Is Blastoise worth grading?
Pokémon · Pokémon TCG Classic - Blastoise · 003/034 · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 4.3× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Blastoise sells for $198 against $46.43 raw: a $151 spread, 4.3× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($51.11) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $46.43
- PSA 10
- $198
- PSA 9
- $51.11
- Gem premium
- 4.3×
- As of
- Oct 6, 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 | $198 | +$126 | +$101 | +$1.42 |
| PSA 9 | $51.11 | −$20.32 | −$45.32 | −$145 |
| PSA 8 | $36.41 | −$35.02 | −$60.02 | −$160 |
Net = sale price − $46.43 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% | $87.79 | −$8.64 |
| 50% | $124 | +$28.05 |
| 75% | $161 | +$64.73 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 31%. 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 | $198 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| TAG 10 | $162 | −$36.34 | 55/45 | 72/28 |
| CGC 10 | $83.25 | −$115 | 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 →Swipe the table for the other grading companies →
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Other Pokémon TCG Classic - Blastoise cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Blastoise — FAQ
Is Blastoise worth grading?
A PSA 10 Blastoise sells for $198 against $46.43 raw: a $151 spread, 4.3× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($51.11) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Blastoise worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Blastoise (Pokémon TCG Classic - Blastoise 003/034) sells for about $198 versus $46.43 for a raw near-mint copy — a 4.3× premium as of Oct 6, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Blastoise?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $198, ahead of TAG 10 at $162. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Blastoise 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 Blastoise break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Blastoise breaks even when it gems about 31% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $51.11).
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