PSA Grades Explained: The 1-10 Scale and PSA 10

What exactly does a PSA grade mean? Why can a PSA 10 be worth much more than a PSA 9 when the two cards look identical? And what do the letters OC, ST, or PD on some labels mean? In this guide, we explain PSA grading in simple terms: the 1-to-10 grading scale, the official centering criteria, half-grades, qualifiers, and the "Authentic" designation. All definitions follow the grading standards published by PSA on its official website (psacard.com).

What is PSA?

PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) is an American company that authenticates and grades trading cards. The principle of grading is simple: you send in your card, experts verify that it's authentic, assess its condition, then seal it in a rigid plastic case (the "slab") with a label showing the card, the grade, and a unique certification number. That number lets you look up the card in the PSA database.

For soccer cards, PSA is one of the big names in the market, alongside companies like Beckett and TAG. If you're torn between these services, read our comparison PSA vs TAG vs Beckett for soccer cards.

The PSA grading scale from 1 to 10

PSA grades cards on a scale of 1 to 10. Each grade has an abbreviated name, which you'll find on the label. Here is the full scale, with the centering tolerances stated by PSA (front / back):

How do you read centering? "60/40" means that the border takes up 60% of the available space on one side and 40% on the other. The closer you get to 50/50, the better centered the card is. PSA states that its graders may, at their sole discretion, allow a small margin based on the card's "eye appeal" (its overall visual impression).

What the main grades mean

• PSA 10 Gem Mint: according to PSA, a "virtually perfect" card: four perfectly sharp corners, sharp focus, full original gloss, and no staining. A slight printing imperfection may be allowed if it doesn't impair the overall appeal.
• PSA 9 Mint: a card in superb condition that shows only one minor flaw (for example, a small printing imperfection or very slightly off-white borders).
• PSA 8 NM-MT: a high-end card that looks like a 9 at first glance, but with, for example, very slight fraying on one or two corners.
• PSA 7 NM: slight surface wear visible on close inspection, slightly frayed corners, most of the original gloss retained.
• PSA 6 to PSA 3: wear becomes increasingly visible: rounded corners, scratches, loss of gloss; a light crease may appear from PSA 4 down.
• PSA 2 to PSA 1: advanced wear, heavy creases, and even small missing pieces for a PSA 1.

The 4 criteria behind the grade

A PSA grade results from examining four elements: centering, corners, edges, and surface (scratches, stains, print defects, gloss). The weakest point caps the final grade: a card with perfect corners but poor centering can't get a 10. Before sending a card, learn to examine it yourself with our guide how to check a soccer card's condition.

On modern soccer cards, the most common pitfalls are scratches on chromium cards (Topps Chrome, Finest, "Chromium" cards), whitened edges on dark-bordered cards, and centering, which varies a lot from card to card. To tell these finishes apart, our article Topps card types explained is a good starting point.

PSA half-grades (8.5, 7.5…)

Since 2008, PSA has also awarded half-grades to reward particularly nice cards within their grade: 8.5, 7.5, 6.5, and so on. There is, however, no PSA 9.5: PSA felt it was unnecessary to add a third "Mint" level between 9 and 10. A half-grade isn't the "midpoint" between two grades: it flags a high-end copy within its category, often thanks to centering that's clearly better than the grade's tolerance. A card with a qualifier (see below) can't receive a half-grade.

PSA qualifiers: OC, ST, PD, OF, MK, MC

You may have seen a label like "NM-MT 8 OC." The qualifier flags a card that meets all the criteria for a grade except on one specific point. Rather than lowering the grade sharply, PSA notes the flaw next to it. The qualifiers used by PSA are:

• OC – Off Center: the card is off-center;
• ST – Staining: a stain;
• PD – Print Defect: a printing defect;
• OF – Out of Focus: blurry printing;
• MK – Marks: writing, an ink or pencil mark, or an impression left by writing;
• MC – Miscut: an atypical cut of the card.

Key takeaway: a card graded "8 OC" is not the equivalent of a regular PSA 8. The noted flaw matters, and these cards generally trade for less than a card with the same grade and no qualifier. Always read the full label before buying.

"Authentic" and ungraded cards

Not every card receives a numerical grade. Some are encapsulated with the designation "Authentic": PSA certifies that the card is genuine without assigning a grade (for example, for some cards that are too small or miscut, if the collector accepted this option). The designation "Authentic Altered" flags a card that is genuine but altered.

