Estimate a card's grade: centering, corners, edges, surface
Pre-grade a card yourself: measure centering, check corners, edges and surface, and see what PSA, CGC and Beckett require for a 10.
Updated October 21, 2026 · 3 min read
Grading costs money, so it pays to know roughly what grade a card can get before sending it. Graders look at the same four things: centering, corners, edges and surface. The weakest of the four usually sets the ceiling. You can check all four at home in a few minutes. Try our grade estimator as you go.
What you need
- A strong white light, ideally a desk lamp you can move.
- A magnifying glass or a phone camera with zoom.
- A ruler in millimetres, or a photo of the card taken straight on.
- A clean, soft surface (a microfibre cloth) and clean, dry hands.
1. Centering
Centering compares the width of the borders on opposite sides. Measure the left and right borders (then top and bottom), and divide the larger one by the total.
Example: left border 2.2 mm, right border 1.8 mm → 2.2 ÷ 4.0 = 55%. The centering is 55/45.
Check the front and the back: graders allow more on the back. The published tolerances:
| Grade | PSA front | PSA back | CGC front | CGC back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | ~55/45 | 75/25 | ~55/45 | 75/25 |
| 9 | 60/40 | 90/10 | 60/40 | 90/10 |
| 8 | 65/35 | 90/10 | 65/35 | – |
| 7 | 70/30 | 90/10 | 70/30 | – |
| 6 | 80/20 | 90/10 | 75/25 | – |
| 5 | 85/15 | 90/10 | – | – |
"–": not stated by CGC. CGC gives 75/25 for a 6 without separating front and back.
Beckett is stricter at the top: its Pristine 10 requires 50/50 centering on the front and 55/45 or better on the back. CGC's Pristine 10 also requires 50/50 centering.
PSA notes that its graders may occasionally allow a small variance based on the card's overall eye appeal. Treat these figures as limits, not guarantees.
For cards with no visible border (full-art cards), graders judge centering on the printed frame or the back. That is harder to measure: be more cautious.
2. Corners
Look at each corner under the light, from above and from the side. A 10 needs four sharp corners that look perfect to the naked eye. A slightly soft or whitened corner usually means a 9 at best; a visibly rounded or dinged corner, 7 or lower.
3. Edges
Edges show wear as small white dots or chips, mostly on the back of cards with dark borders. Turn the card slowly under the light. A few tiny specks can still allow a 9; continuous whitening along an edge points to 8 or lower.
4. Surface
Tilt the card under the light to catch reflections: scratches, scuffs, print lines, dents, fingerprints and stains appear at an angle. Check the holo area carefully. A single visible scratch is often enough to rule out a 10. A crease, even a light one, usually drops a card to 5 or below.
From four checks to one estimate
- Note each of the four criteria: perfect, light flaw, visible flaw, damaged.
- The centering sets a first ceiling (see the table).
- The weakest of the other three sets the second ceiling.
- Your estimate is the lower of the two, give or take one grade.
Then compare with sale prices of the same card at that grade and the one below: if the grading only pays off at a 10 and your card looks like a 9, keep your money. Our profitability calculator does the sum.
Cards graders will not grade
Some problems mean no numerical grade at all. PSA, for example, flags trimming, restoration, recolouring, altered stock and cleaning, and cards that are miscut or below the minimum size. Never press, trim or clean a card with a product before sending it.
Sources: PSA grade definitions (GameStop × PSA), PSA grading standards, CGC Cards grading scale, Beckett gaming grading. Next step: How to get your cards graded.