What Does PSA 10 Actually Mean? Grading Scales Explained

You see "PSA 10" or "Gem Mint" thrown around a lot in the Pokémon card community. But what does it actually mean? What separates a 9 from a 10? And why does a single point on the scale sometimes double a card's price?

The Grading Scale: 1 to 10

Most grading companies use a 1 to 10 scale. Here's what each grade actually looks like in practice:

10 (Gem Mint): The card is essentially perfect. Centring is spot on (or very close to it). No visible flaws under magnification. No print lines, scratches, whitening, or surface imperfections. The card looks like it was pulled from the pack and immediately sleeved without being touched. Very few cards achieve this grade.

9 (Mint): Nearly perfect with one very minor flaw. Maybe the centring is slightly off. Perhaps there's a tiny print line only visible under strong light. To the naked eye, a 9 and a 10 can look identical. The difference shows up under a loupe or magnifier.

8 (Near Mint-Mint): A few minor flaws. Slight corner wear, a minor surface scratch, or centring that's noticeably off. The card still looks great but has visible imperfections if you look closely.

7 (Near Mint): Light wear on corners and edges. Minor scratches on the surface. The card is in good shape overall but shows signs of being handled.

6 (Excellent-Near Mint): Moderate wear. Corner whitening is visible without magnification. Light surface scratches. The card has been handled but not abused.

5 and below: Increasing levels of wear, from moderate edge wear and creasing (5) down to heavily played condition with significant damage (1 to 3). Cards graded this low are usually only worth slabbing if they're extremely rare or valuable.

Why the Gap Between 9 and 10 Is So Large

The price difference between a 9 and a 10 is often 50% or more, sometimes several times more. This seems disproportionate given how similar they look, but it comes down to psychology and scarcity.

A 10 represents perfection. Collectors who want the best copy of a card will only accept a 10. This creates concentrated demand for a small supply, which pushes prices up.

A 9 is "almost perfect" and there are usually far more of them. More supply plus less prestige means lower prices.

Do Different Companies Grade Differently?

Yes. PSA is generally considered the most lenient of the major grading companies. BGS (Beckett) is stricter, particularly with their "Black Label" 10 (where all four sub-grades must be 10). CGC sits somewhere in between.

UK grading companies each have their own standards. Some align closely with PSA's criteria, others are stricter. It's worth checking a company's grading policy before submitting so you know what to expect.

What This Means for Your Cards

When you're evaluating whether to submit a card for grading, be honest about its condition. Look at it under good lighting with a magnifier if you have one. Check all four corners, run your finger gently along the edges (feel for nicks), and examine the surface for scratches at different angles.

If you can spot any flaws, a grader will spot them too. That doesn't mean the card won't grade well, but it helps set realistic expectations.