The record trade has used broadly the same ladder for decades, and it is worth learning properly because it is unusually precise.
The ladder
Mint (M) — perfect, effectively unplayed. Used sparingly by honest sellers. Near Mint (NM) — looks and plays as new, with no meaningful flaws. Very Good Plus (VG+) — light signs of handling, plays without distracting noise. Very Good (VG) — visible marks and surface noise you can hear, but it plays through. Good (G) — plays, with significant noise. As in books, good means worn. Poor (P) / Fair — damaged, for completeness or for parts.
Disc and sleeve are graded separately
Written disc first: VG+/VG is a very good plus record in a very good sleeve. One grade on its own is ambiguous and should be questioned.
What goes into each
For the disc: hairlines, scuffs, scratches you can feel with a fingernail, groove wear, and warp. Describe whether a mark is audible — that is what the grade is really about.
For the sleeve: ring wear, seam splits (say which seam and how long), corner wear, writing, stickers, water marks.
Things to state separately from the grade
- Whether you have played it, and what it sounded like
- Whether it has been cleaned, and how
- What is missing — inner sleeve, insert, poster
- Any writing on the label or sleeve
If you are not confident
Say so, give a band, and show the surface tilted into the light. A buyer who can see the record does not need you to be an expert. Why naming the flaw raises the price.
Questions people ask
Can a record be mint if it has been played once?
Most sellers would call that near mint. Mint implies unplayed, so use it rarely.
Does surface noise mean a bad record?
Not necessarily — it means a lower grade. Plenty of people happily buy VG records at VG prices.
How do I grade a sealed record?
As sealed, and nothing more. You cannot grade a surface you have not seen, and saying so is the honest answer.
More: condition words across every category, buying records.