LEGO box shelf wear grading.
AI shelf-wear grading for sealed LEGO boxes.
How the AI sees it.
Shelf wear is the cumulative micro-damage from long-term display: light edge whitening, dust shadows on the top face, surface scuffs from being handled, and faded top edges from indirect light. None of it is dramatic on its own — but it compounds.
The grader perspective.
Shelf wear is the most under-reported defect because collectors get used to it. The model catches it because it scores perimeter whitening as a percentage and dust-shadow contrast as a delta against the rest of the face. Sub-5% perimeter stays NM; 5–15% drops to EX; 15%+ drops to VG.
↦ Scored on the BrickGauge edges axis.
Shelf wear by tier.
Each tier maps to a defect signal and the grade ceiling it forces. Pre-grade your box with BrickGauge to see which tier yours lands in.
| Tier | Signal | Grade cap |
|---|---|---|
| MINT | Sub-2% perimeter, no dust shadow | AFA 90+ |
| NM | 2–5% perimeter, faint top dust outline | AFA 85 |
| EX | 5–15% perimeter, visible dust shadow | AFA 80 |
| VG | ≥15% perimeter, deep dust outline | AFA 75 or below |
Don’t create the damage.
- 01Vertical storage in a closed cabinet beats shelf display 100% of the time for resale boxes.
- 02If displaying, rotate every 6 months so no single face accumulates UV exposure.
- 03Soft cloth wipe on the top face monthly — dust shadows develop from compressed dust, not loose dust.
- 04Avoid handling the perimeter — finger oils accelerate edge whitening.
Browse the rest.
See your shelf wear scored.
Upload six photos and BrickGauge measures the shelf wear on your specific box, scores it on the edges axis, and rolls it into an overall verdict. Two free inspections on signup — credits never expire.