Is Poliwhirl worth grading?
Pokémon · Base Set 2 · 57/130 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Poliwhirl sells for $52.86 against $1.76 raw: a $51.10 spread, 30× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($32.93) 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)
- $1.76
- PSA 10
- $52.86
- PSA 9
- $32.93
- Gem premium
- 30×
- As of
- Sep 27, 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 | $52.86 | +$26.10 | +$1.10 | −$98.90 |
| PSA 9 | $32.93 | +$6.17 | −$18.83 | −$119 |
| PSA 8 | $21.25 | −$5.51 | −$30.51 | −$131 |
Net = sale price − $1.76 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% | $37.91 | −$13.85 |
| 50% | $42.89 | −$8.87 |
| 75% | $47.88 | −$3.88 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 94%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $52.86 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $15.00 | −$37.86 | 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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Grading Poliwhirl — FAQ
Is Poliwhirl worth grading?
A PSA 10 Poliwhirl sells for $52.86 against $1.76 raw: a $51.10 spread, 30× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($32.93) 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 Poliwhirl worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Poliwhirl (Base Set 2 57/130) sells for about $52.86 versus $1.76 for a raw near-mint copy — a 30× premium as of Sep 27, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Poliwhirl?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $52.86, ahead of CGC 10 at $15.00. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Poliwhirl 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.
What gem rate makes grading Poliwhirl break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Poliwhirl breaks even when it gems about 94% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $32.93).
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