PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) grades trading cards on a scale of 1 to 10. The number describes the card's condition after PSA authenticates and evaluates it; it is not a direct measure of rarity or market value.
The PSA grading scale
| Grade | Label | What it means | |-------|-------|---------------| | PSA 10 | Gem Mint | Virtually perfect, with sharp corners, strong focus, original gloss, and excellent centering and eye appeal. | | PSA 9 | Mint | One minor flaw allowed, a very slight imperfection barely visible to the eye. | | PSA 8 | Near Mint-Mint | Very light wear. A minor defect that doesn't detract from overall appeal. | | PSA 7 | Near Mint | Slight surface wear or a minor printing defect visible to the naked eye. | | PSA 6 | Excellent-Mint | Minor creasing, slightly off-center, or heavier surface wear. | | PSA 5 | Excellent | Rounded corners, possible light creasing, noticeable wear. | | PSA 4 | Very Good-Excellent | Heavier wear, rounded corners, minor staining possible. | | PSA 3 | Very Good | Noticeable creases, rounded corners, moderate wear throughout. | | PSA 2 | Good | Heavy wear, creasing, possible small tears or staining. | | PSA 1 | Poor | Major damage: tears, heavy creasing, writing, or significant loss. |
PSA 10 centering requirements
PSA's published standard says a PSA 10 must be centered approximately 55/45 or better on the front and 75/25 or better on the reverse. Centering is not the only requirement: corners, edges, surface, focus, gloss, staining, print quality, and overall eye appeal also matter.
Those figures are guidelines within PSA's complete standard, not a promise that a card measuring 55/45 will receive a 10. PSA notes that graders can exercise judgment based on overall eye appeal. Review PSA's current official grading standards before submitting because policies can change.
Cards PSA may not numerically grade
Evidence of trimming, recoloring, restoration, other alteration, or questionable authenticity can prevent a numeric grade. Unusual issues such as hand-cut cards have additional requirements. A card can also receive an authentication-only result or be returned ungraded depending on the issue and service rules.
Inspect the card outside a sleeve under bright, angled light. Check all four corners, both edges, the entire surface, and front and back centering. Never clean, recolor, trim, press, or otherwise alter a card in an attempt to improve its grade.
PSA 10 premium
A PSA 10 can command a substantial premium, but there is no universal multiplier. Compare recent sold results for the same card and grade. Population, demand, scarcity, and the number of high-grade examples all affect the difference between raw, PSA 9, and PSA 10 prices.
The population report is useful context, but population alone does not create demand. A low-population card can still sell infrequently, while a widely collected card may remain liquid even with a larger population.
What PSA looks at
PSA graders evaluate four main areas:
- Centering: how well the image is centered within the card borders
- Corners: sharpness of all four corners
- Edges: cleanness and absence of chipping along all edges
- Surface: freedom from scratches, stains, print defects, or creases
Unlike BGS, PSA does not publish individual sub-grades. You only get the final overall grade.
Using PSA grades in Cubbby
When adding a card to Cubbby, select the PSA grade from the dropdown. Cubbby will show you market prices specifically for that grade, based on recent completed sales data.
Use sold comps rather than active asking prices, and compare the exact year, set, card number, variation, autograph status, and grade. A PSA 10 price should not be applied to a PSA 9 or raw copy of the same card.