PSA Grade-by-Grade Breakdown
PSA 10 (Gem Mint): Near perfect. Minimal wear, sharp corners, perfect centering. The card looks brand new. Price premium: 40-100% over raw comparable.
PSA 9 (Mint): Light wear only. Might have slight corner rounding, minor print spots, or slight centering bias. But overall, the card looks fresh and has strong eye appeal. Price premium: 20-40%.
PSA 8 (NM-MT): Light wear visible. Slight corner wear, minor centering issues (one side slightly thicker), light surface wear. Still looks nice but doesn't have that 'fresh' feel. Price premium: 5-15%.
PSA 7 (NM): Moderate wear. Visible corner wear, centering issues, light creasing on edges possible. The card has aged but still displays well. Price premium: -10% to +5%.
PSA 6 (EX-MT): Heavier wear. Noticeable corner wear, visible centering problems, possible light crease. Still acceptable for collectors who prefer condition-independent value. Price: 20-40% below raw comparable.
PSA 5 (EX): Heavy wear. Multiple worn corners, clear centering bias, possible light crease or edge wear. The card has been handled. Price: 40-60% discount.
PSA 4 (VG-EX): Significant wear. Clear corner rounding, notable centering issues, visible creases or surface wear. Price: 60-75% discount.
PSA 3 (VG): Heavy wear throughout. Rounded corners, creases, heavy surface wear. Price: 70-85% discount.
PSA 1-2 (POOR-FAIR): Severe damage. Only valuable if the card is rare or historically important. Price: 85-95% discount.
Centering: The biggest grade factor
Centering is front-to-back and side-to-side alignment. Ideal: 50/50 (equal borders on all sides). Poor centering (one side notably thicker) can drop a card 1-2 grades even if corners are perfect.
Corners: The second biggest factor
Corner rounding is inevitable from handling and storage. PSA 9-10 cards have sharp corners, nearly imperceptible rounding. PSA 8 cards have slight, visible rounding. Below that, corners show clear wear.
Surface and printing defects
Print spots (small dark specks from manufacturing), foxing (age-related browning), and scuffs matter less than corners/centering but can drop a grade if severe.
How to estimate your card's grade
Be honest: compare your card to known examples from each PSA grade (search eBay for sold listings with grades). If your card matches PSA 8 photos (light corner rounding, solid centering), it's likely an 8. If it has heavier wear, drop to PSA 7.
Factor in the era: vintage cards from the 1980s rarely grade above 8 (because wear from age is unavoidable). Modern cards can easily hit 9-10 if stored well. Understand the ROI implications before deciding to grade, and use our grading ROI calculator to run the numbers.