Pokemon Card Centering: Guide to Grading and Measurement

What Good Centering Looks Like on Pokemon Cards

Good centering means the borders around the card art (front) and the blue border on the back are as even as possible on all sides. On the front, this refers to the yellow border around the artwork. On the back, the blue Poke Ball border should be symmetrical, though it's often off-center on many cards. Perfect centering is rare, especially on older sets.

Why Centering Matters for Grading

Grading companies like PSA, BGS, CGC, SGC, and TAG heavily weigh centering when assigning grades to Pokemon cards. Both the front and back centering are assessed. Even if a card is flawless in other areas, poor centering can significantly lower its overall grade. Each company has its own published standards and tolerances for centering, which can change, so always check their latest guidelines.

How to Measure Pokemon Card Centering

• Use a ruler, calipers, or a digital tool to measure the distance from the card's edge to the start of the inner border on all four sides.
• Calculate the ratio between the left/right and top/bottom borders to check for evenness.
• The Midpoint app (iOS and Android) automates this process: simply snap a photo, and it detects both the inner and outer borders, giving you exact front and back centering percentages. This helps predict how your card may perform on centering before grading submission.

Other Factors That Affect Pokemon Card Grades

While centering is important, grading companies also assess corners, edges, and surface quality. Even with perfect centering, flaws in these areas can lower a card's final grade. Always inspect your card thoroughly and consider all grading subcategories before submitting.