Is Zapdos worth grading?
Pokémon · Legendary Treasures · 46/113 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Zapdos sells for $957 against $6.01 raw: a $951 spread, 159× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($31.75) 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)
- $6.01
- PSA 10
- $957
- PSA 9
- $31.75
- Gem premium
- 159×
- 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 | $957 | +$926 | +$901 | +$801 |
| PSA 9 | $31.75 | +$0.74 | −$24.26 | −$124 |
| PSA 8 | $10.99 | −$20.02 | −$45.02 | −$145 |
Net = sale price − $6.01 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% | $263 | +$207 |
| 50% | $494 | +$438 |
| 75% | $726 | +$670 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 3%. 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 | $957 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $500 | −$457 | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | $800 | $500 |
| 9.5 | — | $16.00 |
| 9 | $30.37 | $35.86 |
| 8.5 | — | $45.99 |
| 8 | $14.97 | — |
| 7 | $8.00 | — |
| 6.5 | — | $3.00 |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Legendary Treasures cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Zapdos — FAQ
Is Zapdos worth grading?
A PSA 10 Zapdos sells for $957 against $6.01 raw: a $951 spread, 159× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($31.75) 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 (Legendary Treasures 46/113) sells for about $957 versus $6.01 for a raw near-mint copy — a 159× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Zapdos?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $957, ahead of CGC 10 at $500. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Zapdos 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 Zapdos break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Zapdos breaks even when it gems about 3% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $31.75).
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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