Pokemon Card Grades Explained
Understanding Pokemon card grades is essential for collectors and traders. This guide explains how PSA, BGS, and CGC evaluate cards, what each grade means, and how to interpret grading results.
PSA Grading Scale (1-10)
PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) is the most recognized grading company for Pokemon cards. They evaluate cards on a 1-10 scale based on four key factors: centering, corners, edges, and surface condition.
| Grade | Name | Centering | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSA 10 | Gem Mint | 55/45 front, 75/25 back | Perfect card. Flawless corners, edges, and surface. No staining. Slight printing imperfection allowed if it doesn't affect appeal. |
| PSA 9 | Mint | 60/40 front, 90/10 back | Nearly perfect with only one minor flaw visible under magnification. Minor printing imperfection or very slight off-centering. |
| PSA 8 | Near Mint-Mint | 65/35 front, 90/10 back | Excellent condition. May show slightest fraying on one or two corners, minor printing imperfection, or be very slightly off-center. |
| PSA 7 | Near Mint | 70/30 front, 90/10 back | Slight surface wear upon close inspection. Minor fraying on corners, slight out-of-register focus, or minor printing blemish. Most original gloss retained. |
| PSA 6 | Excellent-Mint | 75/25 front, 90/10 back | Visible surface wear or printing defect. Very light scratches visible on close inspection. Some loss of original gloss, minor wax stain on reverse. |
| PSA 5 | Excellent | 80/20 front, 90/10 back | Noticeable flaws that detract from the card's appeal. Moderate wear visible without magnification. |
| PSA 4 | Very Good-Excellent | 85/15 front, 90/10 back | Prominent flaws that heavily impact visual appeal. Multiple issues visible. |
| PSA 3 | Very Good | 90/10 front, 90/10 back | Obvious wear with noticeable corner rounding and surface wear becoming apparent. |
| PSA 2 | Good | 90/10 front and back | Accelerated corner rounding, obvious surface wear. May have scratching, scuffing, light staining, or chipping. Several creases possible. |
| PSA 1 | Poor | No minimum | Major creasing, missing pieces, extreme discoloration, and noticeable warping. Eye appeal nearly vanished. |
Half-Point Grades: Cards grading between PSA 2 and PSA 9 may receive half-point increases (like 8.5) if they exhibit high-end qualities for their grade range.
BGS Subgrades Explained
BGS (Beckett Grading Services) is known for its detailed subgrade system. Unlike PSA, BGS breaks down the overall grade into four separate scores, giving collectors full transparency on exactly why a card received its grade.
Centering
How evenly the image aligns within borders. Target: 50/50 front, 60/40 back for perfect scores.
Corners
Shape and wear of each corner. Looks for rounding, dings, or layering issues.
Edges
Smooth, chip-free borders. Checks for notching, fraying, or whitening.
Surface
Front and back quality. Checks for scratches, dents, print lines, stains, or other defects.
BGS Special Grades
- •BGS 9.5 Gem Mint: Near-perfect card. Often considered equivalent to PSA 10. Subgrades are typically 9 or higher.
- •BGS 10 Pristine: Perfect to the naked eye. Image centered 50/50 front, 55/45 back. No imperfections.
- ★BGS 10 Black Label: The "unicorn grade" - all four subgrades must be 10. Extremely rare and can exceed PSA 10 prices for high-value cards.
Note: BGS's final grade is not a simple average of subgrades. They use a weighted algorithm where the lowest subgrade has the most impact on the overall score.
CGC Grading System
CGC (Certified Guaranty Company) is newer to Pokemon card grading but has gained popularity for faster turnaround times and competitive pricing. They offer half-grades and optional subgrades.
CGC Grade Tiers (2023+ Scale)
- •CGC 10 Gem Mint: Achievable for many pack-fresh cards (formerly labeled 9.5).
- •CGC 10 Pristine: Higher tier for exceptional cards with outstanding quality.
- ★CGC Perfect 10: All subgrades must be 10. The highest possible CGC grade.
CGC Advantages: Faster turnaround, generally lower costs, optional subgrades for detailed grading. Growing acceptance in the market.
PSA vs BGS vs CGC Comparison
| Feature | PSA | BGS | CGC |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | 1-10 (whole numbers) | No | Gem Mint 10 |
| BGS | 1-10 (half grades) | Yes (4 categories) | Black Label 10 |
| CGC | 1-10 (half grades) | Optional | Perfect 10 |
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Frequently Asked Questions
What does PSA 10 mean?
PSA 10 (Gem Mint) is the highest grade a Pokemon card can receive from PSA. It means the card is essentially perfect with flawless corners, edges, surface, and centering within 55/45 on the front and 75/25 on the back.
Is BGS 9.5 equal to PSA 10?
Yes, many collectors consider BGS 9.5 (Gem Mint) to be roughly equivalent to PSA 10. BGS is known for stricter grading, so a BGS 9.5 represents exceptional quality. A BGS 10 Black Label (all subgrades 10) is rarer and can exceed PSA 10 prices.
What are BGS subgrades?
BGS provides four subgrades: Centering, Corners, Edges, and Surface. Each receives a score from 1-10. These subgrades give detailed insight into why a card received its overall grade, helping collectors understand specific strengths or weaknesses.
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