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Card Grading Scales: PSA, BGS and CGC Explained
Start with the company you are submitting to, or with the checklist if you want to estimate first. Every definition here is quoted from the grader's published standard; where a company has not published something (SGC's scale, PSA 1 and 1.5, the BGS subgrade formula) the page says so rather than guessing.
Grades are quoted from the grading companies' own published standards. A grade describes condition; it is not a value and not a guarantee that two companies would agree.
How the three scales differ
- PSA: 1–10 whole grades, qualifiers (OC, ST, PD, MK, MC, OF) for cards that meet a grade except for one flaw, and Authentic / Authentic Altered for cards it will not grade.
- BGS: four subgrades combined into a final grade in half-point steps; Pristine 10 with all subgrades at 10 gets the Black Label.
- CGC: two grades at 10 (Pristine and Gem Mint) and plus grades at 9.5, 8.5, 7.5 and 6.5.
- SGC: its site could not be read in our pass, so it is not covered here.
Grading companies
Before you submit
FAQ
What does PSA 10 mean?
A card that is virtually perfect. Corners must be razor sharp, centering must be no worse than 55-45, and the cards color and gloss must be original.
Is BGS 9.5 the same as PSA 10?
Neither company says so. See the BGS page for why the subgrade system makes a direct conversion unreliable.
Can the app tell me what grade my card will get?
It can help you inspect and estimate against the published standards; only a grading company issues a grade.