What Are Refurbished Grades A, B, and C?

We checked each seller's condition names, return period and warranty on its own website on October 21, 2026.

Whether you're shopping for a refurbished iPhone, a refurbished MacBook, or any other tech item, you want to be confident that the device you're buying doesn't look beat up and won't fall to pieces the minute you open the box.

Keep in mind that a good refurbished product has:

• been treated right by its previous owner,
• been appropriately repaired by the retailer or manufacturer, and
• gone through a rigorous testing process before going on the market.

The letter scale below is a trade convention. Further down, you'll find the names each seller uses and what they mean on that seller's site.

The refurbished grades at a glance

What is a refurbished grade?

👉 A refurbished grade is a quality classification of a refurbished product regarding its cosmetic condition. It can also be called cosmetic grade or refurb grade. If you are new to buying refurbished, start with what refurbished actually means before drilling into the grades.

The refurbished grade of a product mainly depends on three factors:

• How many cosmetic imperfections do they have (e.g., scratches, scuffs, and other marks)?
• How much has its previous owner used the product?
• What packaging does it come in?

👉 Refurbished grades are designed to give you a better idea of what to expect from a refurbished product.

It's unlikely that refurbished retailers will count exactly how many noticeable scratches you can see on the lid of a refurbished MacBook. Still, the grade gives you as much information as possible to be confident in your purchase.

The standard system of refurbished grades runs on a scale from grade A to grade C. Grade A offers the best quality, and grade C provides the lowest quality refurbished device. Some sellers add a tier above A, such as Back Market's Premium or Amazon's Renewed Premium, and Mac of All Trades adds a Vintage label for Macs that no longer run the latest macOS.

Here are the definitions of refurbished grades A, B, and C.

What does refurbished grade A mean?

👉 Grade A refurbished devices are in near-mint condition and are the best quality you could expect from a refurbished product.

Their cosmetic aspect is excellent, and they show next to no signs of previous use.

With a refurbished grade A cell phone, you will see minimal amounts of scuffing on the case. A refurbished grade A laptop will look like new, with minimal scuffing and marks on the lid, keyboard, and other areas.

Grade A devices will likely show typical signs of light usage (e.g., slight marks on the keys), but you shouldn't expect to see any scratches, noteworthy cosmetic damage, or moderate blemishes.

At US sellers, grade A roughly matches the condition called Excellent at Back Market, Amazon Renewed, eBay Refurbished, Gazelle and Mac of All Trades, and the Premium or Certified tiers sit above it.

The Apple Certified Refurbished program sells refurbished iPhones, MacBooks, and iPads in a single condition, with no grades to choose from.

What does refurbished grade B mean?

👉 Refurbished grade B is the second-best cosmetic quality you can get from a refurbished device and features some light scratches or scuffs.

These minor imperfections refer only to a cosmetic condition, and it's usually the only difference with grade A devices. Grade B laptops and phones are tested thoroughly and are perfectly functional.

Because of these minor signs of use, grade B products are more affordable than refurbished grade A devices. If you have a limited budget, this might help.

At US sellers, grade B roughly matches Good at Back Market, Amazon Renewed and Gazelle, and Very Good at eBay Refurbished and Mac of All Trades.

What does refurbished grade C mean?

👉 Refurbished grade C is the lowest cosmetic quality of a refurbished phone or laptop that is still in working order.

Although refurbished grade C devices have been tested, cleaned, and confirmed to work, they show signs of considerable usage by their previous owner.

You will see noticeable cosmetic issues in a refurbished grade C device, including more significant scratches and signs of wear and tear on the case or lid.

Grade C devices are cheaper than grade A and grade B items, making them ideal for those who need a new phone or laptop but have less money to spare.

At US sellers, grade C roughly matches Fair at Back Market and Gazelle, Acceptable at Amazon Renewed, and Good at eBay Refurbished and Mac of All Trades. The same word can sit at different steps: Good is the second step at Back Market and the last at eBay Refurbished.

How do merchants grade their refurbished devices?

None of the US sellers below prints the letters A, B or C on its listings. Each has its own names, listed here best condition first:

RefurbMe

Because our refurbished retail partners use so many different terms, on RefurbMe, we list three cosmetic conditions: Excellent, Good, and Fair.

• Excellent (grade A) devices are like new ones.
• Good (grade B) devices are in working condition but have light cosmetic issues.
• Fair (grade C) devices have light but visible scratches on the body.

All of the devices that we list work perfectly. Our "excellent," "good," and "fair" ratings are there to make buying refurbished products more accessible and intuitive than the grading system.

Back Market

Back Market sells smartphones, tablets, laptops, desktops and smartwatches in four grades, and other devices in two (Excellent and Good). Its help center says "we guarantee that every device is 100% functional, regardless of its appearance grade."

• Premium: "Their screens and bodies have almost no signs of use; they contain only genuine manufacturer parts and batteries; and their batteries have a minimum capacity of 90%."
• Excellent: The body may have very light micro-scratches that are invisible from 8 inches away, and the screen has no scratches.
• Good: The body may have light micro-scratches that are invisible from 20 inches away, and the screen has no scratches.
• Fair: The body may have a few visible scratches and dents, the screen may have light scratches that are slightly visible when the device is on, and there might be some engraving.

