Is Pikachu worth grading?
Pokémon · Base Set 2 · 87/130 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Pikachu sells for $374 against $3.34 raw: a $370 spread, 112× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($48.87) 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)
- $3.34
- PSA 10
- $374
- PSA 9
- $48.87
- Gem premium
- 112×
- 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 | $374 | +$345 | +$320 | +$220 |
| PSA 9 | $48.87 | +$20.53 | −$4.47 | −$104 |
| PSA 8 | $26.60 | −$1.74 | −$26.74 | −$127 |
Net = sale price − $3.34 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% | $130 | +$76.77 |
| 50% | $211 | +$158 |
| 75% | $293 | +$239 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 1%. 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 | $374 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $123 | −$251 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| SGC 10 | $20.00 | −$354 | 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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Other Base Set 2 cards worth checking
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Grading Pikachu — FAQ
Is Pikachu worth grading?
A PSA 10 Pikachu sells for $374 against $3.34 raw: a $370 spread, 112× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($48.87) 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 Pikachu worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Pikachu (Base Set 2 87/130) sells for about $374 versus $3.34 for a raw near-mint copy — a 112× premium as of Sep 27, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Pikachu?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $374, ahead of CGC 10 at $123. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Pikachu 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 Pikachu break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Pikachu breaks even when it gems about 1% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $48.87).
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