How to Protect Your Graded Cards the Right Way (PSA, BGS, CGC)

Once you get a card graded — whether PSA, BGS, CGC, or another service — it becomes more than just a collectible. It becomes an asset. A PSA 10 or a clean BGS slab can hold significant value, but many collectors make the same mistake: they assume the slab itself is “indestructible.”

It’s not. Slabs protect the card inside, but the slab also needs protection. Scratches, fogging, pressure cracks, sun damage, and poor storage can permanently affect its resale appeal — and in some cases, even the card inside.

Smart collectors protect their slabs just as carefully as they protect raw cards. Here’s how.

Why Graded Cards Still Need Protection

The plastic case keeps the card safe, but it doesn’t eliminate risk. These are the most common types of damage graded collectors face:

• Scratched slabs: The case scuffs easily when stacked or slid around.
• Cracked or chipped edges: Pressure or drops can fracture the case.
• UV or sunlight fading: Ink and foil can still fade over time.
• Humidity impact: Moisture can slowly affect the interior air and label.
• Label discoloration: Heat and humidity affect older PSA/BGS labels the most.
• Slab-on-slab grinding: Stacking slabs without protection creates micro scratches.

Collectors who understand this treat slabs as display pieces and investments — not “done and forgotten.”

Step 1 — Sleeve Every Slab

A graded sleeve (sometimes called a “team bag for slabs”) is the first and easiest protection upgrade. It does not change the look of the slab and prevents almost all surface-level wear.

Benefits:

• Stops scratches from stacking or handling.
• Prevents oils from fingers settling on the case.
• Keeps dust out of the case ridges.
• Improves resale appearance immediately.

It’s simple: no slab should be stored or displayed without a sleeve.

Step 2 — Use Proper Slab Storage Boxes

Random cardboard boxes or mixed card storage containers cause shifting, grinding, and cracking. Slabs need structure — something designed for their shape and weight.

A proper slab storage box provides:

• Vertical support to prevent leaning or warping.
• Cushioned interior spacing to reduce impact damage.
• Section dividers for sorting by set, year, or grading company.
• Easy transport without slabs clashing together.

This eliminates the “slab pile” problem — one of the fastest ways collectors ruin cases.

Step 3 — Never Store Slabs Flat or in Stacks

Stacking slabs horizontally seems harmless… until you look at the scratches. The weight of multiple slabs creates friction, and the slightest movement grinds plastic against plastic.

Correct storage method:

• Store slabs upright.
• Keep them tightly but safely spaced.
• Always sleeve them before inserting into a box.

Following this alone will keep slabs looking clean years later.

Step 4 — Control the Environment

The inside of the slab is sealed, but the outside label, case edges, and long-term clarity of the plastic depend on environment. Slabs last longest in stable rooms.

Ideal conditions:

• Temperature: Cool, stable, climate-controlled (avoid heat sources).
• Humidity: Low to moderate (50% or lower is ideal).
• Light: No direct sun — UV fades ink and foil even inside a slab.
• Airflow: Avoid dusty or damp surfaces.

Extreme heat or humidity can warp older slabs, cloud the plastic, or even create micro-expansion that shifts the card inside.

Step 5 — Display Safely (Not Just Stylishly)

Displaying slabbed cards is one of the best parts of collecting — but unsafe display methods cause damage over time.

Safe display guidelines:

• Use stands that hold slabs upright without squeezing the sides.
• Avoid sunlight and bright-window areas.
• Keep displays away from heat vents or electronics.
• Use magnetic frames or UV-protective displays for grail cards.

Think of displays as functional, not only decorative. The wrong display setup can age a slab faster than poor storage.

Step 6 — Protect Slabs During Transport

Whether you’re going to a show, mailing a card, or reorganizing your room — slabs take damage during movement more than anywhere else.

Use:

• Slab sleeves (non-negotiable).
• Bubble-wrapped bundles for shipments.
• Hard-sided slab cases for travel or shows.
• Foam dividers to stop impact and shifting.

Collectors who sell or trade regularly should always use slab-rated cases — not backpacks or generic boxes.

Why Good Gear Makes a Difference

Cheap plastics, bad sizing, and inconsistent production can do more harm than good. Slabs require gear designed specifically for them — sleeves that fit flawlessly, cases that stop movement, storage boxes that hold weight without bowing.

EVORETRO Canada specializes in hobby-grade protection gear for both raw and graded cards — and their slab storage, sleeves, and travel cases are built for collectors who care about long-term condition.

Protect your graded cards today → Shop EVORETRO Canada