Guide · Updated June 2026

How to Grade Vinyl Records: The Complete Goldmine Guide

Grading is the shared language collectors use to describe a record's condition. Get it right and swaps go smoothly; get it wrong and you'll disappoint a trading partner. Here's how to grade both the vinyl and the sleeve using the industry-standard Goldmine scale.

Almost every serious record collector and marketplace — including Discogs — grades using the Goldmine Standard. It rates the disc and the cover separately, because a clean record can live in a beaten sleeve and vice versa. You’ll often see a listing written as something like “VG+/VG”, meaning the vinyl is Very Good Plus and the sleeve is Very Good.

Always grade under bright, raking light, and grade visually first — most people describe a record by how it looks, then confirm with a play test for anything graded Very Good Plus or below.

The Goldmine grades, from best to worst

Mint (M)

Absolutely perfect in every way — never played, often still sealed. Because true Mint is so rare, most experienced collectors avoid using it at all and start one step down. Don’t grade a record Mint just because it looks great.

Near Mint (NM or M-)

A nearly perfect record. The vinyl is glossy with no visible marks and plays without noise; the sleeve looks like it was bought yesterday — no ring wear, splits, or writing. This is the realistic top grade for a well-cared-for record and commands the highest swap value.

Very Good Plus (VG+)

Shows light signs of handling. The record may have a few faint surface marks that don’t affect play, and the sleeve might have minor shelf wear, a tiny seam split, or a light ring. A VG+ record still plays beautifully and is the workhorse grade of most healthy collections.

Very Good (VG)

Noticeable wear. Scuffs and groove marks are visible and you’ll hear some surface noise, especially in quiet passages, though the music plays through cleanly. Sleeves may show ring wear, creases, writing, or a split seam. Plenty of collectors happily swap VG copies of hard-to-find titles.

Good (G) and Good Plus (G+)

The record plays all the way through without skipping, but with significant surface noise and visible wear; sleeves are well-worn, possibly taped or split. “Good” is generous language — these are filler copies or placeholders until you find a cleaner one.

Poor (P) and Fair (F)

Cracked, badly warped, or so worn it skips. Sleeves may be falling apart. These have little value beyond wall art or a rare title you simply can’t find any other way.

What to actually look for

• Scratches vs. scuffs: feel a mark with a fingernail. If it catches, it can cause a click or skip; light hairlines that don’t catch are usually cosmetic.
• Warps: sight down the record edge-on. A slight dish often plays fine; an edge warp or “non-fill” ripple can cause problems.
• Spindle marks & labels: heavy spindle scarring and writing on labels lower the grade.
• Sleeve condition: ring wear, seam splits, water damage, writing, and stickers all matter — grade the cover honestly and separately from the disc.

A golden rule for swapping

When in doubt, grade conservatively. It’s far better for a trading partner to be pleasantly surprised than let down. Add clear photos and a one-line note about any flaw, and your swaps will go through faster and your reputation in the community will grow.