How to Grade Vinyl Records: What VG, VG+, NM and Mint Actually Mean

If you have ever looked up a record online, you have probably seen descriptions like VG+, NM or G without much explanation. Those letters are shorthand for condition, and condition is one of the biggest factors in what a record may be worth.

I have seen two copies of the same album sell for very different prices simply because one was clean, complete and well cared for while the other had heavy wear. The artist and pressing matter, but the condition helps determine whether a collector will actually want that particular copy.

At Capsule & Tonic Records, I evaluate both the vinyl and the cover when I look at a collection. Here is what those common record grades mean, what I look for and why honest grading matters.

How Vinyl Record Grading Works

Most record buyers and sellers use a grading system based on the Goldmine standard. The scale gives collectors a shared language for describing condition, but grading is not as simple as spotting one scratch and assigning a letter.

A proper evaluation begins under good lighting. I look at the playing surface from several angles for scuffs, scratches, groove wear, fingerprints and signs of improper storage. I also check whether the record lies flat and whether the center label has writing, stickers or spindle wear. When the visual condition leaves questions, listening to the record can help reveal background noise, skips or distortion that the eye may not catch.

The cover is graded separately. A beautiful record can still be housed in a jacket with split seams, water damage or heavy ring wear. On the other hand, an attractive cover does not make up for badly worn vinyl. Both parts count, so they should never be combined into one overly generous grade.

Mint: Perfect and Usually Unplayed

Mint is the highest grade, and it should be used very sparingly. A Mint record is perfect. It has no visible flaws, no signs of handling and no evidence that it has been played. In many cases, a truly Mint record is still sealed.

Even a sealed record deserves a close look. Shrink wrap can tighten over time and warp the vinyl inside, and a sealed jacket can still have crushed corners or other storage damage. That is why experienced sellers do not call every sealed album Mint without qualification.

In the real world, I rarely use the Mint grade. If a record has been opened and handled, Near Mint is usually the highest honest grade it can receive.

Near Mint or NM: Exceptionally Clean

A Near Mint record has been opened but shows little to no evidence of play. The vinyl should look glossy and clean, with no scratches that affect playback. There may be a tiny handling mark, but nothing that takes away from the listening experience.

A Near Mint cover should also be exceptionally clean. It might show the faintest sign of storage, but it should not have seam splits, writing, obvious ring wear or bent corners.

Near Mint does not mean “pretty good for its age.” It means the record was cared for unusually well. Age alone does not earn a higher grade, and a 50-year-old album with visible wear is not Near Mint just because it survived.

Very Good Plus or VG+: A Strong Collector Copy

VG+ is one of the most common grades for quality used records. A VG+ record has been played and may show light surface scuffs or faint marks, but it should still provide an enjoyable listening experience. Any background noise should be limited, and the record should not skip.

The jacket may have light shelf wear, a small corner crease or a minor seam issue. It should still look presentable and feel solid.

This is also one of the grades sellers are most likely to overuse. A record with repeated loud clicks, deep scratches or heavy groove wear is not VG+. When I call a record VG+, I am describing a clean used copy that a collector can feel good about owning and playing.

Very Good or VG: Noticeable Wear, Still Playable

A Very Good record shows clear signs of use. You may see more scuffs and scratches, and you may hear surface noise, especially during quiet passages or between songs. The key is that the music still comes through and the record can be played without constant skipping.

A VG cover may have ring wear, writing, stickers, seam splits or worn edges. It is not a display-quality jacket, but it is still intact enough to protect the record.

VG can sound like a negative grade, but it is not automatically a bad record. For scarce soul, jazz, blues or rock releases, a playable VG copy may still be desirable. Rarity and demand matter, and sometimes collectors would rather own a worn original than wait years for a cleaner copy to appear.

Good, Good Plus, Fair and Poor

This is where the grading language can confuse people. A record graded Good is not necessarily in good condition by everyday standards. It usually has heavy wear, obvious scratches and significant surface noise. It may play through, but the listening experience will be compromised.

Good Plus may be a little better, but it still has substantial wear. Fair and Poor records can have skips, cracks, warping or other serious problems. Covers in these grades may be badly split, stained, damaged or incomplete.

These lower-grade records are often worth very little unless the pressing is genuinely scarce. Even then, value depends on whether a buyer wants a placeholder copy or believes the record can still be enjoyed.

Scratches, Scuffs and Groove Wear Are Not the Same

Not every visible mark has the same effect.

A light paper scuff may look dramatic under bright light but create little or no sound. A scratch that can be felt with a fingertip is more serious and may cause repeated clicks or skipping. Groove wear can be harder to spot. It often comes from years of play on worn or poorly adjusted equipment and may create distortion even when the vinyl looks relatively clean.

This is why grading takes experience. I am not only counting marks. I am considering what caused them, how deep they are and what they are likely to mean when the needle reaches that part of the record.

Why the Cover, Inserts and Labels Affect Value

Collectors often want the complete package. Original inner sleeves, lyric sheets, posters, booklets, stickers and other inserts can add value, especially when they are commonly missing.

The center labels matter too. Writing, tears, stickers and heavy spindle marks can lower a grade. On certain pressings, the label design or wording may also help identify when and where the record was made.

For the outer jacket, I check for seam splits, water damage, mold, ring wear, writing, cut corners, drill holes and price stickers. Some promotional markings were added by the record company and are part of the release history. Others are later damage. Knowing the difference matters.

How Grading Changes Resale Value

There is no fixed percentage that applies to every record. Moving from VG to VG+ can create a major price difference on one title and a smaller one on another. The change is often most noticeable with records that are already scarce and in demand.

Pressing details matter just as much. A clean later reissue may be worth less than a worn original pressing, while a common original album may still have limited value even in beautiful condition. Grading answers one question: How well has this copy been preserved? It does not answer every question about value.

Why Owners Often Overgrade Their Own Records

Most people are not trying to be dishonest. They remember taking care of their music, or they compare a record with other old items and think it looks excellent for its age. They may also focus on the vinyl and overlook the cover, or assume a record is rare because it is old.

Online listings can add to the confusion. Asking prices are not the same as completed sales, and seller grading is not always consistent. One person’s VG+ can be another person’s VG.

That is why I recommend resisting the urge to clean, grade and price every record before speaking with a buyer. A large collection is better evaluated as a whole. The genres, artists, labels, pressings, condition and depth of the collection all help tell the story.

How Capsule & Tonic Grades a Record Collection

When I evaluate a collection, I start by looking at its overall direction. Is it focused on jazz, blues, soul, R&B, funk, hip-hop, rock, punk or metal? Are there original pressings, small-label releases, promotional copies or records that do not show up often? Then I examine condition and pressing details on the titles that deserve a closer look.

I do not expect every record to be perfect. Real collections were played and enjoyed. Honest grading simply helps separate common listening copies from cleaner collector copies and identify the records that may carry more value.

If you are in the Philadelphia area and have a record collection you are considering selling, Capsule & Tonic Records can help. I buy collections throughout Philadelphia and the surrounding region, with a particular interest in jazz, blues, R&B, soul, funk, hip-hop and rock and roll. Contact me to tell me what you have, and please do not clean the records with household products before I see them.