Card Grading Guide - Collectors Playbook

What is Card Grading?

Understanding professional card authentication and evaluation

Card grading is the process of having your cards professionally evaluated and authenticated by third-party companies. Graded cards receive a numerical grade (typically 1-10) based on their condition, and are sealed in tamper-proof cases called "slabs."

Why Grade Your Cards?

The benefits of professional grading

🔐

Authentication

Ensures your card is genuine and not counterfeit

🛡️

Protection

Sealed in tamper-proof protective cases

💰

Value

Graded cards typically sell for more

📈

Liquidity

Easier to sell with established grade

PSA Grading Scale

PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) is the most popular grading service

PSA 10

GEM MINT

Four sharp corners
Perfect centering
No surface issues
Pristine edges

PSA 9

MINT

One minor flaw allowed
55/45 to 60/40 centering
Slight print spot OK
Corners sharp to naked eye

PSA 8

NM-MT

65/35 to 70/30 centering
Minor corner wear visible
Slight surface wear
Light edge chipping OK

PSA 7

70/30 centering or better
Slight corner fraying
Minor surface scratches
Slight edge wear

PSA 6

EX-MT

Visible surface wear
75/25 centering allowed
Noticeable corner wear
Minor printing defects

PSA 5

Obvious corner rounding
80/20 centering or better
Surface scratches visible
Loss of original gloss

PSA 4

VG-EX

Rounded corners
85/15 centering allowed
Light creasing possible
Noticeable surface wear

PSA 3

Heavy corner wear
90/10 centering OK
Minor creases
Some staining allowed

PSA 2

GOOD

Major creasing
90/10 centering or worse
Paper loss possible
Heavy staining OK

PSA 1

POOR

Severe damage
Missing pieces OK
Heavy creases/tears
Major staining

Note: PSA 10s are not perfect under magnification. They can have minor printing defects but must have perfect centering, corners, edges, and surface.

Grading Company Comparison

Choose the right grading service for your cards

Company	Best For	Turnaround	Base Price	Market Premium
PSA	Vintage, Pokemon, Modern Sports	30-120 days	$25-50+	Highest
BGS	Modern Sports, Subgrades	20-60 days	$22-40+	High for 9.5+
SGC	Vintage, Fast Service	5-20 days	$12-30+	Moderate
CGC	Pokemon, TCG Cards	30-90 days	$15-25+	Growing

Prices vary based on: Card value, turnaround time, and membership status. Bulk submissions offer discounts.

Preparing Cards for Grading

Best practices for submission success

Do's

✓ Use penny sleeves + Card Savers
✓ Clean cards with microfiber cloth
✓ Check centering with ruler
✓ Inspect under good lighting
✓ Submit similar value cards together
✓ Take photos before sending

Don'ts

✗ Don't use toploaders for submissions
✗ Don't touch card surfaces
✗ Don't try to "clean" with liquids
✗ Don't submit damaged cards
✗ Don't rush the process
✗ Don't overgrade your cards

When Should You Grade?

Making smart grading decisions

Grade When:

Card value exceeds $100+ raw
You believe it will grade 8 or higher
It's a key rookie or vintage card
You plan to sell the card
For personal collection display

Skip Grading When:

Card has obvious damage
Grading costs exceed potential value increase
Modern base cards under $50
You need quick liquidity
Card has sentimental value only

The Submission Process

Step-by-step guide to grading your cards

Create Account: Register on grading company website
Select Service Level: Choose based on value and turnaround needs
Fill Submission Form: List each card with accurate details
Package Carefully: Use Card Savers and bubble mailers
Ship Insured: Always insure for full declared value
Track Progress: Monitor status online
Receive Grades: Cards return in protective slabs

Pro Tip: Join grading company memberships for discounts and free gradings. Consider group submissions with other collectors to save on shipping.

Understanding BGS Subgrades

BGS provides subgrades for four categories

📐

Centering

Front/back alignment

⭐

Corners

Sharpness and wear

📏

Edges

Chipping and whitening

✨

Surface

Scratches and print defects

BGS Black Label: The holy grail - all four subgrades must be perfect 10s. These command massive premiums.

Card Grading 101