Pokémon Card Repair

Your cards deserve more than a sleeve and a prayer. At The Mint Workshop, we provide precision restoration services for Pokémon cards — addressing surface damage, structural imperfections, and presentation issues that stand between your card and its true grading potential.

Whether you're preparing a vintage Base Set Charizard for grading or restoring a modern alt-art pull to display condition, our process is methodical, careful, and collector-focused at every step.

What Is Pokémon Card Repair?

Pokémon card repair is the professional process of correcting physical damage or imperfections on a trading card's surface, structure, or edges. Unlike DIY attempts, professional restoration uses specialized techniques and materials that minimize risk and maximize results — without compromising card integrity.

At The Mint Workshop, every repair begins with an assessment. Each card is scanned in at intake as a record of how it arrived, then we check its condition and choose the right restoration method before any work begins.

What Damage Can Be Improved?

• Creases and bends — Light to moderate creases and card bends can often be significantly reduced through controlled pressure and humidity techniques. Every crease leaves a scar, and graders will almost always see it.
• Surface scratches — Holo and non-holo surface scratches can be addressed through careful surface correction methods.
• Edge lifts — Lifted or separating edges, including delamination, can often be improved. Whitening is different: it’s paper and ink loss, and we can’t fix it — we don’t add ink.
• Surface debris — Dust and residue can be carefully removed without damaging the card's finish. Factory print defects and miscuts can’t be corrected.
• Soft corners — A corner softened by a slight bend can often be improved, as long as it isn’t torn. Corners with chipping or missing paper can’t be rebuilt.

Important: Not all damage is correctable. We provide honest assessments and will never overstate what restoration can achieve. Cards with severe structural damage or deep creases may have limited restoration potential. We can’t fix whitening (it’s paper and ink loss, and we don’t add ink), chipping or missing paper, water stains, ink or marker, or factory miscuts, and we don’t rebuild cards.

Before & After

Results speak louder than descriptions. See real customer cards from our bench on Our Work.

Our Restoration Process

1. Intake — Your box is opened on video, your cards are counted against your order, and each card is scanned in and labeled before any work begins.
2. Restoration Plan — We check each card's condition and determine the appropriate techniques for its specific damage profile.
3. Precision Restoration — Work is performed using professional-grade materials, with methods chosen card by card.
4. Quality Check — Every card goes through a quality check before it's returned.
5. Secure Return — Your card ships back to you, with return shipping insured by The Mint Workshop. Your submission tracker shows its intake scans and where your order is.

Turnaround Time

Standard restoration turnaround is 24–30 business days from when your cards arrive and are checked in. Need it sooner? Expedited service is $49.99 per card with a 5–7 business day turnaround (not available for creased cards). Turnaround times are estimates and may vary based on damage complexity and current volume.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will repair affect my card's grade?

Restoration can improve a card's visual presentation, but grading outcomes are never guaranteed. We do not make grade promises. Our goal is to present your card in the best honest condition possible — the grading company makes the final determination.

Is card repair detectable by graders?

Professional graders are trained to identify alterations. We are fully transparent: our services are designed to address natural wear and surface imperfections, not to deceive grading companies. We use non-destructive methods only — no trimming, no ink, no recoloring, no varnish. Grading outcomes are not guaranteed, and we make no promise about whether a grading company will detect or note restoration work.

Can you send my cards for grading after restoration?

Yes. We can submit your cards to CGC through a third-party CGC dealer account: $30 per card, CGC’s grading fee included, about two weeks at CGC. We’re not affiliated with CGC.

What cards are eligible for repair?

We work with Pokémon cards across all eras — Base Set through modern releases — as well as other trading card games and sports cards. High-value cards, vintage holos, and cards headed for grading are our specialty.

How do I submit my card?

Start your submission on our submission form: name each card and enter its declared value, which sets its price tier. Then use our prepaid FedEx label or ship on your own with tracking — our packing guide shows how to pack.

Ready to Restore Your Card?

Precision restoration. Collector-trusted results. Start your submission today and let The Mint Workshop handle the rest.

→ Start Your Submission