GrailHow Card Grading Works: PSA, BGS, SGC and CGC Explained
Updated October 2026 · Evergreen guide
Grading is when an independent company inspects a trading card, assigns it a condition grade, and seals it in a tamper-evident plastic holder (a "slab"). A grade gives buyers a shared language for condition, which is why graded cards are often easier to sell than raw ones.
The 1–10 scale
All four major graders use a 1–10 scale, with 10 the best. PSA describes its Gem Mint 10 as "a virtually perfect card": four perfectly sharp corners, sharp focus, full original gloss, no staining, and front centering within roughly 55/45 (75/25 on the back). A Mint 9 allows a minor flaw.
| Grade | Common label | What it roughly means |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Gem Mint | Virtually flawless; sharp corners, full gloss, tight centering |
| 9 | Mint | One minor flaw, e.g. slight corner wear or off-centering |
| 8 | NM-MT | Very light wear on a few corners |
| 7 | Near Mint | Slight corner fraying, minor print blemish |
| 6 and below | EX-MT and lower | Visible wear, scratches, rounded corners |
What graders look at
- Centering: how evenly the borders frame the image, front and back.
- Corners: sharpness, with no rounding or dings.
- Edges: no chipping or whitening.
- Surface: gloss, scratches, print lines, stains, creases.
How PSA, BGS, SGC and CGC differ
- PSA uses whole numbers only and prints a single overall grade, with no subgrades.
- BGS (Beckett) uses half-points and prints four subgrades (centering, corners, edges, surface). A "Black Label" 10 means all four subgrades are 10.
- SGC uses half-points and labels its top grades 10 PRI (Pristine) and 10 GM (Gem Mint).
- CGC uses half-points, with Gem Mint 10 and a higher Pristine 10.
Is your card worth grading?
Grading costs money and takes time, and fees and turnaround change often, so check each grader's current price list. A simple rule of thumb: look up recent sold prices for the same card both raw and in the grade you realistically expect. If the gap doesn't comfortably cover fees, shipping and insurance, keep it raw. Inspect the card under bright light first; one soft corner or off-center print can drop a card from a 10 to an 8.
Quick prep checklist
- Put the card in a fresh penny sleeve, then a semi-rigid holder.
- Don't try to "clean" the surface with anything abrasive.
- Log every card with photos before you ship.
Sources: PSA Grading Standards, SGC Grading Scale, CGC Grading Scales.