MNT Grading Inc. (MNT): Complete Guide

In trading cards, MNT most commonly refers to MNT Grading Inc., a Canada-based third-party grading company operating at mntgrading.com. “MNT” can also be confused with “mint” as a condition shorthand in listings, but the company context here is clearly a grading service with published grading-scale documentation, a submission workflow, and a verification lookup tool (MNT About Us, Submission Guide, Verification # Lookup).

Quick facts

Where MNT Grading Inc. fits in the grading market

MNT is best understood as a regional (Canada-leaning) grader with clear published standards and a verification tool, but weaker buyer recognition than PSA/BGS/SGC/CGC in many US-first segments.

• Buyer trust: MNT publishes a detailed grading scale (including example centering splits like 55/45 and 60/40) and label notations for issues like altered cards, writing/markings, and “in person autograph” markings. (Grading Scale)
• Resale premium/discount patterns (qualitative): Multiple Reddit threads across sports and Pokémon indicate many buyers treat “non-mainstream” slabs as closer to raw on pricing, especially outside Canada. (footballcards thread, PokeInvesting thread, basketballcards thread)
• Typical use cases: PC grading, Canada-based selling, and value-sensitive submissions where shipping/import friction to US graders matters. MNT also explicitly supports dealer workflows. (FAQ, Services)

Services offered

MNT’s submission flow and service tiers are documented across its Services and Submission Guide pages:

• Card grading tiers: The submission guide names the main service types as “First Class, Priority, Rush, Standard & Value”. (Submission Guide)
• Turnaround buckets + pricing structure: The Services page lists “Guaranteed Money Back Services” grouped by turnaround duration (2 days / 2 weeks / 1 month / 3 months) with pricing that varies by quantity (e.g., “Original Plan” vs “Advanced Plan”). (Services)
• Dealer/partner program: Services page includes “Pristine Dealer Exclusive” pricing and a dealer locator link. (Services, Dealer Locator)
• Add-ons: Re-slabbing and labelling add-ons are listed; re-slabbing is limited to MNT cards and must not be “completely opened.” (Services)

Authentication-only, crossover, or regrade services beyond re-slabbing are Unknown from primary sources verified here. (Services, Terms & Conditions)

Grading scale and standards (deep dive)

The scale and grade definitions

MNT publishes a full label-grade reference and definitions from Flawless 10 down to Poor 1, including example defect language (e.g., Gem Mint 9.5 “slightest imperfections” and centering examples like 55/45, 60/40, 65/35). (Grading Scale)

Centering / corners / edges / surface / inner window (as published)

MNT explicitly lists its five subgrade categories as:

• centering
• corners
• edges
• surface
• inner window (when applicable)

It also provides centering example tolerances inside definitions (e.g., “Gem Mint 9.5 … centering is 55/45”; “Mint 9 … centering is 60/40”; “Near Mint-Mint+ 8.5 … centering is 65/35”). (About Us, Grading Scale)

Human vs hybrid vs tech-first process (what they claim)

MNT describes its graders as having “a wealth of experience in the hobby industry.” The grading-scale page also references an “algorithm” for how categories are calculated into an overall grade (at least for “Pristine 10”), but MNT does not publish a fully detailed technical process or machine-measurement report system in the primary sources reviewed here. (About Us, Grading Scale)

How to interpret the label (concrete example)

Use the label as a combination of:

• Overall grade (e.g., “Gem Mint 9.5”)
• Label tier (MNT ties label color to grade bands like Flawless/Pristine vs Mint/Gem Mint vs 8.5 and below) (About Us)
• Special notations for issues: Writing/Markings, FS (Faded Surface), DMG, FA (Faded Auto), Altered, IPA (In Person Autograph). (Grading Scale)

Example interpretation: a card labeled Gem Mint 9.5 implies very small imperfections, with centering examples around 55/45 per MNT’s published reference. (Grading Scale)

Slab, label, and security features

MNT’s published holder/security claims center around material origin and sealing method:

• Holder materials: MNT claims “highest quality plastics,” and that slabs are “created and produced in North America” and “not imported.” (About Us)
• Sealing: MNT states its slabs are “sonically sealed” and “tamper proof.” (About Us)
• Grade-tier label banding: MNT states that Flawless 10 uses a cracked-ice black label, Pristine 10 uses cracked-ice, Mint/Gem Mint 9–9.5 uses gold, and 8.5 or lower uses silver. (About Us)
• Autograph markings and authentication caveat: MNT explicitly states an “IPA” marking does not mean the autograph is authenticated. (Grading Scale)

Verification and data tools

Cert lookup workflow (step-by-step)

