Is Zapdos worth grading?
Pokémon · Base · 16/102 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Zapdos sells for $1,516 against $600 raw: a $916 spread, 2.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($2,654) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $600
- PSA 10
- $1,516
- PSA 9
- $2,654
- Gem premium
- 2.5×
- As of
- Aug 10, 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 | $1,516 | +$891 | +$866 | +$766 |
| PSA 9 | $2,654 | +$2,029 | +$2,004 | +$1,904 |
| PSA 8 | $1,191 | +$566 | +$541 | +$441 |
Net = sale price − $600 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% | $2,369 | +$1,719 |
| 50% | $2,085 | +$1,435 |
| 75% | $1,800 | +$1,150 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CGC 10 | $2,772 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| PSA 10 | $1,852 | −$920 | 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 | SGC | TAG | ACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $1,605 | $374 | — | — | — | — |
| 9.5 | — | $205 | $315 | — | — | — |
| 9 | $661 | $367 | $335 | $59.55 | $151 | — |
| 8.5 | $229 | $192 | $272 | $115 | — | — |
| 8 | $344 | $204 | $112 | $60.61 | $91.55 | — |
| 7.5 | $54.00 | $46.62 | $150 | $58.00 | $5,040 | — |
| 7 | $192 | $54.77 | $93.25 | $41.37 | — | $95.33 |
| 6.5 | — | $104 | $35.05 | — | — | — |
| 6 | $117 | $52.00 | $365 | $24.05 | — | — |
| 5.5 | — | $26.71 | $20.60 | — | $39.99 | — |
| 5 | $102 | $79.19 | $35.83 | $69.00 | $80.00 | — |
| 4.5 | $438 | $71.98 | $30.00 | — | $305 | — |
| 4 | $81.45 | $21.09 | $76.00 | — | — | — |
| 3.5 | — | $250 | — | — | — | — |
| 3 | $41.12 | $50.00 | — | — | — | — |
| 2.5 | — | $18.00 | $253 | $17.00 | — | — |
| 2 | $62.75 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 1.5 | $99.66 | $40.00 | — | — | — | — |
| 1 | $88.99 | $24,000 | — | $36.00 | — | $44.24 |
Run your own numbers
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Other Base cards worth checking
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Grading Zapdos — FAQ
Is Zapdos worth grading?
A PSA 10 Zapdos sells for $1,516 against $600 raw: a $916 spread, 2.5× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($2,654) clears the raw price after an economy-tier ~$25 fee, so a near-miss still comes out ahead. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Zapdos worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Zapdos (Base 16/102) sells for about $1,516 versus $600 for a raw near-mint copy — a 2.5× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Zapdos?
By resale value, CGC 10 leads at $2,772, ahead of PSA 10 at $1,852. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Zapdos need for a CGC 10?
CGC 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.
Is your Pokémon 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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