Is Staryu worth grading?
Pokémon · Base Set 2 · 95/130 · full price guide →
Worth grading only if it gems
A PSA 10 Staryu brings $35.97 versus $0.54 raw — a $35.43 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($12.96) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
- Raw (NM)
- $0.54
- PSA 10
- $35.97
- PSA 9
- $12.96
- Gem premium
- 67×
- As of
- Aug 10, 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 | $35.97 | +$10.43 | −$14.57 | −$115 |
| PSA 9 | $12.96 | −$12.58 | −$37.58 | −$138 |
| PSA 8 | $34.13 | +$8.59 | −$16.41 | −$116 |
Net = sale price − $0.54 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% | $18.71 | −$31.83 |
| 50% | $24.46 | −$26.07 |
| 75% | $30.22 | −$20.32 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAG 10 | $79.00 | best | 55/45 | 72/28 |
| PSA 10 | $35.97 | −$43.03 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $14.47 | −$64.53 | 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 | SGC | TAG |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $35.97 | $14.47 | — | $79.00 |
| 9 | $12.96 | $8.44 | — | — |
| 8.5 | $40.00 | $11.50 | $2.25 | — |
| 8 | $34.13 | $10.00 | — | — |
| 7.5 | — | $10.00 | — | — |
| 7 | $31.95 | $5.00 | — | — |
| 6 | $8.00 | — | — | — |
| 2 | $9.00 | — | — | — |
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 Staryu — FAQ
Is Staryu worth grading?
A PSA 10 Staryu brings $35.97 versus $0.54 raw — a $35.43 spread that covers an economy-tier ~$25 grading fee. A PSA 9 ($12.96) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming.
How much is a PSA 10 Staryu worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Staryu (Base Set 2 95/130) sells for about $35.97 versus $0.54 for a raw near-mint copy — a 67× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Staryu?
By resale value, TAG 10 leads at $79.00, ahead of PSA 10 at $35.97. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Staryu need for a TAG 10?
TAG publishes 55/45 front and 72/28 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.
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