How to read PSA, BGS and SGC grades

What a card grade is

A grade is the score an independent company assigns to a card after examining it under controlled lighting. Four things are judged: centering, corners, edges and surface.

The card is then sealed in a tamper-evident slab with a label showing the grade and a certification number you can verify on the grader's website.

The PSA 1-to-10 scale

PSA grades on a 1-to-10 scale. A PSA 10 (Gem Mint) is essentially flawless, a PSA 9 (Mint) may carry one nearly invisible flaw, and anything at 8 or below shows wear you can see on the corners or surface.

The price gap between a PSA 9 and a PSA 10 of the same card is usually the widest on the scale, simply because very few copies ever reach a 10.

BGS and its subgrades

Beckett (BGS) also grades 1 to 10, but publishes four subgrades — one for each criterion. That tells you exactly why a card fell short of a 10.

A BGS 9.5 (Gem Mint) is the common benchmark among collectors, and the BGS 10 Black Label — four perfect subgrades — is one of the most sought-after labels in the hobby.

SGC and comparing across companies

SGC is the third major grader and is especially popular with vintage cards. Its scale also tops out at 10, and its black slab is instantly recognizable.

Grades are not interchangeable one for one: an SGC 9 and a PSA 9 can trade at different prices. When you compare prices, compare the same card, same grader, same grade.

What to check before you buy

Verify the certification number on the grader's official site, make sure the slab has not been cracked or scratched, and ask for well-lit photos of the front and back. Every graded piece in our catalog lists its grade and certification number.