Grading Standard · Goldmine / Discogs

How to grade a record, honestly.

Every scratch, mark and skip changes what a record is worth. This guide walks through the eight standard condition grades, from Mint to Poor — for the vinyl itself, and for the sleeve that's protected it.

The scale at a glance

Best → Worst · same scale for vinyl and sleeve
MMintFlawless, unplayed, as issued— NMNear MintNo visible or audible wear100% VG+Very Good PlusLight handling marks50% VGVery GoodNoticeable wear, still enjoyable25% G+Good PlusHeavier wear10–15% GGoodWell-worn10–15% FFairHeavy damage0–5% PPoorBroken or unplayable0–5%

Values as a percentage of Near Mint price, per the Goldmine Standard (Discogs' published grading guide). Good/Good Plus and Fair/Poor are quoted as combined bands, not separate figures — Mint has no fixed multiplier and is rarely used as a grade.

Condition by grade

Note: Goldmine describes Good/Good Plus as one combined tier, and Fair/Poor as another — the split below is for clarity, not an official distinction.

Grading in practice

Grade the vinyl and the sleeve separately

A record's condition and its packaging age differently. Standard listings show both, written media first: VG+ / VG means the vinyl is Very Good Plus while the sleeve has dropped to Very Good. Use the toggle above to check each against the same scale.

Always disclose specific flaws

  • Skips, jumps, or repeats — no grade excuses these
  • Warping, even mild "spindle wobble"
  • Writing, stickers, or tape residue
  • Seam splits, ring wear, cut corners

Grade under a raking light

Hold the record at an angle under a strong point-source light so it skims across the surface. Marks invisible under flat overhead light show up immediately — the standard test collectors expect a seller to have done.

Goldmine vs Discogs

Discogs uses the same eight-point Goldmine scale, so a grade means the same thing on either platform. The difference is convention: Discogs listings almost always show media and sleeve grades side by side, with flaws spelled out in the comments rather than folded into the grade.