Gem Rate
Gem rate (noun): the percentage of a card's graded population that earned the top grade — for example, the share of PSA submissions that came back a Gem Mint 10. A low gem rate marks a condition-sensitive card.
Gem Rates in More Detail
Gem rate is calculated from the pop report: 10s divided by total graded. A modern card that gems at 70% is easy to grade; a vintage or notoriously miscut card that gems at 5% commands a huge premium in a 10 because so few exist. Smart submitters check gem rates before paying grading fees.
The term is also the name of GemRate, the analytics site that tracks grading populations across PSA, BGS, CGC, and SGC — the usual place collectors look these numbers up.
FAQ
What is a good gem rate?
There's no fixed bar — modern cards often gem above 50%, while condition-sensitive vintage can sit in single digits. Lower gem rates mean bigger premiums for the 10.
Where do I find a card's gem rate?
Divide 10s by total population in the grader's pop report, or use a tracker like GemRate that compiles the math across grading companies.
Related Resources
- Glossary: Pop Report · Gem Mint · Graded Card
- Shop: Card Protection Supplies