Is Steelix worth grading?
Pokémon · Plasma Freeze · 79/116 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 8 Steelix sells for $39.99 against $3.90 raw: a $36.09 spread, 10× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($30.00) 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)
- $3.90
- PSA 8
- $39.99
- PSA 9
- $30.00
- Gem premium
- 10×
- 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 8 | $39.99 | +$11.09 | −$13.91 | −$114 |
| PSA 9 | $30.00 | +$1.10 | −$23.90 | −$124 |
| PSA 8 | $39.99 | +$11.09 | −$13.91 | −$114 |
Net = sale price − $3.90 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% | $32.50 | −$21.40 |
| 50% | $35.00 | −$18.90 |
| 75% | $37.49 | −$16.41 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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Grading Steelix — FAQ
Is Steelix worth grading?
A PSA 8 Steelix sells for $39.99 against $3.90 raw: a $36.09 spread, 10× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($30.00) 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.
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