Vinyl Record Grading Guide: Every Grade Explained (Mint to Poor)

This guide covers the complete vinyl record grading system used by collectors and sellers across the UK and worldwide — from Mint condition down to Poor.

Whether you're buying or selling on Discogs, pricing up a collection, or just want to know what condition your records are really in, understanding vinyl record grading is essential. This guide explains every grade in the standard system — from Mint down to Poor — so you can buy and sell with confidence.

Well, look no further, for today we will be traversing from pole to pole the spectrum of the Basic Universal Grading System, starting with the Mint condition records and ending with Bad records that deserve to be kept under lock and key.

Mint M Condition

Grading vinyl records that are deemed to be in mint condition will be those considered perfect and unmarred, more or less coming in a condition that is brand new. The disc itself will be untouched by surface marks, groove wear, ring wear, surface noise, or anything that might otherwise affect the overall sound quality.

Likewise, this quality will also be reflected in the record’s sleeve, which will be entirely unaffected by any light marks or anything that would otherwise eschew the appearance of it being brand new. Many mint condition records, in fact, still come in their original plastic wrapping.

It is, however, not too difficult to rewrap a record in cellophane wrap in this way, so any record collector looking to purchase a record in this way ought to be seriously careful where exactly they tread, lest they end up with a record that bastardises the whole vinyl grading system under the guise of a sealed album.

Keeping your records in Mint or Near Mint condition starts with proper storage. Browse our range of vinyl record inner sleeves and outer sleeves to protect your collection.

Near Mint NM Condition

In being so closely associated with a mint condition record, a NM record is going to be one that is only slightly out of the reach of being a mint condition record. Where the former will almost certainly never have been opened or played before, the latter will tend to have been opened and either never played or only played a few times.

A near mint condition record will thus be almost entirely perfect, bearing next to no marks on the record itself or the sleeve within which it is contained, unlike some more used records and vinyl albums.

Record collectors in the UK are likely to come across a near mint value record far more frequently than its other namesake, as sellers are reluctant to call designate something as mint in condition, preferring instead to simply call it ‘brand new’, or something similar.

Very Good Plus VG+ Condition

Decreasing in overall quality ever so slightly as we move on sequentially, we reach the VG+ category of record. A record exhibited and sold at this level of the grading might indeed be marred by light scratches, light ring wear, or more. However, no matter what, the marks, scratches, etc, should not hinder the quality of playback.

And the same goes for the sleeve, too, for this is truly something that is supposed to be enjoyed in its own right. No matter the guide to vinyl record sizes, the album art is still going to be printed on a large enough form for the resident record collector to sit back and admire it with a knowingness.

Therefore, if a record has been kept in a strong light for a considerable amount of time (enough that the sleeve is sun bleached and the like), then its currency is no good here.

Very Good VG Condition

Though there is little, as ever, that separates this category of grading from the previous, that which does is of the utmost significance.

While there is no allowance in the prior category for the various marks and scratches to hinder the sound quality, with VG records there is at least some, meaning that small detriments to the overall quality of audio playback are more or less to be expected.

This allowance does not delve much further than slight clicks and pops, erstwhile signs that a record was much loved, both in the care that was attended it and the eventual hairline marks and scratches that were an inevitable result of its frequent spinning.

There is, however, no place for significant surface noise and the like, nor anything else that is going to put a constant strain on the quality of the audio playback.

Good Plus G+ Condition

A G+ record sits a notch below Very Good, and the difference is plainly audible. Surface noise is now a consistent presence rather than an occasional one — expect regular clicks, pops, and background crackle throughout playback. The groove wear will be visible to the naked eye, and the overall listening experience is noticeably compromised compared to VG.

G+ is generally considered the lowest grade worth purchasing for regular listening. Below this point, records tend to be bought out of necessity — because the title is rare, or because any copy is better than none.

Good G Condition

A G rated record will be one that obviously exhibits the many tell tale signs of a life spent gladly beneath the needle. There will be a significant and frequently noticeable deterioration in the overall listening experience, to the chagrin of some and to the aggravation of others.

Likewise, the sleeve itself will be subject to a whole host of distortions and detriments, including marks, bends, scuffing, folding, spine splits, and even discolouration as a result of overexposure to UV rays, having not properly heeded how to store vinyl records.

At this point in the grading system, we have already reached a touching stone that many buyers simply refuse to touch unless entirely desperate or unless provided with no other choice. Thus, it is recommended only to really sell at this level, and certainly only to do so if desperate oneself, or if the record is a rare one that is likely to fetch a considerable sum.

I have bought plenty of records at this level of the grading system myself in the past, to varying degrees of surprise and disappointment.

