Pokemon Card Grading Scale Explained: PSA, BGS & CGC Grades | CardGrading.app

What is the Pokemon card grading scale? PSA grades Pokemon cards on a 1-10 scale, where PSA 10 (Gem Mint) is the highest grade and PSA 1 (Poor) is the lowest. Each grade reflects the card's condition across four criteria: centering, corners, edges, and surface. Higher grades command significantly higher resale values - a PSA 10 can be worth 2-10x more than the same card at PSA 8. Use CardGrading.app to predict your card's PSA grade for free.

Whether you have just pulled a chase card from the latest set or rediscovered a binder of Base Set holos in your closet, understanding card grading scales is one of the most important skills a Pokemon card collector can develop. The grade assigned to your card does not just describe its condition -- it directly determines its market value. A single grade point can mean the difference between a few hundred dollars and a few thousand. This guide breaks down every major grading scale in detail so you can evaluate your cards with confidence, communicate clearly with buyers and sellers, and make informed decisions about which cards are worth submitting for professional grading.

If you are new to grading entirely, our step-by-step guide to getting Pokemon cards graded covers the full submission process. This article focuses specifically on what the grades mean and how each company's scale works.

The PSA Grading Scale (1-10)

PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) uses a straightforward 1-to-10 numerical scale that has become the industry standard for Pokemon cards. PSA is the most recognized grading company in the hobby, and its grades carry the strongest market premiums. Every card is evaluated across four main attributes: centering, corners, edges, and surface. The final grade reflects the overall condition, with the weakest attribute pulling the grade down.

PSA 10 -- Gem Mint

A PSA 10 Gem Mint represents a virtually perfect card. Centering must be 60/40 or better on the front and 75/25 or better on the back. All four corners must be razor sharp with no fraying or whitening. Edges must be clean and free of chipping. The surface must retain full original gloss with no print defects, scratches, or indentations visible under magnification. Only a tiny percentage of submitted cards -- typically under 10% for modern sets -- receive a PSA 10. For vintage cards, PSA 10s are extraordinarily rare and command massive premiums.

PSA 9 -- Mint

PSA 9 Mint permits one minor flaw that is only detectable under close inspection or magnification. Centering tolerances widen to 65/35 on the front and 90/10 on the back. You might see a barely perceptible touch of whitening on one corner, or centering that is just slightly off from perfect. To the casual observer, a PSA 9 and a PSA 10 look nearly identical, but the market price gap between them can be significant -- often 2x to 5x for desirable cards.

PSA 8 -- NM-MT (Near Mint to Mint)

At PSA 8, minor flaws become visible to the naked eye without needing magnification. You might notice slight whitening on one or two corners, a minor edge nick, or a small surface imperfection. Centering is allowed up to 70/30 on the front and 90/10 on the back. PSA 8 cards are still in excellent condition and represent the sweet spot for many collectors who want a high-quality card without paying PSA 10 premiums. For a deeper look at centering tolerances, see our Pokemon card centering guide.

PSA 7 -- Near Mint

A PSA 7 Near Mint card shows visible but minor wear. You will see light corner whitening, slight edge wear, or minor surface scratches. The card is still very presentable and displays well in a slab. Centering can be as wide as 75/25 on the front. For vintage cards from the 1990s and early 2000s, PSA 7 is often considered a strong grade because high-grade examples are difficult to find due to the way kids handled cards decades ago.

PSA 6 -- EX-MT (Excellent to Mint)

PSA 6 cards show more obvious wear. You will notice moderate corner whitening, visible edge wear along multiple edges, and possibly minor surface scratches or slight creasing that does not break the surface. Centering can be off at 80/20 or wider. Cards at this grade are still collectible but primarily appeal to budget-conscious collectors or those building complete graded sets.

PSA 5 -- Excellent

A PSA 5 Excellent card has noticeable wear across all attributes. Corners may be rounded or heavily whitened. Edges show consistent wear. Light scratches or minor creases may be present. The card is still intact and the image remains fully visible, but this is the point where condition issues become immediately apparent.

PSA 4 and Below

Grades from PSA 4 (VG-EX) down to PSA 1 (Poor) represent cards with significant condition issues. PSA 4 cards have moderate creasing and considerable wear. PSA 3 (VG) and PSA 2 (Good) show heavy creasing, rounded corners, and surface damage. PSA 1 (Poor) cards may have tears, heavy staining, or major damage. For most modern cards, these grades do not add value above the raw card price. However, for extremely rare vintage cards -- such as a 1st Edition Base Set Charizard -- even a PSA 1 can be worth thousands of dollars simply because of the card's rarity.

