What card grading is
Grading is the process of sending a card to a third-party company that authenticates it (confirms it's genuine), evaluates its condition against a consistent standard, assigns a numeric grade, and encapsulates it in a sealed plastic slab with a unique certification number. The slab protects the card and lets buyers trust its condition without handling it.
How the 1–10 scale works
Most graders use a 1–10 scale based on centering, corners, edges and surface. Higher is better:
| Grade | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 10 — Gem Mint | Virtually flawless; sharp corners, clean edges, near-perfect centering. |
| 9 — Mint | Excellent with one very minor flaw. |
| 7–8 — Near Mint | Light wear; a strong collector grade. |
| 4–6 — Excellent to VG | Noticeable wear but presentable. |
| 1–3 — Poor to Good | Heavy wear, creasing or damage. |
Companies differ in detail: BGS issues sub-grades and a half-point 9.5 ('Gem Mint'), and a BGS 10 ('Black Label') is extremely rare. PSA is the most widely traded and often the most liquid for resale.
When is it worth grading a card?
Grading costs a fee per card and takes time, so it only makes sense when the graded value comfortably exceeds the raw value plus fees. Rough guidance:
- Grade cards that look near-mint or better and have real raw value — the upside is largest at PSA 9–10.
- Don't grade heavily played common cards; the fee will exceed any gain.
- Consider the grade odds honestly: small surface or centering flaws can cap a card at a 8 or 9.
- Check current raw vs graded prices before submitting — Riply's graded comparisons make this quick.