Grading Company Guide
Detailed breakdowns of how each major grading company evaluates TCG cards — centering, surfaces, edges, corners, and overall grade.
PSA — Professional Sports Authenticator
Founded 1991 — The most widely used grading service for TCG cards worldwide.
PSA uses a 1–10 grading scale with no sub-grades. Each card receives a single overall numeric grade. PSA is known for being slightly more lenient on centering than Beckett, making it popular for vintage cards where perfect centering is rare.
Grading Criteria
PSA evaluates four key attributes, then assigns a single holistic grade:
- Centering — How evenly the design is positioned within the card borders
- Corners — Sharpness and integrity of all four corners
- Edges — Condition of the card edges, checking for chipping, roughness, or wear
- Surface — Print quality, scratches, staining, and any surface defects
Key insight: PSA does NOT give sub-grades. A card either meets the standard for a grade or it doesn't. A PSA 10 with 55/45 centering is worth the same as a PSA 10 with 50/50.
2025 Update: In early 2025, PSA tightened their Gem Mint 10 front centering requirement from 60/40 to 55/45. Back centering remains at 75/25.
Centering Requirements
PSA measures centering as a left-right / top-bottom ratio. The first number represents the percentage of border on the narrower side, the second number the wider side.
| Grade | Label | Front Centering | Back Centering |
|---|---|---|---|
| PSA 10 | Gem Mint | 55/45 or better | 75/25 or better |
| PSA 9 | Mint | 60/40 or better | 90/10 or better |
| PSA 8 | NM-MT | 65/35 or better | 90/10 or better |
| PSA 7 | Near Mint | 70/30 or better | 90/10 or better |
| PSA 6 | EX-MT | 80/20 or better | 90/10 or better |
| PSA 5 | Excellent | 85/15 or better | 90/10 or better |
| PSA 4 | VG-EX | 85/15 or better | 90/10 or better |
Corners
Corner condition is often the most scrutinized attribute. PSA examines all four corners under magnification:
- PSA 10: Corners must be perfectly sharp with no visible wear under 10x magnification
- PSA 9: One minor corner imperfection is allowed — a slight touch of wear invisible to the naked eye
- PSA 8: Minor corner wear is visible but not distracting. Slight fraying or whitening may be present
- PSA 7: Slightly rounded corners with minor wear visible without magnification
Edges
Edge wear includes chipping, roughness, and loss of original sharpness along the card's borders:
- PSA 10: Edges must be crisp and clean with no visible flaws
- PSA 9: Virtually flawless edges — minor imperfection under magnification only
- PSA 8: Minor edge wear. Slight roughness or minor chipping may be present
- PSA 7: Light edge wear visible but overall edges are in good shape
Surface
Surface evaluation covers scratches, print lines, staining, and other defects on both front and back:
- PSA 10: Surface must be free of print defects, scratches, and any other flaws
- PSA 9: One minor print imperfection is allowed. No scratches visible to the naked eye
- PSA 8: Minor print spots or minor surface wear. A very light scratch may be present
- PSA 7: Minor surface wear or printing blemishes. A slight scratch or minor staining
PSA Tip: PSA's final grade is holistic — a card with perfect 50/50 centering can still receive a PSA 7 if corners are significantly worn. Conversely, a card with 60/40 centering but flawless everything else will get a PSA 10.
Beckett Grading Services (BGS)
Founded 1999 — Known for sub-grades and the prestigious Black Label BGS 10.
Beckett uses a 1–10 scale with half-point increments and uniquely provides four individual sub-grades (centering, corners, edges, surface) alongside the final grade. This transparency makes BGS popular among collectors who want granular detail.
How BGS Sub-Grades Work
Each card receives four sub-grades rated 1–10 (with half-point increments):
- Centering — Border symmetry front and back
- Corners — Sharpness and integrity
- Edges — Smoothness and chip-free
- Surface — Print quality, scratches, blemishes
The final grade is calculated from the sub-grades, but it is not a simple average. Beckett uses a proprietary weighting system. However, the general rule is:
- BGS 10 (Pristine): All four sub-grades must be 10
- BGS 10 (Black Label): All four sub-grades are 10 — displayed with black label holders (most valuable)
- BGS 9.5 (Gem Mint): At least two sub-grades of 10, none below 9
- BGS 9 (Mint): Sub-grades average to at least 9, none below 8.5
Black Label: A BGS Black Label 10 is the holy grail — all four sub-grades at a perfect 10. These can command 5–10x the price of a regular BGS 9.5.
