PSA cert lookup: how to check a slab's cert number before you buy
Every PSA slab carries a certification number. Looking it up takes a minute and catches the most common fake: a real number on the wrong card.
The short answer
- The cert number is printed on the bottom line of the slab's label, next to the barcode.
- Enter it on PSA's free cert verification page at psacard.com/cert. No account is needed.
- Compare every field: year, set, card name, card number and grade must match the label and the card.
- A valid result isn't proof on its own, because counterfeiters copy real cert numbers from real slabs.
- On eBay, single cards sold for $200 or more with the Authenticity Guarantee badge have their case and label checked by PSA before they reach you.
Where to find the cert number
A modern PSA label has four lines. Here's how they read on a real PSA 10 Charizard ex from Scarlet & Violet 151:
| Label line | Left side | Right side |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Year, game, set code and language: 2023 POKEMON MEW EN | Card number: #199 |
| 2 | Card name: CHARIZARD ex | Grade name: GEM MT |
| 3 | Variety: SPECIAL ILLUSTRATION RARE | Grade: 10 |
| 4 | Barcode, then the PSA hologram in the middle | Cert number |
When you buy online, ask for a sharp photo of the front of the label, or find it in the listing photos. Many sellers also put the cert number in the listing text.
How to look up a PSA cert number
- Open PSA's cert verification page at psacard.com/cert. Check the address bar: only trust psacard.com.
- Type the cert number exactly as printed on the label.
- Read the result: PSA shows the card it graded under that number (year, set, name and card number) and the grade.
- Compare each field with the label and the card in the photos. Every line should match.
The lookup is free and doesn't need an account.
Why a valid result isn't proof
The most common fake slab uses a real cert number copied from a real slab. The lookup comes back valid, but it describes a different card, a different variant or a different grade than the one in the case. That's why you compare every field, not just whether the number exists.
Other warning signs:
- "Not found". Recheck the digits. If PSA still has no record, don't buy until the seller can explain it.
- A look-alike verification site. Some forgers build pages that copy PSA's design. Never use a verification link a seller sends you; type psacard.com yourself.
- A mismatch in the card. The card number, set symbol and artwork in the case should match the label exactly.
A matching cert is the first check, not the last. Our guide to spotting fake PSA slabs covers the label, hologram and case.
When the PSA cert lookup isn't working
If the page won't load, try again later. If it says the number isn't found, check that you typed it exactly as printed on the label. Until you can run the lookup yourself, don't buy on a seller's word or a screenshot of a lookup, and don't let anyone rush you because "someone else is about to buy it".
Extra protection when you buy on eBay
eBay's Authenticity Guarantee covers single trading cards, graded or raw, sold for $200 or more in eligible categories, which include collectible card games like Pokémon. The seller ships the card to an authentication facility, where PSA authenticates the case and label of graded cards before the card goes to you. No regrading is done, the service is free, and eligible listings carry a blue checkmark badge. If the authenticator can't verify a card, eBay refunds you in full, and if a PSA case is fake or shows signs of tampering, PSA deactivates the certificate and notifies the seller.
Below $200, eBay's Money Back Guarantee lets you open a return for an item that doesn't match its listing up to 30 days after delivery. More in our guide to buying graded cards safely on eBay.
Questions people ask
Where is the cert number on a PSA slab?
On the label inside the case, on the bottom line next to the barcode.
Is the PSA cert lookup free?
Yes. PSA's cert verification page at psacard.com/cert is free and doesn't require an account.
Can a fake slab pass a PSA cert lookup?
Yes. Counterfeiters often copy a real cert number from a real slab, so the lookup returns a valid result. Check that the result matches the card and grade in front of you, then inspect the label, hologram and case.
What should I do if a cert number isn't found?
Treat it as a red flag. Recheck the digits; if PSA still has no record, don't buy until the seller can explain it.
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