Is Ho-Oh worth grading?
Pokémon · Celebrations · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Ho-Oh sells for $162 against $0.32 raw: a $162 spread, 506× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($48.46) 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)
- $0.32
- PSA 10
- $162
- PSA 9
- $48.46
- Gem premium
- 506×
- 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 | $162 | +$137 | +$112 | +$11.73 |
| PSA 9 | $48.46 | +$23.14 | −$1.86 | −$102 |
| PSA 8 | $17.29 | −$8.03 | −$33.03 | −$133 |
Net = sale price − $0.32 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% | $76.86 | +$26.54 |
| 50% | $105 | +$54.94 |
| 75% | $134 | +$83.33 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 2%. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BGS 10 | $285 | best | 55/45 | 70/30 |
| CGC 10 | $229 | −$56.43 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| PSA 10 | $162 | −$123 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| TAG 10 | $148 | −$138 | 55/45 | 72/28 |
| SGC 10 | $16.00 | −$269 | 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 | $162 | $229 | $285 | $16.00 | $148 | — |
| 9.5 | — | $81.22 | $11.26 | $8.00 | — | — |
| 9 | $48.46 | $7.97 | $14.42 | $5.98 | $5.50 | $41.65 |
| 8.5 | $9.96 | $4.54 | $2.00 | $9.00 | — | — |
| 8 | $17.29 | $1.01 | — | $7.00 | — | $17.95 |
| 7.5 | — | $6.50 | $8.00 | — | — | — |
| 7 | $8.97 | $5.47 | — | — | — | $16.21 |
| 6 | $11.00 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 5 | $17.60 | — | — | — | — | — |
| 4 | $27.50 | — | — | — | — | — |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Celebrations cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Ho-Oh — FAQ
Is Ho-Oh worth grading?
A PSA 10 Ho-Oh sells for $162 against $0.32 raw: a $162 spread, 506× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($48.46) 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 Ho-Oh worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Ho-Oh (Celebrations) sells for about $162 versus $0.32 for a raw near-mint copy — a 506× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Ho-Oh?
By resale value, BGS 10 leads at $285, ahead of CGC 10 at $229. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Ho-Oh need for a BGS 10?
BGS publishes 55/45 front and 70/30 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 Ho-Oh break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Ho-Oh breaks even when it gems about 2% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $48.46).
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