Loading...
Loading...
A PSA 10 is PSA's Gem Mint grade. PSA publishes approximately 55/45-or-better front centering and 75/25-or-better reverse centering as part of its guidance, while the final grade follows PSA's physical review of the individual card.
PSA calls a 10 its Gem Mint grade—the top number on its scale. PSA's published standard describes a card that is virtually perfect and lists approximately 55/45-or-better centering on the front and 75/25-or-better centering on the reverse. Centering alone is not enough: corners, edges, surface, print defects, and overall eye appeal still matter, and PSA makes the final decision after inspecting the physical card.
See PSA's grading standards for the current official guidance.
Open any grade for published condition guidance, common questions, and market factors to consider.
These pages cover the ten whole-number anchors. PSA also uses half-point card grades from 1.5 through 8.5, but no 9.5; see PSA's half-grade explanation.
Gem Mint
PSA 10 (Gem Mint) is PSA’s top numerical grade.
Learn more →Mint
PSA 9 is PSA’s Mint grade.
Learn more →NM-MT (Near Mint-Mint)
PSA 8 is PSA’s Near Mint-Mint grade.
Learn more →NM (Near Mint)
PSA 7 is PSA’s Near Mint grade.
Learn more →EX-MT (Excellent-Mint)
PSA 6 is an excellent to mint condition card with visible wear but still an attractive overall appearance.
Learn more →EX (Excellent)
PSA 5 is PSA’s Excellent grade.
Learn more →VG-EX (Very Good-Excellent)
PSA 4 is a very good to excellent card with obvious wear visible at arm's length.
Learn more →VG (Very Good)
PSA 3 is a very good condition card with heavy wear clearly visible.
Learn more →Good
PSA 2 is a good condition card with extreme wear across all areas.
Learn more →Poor
PSA 1 is PSA’s lowest numerical grade and is labeled Poor.
Learn more →A number alone does not establish value. Compare the exact card, variation, population, eye appeal, and recent completed sales before you buy or submit. Our card-value research guide explains how to compare PSA 10, PSA 9, and raw sales without a universal multiplier.
The difference between PSA 9 and PSA 10 varies greatly by card, variation, population, and demand. Review current completed sales instead of relying on a universal multiplier. See our PSA 10 Gem Mint standards and value factors and our PSA 9 vs PSA 10 standards comparison before using a price comparison.
Vintage condition standards and collector demand vary considerably by issue. Review the published condition examples in the PSA 7 Near Mint guide and PSA 8 Near Mint-Mint guide, then compare population and completed sales for the exact card rather than relying on a generic “sweet spot.”
A lower numerical grade does not settle whether a card is worth grading. Consider the exact issue, authentication needs, condition, service fees, shipping, insurance, and current market before deciding. Use the PSA 5 Excellent guide for moderate-wear examples or the PSA 1 Poor guide for the lowest numerical grade.
An AI pre-screen can help you inspect centering, corners, edges, and surface before a professional submission. It does not determine or guarantee PSA's final result, authenticate a card, or provide a market-value appraisal. Use the edge and surface inspection checklist alongside the physical card.
Available to eligible new accounts. Use it as an inspection aid; PSA makes the final grading decision.
A PSA 10 is PSA’s Gem Mint grade, its highest numerical grade. PSA’s published guidance calls for approximately 55/45 or better centering on the front and 75/25 or better on the reverse, alongside sharp corners, clean edges, surface quality, and eye appeal. PSA makes the final decision after a physical inspection.
PSA’s whole-number card grades range from PSA 1 (Poor) to PSA 10 (Gem Mint). PSA also uses half-point grades from 1.5 through 8.5, with no 9.5 grade. The whole-number pages here explain the principal condition anchors.
PSA 10 (Gem Mint) is virtually perfect. PSA 9 (Mint) has one minor flaw. PSA 8 (NM-MT) shows very slight wear. PSA 7 (NM) has minor visible wear. PSA 6 (EX-MT) shows noticeable wear but remains attractive. PSA 5 (EX) has moderate wear. PSA 4-1 show progressively more significant wear and damage.
Yes. PSA publishes half-point card grades from 1.5 through 8.5 and does not use a 9.5 grade. A half-point result recognizes a card that exceeds the whole-number standard below it while not reaching the next whole-number grade.
PSA’s published standards discuss the physical card’s centering, corners, edges, surface and print characteristics, focus, gloss, staining, and overall eye appeal. PSA does not publish a simple four-factor weighting formula, and it makes the final decision after inspecting the card in hand.
“Good” depends on the card, its era, the collector’s goal, and the available population. Compare the grade with recent sales and the population for the exact card rather than treating one number as universally desirable.
The impact varies by the exact card, variation, grade, eye appeal, population, demand, and current market. Compare recent completed sales for the same card and grade before submitting or buying; a grade is not an appraisal or a resale-value promise.
You can inspect centering, corners, edges, and surface before submission, but PSA determines the final grade after its own physical review. An AI pre-screen can estimate a likely PSA outcome; it does not determine or guarantee PSA’s final in-hand grade, authenticate a card, or guarantee value.
Use CardGrade's AI pre-screen as one input while you inspect the card and review current submission costs. It does not determine or guarantee PSA's final grade, authenticate a card, or provide a value appraisal.