If you're new to Pokemon card grading, the grading scale can seem confusing. What's the difference between a 9 and a 10? Why do some cards get an 8.5? In this guide, we'll break down the grading scale used by PSA, CGC, and BGS, and explain exactly what each grade means.

The 10-Point Grading Scale

All three major grading companies use a 10-point scale, with 10 being the best possible grade. Here's what each grade means:

Grade 10 — Gem Mint

A Gem Mint card is virtually perfect. It has sharp corners, clean edges, perfect centering, and a flawless surface. This is the holy grail of card grading and commands the highest premium.

  • Corners: Razor-sharp with no whitening
  • Edges: Clean with no chipping
  • Centering: 55/45 or better on all sides
  • Surface: No visible defects under 10x magnification

Grade 9 — Mint

A Mint card is nearly perfect but has one or two very minor flaws. This could be a slight touch on one corner or a barely visible surface imperfection.

  • Corners: Sharp, possibly one very minor touch
  • Edges: Clean, possibly one minor imperfection
  • Centering: 60/40 or better
  • Surface: Possibly one minor print defect

Grade 8 — Near Mint-Mint

Near Mint-Mint cards have a few minor flaws that are visible upon close inspection but don't significantly detract from the card's appearance.

  • Corners: Two or three minor touches
  • Edges: Minor chipping possible
  • Centering: 65/35 or better
  • Surface: Minor scratches or print lines

Grade 7 — Near Mint

Near Mint cards show visible wear but are still in excellent condition overall. This is often the grade where value starts to drop noticeably.

  • Corners: Visible wear on multiple corners
  • Edges: Some chipping or fraying
  • Centering: 70/30 or better
  • Surface: Light scratches visible

Grade 6 — Excellent-Mint

Excellent-Mint cards show more pronounced wear but are still attractive. They may have corner dings, edge wear, and surface scratches.

Grade 5 — Excellent

Excellent cards show significant wear. Corners may be slightly rounded, edges may have visible chipping, and the surface may have multiple scratches.

Grade 4 — Very Good

Very Good cards show heavy wear. They may have rounded corners, significant edge damage, and visible surface scratches.

Grade 3 — Good

Good cards are well-worn with visible damage on multiple surfaces. They may have creases, though not severe ones.

Grade 2 — Fair

Fair cards have significant damage including creases, heavy wear, and may have minor stains.

Grade 1 — Poor

Poor cards have severe damage — heavy creases, torn corners, major stains, or other significant defects.

Sub-Grades: CGC and BGS

Unlike PSA, which gives a single overall grade, CGC and BGS provide sub-grades for each category:

  • Corners: Rated on the same 10-point scale
  • Edges: Rated on the same 10-point scale
  • Centering: Rated on the same 10-point scale
  • Surface: Rated on the same 10-point scale

The overall grade is typically the lowest sub-grade or close to it. This gives you valuable insight into exactly why your card received its grade.

The BGS Black Label

BGS offers a special "Black Label" or "Pristine 10" for cards that receive perfect 10s in all four sub-grades. This is extremely rare and commands a massive premium — often 2-3x the value of a regular BGS 10.

How GradePokemon Uses the Scale

GradePokemon's AI grading tool evaluates your card on the same four criteria (corners, edges, centering, surface) and provides estimated grades for PSA, CGC, and BGS. This helps you:

  • Understand which areas of your card are strongest and weakest
  • Compare estimated grades across all three companies
  • Decide if your card is worth the submission cost
  • Choose the grading company most likely to give you the best grade

Try GradePokemon free and get instant grading predictions for your Pokemon cards!