Is Pikachu worth grading?
Pokémon · Wizards Black Star Promos · 1 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Pikachu sells for $1,309 against $40.23 raw: a $1,268 spread, 33× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($285) 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)
- $40.23
- PSA 10
- $1,309
- PSA 9
- $285
- Gem premium
- 33×
- 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 | $1,309 | +$1,243 | +$1,218 | +$1,118 |
| PSA 9 | $285 | +$220 | +$195 | +$94.90 |
| PSA 8 | $102 | +$36.34 | +$11.34 | −$88.66 |
Net = sale price − $40.23 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% | $541 | +$451 |
| 50% | $797 | +$707 |
| 75% | $1,053 | +$963 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $1,309 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| TAG 10 | $986 | −$323 | 55/45 | 72/28 |
| CGC 10 | $270 | −$1,039 | 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 Wizards Black Star Promos cards worth checking
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Grading Pikachu — FAQ
Is Pikachu worth grading?
A PSA 10 Pikachu sells for $1,309 against $40.23 raw: a $1,268 spread, 33× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($285) 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 (Wizards Black Star Promos 1) sells for about $1,309 versus $40.23 for a raw near-mint copy — a 33× premium as of Sep 27, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Pikachu?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $1,309, ahead of TAG 10 at $986. 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.
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