Centering Requirements
Beckett is generally stricter on centering than PSA, especially at the highest grades:
| Sub-Grade | Label | Front Centering | Back Centering |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Pristine | 50/50 (perfect) | 60/40 or better |
| 9.5 | Gem Mint | 50/50 one way, 55/45 the other | 60/40 or better |
| 9 | Mint | 55/45 or better both ways | 60/40 or better |
| 8 | NM-MT | 60/40 or better | 80/20 or better |
| 7 | Near Mint | 65/35 or better | 90/10 or better |
Note on half-point grades: Beckett states that half-point grades (8.5, 7.5) share characteristics of the levels above and below. For example, an 8.5 centering sub-grade falls between the 8 standard (60/40) and the 9 standard (55/45).
Corners Sub-Grade
Beckett is particularly strict on corners, examining under high magnification:
- 10 (Pristine): Absolutely flawless corners under any magnification
- 9.5 (Gem Mint): Virtually perfect — the slightest hint of wear under intense scrutiny
- 9 (Mint): One very minor corner flaw, such as a tiny amount of whitening visible only under magnification
- 8.5 (NM-MT+): Slight corner wear, possibly visible without magnification on one corner
- 8 (NM-MT): Minor but noticeable corner wear on one or more corners
Edges Sub-Grade
- 10: Razor-sharp, clean-cut edges with zero flaws
- 9.5: Near-perfect edges with only the most trivial imperfection
- 9: Minor rough spots or very minor chipping visible only under magnification
- 8.5: Slight edge wear becoming visible to the naked eye
- 8: Minor chipping or roughness along edges
Surface Sub-Grade
- 10: Perfect print quality, zero surface defects of any kind
- 9.5: Virtually flawless surface — may have one very minor print imperfection
- 9: One or two minor print defects. Surface is clean and attractive
- 8.5: Minor surface wear or light print defects becoming visible
- 8: Light scratching, minor surface wear, or noticeable print defects
BGS Tip: Because of sub-grades, a BGS 9.5 with centering of 10/9.5/9.5/9.5 is considered more desirable than 9.5/9/10/10 — the centering sub-grade is prominently visible on the label and directly affects buyer perception.
CGC Cards
Entering the TCG market from their legacy in comic book grading — growing rapidly in popularity.
CGC uses a 1–10 scale with half-point increments and, like Beckett, provides sub-grades for each attribute. CGC has gained traction thanks to competitive pricing and their established reputation from CGC Comics.
Grading Criteria
CGC evaluates the same four core attributes as other graders:
- Centering — Symmetry of borders on front and back
- Corners — Physical condition of all four corners
- Edges — Edge integrity, chipping, and wear
- Surface — Scratches, print quality, and surface blemishes
CGC provides optional sub-grades. Their overall grade methodology considers all four attributes with a holistic assessment.
Centering Requirements
CGC's centering standards fall between PSA (more lenient) and BGS (stricter):
| Grade | Label | Front Centering | Back Centering |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Pristine | 50/50 (perfect) | 50/50 (perfect) |
| 10 | Gem Mint | 55/45 or better | 75/25 or better |
| 9.5 | Mint+ | 60/40 or better | 90/10 or better |
| 9 | Mint | 60/40 or better | 90/10 or better |
| 8.5 | NM/Mint+ | 65/35 or better | — |
| 8 | NM/Mint | 65/35 or better | — |
| 7.5 | Near Mint+ | 70/30 or better | — |
| 7 | Near Mint | 70/30 or better | — |
Note: CGC does not officially publish back centering thresholds for grades 8.5 and below. The "—" indicates this data is not available from CGC's published standards.
