Is Ariel worth grading?
Disney Lorcana · Whispers in the Well · 241/204 · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Ariel brings $3,159 versus $1,345 raw — a $1,814 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($852) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
- Raw (NM)
- $1,345
- PSA 10
- $3,159
- PSA 9
- $852
- Gem premium
- 2.3×
- As of
- Aug 9, 2026
Break-even by outcome and fee
| If it comes back… | Sells for | Economy / bulk (~$25.00) | Standard (~$50.00) | Express (~$150) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gem — PSA 10 | $3,159 | +$1,789 | +$1,764 | +$1,664 |
| PSA 9 | $852 | −$518 | −$543 | −$643 |
| PSA 8 | $450 | −$920 | −$945 | −$1,045 |
Net = sale price − $1,345 raw value − fee. Fee tiers are illustrative; plug your grader's current price into the calculator below.
Expected value — how often does it need to gem?
| Chance it gems | Expected sale | Expected net (standard fee) |
|---|---|---|
| 25% | $1,429 | +$33.86 |
| 50% | $2,006 | +$611 |
| 75% | $2,582 | +$1,188 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 24%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
Which grader pays the most — and what a 10 takes
All centering standards →| Grader | 10 sells for | vs best | Front centering for a 10 | Back |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PSA 10 | $3,159 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $955 | −$2,204 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
Tolerances are each company's published centering standard for its top grade; surface, corners and edges must also be clean. Centering is the one you can measure yourself before you pay.
Full grade ladder
Raw conditions & history →| Grade | PSA | CGC | BGS | TAG | ACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $3,159 | $955 | — | — | $952 |
| 9.5 | — | — | $1,400 | — | — |
| 9 | $852 | — | $2,400 | — | — |
| 8.5 | — | $390 | — | — | — |
| 8 | $450 | $800 | — | — | — |
| 7.5 | — | — | — | $2,500 | — |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Whispers in the Well cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Ariel — FAQ
Is Ariel worth grading?
A PSA 10 Ariel brings $3,159 versus $1,345 raw — a $1,814 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($852) sells for less than raw, so anything short of a 10 loses money.
How much is a PSA 10 Ariel worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Ariel (Whispers in the Well 241/204) sells for about $3,159 versus $1,345 for a raw near-mint copy — a 2.3× premium as of Aug 9, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Ariel?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $3,159, ahead of CGC 10 at $955. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Ariel need for a PSA 10?
PSA publishes 55/45 front and 75/25 back centering as the tolerance for a 10 (Gem Mint). Off-center copies are capped below the top grade regardless of surface — measure yours before paying the fee.
What gem rate makes grading Ariel break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Ariel breaks even when it gems about 24% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $852).
Is your Lorcana card centered well enough to grade?
Centering makes or breaks a PSA 10. Scan any card with Midpoint to measure its exact centering, get a grade estimate, and see what your copy is actually worth.
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