Pre-grading means you make your own estimate of a card's condition before having it graded by a company such as PSA, Beckett (BGS) or CGC. That way you avoid paying for cards that are unlikely to get a high grade. It remains an estimate: the company decides the final grade.
What do you need?
- A bright lamp and a second light source that you can shine along the card at an angle
- A magnifying glass or your phone's zoom
- Clean, dry hands and a clean, flat surface
- A ruler or centering tool (optional)
Hold the card by its edges. Only take it out of a sleeve or toploader when that is safe, because plastic can add glare and dust that hide or imitate scratches.
The four things graders assess
1. Centering
This is the ratio between the borders left and right, and top and bottom. Measure both sides of the card. According to published guidelines, PSA 10 allows roughly 55/45 on the front and 75/25 on the back. For BGS, 50/50 is the ideal for a Pristine, and for CGC roughly 55/45 applies for Gem Mint 10. The requirements can change, so check them with the company itself. Centering is the only part you can measure. If the card falls outside the limit, a high grade is not achievable.
2. Surface
Hold the card at an angle under light and look across the surface. Look for scratches, print lines, dents, stains and loss of gloss. This often goes wrong on holo and foil cards. Check the back too.
3. Corners
Look at all four corners, front and back, with a magnifying glass. A small white dot or fray is invisible to the naked eye but still counts.
4. Edges
Look along each edge for white spots, flaking, rough cuts and small damage. Cards with a dark border show wear the fastest.
Estimate a range, not a fixed grade
Do not judge 'this will be a 10', but 'this sits between an 8 and a 9'. Then decide whether grading is worth the cost. Calculate with the company's current rates. We do not mention them because they change regularly.
Protect your cards in advance
- Put a card straight into a sleeve and then into a toploader.
- Store them upright and dry, out of the sun.
- Do not polish or repair a card yourself: grading companies reject altered cards or give them a lower assessment.
With us you will find Ultra Pro sleeves and toploaders.
Honest about the limits
A pre-grade is your own opinion and not a guarantee. Two graders can assess a card differently. Packs you open give random cards: no card is a guaranteed hit in advance. Also see the TCG collection and read our guide on Pokémon 30th Celebration.