Card condition: Mint, Near Mint, Excellent… the Cardmarket scale and price
The same card in Near Mint and Played condition can differ in price by half. How to grade condition on the Cardmarket scale and avoid returns.
The Cardmarket condition scale
| Condition | Code | What it looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Mint | MT | perfect, factory fresh |
| Near Mint | NM | looks new; minimal marks only up close |
| Excellent | EX | light wear on corners or edges, minor surface scratches |
| Good | GD | clear signs of play, no serious damage |
| Light Played | LP | visible wear, scratches, slight discoloration |
| Played | PL | heavy wear: creases, deep scratches, worn edges |
| Poor | PO | damaged: tears, stains, heavy creases, writing |
How to check condition
- Use strong light and tilt the card — foil scratches only show at an angle.
- Check the back edges for white spots.
- Check corners for rounding and fraying.
- Look for scratches, fingerprints and dents.
- Any crease means Played.
When in doubt, choose the lower grade.
How condition affects price
The Cardometer price (Cardmarket trend) best matches Near Mint. Excellent sells slightly lower, Light Played and Played clearly lower — the gap grows for expensive collector cards.
Condition vs grading
Grading companies use numeric 1–10 scales with strict criteria; a Near Mint card won’t always get a 9 or 10. See our grading guide.
Preguntas frecuentes
What does NM mean on a card?
Near Mint — the card looks new, with at most minimal marks visible up close.
Is a pack-fresh card Mint?
Often, but not always — factory flaws and off-centre prints happen.
Can I improve a card’s condition?
No. Pressing, chemical cleaning or trimming is easy to detect and lowers the value.
Fuentes
Los precios de este artículo proceden de la base de Cardometer (tendencia Cardmarket) y se actualizan solos. Solo informativo, no es asesoramiento de inversión.