We've worked passionately to create a grading system that is objective, accurate, and easy to understand. Each card graded by Edge will include a detailed report of every decision that was made as our AI and human graders calculated the final grade. This page will serve as a guide to understanding our process and grading system. Our aim is to make this overview as comprehensive as possible but if any questions or concerns should arise please contact us.
Basic Principles
- There are 4 major grading regions on each side of a card.
The border Centering percentage is assessed along with the condition of the card's Corners, Edges, and Surface.
- Cards are graded on a scale of 1-10+
A card graded as a 10 will be considered GemMint. The condition of a GemMint card would be comparable to a PSA 10, SGC 10, and BGS 9.5.
- Cards in superb condition can be graded above GEMMINT.
Any card that has a combined score higher than 10 will be considered ULTRAMINT and will receive a grade of 10+.
- Grading values are based on subtraction.
Each of the regions on every card begins as a 10.5. Imperfections can be worth anywhere from -.3 for microscopic wear to -6.5 for major card damage. The first occurrence of each type of damage is weighed more heavily than subsequent occurences. A card with only microscopic wear can still potentially receive a score of ULTRAMINT.
- The condition of the front of the card is more important than the condition of the back.
In fact, our grading algorithm places significantly higher value on front of card grades.
- There are multiple tiers to each grade:
- Individual areas (e.g. Top Left Corner) are graded
- Individual area grades are combined to calculate side-specific region grades (e.g. Front Corners and Back Corners)
- Front and back region grades are combined to create overall region grades (e.g. Corners).
- Overall region grades (Corners, Edges, Centering, and Surface) are combined to create the overall card grade (e.g. GEMMINT 10).
- The graded card's label will include grades for the 4 regions (Corners, Edges, Centering, and Surface) as well as the overall grade. The graded card's online Edge Grading Report will include grading information for each of the card's individual areas (e.g. Top Left Corner, Bottom Edge, etc.).
- Overall grades round up at .75.
A card receiving a final overall calculation of 8.75 would be rounded up to an overall grade of 9.
- Overall grades cannot be more than 1 grade higher than the lowest region grade.
A card receiving a Corner grade of 7 would have a maximum overall grade of 8.
- The Centering grade is a "maximum possible" measurement.
A card with a Centering grade of 8 can have a maximum overall grade of 8.
- Autograph condition is graded as part of the Surface region.
Signatures are checked for fading, smudging, and sticker wear.
- Final grade calculations are not simply an average of the 4 region grades.
When averaging the measurements of the 4 regions (Corners, Edges, Centering, and Surface) the lowest scoring region will be weighed more heavily in the calculation of the final grade.
Card Regions
Each region of the card (Centering, Corners, Edges, and Surface) is graded by a specific set of rules.
Centering
Centering measurements are represented as a percentage. If the left border of a card measures 3mm and the right border measures 2mm in thickness then that card would be said to have 60/40 left/right centering since the left border takes up 60% (3mm/5mm) and the right border takes up 40% (2mm/5mm) of the total border measurement. Edge considers centering a "maximum possible" calculation. This means that if a card scores an 8 on centering the maximum possible overall grade that card can receive is an 8.
The chart below shows the maximum allowable centering percentages for each grade:
- Grade:
- Front Centering % (Max)
- Back Centering % (Max)
- 10+
- 52/48
- 65/35
- 10
- 55/45
- 70/30
- 9
- 60/40
- 80/20
- 8
- 65/35
- 90/10
- 7
- 70/30
- 90/10
- 6
- 75/25
- 90/10
- 5
- 80/20
- 90/10
- 4
- 85/15
- 95/5
- 3
- 90/10
- 95/5
- 2
- 90/10
- 95/5
- 1
- 100/0
- 100/0
Corners
In order for a card to be graded GEMMINT or above all 4 corners must be sharp without visible signs of wear. Signs of chipping, rounding, or bent corners bring the card's grade down significantly.
Minor
Major
- Microscopic wear
- Minor wear
- Moderate wear
- Slight chipping
- Rounding
- Moderate chipping
- Bent corner
Edges
In order for a card to be graded GEMMINT or above all 4 edges must be free from visible signs of wear. Signs of edge chipping bring the card's grade down significantly.
Minor
Major
- Microscopic wear
- Minor wear
- Moderate wear
- Slight chipping
- Moderate chipping
Surface
In order for a card to be graded GEMMINT or above the card's surfaces must be free from minor scratches, print lines, and dimples. Cards with microscopic flaws can still sometimes grade as GEMMINT. Signs of color fading, creases, marks, stains, or large scratches and print lines bring the card's grade down significantly.