1. Go to MNT’s Verification # Lookup.
2. Enter the verification ID number on the back of the label (MNT instructs users not to include an extra leading “0”). (Verification # Lookup)
3. Review the returned details and match them to the slab you have in hand before buying. (Verification # Lookup, Terms & Conditions)

Pop report limitations

MNT provides a “Population Report” page, but no population table/data was visible during verification (2025-12-24). Treat pop counts as Unknown unless MNT publishes a functional report. (Population Report)

Registry mechanics

Unknown (no registry was found on the official site during this pass). (mntgrading.com)

Grader notes / reports (if any)

Unknown. No official per-card grader notes system was found in the verified primary sources. (Grading Scale, Services)

Pricing and turnaround (how it works, not just numbers)

Pricing model

• Currency: MNT states website and submission-form prices are in CDN currency. (FAQ)
• Per-card tiers: Services are sold as per-card pricing with quantity breaks (“Original Plan” vs “Advanced Plan”). (Services)
• Dealer-only pricing/tier: MNT shows “Pristine Dealer Exclusive” pricing on the Services page. (Services)
• Add-ons: re-slabbing and labelling are priced per card. (Services)

Turnaround rules (and what “days” means)

MNT’s Services and Terms clarify how timelines are counted:

• 2-day service is in business days.
• Other services are in calendar days (MNT explicitly notes: “1 month = 31 days”).
• Service time begins after MNT receives the cards. (Services, Terms & Conditions)

Current prices and stated turnaround (verified 2025-12-24)

Based on the official Services page, the currently advertised tiers include:

Shipping and insurance expectations

MNT’s PDF submission form includes a published return shipping table by card count and destination (ON/QC, rest of Canada, USA, international contact) and states that only $100 is covered by default insurance, with extra return-shipping insurance priced at $3.00 for every $100. (Submission Form PDF)

MNT’s Services page also states “Extra costs for insurance coverage for amounts over $100 as requested by the customer.” (Services)

Stated turnaround vs user-reported reality

• Official stance: MNT frames its services as “guaranteed” and backed by a money-back guarantee (with exceptions for circumstances outside its control). (Services, Terms & Conditions)
• User-reported: Community discussions frequently describe MNT as “quick” (especially in Canada), but also emphasize that resale value and buyer acceptance can lag the major graders even if turnaround is fine. (Hobby Insider thread, hockeycards thread, footballcards thread)

Submission experience

Step-by-step submission overview (official)

1. Create an account and start a submission. (Submission Guide)
2. Fill out the submission form with service type and card details; MNT warns missing/discrepant info can slow processing. (Submission Guide)
3. Pay online; print the order form and include it in the package. (Submission Guide)
4. Package cards: each card must be in a top loader + sleeve or card saver + sleeve; one-touches are accepted but not returned; screw-down cases are not accepted; do not tape cards; keep card order consistent with your form. (Submission Guide)
5. Ship to the published Waterloo address (Suite #134, 55 Northfield Dr. East, Waterloo, ON, N2K 3T6). (Submission Guide, FAQ)

Common pitfalls (official + corroborated by community)

• Manual orders: MNT warns manual submissions create delays and can affect guarantees/status tracking. (Submission Guide, FAQ)
• Wrong holders / taped cards / wrong order: MNT explicitly says these cause longer processing times. (Submission Guide)
• Oversized/thick cards: MNT states it only grades regular-size cards (2.5×3.5 inches) from 35pt to 180pt; oversized cards/booklets and cards thicker than 180pt cannot be graded. (Terms & Conditions, FAQ)

Resale liquidity: what happens on the secondary market

In practice, MNT resale outcomes tend to depend on where (and to whom) you’re selling:

• Canada-first buyer pools (especially hockey): Users often describe MNT as more recognizable locally, while still acknowledging that PSA/BGS typically command stronger resale. (basketballcards thread, hockeycards thread)
• US-first or “only PSA matters” segments: Multiple threads indicate buyers may price MNT slabs close to raw or crack and re-submit to PSA/BGS/SGC/CGC. (footballcards thread, PokeGrading thread, PokeInvesting thread)

Common buyer objections (and what sellers do):

• “I’ve never heard of MNT.” Sellers link the verification tool and highlight that MNT publishes a grading scale. (Verification # Lookup, Grading Scale)
• “Why not PSA/BGS?” Many sellers frame MNT as a Canada-local convenience choice; for high-value/global flips, they pick PSA/BGS instead (as echoed in community discussions). (hockeycards thread, PokeInvesting thread)

Public opinion: Reddit, X, and hobby communities

This section summarizes recurring themes across posts from 2020–2025. Sources are linked so you can check recency and context directly.

