to see the order progress in your dashboard. Once the order has reached it’s final stages it will be sent out to you and tracking numbers will be provided.
You will also be able to view the cards grading report, so you’ll have a full understanding of why your submission was given the grade it received.
How to prep your cards for grading
1. Choose your cards.
2. Place them in a clean penny sleeve.
3. Insert into a semi-rigid top loader.
4. Place the toploader in between two off-cuts of cardboard for extra protection.
5. Package the box well, with loads of padding. Make sure to include the postage slip that is included in your order confirmation email.
6. Use your trusted postal service, ensuring that it is insured correctly for the value of the cards inside.
Our pricing tiers
Once you've decided what cards you want to submit. Select the service level that best fits your collection. Our tiers are structured by turnaround time and volume, ensuring every collector receives a premium experience.
Platinum
£30Art label
+£3
Launching Soon
Gold
£25Art label
+£3
Silver
£15Art label
+£3
Bronze
£12Art label
+£3
Platinum
£30Art label
+£3
Launching Soon
Gold
£25Art label
+£3
Silver
£15Art label
+£3
Bronze
£12Art label
+£3
Platinum
£25Art label
+£3
Launching Soon
Gold
£20Art label
+£3
Silver
£12Art label
+£3
Bronze
£9Art label
+£3
Platinum
£25Art label
+£3
Launching Soon
Gold
£20Art label
+£3
Silver
£12Art label
+£3
Bronze
£9Art label
+£3
*All prices shown are per card
*All prices shown are per card
The Imperium Grading Journey
Total transparency from intake to dispatch. Follow your cards through our rigorous multi-stage process with real-time alerts.
Arrival & Intake
Your package is opened and verified. We take intake photos and check cards against your order. You'll receive an email notification the moment we begin. Note: Unpaid cards are returned ungraded.
Stage 1 Grading
Initial assessment is completed by our first specialist grader. They input all data and scores into our secure system. We’ll notify you by email as soon as the grading starts.
Stage 2 Grading
A second, independent assessment is conducted. To ensure a non-biased, consistent result, the second grader has no knowledge of the previous scores recorded.
Finalisation
Our Head Grader reviews both reports for accuracy and confirms the final grade. You will receive an email once your order successfully passes through this final evaluation.
Label Production
Your chosen label (Standard, Retro, Set, or Art) is printed, quality checked, and prepared for the final encapsulation phase.
Encapsulation
The card is ultrasonically sealed in our premium, UK-manufactured slab—engineered for clarity and protection.
Final Quality Check
A final inspection of the finished slab ensures it meets the "Imperium Standard" before it leaves our facility.
Dispatch
Slabs are securely boxed and postage labels created. You'll receive a final email with tracking information and an expected delivery date.
Understanding the Grade: Centring Guide
Centring is a critical factor in achieving a high grade. The table below shows you our tollerances for centering and what the maximum grade achievable is from the centering alone.
Your Grading Reports
If you submit your cards for one of our grading services (grading/crossover) the card will receive a detailed report to highlight any imperfections with the cards.
The report will detail the overall grade, it’s subgrades, centering % on top and bottom and detailed photos of any imperfections spotted by the grading team.
We will be improving our reports over time, and always welcome feedback to [email protected].
Questions before you grade?
Our team are here to help with any questions you might have before sending your cards off to be graded.