Understanding Vinyl Grading — A Simple Guide

What do M, NM, VG/VG+ actually mean? A straightforward breakdown of how vinyl records are graded and what to expect from each condition.

Understanding Vinyl Grading

When you buy a pre-loved record, the grade tells you exactly what to expect. At Unfamiliar Familiar, we use a grading system rooted in the Discogs and Goldmine standards — the global language of vinyl condition.

Here is what each grade means, and what it sounds like when you drop the needle.

A record that has never been played. Still sealed, or opened but untouched. Perfect in every way.

What to expect: Flawless playback. No marks, no wear, no history. As close to the pressing plant as it gets.

You will rarely see this grade on a pre-loved record. If it has been played even once, it is no longer Mint.

Played carefully, maybe once or twice. No visible marks. Looks and plays like new.

What to expect: No surface noise. The sleeve may show the faintest signs of handling, but the vinyl itself is pristine.