Corners
- 10 (Pristine): Perfectly sharp corners with no imperfections at any magnification
- 9.5 (Gem Mint): Virtually flawless corners — extremely minor imperfection under high magnification
- 9 (Mint): One minor corner flaw. May show very slight whitening under magnification
- 8.5 (NM-MT+): Minor corner wear, slight rounding, or light whitening
- 8 (NM-MT): Moderate corner wear visible without magnification but not distracting
Edges
- 10: Flawless edges, perfectly clean cuts
- 9.5: Near-perfect edges with trivial imperfections only under magnification
- 9: Very minor edge wear, slight roughness under magnification
- 8.5: Light edge wear beginning to show, minor chipping
- 8: Noticeable but minor chipping or edge roughness
Surface
- 10: Absolutely clean surface with perfect print quality
- 9.5: Near-perfect surface — one extremely minor flaw
- 9: Clean surface with minor print imperfections or very light surface wear
- 8.5: Minor surface wear or small print defects visible
- 8: Light scratches or moderate print defects, but overall attractive
CGC Tip: CGC uniquely has two tiers of 10 — "Pristine 10" requires dead-center 50/50 on both sides, while "Gem Mint 10" allows up to 55/45 front and 75/25 back. The Pristine 10 is their equivalent of BGS's Black Label.
CGC vs PSA vs BGS — Quick Comparison
CGC sits in a middle ground. Their 10 is harder to get than PSA 10 (especially on centering) but slightly more achievable than a BGS Black Label 10. CGC is often chosen for:
- Competitive grading fees compared to PSA and BGS
- Faster turnaround times on standard submissions
- Growing market acceptance and resale value
- Clear, detailed labels with optional sub-grades
ACE Grading
A modern grading company focused on transparency, technology, and accessibility.
ACE Grading is a newer entrant that has gained popularity with its transparent grading standards, fast turnaround, and technology-driven approach. ACE uses a 1–10 scale and provides sub-grades for each attribute.
Grading Criteria
ACE evaluates four attributes, each scored 1–10:
- Centering — Border symmetry and alignment
- Corners — Corner sharpness and condition
- Edges — Edge smoothness and integrity
- Surface — Print quality, scratches, and blemishes
ACE displays all four sub-grades on the label, giving full transparency into how the overall grade was determined.
Centering Requirements
ACE's centering thresholds are clearly published and straightforward:
| Grade | Label | Front Centering | Back Centering |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Gem Mint | 60/40 or better | 60/40 or better |
| 9 | Mint | 65/35 or better | 70/30 or better |
| 8 | NM-Mint | 70/30 or better | 75/25 or better |
| 7 | Near Mint | 75/25 or better | 80/20 or better |
| 6 | EX-Mint | 80/20 or better | 80/20 or better |
| 5 | Excellent | 80/20 or better | 80/20 or better |
| 4 | Very Good | 80/20 or better | 80/20 or better |
| 3 | Good | 85/15 or better | 85/15 or better |
OC Qualifier: If the centering sub-grade is 2 or more grades below the overall card grade, ACE appends an "OC" (off-center) qualifier. This means centering alone won't tank the overall grade as severely — but it will be flagged.
Corners
- 10 (Pristine): All four corners perfectly sharp and intact under high magnification
- 9 (Mint): Corners are sharp with only the most minor imperfection under magnification
- 8 (NM-MT): Very light corner wear — slight softening or minor whitening
- 7 (Near Mint): Visible corner wear, slight rounding, but not severe
Edges
- 10: Clean, sharp edges with no imperfections
- 9: Near-perfect edges, minor imperfection only under magnification
- 8: Slight edge wear, minor roughness or small chips
- 7: Noticeable edge wear but still in good overall condition
Surface
- 10: Flawless surface and print quality
- 9: Very minor surface issue — tiny print imperfection or nearly invisible wear
- 8: Minor surface wear, light scratching, or small print defects
- 7: Moderate surface issues — visible scratches or print problems
ACE Tip: ACE measures centering to 1/1000th of a millimetre accuracy using digital imaging technology. They also offer QR codes on slabs that link to high-resolution images of the graded card — useful for online sales.
Why Choose ACE?
- Transparency: Published grading standards with clear thresholds
- Speed: Generally faster turnaround than PSA and BGS
- Technology: Uses digital imaging to assist and verify grades
- Cost: Competitive pricing, especially for bulk submissions
- Growing market: Increasing acceptance among collectors and sellers