The PSA Grading Scale Explained: What Each Grade Means
Quick answer
PSA grades cards on a 1 to 10 scale, from Poor to Gem Mint. PSA publishes that a Gem Mint 10 needs four sharp corners, sharp focus, full original gloss, no staining and centering within approximately 55/45 on the front and 75/25 on the back. Qualifiers such as OC or MK flag a specific issue on an otherwise gradable card.
The scale at a glance
PSA grades trading cards from 1 to 10. Each whole number has a name, and the top of the scale is where most of the market value is concentrated.
| Grade | Name |
|---|---|
| 10 | Gem Mint |
| 9 | Mint |
| 8 | Near Mint-Mint |
| 7 | Near Mint |
| 6 | Excellent-Mint |
| 5 | Excellent |
| 4 | Very Good-Excellent |
| 3 | Very Good |
| 2 | Good |
| 1 | Poor |
PSA also issues some half-point grades in the middle of the scale. The headline tiers above are the ones most collectors talk about.
What a PSA 10 requires
PSA describes a Gem Mint 10 as a virtually perfect card. Its published standard says a PSA 10 has:
- four perfectly sharp corners
- sharp focus
- full original gloss
- no staining of any kind
- centering within a tolerance not to exceed approximately 55/45 on the front and 75/25 on the reverse
PSA allows that a slight printing imperfection may be acceptable if it does not impair the overall appeal of the card. It also states that graders may allow a small centering variance on occasion based on overall eye appeal. That discretion cuts both ways: a card inside the numbers can still be held back if it looks off-center, and a card just outside can occasionally pass.
What the lower grades mean in practice
PSA describes each tier in its own standards, and the wording can change, so read the current version on PSA's site. As a working model:
- PSA 9 (Mint) is a very clean card with a single minor flaw. Typical culprits are centering slightly outside the 10 tolerance, a faint print line or a minuscule touch of wear on one corner.
- PSA 8 (Near Mint-Mint) can show a few minor flaws such as slight corner wear, small edge chips or slightly looser centering.
- PSA 7 and below show progressively more visible wear: softening corners, whitening along the edges, light surface scuffs and eventually creases.
The practical boundary most collectors care about is between 9 and 10. The market usually pays a large premium for a 10, so a card sitting right on the line is worth measuring carefully before you spend on grading. See PSA 9 vs PSA 10 for how to think about that gap.
Centering tolerances by grade
PSA publishes centering expectations that loosen as the grade drops. The front-of-card figures are approximate and graders can use discretion:
| Grade | Approximate front centering |
|---|---|
| 10 | 55/45 |
| 9 | 60/40 |
| 8 | 65/35 |
| 7 | 70/30 |
| 6 | 80/20 |
| 5 | 85/15 |
Back centering is more forgiving, with 75/25 for a 10 and roughly 90/10 for lower grades. Treat these as a guide and confirm them on PSA's grading standards page, because PSA can update them.
Qualifiers and cards PSA will not grade
Some cards receive a grade with a qualifier, and some do not receive a numeric grade at all.
- Qualifiers flag a specific issue that would otherwise move the grade. PSA's best-known example is MK (marks), used for cards with writing, ink or pencil marks. Others cover off-center cards, staining, print defects and focus.
- No-grade reasons include evidence of trimming, restoration, recoloring, cleaning, altered stock, questionable authenticity and miscuts. PSA lists these as numbered no-grade definitions, and some of them still incur the grading fee.
The full list matters because a card returned without a grade can cost you the fee. Read grading qualifiers and no-grade codes before you clean or touch up a card.
How to use the scale before you submit
- Measure centering on the front and back and compare it to the table above.
- Inspect each corner and each edge under bright, angled light.
- Check the surface for scratches, print lines and dents.
- Ask which single flaw is the most likely to cap the grade, because under PSA one flaw usually sets the ceiling.
The ceiling flaw is the key idea. A card does not have to be bad everywhere to miss a 10. It only has to miss in one place, and that is exactly what a systematic pre-grade is designed to find.
Frequently asked questions
What are the centering requirements for a PSA 10?
PSA publishes that a Gem Mint 10 must be centered within a tolerance not to exceed approximately 55/45 on the front and 75/25 on the reverse. PSA also notes that graders may allow a small variance at their discretion based on overall eye appeal.
Does PSA give half grades?
PSA grades are headlined as whole numbers from 1 to 10, and PSA does issue half-point grades on some cards in the middle of its scale. PSA states that pins and coins do not receive half-point grades.
What is the difference between a PSA 9 and a PSA 10?
A PSA 10 is virtually perfect. A PSA 9 is described as a superb card with only one minor flaw. In practice the gap is often centering a little outside the 10 tolerance, a faint print imperfection or a very slight corner or edge touch.
Before you pay for grading
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Grading companies revise their standards and service levels. Figures here reflect what each company has published at the time of writing, so confirm details on the company's own site before you submit. Before The Grade is independent and is not affiliated with PSA, BGS, CGC or SGC.