Record grading, explained
The letters next to a used record — NM, VG+, G — are the single most important thing in the listing, and the most abused. Here’s what they mean and where the real value sits.
Most sellers use the Goldmine grading standard, the scale Discogs and eBay collectors default to. It grades two things separately: the record and the sleeve (written as, e.g., “VG+/VG”). A cheap record in a trashed sleeve is a different purchase from a clean one — always read both halves.
| Grade | What it means | Worth buying? |
|---|---|---|
| M — Mint | Perfect, sealed, never played. Strictly, a grade most honest sellers won’t claim on an opened record. | Rare; pay a premium only if sealed matters to you. |
| NM — Near Mint | Looks and plays as new — no marks that affect sound, glossy sleeve. The realistic top grade. | The sweet spot. Buy with confidence. |
| VG+ — Very Good Plus | Light signs of play — faint marks, a little sleeve wear — but plays cleanly with at most occasional surface noise. | Best value on the scale. Where smart buyers live. |
| VG — Very Good | Visible wear, audible surface noise in quiet passages, scuffs. Still plays through. | Fine for a cheap listening copy of a common title. |
| G / G+ — Good | Heavy wear, groove noise throughout, possible skips. A last-resort copy. | Only for the truly rare or the truly cheap. |
| P / F — Poor / Fair | Damaged — cracks, deep scratches, may not play. | Skip, unless you want the sleeve. |
The one rule that saves you money
For most records, VG+ is the value grade. The jump from VG+ to NM often doubles the price for a difference you’ll struggle to hear on a normal system. The jump from VG to VG+ is where audible noise usually disappears. So unless you’re chasing a specific pressing as an object, a clean VG+ is the buy.
Reading between the lines of a listing
- “Plays great despite the grade” — trust the play, not the look, if the seller has feedback to back it up.
- No photo of the actual record — assume the worst, or ask.
- “Vinyl: VG+ / Sleeve: G” — a great record in a rough jacket. Often a bargain if you don’t mind the cover.
- Ungraded “used” — treat as VG at best and price accordingly.