Is Charizard worth grading?
Pokémon · Base Set 2 · 4/130 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Charizard sells for $50,169 against $489 raw: a $49,680 spread, 103× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($2,052) 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)
- $489
- PSA 10
- $50,169
- PSA 9
- $2,052
- Gem premium
- 103×
- 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 | $50,169 | +$49,655 | +$49,630 | +$49,530 |
| PSA 9 | $2,052 | +$1,538 | +$1,513 | +$1,413 |
| PSA 8 | $908 | +$394 | +$369 | +$269 |
Net = sale price − $489 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% | $14,081 | +$13,542 |
| 50% | $26,110 | +$25,571 |
| 75% | $38,139 | +$37,600 |
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 | $50,169 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| TAG 10 | $15,150 | −$35,019 | 55/45 | 72/28 |
| CGC 10 | $3,650 | −$46,519 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| BGS 10 | $437 | −$49,731 | 55/45 | 70/30 |
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
Full set checklist →
Grading Charizard — FAQ
Is Charizard worth grading?
A PSA 10 Charizard sells for $50,169 against $489 raw: a $49,680 spread, 103× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($2,052) 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 Charizard worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Charizard (Base Set 2 4/130) sells for about $50,169 versus $489 for a raw near-mint copy — a 103× premium as of Oct 3, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Charizard?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $50,169, ahead of TAG 10 at $15,150. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Charizard 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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