Is Zekrom worth grading?
Pokémon · BW Black Star Promos · BW24 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Zekrom sells for $1,525 against $8.46 raw: a $1,517 spread, 180× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($50.00) 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)
- $8.46
- PSA 10
- $1,525
- PSA 9
- $50.00
- Gem premium
- 180×
- 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 | $1,525 | +$1,492 | +$1,467 | +$1,367 |
| PSA 9 | $50.00 | +$16.54 | −$8.46 | −$108 |
| PSA 8 | $29.99 | −$3.47 | −$28.47 | −$128 |
Net = sale price − $8.46 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% | $419 | +$360 |
| 50% | $788 | +$729 |
| 75% | $1,156 | +$1,098 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 1%. 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 | $1,525 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $70.00 | −$1,455 | 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 | $1,525 | $70.00 |
| 9 | $50.00 | — |
| 8.5 | — | $39.99 |
| 8 | $29.99 | — |
| 7.5 | — | $1.00 |
| 7 | $37.58 | — |
| 6 | $3.25 | — |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other BW Black Star Promos cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Zekrom — FAQ
Is Zekrom worth grading?
A PSA 10 Zekrom sells for $1,525 against $8.46 raw: a $1,517 spread, 180× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($50.00) 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.
How much is a PSA 10 Zekrom worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Zekrom (BW Black Star Promos BW24) sells for about $1,525 versus $8.46 for a raw near-mint copy — a 180× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Zekrom?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $1,525, ahead of CGC 10 at $70.00. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Zekrom 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 Zekrom break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Zekrom breaks even when it gems about 1% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $50.00).
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.
Check my card free