PSA Grades Explained: The Complete Guide to the PSA Grading Scale
A PSA grade is a 1–10 score assigned by Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) to a trading card, reflecting its physical condition. PSA grades are the most widely recognized condition standard in trading card collecting — used by collectors, dealers, and auction houses to establish market value.
The PSA Grading Scale (1 to 10)
The PSA grading scale runs from 1 (Poor) to 10 (Gem Mint), with half-point increments at the upper end of the scale.
| Grade | Label | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Gem Mint | Virtually perfect — sharp corners, perfect centering, flawless surface and edges. |
| 9 | Mint | Superb condition — minor imperfections only visible under close inspection. |
| 8 | Near Mint–Mint | Minor wear visible — slight corner or edge softness, very minor surface marks. |
| 7 | Near Mint | Light wear; some minor flaws visible upon inspection. |
| 6 | Excellent–Mint | Visible wear; rounded corners or noticeable surface marks. |
| 5 | Excellent | Moderate wear across multiple attributes. |
| 4 | Very Good–Excellent | Significant wear; clearly used card. |
| 3 | Very Good | Heavy wear; corners visibly rounded, surface marred. |
| 2 | Good | Heavy creasing, major surface or corner damage. |
| 1 | Poor | Heavily damaged, may be missing pieces. |
PSA Sub-Grades
PSA evaluates four core attributes — sub-grades — that together determine the overall grade. CardMintAI's AI evaluates the same four attributes when predicting PSA grades.
Centering
Card centering refers to the alignment of the card's image within its borders, measured as a left/right and top/bottom ratio. A 55/45 ratio (front) is required for a PSA 10; 60/40 typically caps centering at PSA 9. Centering is the most common reason cards drop from PSA 10 to PSA 9.
Corners
The sharpness of the four corners. Even microscopic whitening — caused by handling, sleeves rubbing, or storage — reduces the corner sub-grade. A PSA 10 corner must be perfectly sharp under magnification.
Edges
The condition of the four edges. Chipping, rough factory cuts, "diamond" cuts (where the card is cut at a slight angle), and edge whitening all reduce the edges sub-grade. Black-bordered cards (vintage Magic, many Pokémon holos) show edge wear especially clearly.
Surface
Print quality, scratches, indentations, holo scratching, print lines, and any surface defect. Holofoil cards are most vulnerable here — even microscopic holo scratches can drop a card from PSA 10 to PSA 9. Surface evaluation is the hardest sub-grade for the human eye to assess, and where AI grading is particularly useful.
What is a PSA 10?
A PSA 10 — labeled "Gem Mint" — is the highest grade PSA assigns to a card. To earn a PSA 10, a card needs:
- Centering of 55/45 or better on the front and 75/25 or better on the back
- Razor-sharp corners under magnification
- Smooth, unchipped edges
- Flawless surface with no scratches, print marks, or defects
The market premium for a PSA 10 is enormous. On modern Pokémon cards, a PSA 10 routinely sells for 5–10× the price of a PSA 9. On sports rookies, the multiplier can exceed 20× on a hot card.
Difference Between PSA 9 and PSA 10
The PSA 9 vs PSA 10 distinction is the most consequential cliff in collecting. A PSA 9 (Mint) has minor imperfections visible only under close inspection — slight off-centering, a tiny edge whitening spot, or a microscopic surface mark. A PSA 10 has none of these.
The visual difference can be invisible to the naked eye, but the price difference often runs 5–10×. This is exactly why pre-grading matters: paying $25–$150 to PSA only makes sense on cards that are likely PSA 10 candidates. Submit a borderline card and you pay full PSA fees for a PSA 9 result worth a fraction of what a PSA 10 would have been.
What Does PSA Look For When Grading?
PSA graders inspect each card for the four sub-grade attributes — centering, corners, edges, surface — using:
- Magnification to detect microscopic defects
- Specialized lighting to reveal surface scratches and print defects
- Ruler / overlay measurements to assess centering precisely
- Cross-reference against PSA's accumulated grading standards per set/era
How CardMintAI Predicts PSA Grades
CardMintAI's AI evaluates the same four sub-grades PSA evaluates, achieving 95% alignment with actual PSA outcomes. The AI uses computer vision to measure centering precisely, detect corner whitening, identify edge chipping, and scan for surface defects including micro-scratches on holofoil cards.
The result: you can pre-grade any card in 2 seconds — free, no credit card — before paying PSA's $25–$150 fee. Try pre-grading your card free or learn more about the AI card grading tool.
PSA vs BGS vs SGC Grading Scales
| Service | Top Grade | Sub-Grades | Starting Fee | Standard Wait |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA | PSA 10 (Gem Mint) | Premium tier only | $25 + $99/yr membership | 65+ days |
| BGS | BGS 10 Black Label (all-10 sub-grades) | Always included | $25 | 60+ days |
| SGC | SGC 10 (Pristine) | Premium tier only | $15 | 25 days |
| CardMintAI | AI predicted PSA grade | Always included (4 sub-grades) | Free (2 grades) | ~2 seconds |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a PSA 10? +
A PSA 10 — labeled 'Gem Mint' — is the highest grade PSA assigns to a card. A PSA 10 has razor-sharp corners, near-perfect centering (typically 55/45 or better), flawless surface and edges, and no print defects. PSA 10s often sell for 3–10× the price of PSA 9s on modern cards.
What's the difference between PSA 9 and PSA 10? +
A PSA 9 (Mint) has minor imperfections only visible under close inspection — slight off-centering, a tiny edge wear, or a microscopic surface mark. A PSA 10 has no visible imperfections at standard inspection distance. The visual difference can be invisible to the naked eye but the price difference is often 5–10× on modern cards.
What are PSA sub-grades? +
PSA sub-grades are individual 1–10 scores for centering, corners, edges, and surface. They're included on BGS labels by default and available from PSA at premium service tiers. The overall grade is typically the lowest sub-grade, sometimes with rounding.
How does PSA calculate card centering? +
PSA measures the ratio of border space on opposite sides of the card image. A 55/45 ratio (front) and 75/25 (back) is required for a PSA 10. A 60/40 or worse on the front usually caps the centering sub-grade at 9 or below.
Can a card with one bad sub-grade still get a PSA 10? +
No. PSA's overall grade is generally limited by the lowest sub-grade. A card with three 10 sub-grades and one 9 sub-grade typically receives an overall PSA 9. This is why one centering issue or one tiny edge ding can cost a card the Gem Mint price premium.
How long does PSA take to grade a card? +
PSA economy service takes 65+ business days. Regular service is 20 business days for $50/card. Express is 10 days for $100/card. Super express is 5 days for $150+/card. Plus 1–2 weeks of shipping each way.
How much does PSA grading cost? +
PSA economy is $25 per card. Regular $50, express $100, super express $150+. PSA also requires a $99/year membership. Bulk submissions (50+ cards) reduce per-card cost to ~$18, but require longer turnarounds.
Can AI predict my PSA grade accurately? +
Yes. CardMintAI's AI predicts PSA grades with 95% alignment to actual outcomes — most predictions within ±1 grade point. AI pre-grading lets you screen cards before paying PSA's $25–$150 fee, only submitting the cards likely to grade 9 or 10.
Predict Your Card's PSA Grade — Free
Two free grades, no credit card. Find out if your card is a PSA 10 candidate before paying $25–$150.