Pokemon Card Grading Guide
Pokemon card grading is a professional service that evaluates a card's condition on a scale of 1 to 10. A graded card is sealed in a tamper-proof case with a label showing the grade. Higher grades significantly increase a card's value — a PSA 10 can be worth 5 to 50 times more than an ungraded copy.
Why grade your cards?
- Higher resale value — graded cards consistently sell for more than raw cards in similar condition
- Authentication — the grading company verifies the card is genuine, not a counterfeit
- Protection— the sealed case protects the card from further wear, dust, and UV damage
- Buyer confidence — buyers trust graded cards because the condition is verified by a neutral third party
Major grading companies
PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator)
The most popular grading company for Pokemon cards. Uses a 1-10 scale. PSA 10 (Gem Mint) is the highest grade and commands the biggest premium. Turnaround times range from 5 business days to 150+ days depending on the service level. Costs range from $20 to $150+ per card.
BGS / Beckett Grading Services
Known for their subgrade system — each card receives four individual scores for centering, corners, edges, and surface, plus an overall grade. A BGS 10 “Pristine” or BGS 10 “Black Label” (all four subgrades at 10) is exceptionally rare and valuable. Costs start around $20.
CGC (Certified Guaranty Company)
A newer entrant to Pokemon card grading, but established in comic book grading. CGC uses a 1-10 scale with 0.5 increments and offers subgrades similar to BGS. Generally faster turnaround and lower costs than PSA. CGC 10 grades are more common than PSA 10s.
The grading scale
| Grade | Label | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | Gem Mint | Perfect condition. Flawless centering, corners, edges, and surface. |
| 9 | Mint | Near-perfect. May have one very minor flaw invisible to the naked eye. |
| 8 | NM-MT | Near Mint to Mint. Minor imperfection like slight off-centering. |
| 7 | Near Mint | Minor wear. Slight corner or edge wear visible on close inspection. |
| 6 | EX-MT | Excellent to Mint. Noticeable but not distracting wear. |
| 1-5 | Poor to EX | Significant wear, creases, stains, or damage. Rarely worth grading. |
How to assess card condition yourself
Before sending cards for grading, assess them yourself to avoid wasting money on cards that won't grade well:
Check centering
Look at the borders on the front and back. The artwork should be evenly centered. Use the 60/40 rule — if one border is significantly wider than the opposite side, expect a lower centering subgrade.
Inspect corners
Examine all four corners with a loupe or magnifying glass. Corners should be sharp and clean. Any rounding, whitening, or fraying will reduce the grade.
Examine edges
Look for whitening, nicks, or dents along all four edges. Edge wear is common on cards that were shuffled or stored without sleeves.
Check the surface
Tilt the card under a light to reveal scratches. The holographic area on holo cards is especially prone to scratching. Look for print lines, dents, and stains too.
Assess overall
Based on your findings, decide if grading is worthwhile. Cards likely to grade 8 or above on valuable cards are generally worth the cost of grading.
Is grading worth it?
Grading costs $20-$150+ per card depending on the company, service level, and declared value. Consider grading if:
- The card is worth $50+ ungraded
- You believe it will grade 8 or higher
- The grading premium for that card is significant (check recent sold prices for graded vs raw)
- You want long-term protection for a card in your collection
For cards worth less than $20 ungraded, the cost of grading usually exceeds the value increase.
Sell graded cards on TTMCards
TTMCards fully supports graded cards from all major companies — PSA, BGS, CGC, ACE, SGC, MNT, TAG, and GMA. When listing a graded card, select the grading company and enter the grade. Graded cards get prominent badges in search results and card grids.