Is Pikachu worth grading?
Pokémon · Wizards Black Star Promos · 4 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Pikachu sells for $2,122 against $41.59 raw: a $2,081 spread, 51× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($125) 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)
- $41.59
- PSA 10
- $2,122
- PSA 9
- $125
- Gem premium
- 51×
- 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 | $2,122 | +$2,056 | +$2,031 | +$1,931 |
| PSA 9 | $125 | +$58.72 | +$33.72 | −$66.28 |
| PSA 8 | $48.80 | −$17.79 | −$42.79 | −$143 |
Net = sale price − $41.59 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% | $625 | +$533 |
| 50% | $1,124 | +$1,032 |
| 75% | $1,623 | +$1,532 |
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 | $2,122 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $269 | −$1,854 | 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 | BGS | SGC | TAG | ACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $2,122 | $269 | — | — | — | $363 |
| 9.5 | — | $115 | $77.00 | — | — | — |
| 9 | $125 | $57.60 | $18.00 | — | $75.00 | — |
| 8.5 | — | $45.54 | $26.78 | $10.00 | — | — |
| 8 | $48.80 | $36.07 | $37.20 | — | — | — |
| 7.5 | — | $17.12 | — | — | — | — |
| 7 | $30.94 | $29.99 | — | — | — | — |
| 6.5 | — | $26.15 | — | — | — | — |
| 6 | $14.58 | $22.46 | — | — | — | — |
| 5 | $12.98 | $20.00 | — | — | — | — |
| 4.5 | — | $13.50 | — | — | — | — |
| 4 | $16.83 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 3 | $20.84 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 2 | $16.00 | — | — | — | — | $29.21 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Wizards Black Star Promos cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Pikachu — FAQ
Is Pikachu worth grading?
A PSA 10 Pikachu sells for $2,122 against $41.59 raw: a $2,081 spread, 51× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($125) 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 4) sells for about $2,122 versus $41.59 for a raw near-mint copy — a 51× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Pikachu?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $2,122, ahead of CGC 10 at $269. 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.
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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