Other cards come back without a grade and without a case, with an explanation code from N1 to N9: for example N1 (trimmed card), N2 (restoration), N3 (recoloring), N4 (questionable authenticity), N5 (altered stock), N7 (cleaning), or N8 (abnormal factory cut). PSA states that it does not grade cards that have been trimmed, recolored, restored, or altered in any way.

PSA 10 vs PSA 9: why such a price gap?

Between a PSA 9 and a PSA 10, the difference is sometimes invisible to the naked eye: 58/42 centering instead of 55/45, or a tiny flaw on a corner. Yet the PSA 10 is the highest grade on the scale, so it's the most sought after by collectors who want "the best possible copy." On modern, high-demand cards, the price gap between PSA 9 and PSA 10 can be significant, but it varies enormously from card to card.

Two reflexes before buying or selling:

• Check the population ("pop report"): PSA publishes how many copies of each card have received each grade. A PSA 10 with only a few copies in existence is far rarer than a PSA 10 with thousands.
• Compare completed sales (not asking prices) for the same card, the same grade, and the same parallel. Our article Lamine Yamal card: rookie card and price, for example, shows with figures and sources how the gap widens depending on the card and the grade.

Should you get your soccer cards graded?

Grading a card has a cost (service fees, shipping, insurance), and the result is never guaranteed. Grading is mainly worthwhile for valuable cards (star rookies, autographs, low-numbered parallels) in excellent condition, or when you want to reassure a buyer about authenticity. For a common or already damaged card, it's rarely profitable. We go into this choice in raw or graded cards: which should you choose? and the fees in how much PSA grading costs from Switzerland.

Practical tip: protect the card as soon as you open the pack (sleeve + toploader or card saver), without handling it unnecessarily. A scratch or a dinged corner when pulling the card is enough to lose the PSA 10. All our tips are in how to protect your soccer cards.

High-potential cards in our shop

Looking for low-numbered cards to collect, or to consider for grading? A few examples currently available at NN SPORTS:

• Raúl – Topps Total Football 2025-26 – Chromium /10 – Real Madrid
• Cole Palmer – Topps Total Football – Total Performers /10 – Chelsea
• Caroline Graham Hansen – Topps Total Football 2025-26 – Master Magicians /10 – Barcelona

FAQ – PSA grades

What is a PSA 10 card?

It's a card authenticated by PSA and graded 10 "Gem Mint," the highest grade on the scale. According to PSA, it's a virtually perfect card: four perfectly sharp corners, sharp printing, original gloss intact, no staining, and centering of about 55/45 or better on the front (75/25 on the back).

How do you know if a card is a PSA 10?

A card is only a "PSA 10" if it has been graded by PSA: the grade appears on the label of the sealed case. Check the certification number on PSA's website to make sure the label matches the card. For an ungraded card, nobody can guarantee a PSA 10: you can only estimate its chances by examining the centering, corners, edges, and surface under good lighting.

PSA 9 or 10: what's the difference?

A PSA 9 "Mint" allows a single minor flaw and centering up to about 60/40 on the front (90/10 on the back). A PSA 10 "Gem Mint" requires a virtually perfect card and centering of about 55/45 (75/25 on the back). The visual gap is often minimal, but the price gap can be significant on sought-after cards.

How do you get a card graded by PSA? (How does PSA work?)

In short: you create an account on PSA's website, fill out an online submission form choosing a service level (based on the card's declared value and the desired turnaround), carefully protect your cards, then ship them. PSA authenticates, grades, and encapsulates each card before sending it back to you. From Switzerland, you also need to budget for outbound and return shipping: all the details and costs are in our article PSA grading from Switzerland.

PSA or PCA?

PCA (PCA Grade) is a French grading company with its own grading scale (which goes up to "10+" according to its website), while PSA is an American company whose scale runs from 1 to 10. The two grades aren't equivalent and can't be compared directly. If you're aiming for international resale (on eBay.com, for example), PSA is the brand most widely recognized by sports card buyers. For a personal collection, the choice depends mainly on your preferences, budget, and turnaround times: always compare current prices on the official websites.

Does a PSA 9.5 exist?

No. PSA awards half-grades from 1.5 to 8.5, but not 9.5. After PSA 9 Mint comes PSA 10 Gem Mint directly.

Find your cards at NN SPORTS

Whether you collect raw or graded cards, discover our selection of soccer cards at www.nnsports.ch and in our NN SPORTS eBay store. Numbered cards, rookies, autographs, Topps Total Football: new cards arrive regularly.