👉 Learn more: Is Back Market Legit? A Complete Review and Guide

Gazelle

Gazelle lists three conditions and says it uses "the terms Excellent, Good, and Fair to describe only the cosmetic condition of the devices we sell."

• Excellent: "The best condition Gazelle has to offer. The screen and body of these devices are in excellent condition."
• Good: The screen is in very good condition, with light scuffs or nicks that don't affect how the phone works.
• Fair: The screen is in good condition, with some wear and tear that doesn't affect how the phone works.

Amazon Renewed

Amazon Renewed items are inspected and tested by suppliers that Amazon qualifies, and a supplier can be a third-party seller. Amazon's help page says the products are "in one of four conditions: Premium, Excellent, Good, or Acceptable," as we've explained in our complete Amazon Renewed review:

The return period is part of the Amazon Renewed Guarantee, not a warranty. Amazon says "Most Amazon Renewed items include a 90-day return period. Renewed Premium and Renewed Automotive items come with a 365-day return period." Select items get a different deal: Amazon's 30-day return period followed by a free 11-month limited warranty serviced by Asurion. The product page says which applies.

eBay Refurbished

eBay Refurbished is eBay's vetted refurbished program, separate from ordinary used listings on the eBay marketplace. eBay says its products "are graded under Certified, Excellent, Very Good or Good condition tiers."

• Certified: "Pristine, like-new condition direct from the brand or authorized seller."
• Excellent: "Like-new condition with no visible wear from quality-vetted sellers."
• Very Good: "Minimal visible wear from quality-vetted sellers."
• Good: "Moderate wear from quality-vetted sellers."

Certified items carry a two-year warranty and the other three tiers a one-year warranty, both serviced by Allstate, and you have 30 days to return an item for free.

Mac of All Trades

Mac of All Trades lists five conditions for its refurbished Macs. It says "Our condition grades focus solely on cosmetic appearance; regardless of grade, expect a fully functional device."

• Excellent: "Minimal wear based on the age of the product."
• Very Good: Minor wear for the product's age, possibly with minor blemishes or dents on the casing; the screen is clear when powered on.
• Good: Moderate wear and clear signs of usage, possibly with display imperfections that don't affect use.
• Fair: "Heavy signs of usage. Machine may have technical limitations."
• Vintage: "Product is fully functional, but no longer runs the latest OS and may not be compatible with newer features and software."

Do refurbished products come with a warranty?

Usually, but the cover depends on the seller, not the grade. The same seller gives a Fair unit the same terms as an Excellent one, except where a top tier such as Amazon's Renewed Premium or eBay's Certified gets longer cover.

• Back Market: "items sold on Back Market are covered by a 1-year warranty provided by the seller," plus 30 days to return the item.
• eBay Refurbished: two years on Certified, one year on Excellent, Very Good and Good.
• Apple: Apple includes "our standard one-year limited warranty with every Apple Certified Refurbished product."
• Amazon Renewed: a 365-day return period on Renewed Premium and 90 days on most other items; select items get a 30-day return period followed by an 11-month Asurion warranty.
• Mac of All Trades: "Warranty service due to a hardware failure must be requested within thirty (30) days of the original order." Longer plans of one, two, three or five years can be added at purchase.
• Gazelle: 30-day returns, with a one-year WarrantyLife protection plan sold at checkout.

You can compare every seller side by side on our warranty comparison.

Warranties and refurbished grades help you feel confident that you're getting a quality product along with a good discount. Check both before you buy, because a cheap Fair unit with one year of cover can be a better deal than an Excellent one with 30 days.

Are the batteries of refurbished products in good condition?

Usually, and each seller sets its own floor. The cosmetic grade rarely changes the battery rule, except in the top tiers.

• Back Market: "All batteries (in smartphones, tablets, laptops, etc.) come with a guaranteed minimum of 80% of their original capacity," and Premium devices have at least 90%.
• Amazon Renewed: "batteries tested to meet at least 80% (or at least 90% for Renewed Premium products) capacity relative to new at the time of the sale."
• Apple: "Refurbished iOS devices will come with new battery and outer shell."

Our battery condition comparison lists the rule of every refurbisher we compare.

Takeaway

To sum up:

• Refurbished grade A: The best quality of a refurbished device. Near-mint condition, excellent cosmetic level, and little to no signs of previous use.
• Refurbished grade B: The second-best quality of a refurbished device. There is light scuffing on the bezel and minor scratches on the case. It can be on the body as a result of gentle use.
• Refurbished grade C: The lowest cosmetic quality of a refurbished device. It is in perfect working order but will show more scratches and signs of wear and tear due to intense or long-term use.

Before you buy, read the seller's own definition of the condition you pick. Good means light wear at Back Market and moderate wear at eBay Refurbished.

Frequently Asked Questions

Bonus: Where can you find the best discounts when buying refurbished devices?

Buying refurbished devices is easier than before if you have a comparison platform that does all the work for you, and a quick read of our refurbished buyer's guide before you start helps you shop with confidence. There are many reliable sellers out there, and comparing not only the refurbished grades but also any other specification can take you a while.

On RefurbMe, we specialize in comparing hundreds of refurbished Apple products from multiple certified refurbishers, with a wide variety of devices to choose from at competitive prices.

Our platform is completely free to use, and you can also set price drop alerts to get your device at the lowest price possible.

Have a look at our most popular refurbished products in real time below, and don't hesitate to browse our site to find more special deals.

Happy shopping! 🛍️