Hot Wheels Edge Wear — Severity Bands
How much edge wear is OK for AFA 90?
AFA 90+ requires edge-wear coverage ≤ 5% of the card perimeter (effectively no visible whitening). AFA 85 allows up to 15%. AFA 80 allows up to 30%. Above 30%, you cap at AFA 75 or lower. Edge wear is graded on the CARD axis alongside corners.
Edge wear is the slow-burning defect. It compounds — every time the card brushes a shelf, slides past another card, or rubs through bubble-wrap, the printed edge loses microns of ink and the bare paper underneath shows through as a white halo.
How to measure edge wear
Lay a ruler along each card edge under a 90° lamp. Note the total length of visible whitening, divide by the perimeter, multiply by 100. That percentage is what AFA uses.
Run BlisterEye on this card.
Two free inspections, ten-second AI pre-grade, predicted AFA / CAS grade range. No credit card required.
Frequently asked questions
Can edge whitening be touched up before grading?+
No. Any visible touchup (marker, paint, sealant) voids the submission as restoration.