Record grading explained: the Goldmine scale
By GrailBin · Updated October 2026
Record grades tell a buyer how a record and its cover look and play. Most sellers use the Goldmine scale, which runs from Mint (perfect) through Near Mint, VG+ and VG down to Poor, and grades the record and the cover separately.
The grades at a glance
| Grade | Record | Cover |
|---|---|---|
| Mint (M) | Perfect in every way. Rarely used. | Perfect in every way. |
| Near Mint (NM or M-) | Looks like it was just opened: shiny, no visible marks, no spindle marks, no writing or stickers on the label, no surface noise. | No creases, ring wear or seam splits. |
| Very Good Plus (VG+) | Near Mint except for a couple of minor things, like light scuffs or very light scratches that don't affect how it plays. | Minor wear only, such as a small split at the bottom seam. |
| Very Good (VG) | Visible groove wear and some surface noise you can hear, though it doesn't drown out the music. May have a little writing, tape or a sticker. | Obvious ring wear and seam splits, but not overwhelming. |
| Good (G) or Good Plus (G+) | Plays through without skipping, but with a lot of surface noise and groove wear. The label may be worn. | Heavy ring wear, obvious splits, possibly heavy writing. |
| Poor (P) or Fair (F) | Cracked, badly warped, or skips and repeats. | Badly damaged. |
The definitions follow Goldmine's grading guide.
How grade affects value
Near Mint is the benchmark price. Goldmine puts a VG record at no more than about 25% of a Near Mint copy's value, G or G+ at 10–15%, and Poor or Fair at 0–5%. That's why one grade up or down matters so much to buyers, and why an accurate grade matters more than a generous one.
How to grade a record
- Use bright light. Tilt the record under a strong lamp and look for scuffs, scratches, hairlines and warps. Check the label for writing, stickers and spindle marks.
- Play it if you can. Most dealers grade by eye, but looks can mislead. Goldmine notes that records from the 1950s to about 1971 often play better than they look, while records from the 1970s and 1980s often play worse.
- Grade the cover on its own. Check the corners, the seams, ring wear, creases, writing, stickers and cut-outs (a notch, hole or clipped corner).
- Be conservative. If you're between two grades, pick the lower one. A buyer who gets better than expected comes back; one who gets worse asks for a refund.
- Say what the grade doesn't. Note writing, tape, seam splits, a promo stamp, a missing inner sleeve or a missing insert, even when the grade already allows for them.
Sealed records
A sealed record can't be play-graded, because opening it ends its sealed value. Describe the cover and the shrink-wrap instead (tears, a cut corner, a hype sticker), and say whether it's an original seal or a resealed copy if you know.
How grading works on GrailBin
Sellers set a record grade and a cover grade on the Goldmine scale, and the grade is always the seller's. Photos back it up: sealed records need two (front and back of the cover), and opened records need four (both sides of the cover and both sides of the record). If a buyer says a record isn't as described, those photos are the evidence. Every record on GrailBin is covered by the Customer Commitment Guarantee: if it isn't as described, the buyer returns it at the seller's cost for a full refund, as long as they open a claim within the inspection window on their order (3 business days after delivery). Sealed copies aren't covered for anything inside the shrink wrap, like surface noise found on opening. Details: grailbin.com/trust-and-safety. GrailBin hasn't launched yet, and its policies may change before launch.
Quick answers
What does VG+ mean on a record? Very Good Plus: close to Near Mint, with only minor signs of play, like light scuffs that don't affect the sound.
Is VG+ good enough to buy? For most listening copies, yes. A VG+ record should play cleanly, with little or no added noise.
What's the difference between Mint and Near Mint? Mint means perfect and is rarely used. Near Mint means it looks and plays like new.