Record Grading 101: How to Grade Vinyl Records + 4 Pro Tips

Why is Goldmine grading the standard?

The Goldmine Grading System was originally proposed in the early days of collecting. In 1974 the Goldmine Magazine first published its grading scale.

The goldmine magazine was the largest in the industry, so it naturally became the norm. However, it is still open to interpretation and is not used 100% accurately.

Note: Two observers might not issue the same grade. For example, one person may think a record is Near Mint, but somebody else might say it’s Very Good +. Sellers can be more likely to grade a record better than it is to be able to fetch a higher price, for example.

Keep reading this guide to learn how to identify grades accurately.

How does grading affect value?

The quality of a record largely dictates its value. The more a disc is worn out, the less it’s worth. If an album is in terrible condition, it won’t be able to sell at anywhere near full price.

At the same time, many collectors are willing to pay higher prices for well-preserved copies. The relative rarity also changes the price.

When looking at different grades of the same vinyl release, it’s easy to see trends in price. Every record collector should understand grading if they are buying or selling used records to make sure they pay or get a fair price.

Mint records can retain or even increase in value over time, and so do Near Mint and VG+. This is one reason why you should always take proper care of your discs! More info on that here: How to properly handle records.

Alternatively released versions also fetch higher prices. Rare records and oddities like a promo LP or white label may sell for a higher price than a common record. Although sometimes the regular stock LP is worth more, it really depends on the release.

Record Grading Chart (How to grade your records)

This chart provides an overview of each grade.

It’s a fixed rather than sliding scale, meaning old records don’t get a free pass! Roughly only 4% of records made before the 1960s have survived in near-mint condition.

Most older records naturally fall into the lower categories because they’ve lived longer lives. This is why mint condition old records can sell for a high price; they are rare!

What vinyl record grading is used on Discogs?

Discogs is an online platform used to broker private sales for record collectors. Because most records sold are second-hand or pre-played, grading is important to give the customer a fair description of its quality.

Discogs uses the Goldmine Standard for grading records. Anything sold on the site is supposed to conform to the rating system.

Common issues with Discogs sellers

Whilst most merchants on Discogs are trustworthy, several issues may arise.

Sometimes sellers will “over-grade” their records, giving them a rating that is higher than deserved. Often sellers will list records as Mint when they have actually been played several times. Or they sell a VG record that has more than light scratches.

Unlike buying in a record store, you may not always get an accurate representation of what you’re buying because you can’t inspect a record with your own eyes.

Most sellers are generally happy to share pictures of records they sell. Something might be fishy if they are reluctant to share images or further proof. Although cameras can hide certain issues.

I have a few more tips on vinyl record grading at the end of this guide.

What record grading is used on eBay?

Unlike Discogs, there is no standardized record grading system on eBay. Merchants are left to their own devices for grading, which can lead to a lot of inaccuracies.

You will still see the same terms being used (mint, VG+, etc.), although they may not strictly conform to the classifications.

Less experienced sellers may often get it wrong and either over or under-grade their records. It’s unlikely that a record sold as “absolutely perfect” will come heavily damaged, but the lines are often blurred between “very good” and “poor.”

On the flip side, inexperienced sellers may just sell a bunch of records without knowing they’re in great condition and sell them for less than what they’re worth. I got lucky this way once or twice.

Tips on how to verify record grading

If you are ever in doubt of a merchant, you should always perform your due diligence to verify they have accurately graded the record you want to buy.

These tips can help you to check the quality of a record before placing an order. If you are ever buying an expensive or rare record, then it’s always worth double-checking. And if it seems too good to be true, it probably is.