← Glossary

Condition & flaws

Centering

Also called: off-center, OC

Centering is how evenly a card's image sits within its borders, measured as a ratio like 60/40. Poor centering, or being off-center, is one of the most common reasons a card grades low.

Centering compares the border width on opposite sides of a card, front and back. A 55/45 card is well centered; a 70/30 card is noticeably off-center. Graders judge centering strictly, and it is one of the four factors in a grade, alongside corners, edges, and surface.

Centering is set at the factory and cannot be improved, so you either get a well-centered copy or you do not.

Why it matters: centering is often the difference between a gem mint 10 and a 9. Because it caps the grade, collectors inspect centering closely before buying raw or submitting a card for grading.

This glossary is a plain-language reference for collectors, not financial or purchasing advice. Card values move, so always check recent sales before you buy or sell.

Related terms

Card gradingGrading is sending a card to a company that authenticates it and assigns a condition grade, usually 1 to 10, then seals it in a protective holder called a slab.SubgradesSubgrades are the individual 1 to 10 scores a grader gives for a card's centering, corners, edges, and surface. Beckett (BGS) prints subgrades alongside the overall grade.Gem MintGem Mint is the top everyday condition grade, a PSA 10 or a BGS 9.5. It means a card is essentially flawless to the naked eye, with sharp corners and clean surfaces.SurfaceSurface refers to the condition of a card's front and back finish: scratches, scuffs, print defects, and gloss. It is one of the four areas graders assess.