BGS/Beckett Grading Scale

BGS (Beckett Grading Services) takes a fundamentally different approach than PSA by breaking the evaluation into four distinct sub-grades, each scored independently:

• Centering -- How well the image is positioned within the card borders
• Corners -- Sharpness and integrity of all four corners
• Edges -- Condition along all four edges
• Surface -- Gloss, print quality, and absence of scratches or defects

The overall grade is derived from these four sub-grades, but it is not a simple average. BGS uses half-point increments (6, 6.5, 7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, 9, 9.5, 10), which provides more granularity than PSA's whole-number system. This sub-grade breakdown is printed on the BGS label, giving buyers a transparent view of exactly where the card excels and where it falls short.

BGS 10 Pristine -- Black Label

The legendary BGS Black Label 10 requires a perfect 10 in all four sub-grades. This is the most difficult grade to achieve in the entire hobby. Every aspect of the card -- centering, corners, edges, and surface -- must be absolutely flawless. Black Label 10s are so rare that they often command premiums of 10x or more over a standard BGS 9.5 of the same card. The black label on the slab is instantly recognizable and signals the pinnacle of card condition.

BGS 10 Pristine -- Gold Label

A standard BGS 10 Pristine (Gold Label) means the card scored a 10 overall with sub-grades of at least 9.5 in each category. This is still an exceptionally high grade and very difficult to achieve, though not quite as rare or valuable as a Black Label.

BGS 9.5 Gem Mint

BGS 9.5 is widely considered the equivalent of a PSA 10 in terms of market value and condition. To receive a 9.5, no sub-grade can fall below 9, and most must be 9.5 or higher. These cards look virtually perfect and carry a strong premium. Many cross-grade submissions of BGS 9.5 cards come back as PSA 10.

BGS 9 Mint and Below

A BGS 9 Mint allows sub-grades to dip to 8.5 in one category. This is roughly equivalent to a PSA 9 or a strong PSA 8. Below BGS 9, the scale continues through 8.5 NM-MT+, 8 NM-MT, and down, with each half-point representing a meaningful step in condition. The sub-grade transparency means a BGS 8 with a 9.5 surface and 7 centering tells a very different story than a BGS 8 with all 8s -- even though the overall grade is the same.

CGC Grading Scale

CGC (Certified Guaranty Company) entered the trading card market in 2020 after establishing a strong reputation in comic book grading. Their scale runs from 1 to 10 in half-point increments, similar to BGS. CGC also provides sub-grades for centering, corners, edges, and surface, printed on the label.

Key Differences from PSA and BGS

• Half-point increments: Like BGS, CGC uses 0.5 steps (7, 7.5, 8, 8.5, etc.), offering more precision than PSA's whole numbers.
• Sub-grades on label: CGC displays individual scores for centering, corners, edges, and surface, giving transparency similar to BGS.
• Perfect 10 designation: CGC's 10 Pristine is their highest grade, requiring flawless condition across all attributes. Below that, 9.5 Gem Mint is the next tier.
• Competitive pricing: CGC typically offers lower grading fees than PSA, making it attractive for bulk submissions. Check our complete grading cost comparison for current pricing.
• Inner sleeve: CGC slabs encase the card in an inner well with a separate sealed sleeve, providing an extra layer of protection that some collectors prefer.

CGC is gaining market share rapidly and is especially popular with newer collectors entering the hobby. However, CGC-graded cards still tend to sell for slightly less than PSA-graded equivalents in the secondary market, particularly for high-value vintage cards.

PSA vs BGS vs CGC: Which Scale Is Best?

There is no single "best" grading company -- the right choice depends on your goals, budget, and the cards you are submitting. Here is how they compare across the factors that matter most:

Factor	PSA	BGS	CGC
Scale	1-10 (whole numbers)	1-10 (half-point)	1-10 (half-point)
Sub-Grades	No	Yes (4 categories)	Yes (4 categories)
Market Premium	Highest	Strong (esp. Black Label)	Growing but lower
Best For	Selling, vintage cards	Condition-focused collectors	Budget grading, modern cards
Recognition	Highest globally	Strong in US/EU	Growing rapidly
Turnaround	Varies (45-150+ days)	Varies (30-120+ days)	Generally faster
Cost (Standard)	$20-$50+	$20-$40+	$15-$35+

For maximum resale value: PSA remains the market leader. A PSA 10 typically sells for more than a CGC 10 or BGS 9.5 of the same card, especially for vintage Pokemon cards. If your primary goal is selling, PSA is the safe choice.

