The PSA grading scale, explained
PSA grades trading cards from 1 (Poor) to 10 (Gem Mint), with half grades from 1.5 to 8.5 — there is no PSA 9.5. A 10 needs four sharp corners, full original gloss, no staining and front centering of about 55/45. The grade matters for price: on the most valuable Pokémon cards in the Cardinal catalog, a PSA 10 typically sells for 6.2× a PSA 9.
Updated 2026-10-18 · Grading standards from psacard.com
What each PSA grade means.
Centering is the maximum off-centre ratio PSA allows for the grade, front and back, as published on its grading standards page.
| Grade | Name | Front centering | Back centering |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Gem Mint | about 55/45 | 75/25 |
| 9 | Mint | about 60/40 | 90/10 |
| 8 | Near Mint–Mint | about 65/35 | 90/10 |
| 7 | Near Mint | about 70/30 | 90/10 |
| 6 | Excellent–Mint | 80/20 | 90/10 |
| 5 | Excellent | 85/15 | 90/10 |
| 4 | Very Good–Excellent | 85/15 | 90/10 |
| 3 | Very Good | 90/10 | 90/10 |
| 2 | Good | 90/10 | 90/10 |
| 1.5 | Fair | about 90/10 | about 90/10 |
| 1 | Poor | — | — |
PSA allows a 5% leeway on the front centering minimum for cards that grade 7 or better when the card's eye appeal is good, and graders may make a judgment call on eye appeal. In early 2025 PSA's page changed the Gem Mint front standard from "55/45 to 60/40" to "approximately 55/45".
10, 9 and 8 in PSA's own words.
- PSA 10 Gem Mint: "a virtually perfect card" — four perfectly sharp corners, sharp focus and full original gloss, free of staining, with an allowance for a slight printing imperfection that doesn't impair the card's appeal.
- PSA 9 Mint: a superb card with only one minor flaw — a very slight wax stain on the back, a minor printing imperfection, or slightly off-white borders.
- PSA 8 Near Mint–Mint: looks like a 9 at first glance, but on closer inspection shows the slightest fraying at one or two corners, a minor printing imperfection, and/or slightly off-white borders.
Half grades
Cards between PSA 2 and PSA 9 that show high-end qualities for their grade can get a half-point increase, with a clear focus on centering. That gives 2.5 to 8.5. PSA 1.5 (Fair) is its own grade, and there is no 9.5.
Qualifiers and "Authentic".
| Code | Meaning |
|---|---|
| OC | Off Center — the card either carries OC, or gets the grade that matches its centering. |
| ST | Staining, under the same either/or rule. |
| PD | Print Defect, same rule. |
| OF | Out of Focus or out of register, same rule. |
| MK | Marks — writing, ink or pencil marks, or the impression left by writing. |
| MC | Miscut — an atypical cut, with part of the card cut off or more than one card visible. |
| Authentic | PSA certifies the card is genuine but gives no number. |
| Authentic Altered | Genuine, but altered — trimmed, recoloured, restored or cleaned — so it can't receive a grade. |
PSA lists OC, ST, PD and OF as optional qualifiers you can choose on the submission form instead of a lower grade.
The usual suspects.
- Centering — anything worse than about 55/45 on the front, or 75/25 on the back, rules out a 10.
- Corners — a 10 needs four perfectly sharp corners; fraying at one or two is typical of an 8.
- Surface — staining, lost gloss, print imperfections and scratches.
- Focus — a 10 needs sharp focus; out-of-register cards get OF or a lower grade.
Cardinal's pre-grade reads centering, corners, edges and surface from your phone before you submit. To compare PSA with the other graders, see PSA vs CGC.
- PSA grading standards: psacard.com/gradingstandards
- Centering wording change (reported): Cardlines
Will yours make a 10?
Scan it for a pre-grade across centering, corners, edges and surface. Free on iPhone and Android.