Is Zapdos worth grading?
Pokémon · Wizards Black Star Promos · 23 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Zapdos sells for $192 against $21.93 raw: a $170 spread, 8.8× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($54.87) 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)
- $21.93
- PSA 10
- $192
- PSA 9
- $54.87
- Gem premium
- 8.8×
- 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 | $192 | +$145 | +$120 | +$20.23 |
| PSA 9 | $54.87 | +$7.94 | −$17.06 | −$117 |
| PSA 8 | $35.71 | −$11.22 | −$36.22 | −$136 |
Net = sale price − $21.93 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% | $89.19 | +$17.26 |
| 50% | $124 | +$51.59 |
| 75% | $158 | +$85.91 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 12%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAG 10 | $280 | best | 55/45 | 72/28 |
| PSA 10 | $192 | −$87.84 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $62.66 | −$217 | 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 Zapdos — FAQ
Is Zapdos worth grading?
A PSA 10 Zapdos sells for $192 against $21.93 raw: a $170 spread, 8.8× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($54.87) 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 Zapdos worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Zapdos (Wizards Black Star Promos 23) sells for about $192 versus $21.93 for a raw near-mint copy — a 8.8× premium as of Sep 27, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Zapdos?
By resale value, TAG 10 leads at $280, ahead of PSA 10 at $192. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Zapdos 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.
What gem rate makes grading Zapdos break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Zapdos breaks even when it gems about 12% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $54.87).
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