Card grading is the process of assessing the condition and authenticity of trading cards, such as sports cards or TCG.

Professional grading companies such as PSA and Beckett (BGS) specialize in this process, which involves several steps:

First, the card's authenticity is verified to ensure it is not a counterfeit or altered. Then, graders evaluate various factors like centering, corners, edges & surface quality. These aspects are assessed on a numerical grading scale, typically ranging from 1 to 10, with 10 indicating gem mint condition.

Once graded, the card is often encapsulated in a tamper-evident plastic holder displaying its grade and certification details, which helps protect its condition and authenticity. Graded cards are highly valued by collectors and can command higher market prices than ungraded ones, making card grading an essential part of the collector's market.