Grading turns a card into a sealed, scored object. A grading company authenticates it, scores its condition, and seals it in a labeled case collectors call a slab. The score changes the price, sometimes by a lot.
The scales
- PSA grades 1 to 10. A PSA 10 is Gem Mint, the standard chase grade of the hobby.
- BGS grades in half steps with four subgrades. A BGS 9.5 is Gem Mint; the rare Black Label 10 means perfect subgrades across the board.
- CGC also uses half steps, with Pristine 10 above the standard 10.
The same card can be worth very different money at the same number on different labels, because populations and buyer trust differ. That is why our ladders always name the company next to the grade, never a bare number.
Raw versus graded
A raw card's price assumes near mint condition unless stated. Grading adds certainty, and certainty carries a premium at the top grades. Whether grading is worth it depends on the card's raw price, the grading fee, and the odds of the top grade. For bulk, it rarely is. For chase cards in clean condition, it often is.
Track your own slabs by grade in the portfolio; each grade is valued on its own rung, never estimated off the raw price.