PSA grading: what it is and how it works
'PSA 10', 'graded'… these terms are everywhere in the card world. Grading means having a card's condition assessed and certified by an independent service, which grades it and seals it in a case. Here's the essentials.
What is grading?
Grading is the professional assessment of a card's condition by a specialized service (PSA is the best known, alongside BGS and CGC). The card is authenticated, graded against precise criteria, then encapsulated in a sealed, tamper-proof case with its grade. This guarantees condition and protects the card.
The PSA scale from 1 to 10
PSA grades from 1 (Poor) to 10 (Gem Mint). The most sought-after grades are PSA 9 (Mint) and PSA 10 (Gem Mint, near perfect). There are also half-grades like PSA 8.5. The higher the grade, the rarer and pricier the card in that condition.
Why grade a card?
Three reasons: value (a sought-after card gains a lot in PSA 9/10), authenticity (grading certifies it's neither fake nor altered), and protection (the case preserves the card). You mostly grade valuable cards in excellent condition.
How does it work?
You send your cards to the grading service (directly or via an intermediary), choose a service tier (based on turnaround and declared value), and get your cards graded and encapsulated a few weeks later. There's a per-card fee, to weigh against the expected value gain.
Track your graded cards
In MyEzCollect, you set for each card whether it's graded and its grade (PSA 9, PSA 10…). Graded cards are highlighted and their estimated value better reflects their real market price — handy to insure or resell.