Is Metapod worth grading?
Pokémon · Base Set 2 · 81/130 · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 209× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Metapod sells for $197 against $0.94 raw: a $196 spread, 209× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($18.10) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $0.94
- PSA 10
- $197
- PSA 9
- $18.10
- Gem premium
- 209×
- 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 | $197 | +$171 | +$146 | +$45.81 |
| PSA 9 | $18.10 | −$7.84 | −$32.84 | −$133 |
| PSA 8 | $8.00 | −$17.94 | −$42.94 | −$143 |
Net = sale price − $0.94 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% | $62.76 | +$11.82 |
| 50% | $107 | +$56.48 |
| 75% | $152 | +$101 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 18%. 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 | $197 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| TAG 10 | $30.63 | −$166 | 55/45 | 72/28 |
| CGC 10 | $17.42 | −$179 | 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 Metapod — FAQ
Is Metapod worth grading?
A PSA 10 Metapod sells for $197 against $0.94 raw: a $196 spread, 209× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($18.10) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Metapod worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Metapod (Base Set 2 81/130) sells for about $197 versus $0.94 for a raw near-mint copy — a 209× premium as of Sep 27, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Metapod?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $197, ahead of TAG 10 at $30.63. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Metapod 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 Metapod break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Metapod breaks even when it gems about 18% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $18.10).
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