Is Blastoise worth grading?
Pokémon · Pokémon TCG Classic - Blastoise · 003/034 · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 6.2× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Blastoise sells for $292 against $47.08 raw: a $245 spread, 6.2× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($51.70) 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)
- $47.08
- PSA 10
- $292
- PSA 9
- $51.70
- Gem premium
- 6.2×
- 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 | $292 | +$220 | +$195 | +$95.30 |
| PSA 9 | $51.70 | −$20.38 | −$45.38 | −$145 |
| PSA 8 | $38.03 | −$34.05 | −$59.05 | −$159 |
Net = sale price − $47.08 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% | $112 | +$14.79 |
| 50% | $172 | +$74.96 |
| 75% | $232 | +$135 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 19%. 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 | $292 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| TAG 10 | $189 | −$103 | 55/45 | 72/28 |
| CGC 10 | $71.56 | −$221 | 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 | TAG | ACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $292 | $71.56 | $189 | — |
| 9.5 | — | $31.16 | — | — |
| 9 | $51.70 | $35.13 | $57.67 | $46.07 |
| 8.5 | — | — | $57.00 | — |
| 8 | $38.03 | $50.99 | — | — |
| 6 | $35.00 | — | — | — |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Pokémon TCG Classic - Blastoise cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Blastoise — FAQ
Is Blastoise worth grading?
A PSA 10 Blastoise sells for $292 against $47.08 raw: a $245 spread, 6.2× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($51.70) 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 $292 versus $47.08 for a raw near-mint copy — a 6.2× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Blastoise?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $292, ahead of TAG 10 at $189. 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 19% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $51.70).
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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