Is Caterpie worth grading?
Pokémon · Base Set 2 · 68/130 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Caterpie sells for $39.50 against $1.16 raw: a $38.34 spread, 34× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($31.24) 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)
- $1.16
- PSA 10
- $39.50
- PSA 9
- $31.24
- Gem premium
- 34×
- 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 | $39.50 | +$13.34 | −$11.66 | −$112 |
| PSA 9 | $31.24 | +$5.08 | −$19.92 | −$120 |
| PSA 8 | $17.10 | −$9.06 | −$34.06 | −$134 |
Net = sale price − $1.16 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% | $33.30 | −$17.85 |
| 50% | $35.37 | −$15.79 |
| 75% | $37.44 | −$13.72 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 | $39.50 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $10.00 | −$29.50 | 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 Caterpie — FAQ
Is Caterpie worth grading?
A PSA 10 Caterpie sells for $39.50 against $1.16 raw: a $38.34 spread, 34× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($31.24) 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 Caterpie worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Caterpie (Base Set 2 68/130) sells for about $39.50 versus $1.16 for a raw near-mint copy — a 34× premium as of Sep 27, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Caterpie?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $39.50, ahead of CGC 10 at $10.00. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Caterpie 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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