For detailed condition analysis: BGS and CGC both offer sub-grades that give you far more information about your card's condition. If you want to understand exactly why your card received its grade, these companies provide that transparency.

For budget-conscious collectors: CGC offers competitive pricing and solid protection. If you are grading a large collection of modern cards, the lower cost per card can make a meaningful difference. For a full comparison of grading companies, visit our best Pokemon card grading companies guide.

How Grades Affect Pokemon Card Value

The impact of grading on card value is dramatic, especially at the top end of the scale. To illustrate this, here are real market price ranges for some of the most sought-after Pokemon cards across different grades:

Card	Raw (Ungraded)	PSA 7	PSA 8	PSA 9	PSA 10
Base Set Charizard (Unlimited)	$150-$250	$300	$500	$900	$2,000+
Base Set 1st Ed. Charizard	$10,000+	$25,000	$45,000	$100,000+	$300,000+
Gold Star Rayquaza	$400-$600	$800	$1,200	$2,500	$8,000+
Modern Alt Art (e.g. Moonbreon)	$100-$150	$120	$150	$200	$400+
Pikachu Illustrator	$500,000+	$1,000,000+	$2,000,000+	$4,000,000+	$5,275,000*

*Prices are approximate market values and fluctuate based on market conditions. The Pikachu Illustrator PSA 10 price reflects the record Logan Paul purchase.

Several patterns emerge from this data:

• The PSA 9 to PSA 10 jump is enormous. For the Base Set Charizard, going from PSA 9 ($900) to PSA 10 ($2,000+) more than doubles the value. This premium exists because PSA 10s are scarce and represent the top tier of collectibility.
• Vintage cards hold value at every grade. Even a PSA 7 Base Set Charizard is worth significantly more than a raw copy because the slab provides authentication and a standardized condition guarantee.
• Modern cards need high grades to justify grading costs. A modern alt art that receives a PSA 8 barely increases in value over raw, meaning the grading fee may not be recouped. This is why pre-screening your cards before submission is critical.
• The rarer the card, the larger the grade premium. For the 1st Edition Charizard, each grade point represents tens of thousands of dollars in value.

Check Your Card's Grade with AI

Before spending $20 to $50+ per card on professional grading, you should have a strong idea of what grade your card is likely to receive. Submitting a card that comes back as a PSA 7 when you expected a 10 is a costly mistake -- both in grading fees and in potential value loss.

CardGrading.app uses artificial intelligence to predict your card's PSA grade before you submit. Simply snap a photo of your card's front and back, and the AI analyzes centering, corners, edges, and surface condition to give you a predicted grade within seconds. This helps you:

• Avoid wasting money on cards that will not grade high enough to justify the fee
• Identify your best candidates for PSA 10 potential
• Learn what graders look for by seeing exactly where your card gains or loses points
• Make informed selling decisions about whether to sell raw or invest in grading first

You get 1 free credit to start with no credit card required. Try it at app.cardgrading.app and see how your cards stack up before committing to a professional submission.

Frequently Asked Questions

Final Thoughts

Understanding the grading scale is foundational to making smart decisions in the Pokemon card hobby. Whether you are evaluating a potential purchase, preparing a submission to PSA, or deciding between grading companies, knowing what each grade means -- and how it affects value -- puts you in a much stronger position.

The key takeaways are straightforward: PSA's 1-10 scale is the market standard with the strongest resale premiums. BGS and CGC offer more granular sub-grades that provide transparency into exactly why a card received its score. And regardless of which company you choose, the jump from PSA 9 to PSA 10 (or BGS 9 to BGS 9.5) is where the most dramatic value increases occur.

Before you submit anything, get an AI-powered grade prediction to ensure you are only sending cards that will return the grades -- and the value -- you are hoping for. And if you are just starting your grading journey, our guides on how to get Pokemon cards graded and grading costs will walk you through every step of the process.