PSA No Grade: N1 to N9 codes and next steps
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A PSA No Grade result is not a low numerical condition grade. Codes N1 through N9 identify different reasons why a card did not receive a number under the applicable assessment. Some concern suspected alteration or authenticity; others concern size, an abnormal factory cut or an issue PSA does not grade or cannot encapsulate.
The code is the starting point for understanding the result. It does not justify treating every ungraded return as a counterfeit, assuming every fee is refunded or promising that another submission will produce a high grade. This guide explains the categories and a practical way to document the result before deciding what to do next.
Read the specific determination
PSA publishes its No Grade definitions within its grading standards. Use the current definitions and the actual submission result together. A card returned without a numerical grade needs a more precise description than “PSA rejected it.”
For example, N6 and N1 are different determinations. N6 concerns failure to meet the minimum size requirement; N1 concerns evidence of trimming. The fact that both can prevent a numerical grade does not make their explanations interchangeable.
Keep the submission record associated with the physical card. If you submitted several copies of the same printing, photograph and label them carefully so that a result for one copy is not accidentally attributed to another. That record matters whether you retain, sell or discuss the card with support.
The N1–N9 reference table
The following short descriptions paraphrase PSA's categories. They are not a home authentication checklist and do not let a photograph replace PSA's actual determination.
| Code | Category | Core distinction |
|---|---|---|
| N1 | Evidence of trimming | Suspected alteration of an edge |
| N2 | Evidence of restoration | Suspected rebuilding or restoration of stock |
| N3 | Evidence of recoloration | Suspected artificial improvement of colour |
| N4 | Questionable authenticity | Authentication concern; not a condition score |
| N5 | Altered stock | Suspected alteration affecting the material or surface |
| N6 | Minimum size requirement | Significantly undersized under the issue's specifications |
| N7 | Evidence of cleaning | Suspected cleaning or applied treatment |
| N8 | Miscut | Abnormal factory cut for the issue |
| N9 | Don't Grade | Issue not graded or not encapsulable under the assessment |
A crease, worn corner or off-centre print does not automatically imply one of these codes. Ordinary condition grading and the listed No Grade determinations answer different questions.
Alteration categories are not ordinary wear grades
N1, N2, N3, N5 and N7 involve different concerns about alteration, restoration or treatment. Do not collapse them into a fictional “PSA zero” condition score. A card can look attractive and still receive an alteration-related determination.
Equally, cosmetic appearance in a seller's photograph does not disprove the result. Surface gloss, colour and edge appearance can be difficult to assess from a single image. When describing the card to another person, quote the actual code and explain that it was PSA's determination for that submitted copy.
Do not attempt to fix an alteration result through cutting, recolouring, pressing or applying substances. That approach can introduce further alteration and complicate the card's history. If you believe the result is mistaken, use the appropriate support route and evidence rather than modifying the object to make a different submission story.
N4 does not mean every similar card is counterfeit
N4 concerns questionable authenticity of the assessed item. It is not a numerical grade and does not establish a conclusion about all copies of that card, every product from the set or every card sold by the same person.
Preserve the transaction details and submission record if you need to raise a concern about the particular copy. Make factual statements about what was submitted and what result was received. Avoid expanding one determination into unsupported public allegations.
PSA's current definition states that this category does not qualify for encapsulation. Do not promise a buyer that the same result can simply be turned into a normal PSA holder by selecting another label option. Any later assessment or dispute requires the actual service procedure.
N6 and N8 require different explanations
N6 concerns a card significantly below the factory size specifications. That is not automatically the same as PSA identifying trimming under N1. The exact category should remain visible in your record and any subsequent description.
N8 concerns an abnormal factory cut. It does not independently establish collector demand, rarity, error status in another grading company's system or a resale premium. Those are separate questions that need evidence about the issue and the particular copy.
Imagine two returned cards, one marked N6 and one marked N8. A generic listing saying “factory error, PSA confirmed” could conceal the actual difference. A more useful description gives the code, the relevant photographs and the known issue information without adding a value claim that the result does not support.
N9 can be a research or encapsulation issue
N9 means PSA does not grade or cannot encapsulate the issue under that determination. Oversized or obscure items are examples in the published explanation. Do not treat it as evidence that the card's condition must be poor.
PSA describes a possible reconsideration route when additional information from at least two verified or hobby-approved resources supports the issue. It also directs collectors to make a Research Request in advance for a specific item. That is an opportunity to provide evidence, not a guarantee of a changed decision on resubmission.
For an unfamiliar promo, prepare the exact issue identity, official distribution information and clear images before asking. Two copies of the same unsupported marketplace claim are less useful than independent reliable documentation. Keep the question focused on whether the issue is supported and encapsulable, rather than asking PSA to predict what number it will receive.
No Grade and grading fees
The current standards distinguish categories for which the grading fee still applies from specified ungraded returns without that fee. N1, N2, N3, N4, N5 and N7 retain applicable grading fees under the published definitions. N6, N8 and N9 have stated no-grading-fee outcomes, with qualifications for certain encapsulation choices.
For N6 or N8, possible Authentic encapsulation at PSA's discretion and with the relevant requested minimum can instead involve the grading fee. The minimum-grade option itself is available only at selected service levels under the current policy.
Do not convert a waived grading fee into a promise that every cost of a Spanish submission is refunded. Shipping, an intermediary's service and other actual charges are separate items. Inspect the invoice and the terms of the service you used before estimating the total consequence.
Can a No Grade card still be encapsulated?
Some alteration categories can qualify for Authentic Altered encapsulation at the grader's discretion when the appropriate submission preference was selected. Some size or miscut cases can qualify for Authentic encapsulation under the stated conditions. N4 and N9 have different limitations.
That is why “No Grade always means no holder” is too broad. At the same time, possible encapsulation is not a promise that every returned card can receive it. Confirm the exact code, service level and selected options with PSA rather than inferring an automatic entitlement.
The official support FAQ provides further service information. Use the applicable support process when the result, invoice or available documentation is unclear.
A practical next-step record
Create one record containing the card identity, submission number, code, date, relevant photographs and invoice. Then state the question you need answered: understanding the determination, correcting issue information or clarifying a charge.
If selling the card, disclose the actual result and available documentation. Do not remove the context and advertise it as an unexplained fresh raw copy. Clear provenance allows a buyer to assess the item without turning your personal interpretation into a grading guarantee.
Ask one concrete support question
When seeking clarification, attach the exact submission result and ask the question it leaves unanswered. For example, a fee question needs the code and invoice; an issue-identification question needs reliable information about the release. A general request to explain why the card looks attractive does not address either problem.
Keep your photographs and description unchanged between the initial record and the support request. If you discover new information, label it as additional evidence rather than quietly rewriting the history of the item. That makes the question easier to assess and preserves a useful record regardless of whether PSA changes its determination.
Frequently asked questions
Is N6 proof that a card was trimmed?
It is a minimum-size determination under PSA's definitions. N1 is the separate evidence-of-trimming category. Describe the result you actually received rather than replacing it with a stronger or different claim.
Are all No Grade submissions free?
No. PSA distinguishes the categories and possible encapsulation outcomes. Some retain grading fees. A no-grading-fee result also does not automatically refund shipping or an intermediary's separate charges.
Will resubmitting an N9 card guarantee a grade?
No. Reliable additional issue information may support reconsideration, but the published procedure does not guarantee a numerical result. Ask the specific research question and provide the required documentation before planning another submission.