Minor
Major
- Microscopic dimple
- Microscopic print line
- Microscopic scratch
- Minor dimple
- Faded autograph
- Smudged autograph
- Minor print line
- Minor scratch
- Minor color fading
- Slight crease
- Moderate dimple
- Moderate color fading
- Moderate print line
- Moderate scratch
- Large crease
- Mark/stain
Overall Grades
The grades of the 4 regions of each card (Corners, Edges, Centering, and Surface) are combined to give each card an overall grade from 1-10+.
- Grade
- Classification
- Attributes
- 10+
- ULTRAMINT
-
Centering:
52/48% or better on front, 65/35% or better on back
Corners:
All 4 corners are sharp under magnification. There may be microscopic corner wear.
Edges:
All 4 edges are sharp under magnification. There may be microscopic edge wear.
Surface:
There are no visible print lines, discoloration, or scratches of any kind on the surface. There may be 1-2 microscopic print defects.
- 10
- GEMMINT
-
Centering:
55/45% or better on front, 70/30% or better on back
Corners:
All 4 corners are sharp to the naked eye. There may be microscopic corner wear.
Edges:
All 4 corners are sharp to the naked eye. There may be microscopic edge wear.
Surface:
The surface may have a minor print mark or scratch that is very difficult to see without magnification and does not distract from the focal points of the card.
- 9
- MINT
-
Centering:
60/40% or better on front, 80/20% or better on back
Corners:
There may be very slight wear to one corner.
Edges:
There may be very slight wear to one edge.
Surface:
The surface may have a 1-2 minor print marks or scratches. A card with an autograph may show signs of a slightly smudged or faded signature.
- 8
- NEARMINT
-
Centering:
65/35% or better on front, 90/10% or better on back
Corners:
There may be very slight wear on 2 or more corners.
Edges:
There may be very slight wear on 2 or more edges.
Surface:
The surfaces may have a few minor print marks, dimples, or scratches. A card with an autograph may show signs of a smudged or faded signature.
- 7
- EXCELLENT
-
Centering:
70/30% or better on front, 90/10% or better on back
Corners:
There may be moderate wear or slight chipping on 1-2 corners.
Edges:
There may be moderate wear or a slight chip on 1-2 edges.
Surface:
The surface may have multiple moderate print marks or scratches and minor color fading. A card with an autograph may show signs of a smudged or faded signature.
- 6
- VERYGOOD
-
Centering:
75/25% or better on front, 90/10% or better on back
Corners:
There may be rounding, chipping, or bending on 1-2 corners.
Edges:
There may be moderate chipping on 1-2 edges.
Surface:
The surface may have multiple blemishes including moderate color fading, a light crease, and multiple print marks and scratches. A card with an autograph may show signs of a smudged or faded signature.
- 5
- GOOD
-
Centering:
80/20% or better on front, 90/10% or better on back
Corners:
There may be rounding, chipping, or bending and signs of wear on multiple corners.
Edges:
There may be moderate chipping and signs of wear on multiple edges.
Surface:
The surface may have multiple blemishes including moderate color fading, light creasing, and multiple print marks and scratches. A card with an autograph may show signs of a smudged or faded signature.
- 4
- FINE
-
Centering:
85/15% or better on front, 95/5% or better on back
Corners:
There may be rounding, chipping, or bending and signs of wear on multiple corners.
Edges:
There may be moderate chipping and signs of wear on multiple edges.
Surface:
The surface may have multiple blemishes including moderate color fading, a large crease, a mark or stain, and multiple print marks and scratches. A card with an autograph may show signs of a smudged or faded signature.
- 3
- FAIR
-
Centering:
90/10% or better on front, 95/5% or better on back
Corners:
There may be rounding, chipping, or bending and signs of wear on multiple corners.
Edges:
There may be moderate chipping and signs of wear on multiple edges.
Surface:
The surface may have multiple blemishes including moderate color fading, a large crease, a mark or stain, and multiple print marks and scratches. A card with an autograph may show signs of a smudged or faded signature.
- 2
- POOR
-
Centering:
90/10% or better on front, 95/5% or better on back
Corners:
There may be rounding, chipping, or bending and signs of wear on multiple corners.
Edges:
There may be moderate chipping and signs of wear on multiple edges.
Surface:
The surface may have multiple blemishes including moderate color fading, a large crease, a mark or stain, and multiple print marks and scratches. A card with an autograph may show signs of a smudged or faded signature.
- 1
- DAMAGED
-
Centering:
100/0% or better on front, 100/0% or better on back
Corners:
There may be rounding, chipping, or bending and signs of wear on multiple corners.
Edges:
There may be moderate chipping and signs of wear on multiple edges.
Surface:
The surface may have multiple blemishes including moderate color fading, a large crease, a mark or stain, and multiple print marks and scratches. A card with an autograph may show signs of a smudged or faded signature.
