MAG Grading Standards
Complete documentation of our grading methodology. Every grade is backed by measurable criteria to ensure transparency, consistency, and fairness.
Overview
MAG uses a 10-point grading scale with 0.5 increments, providing 19 distinct grades for precise condition assessment.
Each card receives four subgrades: Centering, Corners, Edges, and Surface. The final grade is calculated using the geometric mean of all four subgrades, rounded to the nearest 0.5.
Complete Grade Scale
MAG Perfect
Virtually flawless in all aspects
Investment grade; museum quality
MAG Elite
Near-perfect with minimal imperfections
Premium investment piece
MAG Prime
Excellent condition with very minor flaws
High-end collectible
MAG Superior
Outstanding with slight imperfections
Quality collectible
MAG Choice
Very good condition with minor wear
Solid collectible
MAG Select
Above average with noticeable minor flaws
Good display piece
MAG Standard
Average condition with moderate wear
Standard collectible
MAG Fair
Below average with visible wear
Budget collector option
MAG Acceptable
Significant wear but still displayable
Affordable entry point
MAG Moderate
Heavy wear throughout
Placeholder; upgrade candidate
MAG Damaged
Major condition issues
Authentication value only
MAG Severe
Severe damage; heavy creasing or major defects
Authentication; completion purposes
MAG Compromised
Structural integrity compromised
Authentication only
MAG Critical
Critical damage; multiple severe issues
Authentication only
MAG Fragment
Fragmentary condition; major material loss
Authentication only
MAG Wreck
Near-total destruction
Authentication only
MAG Ruin
Barely recognizable
Authentication only
MAG Remnant
Remnants only
Authentication only
MAG Authentic
Authenticated only; grading not applicable
No condition grading applicable
Centering Standards
Centering measures how evenly the printed image is positioned within the card borders. We measure both Left/Right (L/R) and Top/Bottom (T/B) centering ratios.
| Grade | Tolerance | Ratio range | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | ±2% | 48/52 – 52/48 | Virtually perfect centering |
| 9.5 | ±5% | 45/55 – 55/45 | Excellent centering |
| 9 | ±8% | 42/58 – 58/42 | Minor shift, barely noticeable |
| 8.5 | ±10% | 40/60 – 60/40 | Slight off-center |
| 8 | ±13% | 37/63 – 63/37 | Noticeable shift |
| 7.5 | ±15% | 35/65 – 65/35 | Moderate off-center |
| 7 | ±18% | 32/68 – 68/32 | Clearly off-center |
Both L/R and T/B must meet the threshold. The worse of the two ratios determines the centering grade.
Defect Glossary
Whitening
Exposed paper fibers along edges from handling or wear; appears as white lines or spots
Fuzzing
Separation of paper fibers at corners creating a soft, fuzzy appearance
Ding
Small impact mark on edge or corner from being dropped or hit
Chip
Small piece of material missing from edge or corner
Nick
Small cut or notch in the edge
Blunting
Flattened corner tip from wear or pressure
Rounding
Curved corner that has lost its sharp point
Print line
Factory printing defect appearing as a line across the card
Print dot
Factory printing defect appearing as a small spot or speck
Scratch
Post-production surface abrasion; may be light (shallow) or deep
Scuff
Area of surface wear affecting gloss, often from sliding against other cards
Crease
Fold mark that has broken the surface; may be visible or felt
Dent
Indentation in the surface without breaking the coating
Wax stain
Residue from pack wax, typically appears as discoloration
Gloss loss
Dulling of the card's shine in specific areas
Diamond cut
Factory miscut resulting in uneven borders and angled corners
Off-center
Image not properly centered within the card borders
Misprint
Color registration errors, missing ink, or other printing issues
Roller mark
Impression from printing machinery visible on surface
Fish eye
Small bubble or void in the printing
Industry Comparison
See how MAG grades compare to PSA and CGC grading scales:
| MAG Grade | MAG Label | PSA Equivalent | CGC Equivalent | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | MAG Perfect | 10 - Gem Mint | 10 - Pristine | Virtually flawless |
| 9.5 | MAG Elite | 10 - Gem Mint | 9.5 - Gem Mint | PSA has no 9.5 |
| 9 | MAG Prime | 9 - Mint | 9 - Mint | — |
| 8.5 | MAG Superior | 9 - Mint | 8.5 - NM/Mint+ | PSA has no 8.5 |
| 8 | MAG Choice | 8 - NM-MT | 8 - NM/Mint | — |
| 7.5 | MAG Select | 8 - NM-MT | 7.5 - VF+ | PSA has no 7.5 |
| 7 | MAG Standard | 7 - NM | 7 - VF | — |
| 6.5 | MAG Fair | 7 - NM | 6.5 - FN+ | PSA has no 6.5 |
| 6 | MAG Acceptable | 6 - EX-MT | 6 - FN | — |
| 5 | MAG Damaged | 5 - EX | 5 - VG/FN | — |
Important Notes:
- • PSA uses a simpler 1-10 scale without half-grades above 8
- • CGC offers half-grades throughout their scale, similar to MAG
- • MAG's geometric mean calculation may result in different final grades than PSA/CGC for cards with uneven subgrades
- • This comparison is approximate; each grading company has unique standards
Final Grade Calculation
Formula: Geometric Mean
Example
Centering
9.5
Corners
9.0
Edges
8.5
Surface
9.0
= (9.5 × 9.0 × 8.5 × 9.0)^(1/4)
= (6,528.75)^(1/4)
= 8.99
Rounded → 9.0
Why geometric mean?
- One significantly low subgrade appropriately lowers the final grade.
- Balanced cards are rewarded — a card cannot receive a high grade with one major deficiency.