Card Grading Scales Explained: PSA, CGC, BGS and SGC Grades
What PSA, CGC, BGS and SGC grades mean, from Gem Mint 10 down, including centering tolerances from official grading standards and how grade relates to value.
By the PullMeter team · 7 min read · Updated October 23, 2026
Every major grader turns a card's condition into a number from 1 to 10, but the labels and fine print differ. This guide summarizes each company's published standards in our own words and links to the official pages so you can read the full definitions.
PSA
PSA's top grade is Gem Mint 10. Its grading standards describe a PSA 10 as a virtually perfect card with four sharp corners, sharp focus and full original gloss, and no staining. For centering, the front can be off by no more than about 55/45 and the back by no more than about 75/25. PSA also uses qualifiers such as MK for marks or writing. Cards it won't grade come back with "No Grade" codes, such as N1 for evidence of trimming and N4 for questionable authenticity. PSA says graders may weigh eye appeal when a card sits on the line between two grades.
CGC
CGC's grading scale has two kinds of 10. A Pristine 10 is virtually flawless, with 50/50 centering, and gets a special label. A Gem Mint 10 is a 10 overall, but one criterion falls short of Pristine. Its centering can't exceed about 55/45 on the front or 75/25 on the back. CGC notes that its older "Gem Mint 9.5" labels now correspond to Gem Mint 10.
BGS (Beckett)
Beckett is known for printing four subgrades (centering, corners, edges and surface) alongside the overall grade, and it uses half-point grades. We couldn't load Beckett's official grading page when we checked, so read the exact definitions on beckett.com/grading.
SGC
SGC also uses a 10-point scale and is popular for vintage and sports cards. We couldn't verify its current definitions from its official site when we checked, so see gosgc.com.
How grade affects value
In general, higher grades sell for more, and the gap between a 9 and a 10 is often the largest for modern cards. The premium varies a lot by card, by grader and over time, so we don't publish a fixed multiplier. Instead, compare recent sold comps for your exact card at each grade, then use our grading calculator. Fees and turnaround times are in the grading cost comparison.
Raw conditions vs grades
Ungraded cards are sold by condition labels instead (Near Mint, Lightly Played and so on). See our card condition guide. The labels and grades aren't an official one-to-one match.
General information only. It's not professional, financial or legal advice.