Definition
Grading is the process of a third party (PSA, BGS, SGC, CGC) evaluating an item's condition on a numeric scale — typically 1 to 10 for trading cards, with comparable scales for comics. The graded item is sealed in a tamper-evident slab displaying the grade.
Why it matters
Grading converts subjective condition into a numeric score the market trusts. A single grade tier can swing price by 50–1000% depending on the card and population.
Example
A 2018 Topps Update Ronald Acuña Jr. rookie is submitted to PSA. The card is graded PSA 10 (Gem Mint) and encapsulated in a slab with the grade and serial number.
Related terms
- AuthenticationA third party verifying that an item is what the seller claims it is.
- EncapsulationSealing a graded item in a tamper-evident plastic case ("slab").
- SlabThe tamper-evident plastic case that holds a graded card, comic, or signed flat.
- Population ReportThe grading service's public count of how many copies of a card or comic have received each grade.