PSA Grading Guide for Pokémon Cards
How PSA scores Pokémon cards, the 4-point scale that separates a 10 from a 9, and the math on which cards are worth submitting.
The Rule: PSA grades on four sub-criteria — centering, surface, edges, corners — combined into a single 1-10 score. Pokémon cards are notoriously hard to gem at PSA 10 because of factory-fresh defects: print lines, holo scratches, miscut centering.
The Four Sub-Grades
Centering
PSA wants 55/45 or better front, 75/25 or better back. Off-centering is the #1 reason Pokémon cards fail PSA 10. Holo cards, especially, suffer from off-center prints from factory.
Surface
No print lines, no holo scratches, no fingerprints. Holo Charizards are particularly prone to subtle scratches in the holo foil that drop them from 10 to 9.
Edges
Crisp, no whitening, no fraying. Black-bordered cards (1st Edition Base Set, etc.) reveal edge wear instantly — even handling can cost the 10.
Corners
Sharp, no rounding, no dings. Even sleeve-stored cards from kids in the 90s usually have corner wear visible under magnification.
Submission Economics
PSA bulk tier is $19/card with ~65-day turnaround. Express is $75-300+ depending on declared value. Run the math before submitting.
| PSA 10 Value | Submit? | Reason |
|---|---|---|
| < $50 | No | Submission cost eats margin |
| $50-150 | Maybe | Only if you're confident in the 10 |
| $150-500 | Yes | Solid expected value |
| $500+ | Definitely | Express tier worth the speed |
PSA 10 Hit Rates by Era
- • Base Set 1st Edition (1999): 8-12% PSA 10 rate
- • Base Set Unlimited: 15-22%
- • Neo / E-Series (2000-2003): 12-18%
- • Modern (2019+): 35-50%
- • Modern Alt-Art / Special Set: 25-35% (more handling damage from chasers)
Track PSA 10 Comps Live
Mint Condition pulls live PSA 10 sales from eBay and PWCC across thousands of Pokémon cards.
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