The grading scale is the run of numbers grading companies use to express a card's condition. The most common scales run from 1 to 10, where 10 means close to flawless and 1 means heavily worn. The numbers are simple, but what lies behind them is defined in each company's own guidelines.
The basic structure
At the top of the scale are cards that are near perfect: sharp corners, clean edges, no scratches and good centering. Further down, progressively more wear is allowed, such as whitening on the edges, bent corners, scratches, creases and stains. Alongside the number, companies often use a name, for example Gem Mint, Mint or Near Mint. There is also a separate category for cards that are genuine but have been altered or damaged so much that they cannot receive a standard grade.
Whole and half grades
PSA mainly uses whole grades. Beckett also gives half grades, plus subgrades for centering, corners, edges and surface that combine into an overall grade. CGC takes a similar approach with subgrades on many of its cards. Different services and card ages can follow different practices, so always read the company's current description.
Comparing between companies
A 9 at one company is not necessarily the same as a 9 at another. The definitions of what is allowed at each grade are not identical, and the market values the companies differently. In practice, buyers notice both the number and the name of the company. Attempts to convert between companies rest on experience, not on an official table; see crossover grading.
The scale and its link to condition
The informal condition scale used when cards are traded ungraded, with labels such as NM and LP, is coarser than the grading scale; see card condition. A card sold as Near Mint can receive a wide range of grades if it is submitted.
To understand a grade, one must also know the company's definitions. Each company describes in words what is required, for example how much offset in centering is allowed and how much wear on the corners is acceptable. These descriptions are available on the companies' websites and are updated from time to time. It is worth reading them before comparing cards from different companies.
What the number does not say
A grade tells you about condition, not about how many other cards share the same grade. That is shown in population reports, and both things affect price. See also card grading for an overview.
Last reviewed October 25, 2026. This article explains how the market works. It is not advice to buy or sell anything in particular.