Is Magikarp worth grading?
Pokémon · Base Set 2 · 50/130 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Magikarp sells for $94.86 against $2.47 raw: a $92.39 spread, 38× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($54.53) 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)
- $2.47
- PSA 10
- $94.86
- PSA 9
- $54.53
- Gem premium
- 38×
- As of
- Aug 18, 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 | $94.86 | +$67.39 | +$42.39 | −$57.61 |
| PSA 9 | $54.53 | +$27.06 | +$2.06 | −$97.94 |
| PSA 8 | $20.84 | −$6.63 | −$31.63 | −$132 |
Net = sale price − $2.47 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% | $64.61 | +$12.14 |
| 50% | $74.69 | +$22.22 |
| 75% | $84.78 | +$32.31 |
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 | $94.86 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $33.76 | −$61.10 | 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $94.86 | $33.76 | — |
| 9.5 | — | $27.77 | $50.00 |
| 9 | $54.53 | $12.00 | — |
| 8.5 | — | $8.40 | — |
| 8 | $20.84 | $14.44 | — |
| 7.5 | — | $7.00 | — |
| 7 | $18.00 | $14.99 | — |
| 6.5 | — | $8.00 | — |
| 5 | $14.19 | — | — |
| 4 | $15.50 | — | — |
| 2 | $15.50 | — | — |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Base Set 2 cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Magikarp — FAQ
Is Magikarp worth grading?
A PSA 10 Magikarp sells for $94.86 against $2.47 raw: a $92.39 spread, 38× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($54.53) 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 Magikarp worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Magikarp (Base Set 2 50/130) sells for about $94.86 versus $2.47 for a raw near-mint copy — a 38× premium as of Aug 18, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Magikarp?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $94.86, ahead of CGC 10 at $33.76. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Magikarp 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.
Check my card free