Trading Card Grading & Submission Guide
Compare top grading companies, master 60/40 pre-grading inspection, calculate ROI, and learn how to safely package your cards.
How Centering & Border Alignment Are Evaluated
When examining raw chase cards prior to grading, professional graders evaluate Centering (60/40 front, 75/25 back), foil surface reflections, and border width symmetry.
Decoding the Four Subgrade Pillars
Professional grading companies (PSA, BGS, CGC, TAG) evaluate cards across four foundational categories before assigning a final composite grade.
Centering
Evaluated using laser reticles on front & back borders. 50/50 is true perfect; 60/40 front & 75/25 back qualify for PSA 10.
Corners
Inspected for corner whitening, dings, or subtle rounding. All 4 corners must be pin-sharp under 10× magnification.
Edges
Checked along top, bottom, and side cuts for factory rough edges, chipping, or foil separation.
Surface
Examined under raking light for micro-scratches, print lines, roller marks, indentations, or finger oil stains.
Condition Scale Guidelines (Raw 10 to 1)
Evaluate your raw cards using this standardized condition ladder to estimate submission feasibility.
Gem Mint / Pristine
Flawless to the naked eye and under loupe magnification. Perfect centering, razor-sharp corners, pristine edges, and a surface free of scratches or print defects.
Near Mint (NM)
Pristine at first glance. Under close inspection, may have 1-2 micro white specks on back borders or an extremely faint print line.
Lightly Played (LP)
Minor border whitening or light edge silvering. Minor surface scuffs or slight gloss dulling, but retains overall clean eye appeal.
Moderately Played (MP)
Noticeable border wear, soft/rounded corners, light creasing, or surface scratches. Structure is intact without tears or heavy folds.
Heavily Played / Damaged (HP)
Severe creases, heavy edge whitening, water damage, ink markings, or surface peeling. Not recommended for commercial grading.