I once, for example, bought a French version of Messiaen’s Trois Petites Liturgies de la Presence Divine, a masterwork of question mark classical music suffused with such eerie atmospheres like a turned corner of an abandoned cathedral filled with ghosts of its past grandeur. The version of the album I bought from Discogs was marred enough that it buried these elements that I so loved about the album under a spun web of crackles and clicks.

Fair F Condition

On a record of this variety, there will be a considerable degree of damage, both visually and in terms of audio playback; significant ring wear left right and centre, light scratches deep into the makeup of the record, minor writing on the record’s jacket, major noise issues, etc.

The sleeve itself will tend to be gravely affected by distortions, sun bleached as in previous categories, though this time at a level taken to extremes. It is not altogether uncommon for a record in this category to even be without a sleeve entirely, coming instead in an inner jacket bound within a cellophane wrapping of sorts.

These once were wonderful records pressed brand new, and sadly they have either been much loved over the years to the point where the listening experience they contain has been seriously compromised, or have been mistreated and abused to a similar degree.

The central difference between these two courses is that in the former the record will likely have lived a longer and happier life in the hands of an owner who loved and cared for them. In the latter, not so much.

Poor P Condition

A record of poor condition will be one that is scarcely even able to play properly and consistently owing to the defects present on the surface. You certainly would not be finding a record like this in a retail store, unless it has been recycled into something else of course.

As with a record in fair condition, it is not uncommon for a record in poor condition to be without a record sleeve altogether. Certainly, if it does come with one, it will be in a compromised and ill condition, with seam splits that mean it can barely stay in one piece, along with the various other aspects of distortion that characterised the previous few pegs of the vinyl grading system.

Sometimes, there will even be chunks missing, cut out markings from years gone by, or else the various extra pieces of the package will be marred or missing.

Grading the Record vs. the Sleeve 

When grading a vinyl record for sale, it's standard practice to grade the disc and the sleeve separately. You'll often see listings written as VG+/VG, where the first grade refers to the record itself and the second to the sleeve. This matters because a record can be in excellent playable condition while the sleeve has suffered years of ring wear, seam splits, or sun bleaching — or vice versa. Always check both independently before listing, and be specific in your description if the two grades differ significantly.

Final Tones

So, there you have it! Hopefully this concise exploration of the Basic Universal Grading System has been of some use to you in your own individual circumstances.

Perhaps you are now feeling better able to categorise and sell accordingly your own record collection with this new system. Perhaps you simply understand your own record collection better, safe in the knowledge that you have managed to categorise them accordingly to a more objective and infallible measure of wear and tear.

Long live the Basic Universal Grading System and the foundations which it lays and upon which we reside.

FAQs: Vinyl Record Grading

How are vinyl records graded?

Records are graded using a standard scale that runs from Mint (perfect, essentially unplayed) down through Near Mint, Very Good Plus, Very Good, Good, Fair, and Poor. The two most widely used systems are the Goldmine Grading Standard and the Discogs grading system, which are broadly similar. Each grade reflects the condition of both the record itself and its sleeve, which are often assessed separately.

What is the difference between VG and VG+?

VG+ (Very Good Plus) records have only light surface marks that don't affect playback — they play cleanly with minimal noise. VG (Very Good) records show more visible wear and you can expect some occasional clicks, pops, or light surface noise during playback. VG+ is considered the minimum acceptable grade by most serious collectors; VG is usable but represents a noticeable step down in listening experience.

What does NM mean on a vinyl record?

NM stands for Near Mint. A Near Mint record has been opened but played very little or not at all — it should be essentially free of marks, scratches, or sleeve wear. Most sellers use NM rather than Mint because Mint technically implies a still-sealed, never-opened record, and that's a claim few are willing to stand behind.

What is G+ (Good Plus) on Discogs?

G+ or Good Plus sits between Good and Very Good on the Discogs scale. A G+ record will have significant surface marks and noticeable noise throughout playback, but it plays consistently without skipping. It's generally considered the lowest grade worth buying unless the record is rare or you're after it purely as a display piece.

Do I grade the record and the sleeve separately?

Yes. It's standard practice to grade the disc and the sleeve independently. A listing written as VG+/VG means the record grades as Very Good Plus and the sleeve as Very Good. Always inspect both separately and note significant differences in your listing description.

How do I know if a record is valuable?

The main factors are desirability of the artist and title, rarity of the specific pressing (first pressings and original editions command a premium), condition as assessed by the standard grading scale, and whether the original sleeve and any inserts are present. Discogs is the best starting point for researching what a specific record in a specific condition has sold for.

What is the difference between Discogs and Goldmine grading?

The two systems are very similar and use most of the same grades. The main difference is that Goldmine includes an Excellent (E) grade between Near Mint and Very Good Plus, while Discogs does not. Discogs also uses Good Plus (G+) as a distinct grade. For practical purposes, Discogs grading is the most widely used standard for buying and selling in the UK.

Last updated: May 2026