The short answer
A card's condition is graded, from best to worst: Mint (MT), Near Mint (NM), Excellent (EX), Good (GD), Light Played (LP), Played (PL) and Poor (PO), Cardmarket's scale. The lower the condition, the more value the card loses: gotem. values a Light Played card at about 70% of its Near Mint price, for example, and a Played card at about 55%.
The scale, condition by condition
These seven conditions are those of Cardmarket, the big European card marketplace, and of gotem. From best to worst:
- MTMintPerfect, as if fresh from the factory: no flaw, even up close.≈ 100% of the value
- NMNear MintAlmost perfect: at most one or two tiny imperfections, visible only up close.≈ 100% of the value
- EXExcellentLightly worn: a few small white specks on the edges or corners, fine scratches, surface still clean.≈ 90% of the value
- GDGoodClear wear on the edges, corners and surface, without major damage.≈ 80% of the value
- LPLight PlayedWell worn: damaged edges and corners, many scratches, small creases possible.≈ 70% of the value
- PLPlayedVery worn: creases, marks, rounded corners, but still whole.≈ 55% of the value
- POPoorDamaged: tear, heavy crease, water damage, writing or cut.≈ 40% of the value
Approximate percentages: these are the coefficients gotem. applies by default to a Near Mint card's market price. The real market varies from card to card.
Summarised descriptions. If in doubt between two conditions, pick the lower one: that's what the buyer will do.
Cardmarket, TCGplayer, grading: the equivalents
US sites like TCGplayer use fewer conditions, with similar-sounding names that don't mean the same thing: the US "Lightly Played" is closer to Cardmarket's Excellent or Good, not its Light Played, which is more worn.
| Cardmarket (Europe) | TCGplayer (US) ≈ | In plain words |
|---|---|---|
| Mint (MT) | Near Mint | Perfect |
| Near Mint (NM) | Near Mint | Almost perfect |
| Excellent (EX) | Lightly Played | Light wear |
| Good (GD) | Lightly Played / Moderately Played | Visible wear |
| Light Played (LP) | Moderately Played | Well worn |
| Played (PL) | Heavily Played | Very worn |
| Poor (PO) | Damaged | Damaged |
Approximate matches: each site has its own definitions, read them before buying or selling.
Grades (PSA, CGC…) are another scale, from 1 to 10, given by a company after examination. A Near Mint card won't necessarily get a 10: centering and tiny flaws count for a lot.
How to send a card for grading: the complete guide →The companies, their grades, and how to know whether your card is worth grading.Assessing your card's condition
- 1Take it out of its sleeve and lay it on a clean, plain surface under a lamp.
- 2Look at all four corners, front and back: sharp, or whitened and rounded?
- 3Follow the edges: small white chips, especially on the back, cost a condition grade.
- 4Tilt the card: scratches, marks, dents and creases show up in the light.
- 5Look for creases, even small ones: they're among the flaws that lower the condition most.
- 6Torn between two conditions? Pick the lower one.
A card fresh from a booster isn't necessarily Mint: an off-centre cut, a white speck or a print line can be there from the moment you open it.
How much a card loses depending on its condition
To value your cards, gotem. starts from a Near Mint card's market price and applies a coefficient for each copy's condition. For a card worth €100 in Near Mint, that gives:
| Condition | Coefficient ≈ | Estimated value ≈ |
|---|---|---|
| MT · Mint | 100 % | €100 |
| NM · Near Mint | 100 % | €100 |
| EX · Excellent | 90 % | €90 |
| GD · Good | 80 % | €80 |
| LP · Light Played | 70 % | €70 |
| PL · Played | 55 % | €55 |
| PO · Poor | 40 % | €40 |
Rough figures, not a rule: the real market depends on the card. Look at recent sales of your card in its condition.
Keeping your cards in condition
- Sleeve every card that matters as soon as you open the booster.
- Store them in a pocket binder (avoid ring binders, which can mark cards near the rings), and the most valuable in top-loaders.
- Keep them away from sunlight, humidity and heat.
- Don't handle them with dirty or damp hands.
- Use sleeves to play: a card played without protection wears quickly.
Buying or selling: be honest about condition
The stated condition binds the seller: a card listed as Near Mint that arrives much more worn can lead to a claim. Photograph the front and back in good light, show the flaws, and list the lower condition if in doubt. When buying, ask for those photos.
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between Mint and Near Mint?
Mint is perfect, with no flaw at all. Near Mint can have one or two tiny imperfections, visible up close. gotem. gives them the same value by default.
Is Cardmarket's Light Played the same as TCGplayer's Lightly Played?
No. Cardmarket's Light Played is more worn: it roughly matches the US Moderately Played. The US Lightly Played is closer to an Excellent or a Good.
Is a card fresh from a booster Mint?
Not necessarily: an off-centre cut, a white speck or a print line are sometimes there from the start. Check it before listing it as Mint.
How much is a Played card worth?
On gotem., about 55% of its Near Mint market price by default: a rough figure. The real price depends on the card and its recent sales.
How does gotem. work out value by condition?
It starts from the market price (Cardmarket, read every day) and applies a coefficient for each copy's condition: 100% for Mint and Near Mint, down to about 40% for Poor.
What condition is a creased card?
A crease costs a lot: depending on its size, the card generally drops to Light Played, Played or Poor.
What about graded cards?
A graded card has a grade from 1 to 10 given by a company (PSA, CGC…), not a Cardmarket condition. The grading guide explains these grades.
Record each copy's condition, gotem. adjusts the value
In your collection, each copy has its condition, colour-coded from Mint to Poor. Your collection's value follows, at today's market price. Free.
Grade my cards
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