Vinyl Grading Guide

A record grade is a shorthand for condition. It tells you how a disc looks and plays before you can hold it, which matters when you are buying second-hand vinyl online. Our grades are based on the Goldmine standard used by many record dealers, applied with a practical eye and a separate grade for the sleeve.

What the grades mean

Grade	Disc	Sleeve
Mint (M)	Sealed or unplayed. We rarely use Mint for an opened record.	As new, with no handling wear.
Near Mint (NM)	Played very little. No visible marks under normal light.	Close to new, with only tiny signs of storage.
Very Good Plus (VG+)	Light marks or scuffs. Plays cleanly with little or no surface noise.	Light wear, creasing or edge wear; no splits.
Very Good (VG)	Noticeable marks and some surface noise. Should play through without skipping.	Creasing, ring wear or minor splits are possible.
Good Plus (G+)	Heavy wear and audible noise, but still playable.	Obvious wear, splits or writing.
Good (G)	Well worn and noisy. Only listed when the record is scarce or collectable.	Heavy wear and possible repairs.

What does VG+ mean?

Very Good Plus is the grade most second-hand record buyers will see. A VG+ record has been played, but it has been looked after. There may be light paper scuffs or a few hairlines that do not affect play. It should not jump, repeat or have deep scratches. The sleeve may show a little corner wear or creasing, but it should still hold the record safely.

VG is a step down: the record is still playable, but you should expect more surface noise and visible wear. If you want the quietest copy, start with Near Mint or VG+ and read the item description carefully.

How we grade records

1. We inspect the disc under a bright light, looking for scratches, scuffs, warping and groove wear.
2. We check the playing surface and note any marks that are likely to be audible.
3. We grade the sleeve separately, because a strong disc can come in a worn cover.
4. We clean the record before it is packed. Any major condition issue is described in the listing.

What we do not sell

We do not list records that skip or are badly warped unless they are explicitly sold as a collectable or display copy. If a record has a condition issue that affects play, we aim to say so plainly rather than hide behind a grade.

Buying second-hand vinyl with confidence

Start with the full racks or browse the records under £5. If you are new to used records, our second-hand vinyl guide explains sleeves, cleaning and what to expect. You can also compare formats in our vinyl record sizes guide.

If a record arrives in a condition that does not match its listing, see our returns policy.

Further reading: Record collecting on Wikipedia. Grading definitions are also published in the Discogs grading guide.