Measuring the centring of a Pokémon card

Centring refers to the position of the illustration in relation to the edges of the card. Grading companies and many collectors pay attention to it.

What is measured

The borders around the frame are compared:

• on the left and right;
• on the top and bottom.

On a perfectly centred card, the opposite borders have the same width. The difference is given as a percentage. If the left border represents 55% of the width of both borders and the right 45%, the card is centred at 55/45.

Measuring centring

1. Place the card flat under good lighting.
2. Measure each border with a fine ruler, a centring grid, or an application designed for this purpose.
3. Calculate the ratio for the width and then for the height, on the front and back.

Centring and grading

For the highest grades, grading companies accept slight off-centring, a bit more on the back than on the front. PSA, for example, requires for a 10 a centring of 55/45 or better on the front and 75/25 or better on the back. Until 2025, PSA accepted 60/40 on the front: criteria sometimes change, so check them on the company's website before sending.

A very off-centred card rarely receives a high grade, even if its corners, edges, and surface are perfect. The guide on getting your cards graded explains the other criteria.

Centring and price

In equal condition, a well-centred card often sells for more. If your card is well-centred, show it in the photos of the listing.