The standard
The Clothing Condition Grading Scale
The GradeThread Scale is a standardized 1.0–10.0 system for grading the condition of pre-owned clothing. Each garment is scored across five weighted factors — fabric, structure, cosmetics, function, and odor — then mapped to seven named tiers, from New With Tags (10) down to Poor (3–4), so a condition grade means the same thing for every seller, buyer, and marketplace.
The GradeThread Scale, grade by grade
One row per grade band, from a perfect 10 down to Poor. Each label links to its full definition, what graders look for, and real examples. This is the complete, canonical scale — the same seven tiers a buyer reads on any GradeThread certificate.
| Grade | Label | Criteria | Typical flaws | Marketplace equivalent |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | NWT — New With Tags | Brand-new and unworn with original retail tags still attached. | None — indistinguishable from in-store stock. | eBay “New with tags” · Poshmark “NWT” |
| 9 | NWOT — New Without Tags | New and unworn, but the original tags have been removed. | None beyond the missing tags; no wear or laundering. | eBay “New without tags” · Poshmark “NWOT” |
| 8 | Excellent | Gently used with no notable flaws; looks nearly new. | At most the faintest signs of laundering or handling. | Excellent Used Condition (EUC) · eBay “Pre-owned” |
| 7 | Very Good | Light, even wear that doesn’t affect look or function. | Slight fabric softening; very minor pilling at most. | Very Good Used Condition (VGUC) |
| 6 | Good | Visible but minor wear on a garment that’s still very wearable. | Noticeable pilling, light fading, or small surface marks. | Good Used Condition (GUC) |
| 5 | Fair | Noticeable wear or a documented flaw that affects appearance. | A stain, small hole, snag, or clear fading — disclose it. | eBay “Pre-owned” with disclosed flaws |
| 3–4 | Poor | Significant damage or heavy wear; sold transparently as-is. | Holes, tears, large stains, broken hardware, or distressing. | eBay “For parts or not working” · distressed / repair |
Grades fall on a continuous 1.0–10.0 scale in half-point increments, so a garment can land precisely between two named tiers (an 8.5 sits between Excellent and NWOT). For the full rubric behind the number, see the grading standard.
How each grade is built
The overall grade isn't a single impression — it's a weighted blend of five factors, fixed at 100%, so the same evidence always produces the same score. The result is rounded to the nearest half point and mapped to its named tier.
| Factor | Weight |
|---|---|
| Fabric Condition | 30% |
| Structural Integrity | 25% |
| Cosmetic Appearance | 20% |
| Functional Elements | 15% |
| Odor & Cleanliness | 10% |
For a factor-by-factor walkthrough of what each one measures, see the condition grading guide.
Every certificate points here
When a buyer opens a GradeThread certificate and wonders "what does an 8.5 grade mean?", the certificate links straight back to this scale. The scale is the definition; the certificate is the proof that a specific garment meets it. Grade an item and it gets a public, verifiable certificate that carries its grade on this exact standard.
Clothing condition scale FAQ
- What is the clothing condition grading scale?
- The GradeThread Scale is a standardized 1.0–10.0 system for grading the condition of pre-owned clothing. Every garment is scored across five weighted factors — fabric condition, structural integrity, cosmetic appearance, functional elements, and odor & cleanliness — and mapped to one of seven named tiers, from New With Tags (10) down to Poor (3–4). Because the rubric is fixed and published, a grade means the same thing on every item, for every seller and buyer.
- What do the clothing grades from 1 to 10 mean?
- 10 is New With Tags (NWT) and 9 is New Without Tags (NWOT) — both unworn. 8 is Excellent (gently used, no notable flaws), 7 is Very Good (light, even wear), and 6 is Good (visible but minor wear). 5 is Fair (a documented flaw that affects appearance), and 3–4 is Poor (significant damage, sold as-is). Each whole number anchors a named tier, and half-point grades place an item precisely between them.
- How does the GradeThread scale map to eBay and Poshmark conditions?
- The scale is finer-grained than a marketplace dropdown, and it maps cleanly onto their vocabulary: 10/9 are eBay’s “New with tags” / “New without tags”; 8 corresponds to Excellent Used Condition (EUC); 7 to Very Good Used Condition (VGUC); 6 to Good Used Condition (GUC); 5 to a pre-owned listing with disclosed flaws; and 3–4 to “For parts or not working” or a distressed/for-repair listing. The grade gives buyers the resolution a three-option dropdown can’t.
- Is there a printable clothing condition grade chart?
- Yes. GradeThread publishes a free, printable one-page chart of the full 1.0–10.0 condition scale — every grade band with its label, criteria, typical flaws, and marketplace equivalent — that resellers can keep at their sorting station or share. It carries the GradeThread name and is free to download and print.
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