Recurring positive themes

• Good-looking holder / solid slab feel is repeatedly mentioned, especially by hockey collectors. (hockeycards thread, Hobby Insider thread)
• Fast turnaround relative to some big graders comes up often (particularly in Canada). (Hobby Insider thread, hockeycards thread)
• Customer service praise appears in several threads. (hockeycards thread, Hobby Insider thread)
• Tough grading (or at least “not handing out 10s”) is a recurring claim among hockey collectors, with mixed anecdotes about crossovers to PSA. (hockeycards thread, hockeycards thread)

Recurring negative themes

• Resale liquidity discount vs PSA/BGS is the single most consistent theme (buyers “treat it as raw” or crack and resubmit). (footballcards thread, PokeGrading thread, PokeInvesting thread)
• Brand recognition is niche (some collectors simply haven’t heard of it in certain categories). (basketballcards thread, PokemonTCG thread)
• No usable population report / registry (MNT has a pop-report page, but it doesn’t show population data at time of verification). (Population Report)
• Conflicting/dated official info: MNT’s FAQ describes service types “from 2-Day up to 30-Day,” while the Services/Terms pages list longer calendar-day services (up to 3 months, plus Value 6 months in Terms). Treat the Services/Terms pages as the more actionable source for current options. (FAQ, Services, Terms & Conditions)

Most common misconceptions

• “MNT authenticates autographs.” MNT explicitly says an “In Person Autograph” (IPA) marking does not mean the autograph is authenticated. (Grading Scale)
• “MNT guarantees resale value.” MNT advertises guaranteed services (with a money-back structure), but community threads emphasize resale depends on buyer acceptance and can be discounted vs PSA/BGS. (Services, PokeInvesting thread)

Controversies, trust signals, and red flags

What was searched:

• Official site for disclosures on ownership/founders and policy statements.
• Community threads for recurring allegations (scams/counterfeits) vs routine “new grader” skepticism.

Findings:

• No major scandal reporting found in the sources reviewed; most criticism centers on market acceptance and resale value rather than fraud claims. (basketballcards thread, Hobby Insider thread)
• Trust signals: published grading scale and special-label notations, verification lookup, explicit size/thickness constraints, money-back guarantee framing. (Grading Scale, Verification # Lookup, Terms & Conditions, Services)
• Red flags / friction points: missing founding/ownership disclosures, a non-functional population-report page, and some conflicting service-duration copy between FAQ and Services/Terms. (FAQ, Population Report, Terms & Conditions)

Who should use MNT Grading Inc. (and who shouldn’t)

Use MNT if:

• You’re Canada-based and value local submission logistics + a verification database. (Submission Guide, Verification # Lookup)
• Your card fits MNT’s size/thickness rules and you want subgrade transparency for PC collecting. (Terms & Conditions, About Us)

Avoid (or be selective) if:

• You’re grading a high-value card primarily to maximize global resale liquidity. Community threads repeatedly recommend PSA/BGS for that goal. (footballcards thread, PokeInvesting thread)
• You need pop counts/registry tools as part of your buying strategy. (Population Report)

Alternatives:

• PSA (maximum mainstream resale liquidity) (figoca PSA guide)
• Beckett (BGS) (subgrades and established market acceptance) (figoca BGS guide)
• KSA (regional Canada option; compare local buyer acceptance) (figoca KSA guide)

Comparison snapshot

Rationale sources: MNT’s published scale, services, and terms (Grading Scale, Services, Terms & Conditions) plus recurring community resale-recognition themes (footballcards thread, PokeInvesting thread, hockeycards thread).

FAQs

Is MNT Grading Inc. legit?

MNT publishes a complete submission workflow, terms, a grading scale, and a verification database. That’s consistent with an operating grading company, but resale legitimacy/acceptance is market-dependent and often discounted vs PSA/BGS in many categories. (Submission Guide, Terms & Conditions, Grading Scale, footballcards thread)

How do I verify an MNT slab?

Use the official Verification # Lookup, enter the ID on the back of the label, and follow MNT’s instruction to omit the extra leading “0” if present. (Verification # Lookup)

Does MNT have a population report?

MNT has a “Population Report” page, but no population data is shown on that page as of 2025-12-24. Treat population counts as Unknown until MNT publishes a usable report. (Population Report)

Does MNT have a registry?

Unknown; no registry was found during this verification pass. (mntgrading.com)

Does MNT include subgrades?

MNT states it grades cards on five potential weighted categories (centering, corners, edges, surface, inner window when applicable). (About Us)

What does MNT’s “Flawless 10” mean?

MNT defines Flawless 10 as “perfect in all categories” and ties it to a special cracked-ice black label when all sub-categories are 10. (Grading Scale, About Us)

What is “Pristine 10” at MNT?

