← Glossary

Grading

PSA

Also called: Professional Sports Authenticator

PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator) is the most popular card grading company. It uses a 1 to 10 scale where PSA 10 is Gem Mint, and its slabs are the most widely recognized.

PSA is the largest and most liquid grading service in the hobby. It assigns a single whole-number grade from 1 to 10 (PSA 10 is Gem Mint), with no subgrades, and tracks how many of each card it has graded in its population report.

Because so many buyers prefer PSA, PSA-graded cards often sell faster and sometimes for more than the same grade from other companies.

Why it matters: the grader on the slab affects price, and PSA's brand recognition makes it the default choice for many modern cards, though turnaround times and fees vary with service level.

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.BGS (Beckett)BGS (Beckett Grading Services) grades on a 1 to 10 scale with half points and four subgrades. A BGS 9.5 is Gem Mint, and a BGS 10 with four perfect subgrades earns the Black Label.SGCSGC (Sportscard Guaranty) is a grading company known for fast service and its black tuxedo slab, and it is especially respected for vintage cards. It grades on a 1 to 10 scale.CGC CardsCGC Cards is a newer grading company that expanded from grading comics and trading card games. It grades sports and TCG cards on a 1 to 10 scale and has grown quickly.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.Population reportA population report, or pop report, is a grader's public count of how many of a card it has graded at each grade. It is a key scarcity signal for graded cards.