Is Zapdos worth grading?
Pokémon · Base Set 2 · 20/130 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Zapdos sells for $4,000 against $40.81 raw: a $3,959 spread, 98× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($139) 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)
- $40.81
- PSA 10
- $4,000
- PSA 9
- $139
- Gem premium
- 98×
- As of
- Oct 3, 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 | $4,000 | +$3,934 | +$3,909 | +$3,809 |
| PSA 9 | $139 | +$73.55 | +$48.55 | −$51.45 |
| PSA 8 | $96.22 | +$30.41 | +$5.41 | −$94.59 |
Net = sale price − $40.81 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% | $1,105 | +$1,014 |
| 50% | $2,070 | +$1,979 |
| 75% | $3,035 | +$2,944 |
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 | $4,000 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $349 | −$3,651 | 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.
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Other Base Set 2 cards worth checking
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Grading Zapdos — FAQ
Is Zapdos worth grading?
A PSA 10 Zapdos sells for $4,000 against $40.81 raw: a $3,959 spread, 98× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($139) 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 Set 2 20/130) sells for about $4,000 versus $40.81 for a raw near-mint copy — a 98× premium as of Oct 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Zapdos?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $4,000, ahead of CGC 10 at $349. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Zapdos 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.
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