What are the four core Pokémon card grading criteria?

Centering, Edges, Surface, and Corners. These pillars determine visual alignment, perimeter wear, print and gloss condition, and corner sharpness.

How do PSA, CGC, and PokeGrade differ?

PSA emphasizes holistic visual assessment with a 1–10 scale; CGC offers optional subgrades and a technical bent; PokeGrade provides Pokémon-focused, transparent analysis with per-attribute explanations and education-first reports.

Grading Standards Explained

Understand the four pillars of Pokémon card grading and see how PSA, CGC, and PokeGrade compare.

Core Pillars of Condition

PokeGrade evaluates cards using four universally recognized attributes. Clear definitions help collectors self-assess and predict outcomes before sending to a grading service.

Centering

Measures artwork alignment within borders. Front and back are assessed separately; common tolerances use ratios (e.g., 55/45, 60/40).

Edges

Condition of the four sides. Whitening, chipping, or fraying from handling can reduce the grade.

Surface

Print layer, gloss, and texture. Watch for scratches (especially on holo), print lines, stains, or dents.

Corners

Sharpness and integrity of corner tips. Softness, whitening, or folds cause deductions.

1) Centering

Definition: Evenness of the image within borders.

How it's judged: Front/back measured separately; ratio tolerances like 55/45 or 60/40 are typical references.
Impact: Near 50/50 is ideal; severe off-centering or miscuts can significantly reduce the final grade.

2) Edges

Definition: Cleanliness and wear along the perimeter.

Common flaws: Whitening, chipping, fraying, small dents.
Impact: Minor whitening may be a small deduction; heavy chipping or dents are major defects.

3) Surface

Definition: Visual and physical condition of front and back surfaces.

Common flaws: Holo scratches, print lines, roller marks, stains, impressions.
Impact: Light print lines can be compatible with mid–high grades; deep scratches, stains, or dents cause larger downgrades.

4) Corners

Definition: Sharpness and shape of the four tips.

Common flaws: Soft/rounded tips, whitening, folds or crushed corners.
Impact: Razor-sharp corners are ideal; soft or damaged corners lead to noticeable deductions.

Note: Some services publish explicit tolerance charts and subgrade weights. Regardless of methodology, these pillars remain the basis of collectible card evaluation.

PSA vs CGC vs PokeGrade

Each organization uses a 10-point scale but differs in philosophy, transparency, and reporting.

Feature	Service
PSA	Longstanding TCG grading; broad market recognition
CGC	Technical grading across comics & TCG; optional subgrades
PokeGrade	Pokémon-specific analysis with clarity and education

How PokeGrade Fits In

Transparency

Shows why a card scores as it does (centering ratios, flaw mapping, per-attribute notes).

Education

Guides collectors to understand standards—not just receive a number.

Pokémon Focus

Tuned for holo patterns, print idiosyncrasies, and modern vs. vintage sets.

Digital-First

Predictive, comparative insights before sending to a grading company.

Summary: PSA is tradition and market reach; CGC provides optional subgrades and technical detail; PokeGrade delivers Pokémon-first clarity and transparent, attribute-level explanations.

Detailed Comparison

Feature	PSA	CGC	PokeGrade
Primary Focus	Longstanding trading card grading; broad market recognition	Technical grading across comics & TCG; detail-oriented	Pokémon-specific analysis with clarity and education
Subgrades	No subgrades	Optional subgrades	Per-attribute breakdown
Scale	1–10 (Gem Mint 10)	1–10 (includes 9.5, 10 Pristine)	1–10 (Pokémon-optimized logic)
Method Emphasis	Holistic visual assessment	Technical precision & documentation	Transparent analysis + learning tools
Use Case	High market liquidity & prestige	Granular condition insight	Pre-grading education & prediction

Final Takeaway

Centering, Edges, Surface, and Corners form the shared language of grading. By making these criteria explicit and easy to understand, PokeGrade helps collectors evaluate cards confidently and set realistic expectations for third-party grading outcomes.

This page is for educational guidance. For official grading outcomes, refer to the respective companies' published standards and policies.