MNT states Pristine 10 is an overall grade of 10 after categories are calculated into their algorithm and uses a cracked-ice label. (Grading Scale, About Us)

What are MNT’s turnaround tiers?

MNT advertises service-time buckets of 2 days, 2 weeks, 1 month, and 3 months (with business-day vs calendar-day definitions), and also references “Value” service in its submission flow/terms. (Services, Submission Guide, Terms & Conditions)

When does the service clock start?

MNT says the service package begins the day after they receive the cards. (FAQ, Services)

What card sizes does MNT accept?

MNT states it grades regular-size cards (2.5×3.5 inches) ranging from 35pt to 180pt and does not grade oversized cards like booklets or cards thicker than 180pt. (Terms & Conditions, FAQ)

Does MNT authenticate cards or autographs?

MNT’s terms state it “does not authenticate any card.” The grading-scale page also says an “IPA” marking does not mean the autograph is authenticated. (Terms & Conditions, Grading Scale)

What happens if MNT thinks a card is altered?

MNT states altered cards can be returned without slabbing and marked accordingly; its terms also say reprints/altered cards may be returned ungraded with fees still being charged. (Grading Scale, Terms & Conditions)

Does MNT charge tax?

MNT’s FAQ lists provincial tax rates for Canada and says international (including USA) orders have 0% tax rate. (FAQ)

Will MNT add value vs PSA?

Community discussions repeatedly suggest MNT slabs usually do not carry the same resale premium/liquidity as PSA, especially outside Canada. MNT may still add value vs raw in some cases, but expect buyer skepticism and category-specific discounting. (footballcards thread, Hobby Insider thread)

Sources

Official

• https://mntgrading.com/
• https://mntgrading.com/about-us/
• https://mntgrading.com/services/
• https://mntgrading.com/submission-guide/
• https://mntgrading.com/grading-scale/
• https://mntgrading.com/verification-lookup/
• https://mntgrading.com/terms-conditions/
• https://mntgrading.com/frequently-asked-questions/
• https://mntgrading.com/dealer-locator-2/
• https://mntgrading.com/population-report/
• https://mntgrading.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/MNT-Grading-Submission-Form-11-25-cards-form-NEW-2024.pdf

Reputable hobby/news

• Unknown / none found in this verification pass: searches focused on major hobby news outlets and business coverage did not yield clearly attributable ownership/founding reporting for MNT that could be verified to a reputable publication.

Community sentiment (Reddit/X/forums)

• https://www.reddit.com/r/footballcards/comments/1gqwchv/what_is_everyones_thoughts_on_mnt_grading_2016/
• https://www.reddit.com/r/basketballcards/comments/1b53hc2/is_mnt_grading_legit_want_to_buy_a_card_but_its/
• https://www.reddit.com/r/hockeycards/comments/16sbnjt/what_is_everyones_thoughtsexperiences_with_mnt/
• https://www.reddit.com/r/hockeycards/comments/11cga91/thoughts_on_mnt_grading/
• https://www.reddit.com/r/PokeInvesting/comments/1mgxdda/psa_canada_vs_mnt/
• https://www.reddit.com/r/PokeGrading/comments/168o3xf/mnt_grading_in_canada/
• https://www.hobbyinsider.net/forum/threads/mnt-grading.434434/
• https://www.hobbyinsider.net/forum/threads/honest-review-of-mnt-grading.438871/
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KXJbhrSRJw4
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JjjUPkhq-jQ
• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ev9TpgiUKGA
• https://x.com/mntgrading
• https://x.com/search?q=mnt%20grading&src=typed_query

Directories/reference lists

• Not used for key claims in this write-up; directories are useful for discovery, but the factual sections above are cited from official pages and primary community threads.

Score explanations (with sources)

• Market acceptance (4/10): community threads repeatedly show that many buyers price unknown graders close to raw; MNT recognition appears stronger in Canada/hockey niches than in broader modern US segments. (footballcards thread, basketballcards thread, hockeycards thread)
• Transparency (7/10): MNT publishes a detailed grading scale with definitions and label notations and provides a verification lookup tool, but lacks a usable population report and does not show a registry. (Grading Scale, Verification # Lookup, Population Report)
• Value for money (7/10): MNT advertises competitive CAD per-card pricing with bulk breaks and a wide range of turnaround options; shipping/insurance costs are clearly listed in the submission-form PDF. (Services, Submission Form PDF)
• Resale liquidity (3/10): while some collectors report positive experiences, multiple threads explicitly state MNT slabs can be discounted or cracked for re-submission to mainstream graders, implying slower sales and more buyer friction in many markets. (PokeInvesting thread, PokeGrading thread, footballcards thread)