Trade Contract · 2-party swap · value-balanced · print-ready
Card Trade Contract Generator
Fill in the two parties, list what each side is giving up, set the terms \u2014 the contract builds itself and auto-balances with a cash boot when values differ. Print two copies, sign one each, keep for insurance and tax records.
1. Trade meta
2. Party A
Cards this party gives
Card 1
Subtotal: $0.00
3. Party B
Cards this party gives
Card 1
Subtotal: $0.00
4. Value balance
Party A value$0.00
Party B value$0.00
Delta$0.00
Fairness0.0%
5. Terms
6. Signatures
FILL REQUIRED FIELDS
CARD TRADE CONTRACT
Date: 2026-04-17
PARTY A: __________
PARTY B: __________
RECITALS
Party A and Party B wish to exchange the cards identified below at the stated fair market values. The parties execute this agreement for purposes of insurance, tax basis, and dispute-resolution record-keeping.
1. CARDS FROM PARTY A TO PARTY B
SUBTOTAL: $0.00
2. CARDS FROM PARTY B TO PARTY A
SUBTOTAL: $0.00
3. INSPECTION & RETURN
Each party shall have 3 calendar days from receipt to inspect the cards received. If any card materially differs from the description in sections 1 or 2 (grade, cert number, condition visible from the front or back, or obvious alteration), the receiving party may return the non-conforming card by the original shipping method at the sending party's expense, and the trade shall be void as to that card, with pro-rata adjustment to any cash boot.
4. SHIPPING & INSURANCE
Each party pays for shipping of the cards they send (outbound).
Each card shall ship via tracked, insured service with signature confirmation. Declared value shall equal the FMV stated in sections 1 and 2.
5. GRADING DISPUTE
If a party disputes that a card received matches the represented grade and the card is encapsulated by a recognized grader, the slab shall be accepted as dispositive. If the dispute concerns a raw card, the receiving party may submit the card at their cost to PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) at Regular-tier service; the resulting grade shall govern, and if lower than represented by two full grade points or more, the sending party shall refund the FMV differential or return the original card.
6. WARRANTY
Cards are delivered AS IS, WHERE IS. No express or implied warranty of merchantability, grade accuracy beyond stated grade, centering, or future value is made by either party, except that each party warrants that (a) the card is not knowingly counterfeit, trimmed, recolored, or otherwise altered beyond any noted alterations, and (b) the party has clear title to convey.
7. ENTIRE AGREEMENT
This document constitutes the entire agreement between the parties regarding this trade, supersedes any prior discussions, and may be modified only by a writing signed by both parties.
SIGNATURES
Party A: __________________________ Date: 2026-04-17
Party B: __________________________ Date: 2026-04-17
[ DRAFT — NOT YET EXECUTED ]Draft auto-saves locally. Preview reflects the current form state. Sign, print two copies, and give one to each party.
Not legal advice. This template handles standard peer-to-peer hobby trades. For trades above $5,000, or any trade involving minors, estates, or cross-border counterparties, consult an attorney and consider a formal sales agreement with additional warranties and tax counsel.
Frequently Asked Questions
When do I actually need a written trade contract?▼
Any time the total value on either side crosses roughly $500, and always when one side includes a card worth more than $1,000. A typed contract protects both traders against three specific scenarios: (1) a card arrives damaged or not as described, (2) one side pulls out after the other has shipped, (3) either party later wants to claim a tax basis or insurance value for the cards received. Below $500, most collectors rely on platform screenshots plus tracking numbers, but even there a short agreement costs nothing to produce and is the single fastest way to resolve disputes without a lawyer.
Is a typed contract legally binding?▼
A trade contract with both signatures, a date, and clear identification of the cards exchanged is generally enforceable as evidence of the trade in most US states. It is not a full commercial sales agreement — if you need warranties of title, indemnification, or specific performance clauses, consult an attorney. For hobby-level trades, this document is functionally equivalent to a bill of sale and satisfies the typical needs of insurers, IRS collectible-basis documentation, and small-claims court in the rare case it becomes necessary.
What is a cash boot and when do I need one?▼
A cash boot is a cash payment added to equalize consideration when the two sides are not of equal value. If Party A is trading a $2,000 card for Party B’s $1,500 card, Party B can pay a $500 cash boot to make the trade fair. The tool calculates the value delta automatically and lets you enter the boot amount and direction. The IRS treats boot as taxable boot under like-kind rules for non-personal collectibles, so if you are operating as a dealer or investor rather than a hobbyist, track boot separately from the card exchange.
Why does the contract include a grading-dispute clause?▼
Because raw-card trades fall apart most often over perceived grade differences. One trader thinks they are shipping a "clean PSA 9" and the receiver, looking at the same card in hand, sees a corner ding that drops it to a PSA 7. Without a pre-agreed arbiter, the dispute becomes subjective. Pre-naming a grader (PSA, BGS, SGC, or mutually chosen) gives both sides a concrete resolution path: if you disagree, submit the card and the slab result wins. The contract makes the submission a remedy, not a surprise.
What is the inspection window and what does "materially differs" mean?▼
The inspection window (default 3 days) is the period after delivery during which the receiver can open, inspect, and return cards that do not match the described condition. "Materially differs" means a difference that affects the card’s market value — a corner ding not disclosed, a grade that is two or more points below the represented grade, a cert number that does not verify, or any alteration (trimming, recoloring, recapturing) not disclosed. Minor condition differences that a reasonable collector would not re-value based on (a light surface blemish within the stated grade range) do not qualify.
AS IS vs warranted condition — which should I choose?▼
AS IS is standard for slabbed-only trades where the grader has already certified condition — the slab is the warranty. Use warranted condition when trading raw cards and both sides want stronger comfort that the description is accurate. Warranted adds a 30-day survival of the condition representations, which narrows to "did you send what you said you sent" disputes rather than opening the trade to perpetual regret. When one side is very experienced and the other is new, warranted condition protects the newer trader.
How should I ship the cards after signing?▼
Use a tracked, insured service with signature confirmation (USPS Priority Registered, UPS Ground with declared value, or FedEx Ground with signature required). Declared value should match the FMV stated in the contract. For raw cards, use a semi-rigid card saver inside a team bag inside a bubble mailer inside a box — never a PWE (plain white envelope) for anything over $20 even on a trade, because lost PWE claims are rarely paid and destroy trust. For slabs over $500, double-box with bubble wrap between the two boxes.