Is Energy Retrieval worth grading?
Pokémon · Base · 81/102 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Energy Retrieval sells for $324 against $38.46 raw: a $285 spread, 8.4× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($107) 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)
- $38.46
- PSA 10
- $324
- PSA 9
- $107
- Gem premium
- 8.4×
- 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 | $324 | +$260 | +$235 | +$135 |
| PSA 9 | $107 | +$43.73 | +$18.73 | −$81.27 |
| PSA 8 | $42.07 | −$21.39 | −$46.39 | −$146 |
Net = sale price − $38.46 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% | $161 | +$72.81 |
| 50% | $215 | +$127 |
| 75% | $269 | +$181 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $324 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $199 | −$124 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| TAG 10 | $27.50 | −$296 | 55/45 | 72/28 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $82.18 | $50.07 | — | $20.93 |
| 9.5 | — | $18.91 | $350 | — |
| 9 | $63.68 | $5.00 | $38.00 | $8.39 |
| 8.5 | — | $7.98 | — | $4.00 |
| 8 | $12.58 | $15.93 | $8.00 | $7.00 |
| 7.5 | — | $5.31 | — | $6.00 |
| 7 | $28.32 | $12.50 | — | $5.99 |
| 6.5 | — | $6.97 | — | — |
| 6 | $18.00 | $2.00 | — | $4.00 |
| 5.5 | — | $9.01 | — | — |
| 5 | $18.65 | $5.98 | — | — |
| 4.5 | — | $4.35 | — | — |
| 4 | $11.50 | — | — | — |
| 3.5 | — | $5.00 | — | — |
| 3 | $9.00 | — | — | — |
| 2 | $8.00 | — | — | — |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Base cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Energy Retrieval — FAQ
Is Energy Retrieval worth grading?
A PSA 10 Energy Retrieval sells for $324 against $38.46 raw: a $285 spread, 8.4× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($107) 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 Energy Retrieval worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Energy Retrieval (Base 81/102) sells for about $324 versus $38.46 for a raw near-mint copy — a 8.4× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Energy Retrieval?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $324, ahead of CGC 10 at $199. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Energy Retrieval 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.
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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