How to Mind-Grade Pokémon Cards (Before You Buy)

You’ve found it. That one adorable or beautiful card you've been dreaming about since you were a kid. The artwork is perfect, the Pokémon is among your favorites, and the price seems just right. You've learned how to spot a fake listing on eBay (if not, this article might be interesting for you — Spot fake listings on eBay / Pocket Scout ), so you're on the edge to buy that gem of a card. But wait... the seller's description says "Near Mint," and the photos look good, but what does that really mean?

While only a professional grading company like PSA or Beckett can give a card an official grade, you can become your own pocket-sized grader by learning how to spot the key details for a card to be in a good condition. This skill is a game-changer for collectors of singles, helping you to make smarter purchases and ensuring that the card you get lives up to the one you can’t stop thinking about.

Let's break down the "Big Four" of card grading and how to inspect cards like a pro.

The Big Four: Your Self-Grading Checklist

Think of these four points as the pillars of a card's condition. You'll want to check each one thoroughly, and a card's final grade is a reflection of its lowest-scoring pillar (in general).

Centering

Look at the borders around the artwork on the front of the card. A perfectly centered card has equal-sized borders on the left and right, as well as the top and bottom. How to check it: For online listings, this can be a little tricky sometimes. Look closely at the photos — do the borders on the left and right look even? Is the top border the same size as the bottom border? If the borders look centered enough, let’s go to the next Pillar.

Corners

This is often the most vulnerable pillar in the card factories. Corners should be crisp and perfectly rounded. How to check it: Zoom in on each corner in the listing photos. Do they look crisp? Are they perfectly rounded? Sometimes, a card’s corners can be cut a little off.

The shape is not the only thing about corners that should be checked. Even a tiny bit of "whitening" (which is where the color from the edge has worn away) on a corner can knock a card down from a perfect grade.

Edges

The four edges of the card should be smooth and clean, without any signs of wear. How to check it: Again, lots of pictures and zooming are your friends. Look for whitening, revealing the white cardboard underneath. This is especially noticeable on the back of older, darker-colored cards. You'll also want to check for any tiny chips or nicks along the edges.

Surface

Ah, the fourth and last pillar of a card’s condition. The front and back of the card should be free of scratches, dents, creases, or other imperfections. This is especially important for holographic cards, where scratches are much more visible.

How to check it: This is the hardest part to check from online photos. Sellers that post a lot of pictures will most likely show the card under different angles, showcasing any imperfections. If this is not the case, ask the seller for more pictures, especially from those different angles, and with different lighting. A photo taken with a light source reflecting off the card's surface (a "light test") can reveal a ton of details — from tiny scratches on the holo pattern to slight marks you might not see otherwise. Any crease, no matter how small, will dramatically lower a card's potential grade.

The Grading Scale

So, what do the grades really mean? Professional graders and grading companies use a 1-10 scale. While you don't need to be a professional, it's helpful to know what the key grades mean so you can better understand what you're buying.

• 10 - Gem Mint: A nearly perfect card in every way. The centering is almost perfect, the corners and edges are sharp, and the surface is flawless. This is the holy grail for collectors.


• 9 - Mint: A superb card that is nearly perfect, but with one very minor flaw. This could be a very slight printing imperfection, or a tiny bit of off-centering that is still within tolerance.


• 7-8 - Near Mint: A card that looks great at first glance but has some minor imperfections upon closer inspection. This might include a few very small white spots on the edges, or a tiny bit of corner wear. This is a very popular grade for collectors who want a beautiful card without the high price tag of a 9 or 10.


• 4-6 - Excellent to Very Good: These cards show more noticeable signs of wear. This is where you might see more significant whitening on the edges, slightly rounded corners, or some light scratches. These cards are great for collectors who want a classic card for a binder without breaking the bank.


• 1-3 - Good to Poor: The card shows significant damage, such as heavy wear, multiple creases, or stains. These cards are often purchased for nostalgia or as a placeholder until a better-conditioned copy is found.

The Art of the Request

Don't be afraid to ask for more information! A good seller wants you to be happy with your purchase and will be more than willing to provide extra photos. When you're looking at a listing, you can try sending a message like this:

"Hey there, I'm really interested in this card! Could you possibly provide a couple more pictures? I'd love to see a close-up of the corners and a shot of the surface with some light reflecting off it to check for scratches. Thanks so much!"

This shows you're a serious buyer and helps you avoid any surprises.

When the Grade Doesn't Matter

While knowing the grading standards is a powerful tool, it's important to remember that not every card needs to be a perfect 10. If you're buying a card simply to complete a set in a binder or to fill a spot with an awesome piece of artwork, a slightly less-than-perfect card can be a fantastic way to go.

Cards in "Good" or "Excellent" condition often have the same amazing art and nostalgia but come at a fraction of the price. The small imperfections tell the card's story, and when it’s sitting in a binder, its true beauty still shines through. Don't be afraid to hunt for these hidden gems — they are perfect for building a beautiful collection on a budget.

I believe that every card deserves to belong to a beautiful and cherished collection, where the condition of the cards don’t matter as much.

Because in the end, it’s not just about getting the card you want — it’s about getting the card that makes you feel like a kid again, in the condition you remember it. And that feeling is priceless.

Ready to start searching for your next gem? We've got you covered.