Is Salamence worth grading?
Pokémon · Dragon Vault · 8/20 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Salamence sells for $2,505 against $6.06 raw: a $2,499 spread, 413× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($146) 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)
- $6.06
- PSA 10
- $2,505
- PSA 9
- $146
- Gem premium
- 413×
- As of
- Sep 28, 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 | $2,505 | +$2,474 | +$2,449 | +$2,349 |
| PSA 9 | $146 | +$115 | +$90.32 | −$9.68 |
| PSA 8 | $31.90 | +$0.84 | −$24.16 | −$124 |
Net = sale price − $6.06 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% | $736 | +$680 |
| 50% | $1,326 | +$1,270 |
| 75% | $1,915 | +$1,859 |
Even a miss (a 9) beats selling raw after the standard fee — the gem rate only decides how much you win by.
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 | $2,505 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $197 | −$2,308 | 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.
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Grading Salamence — FAQ
Is Salamence worth grading?
A PSA 10 Salamence sells for $2,505 against $6.06 raw: a $2,499 spread, 413× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($146) 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 Salamence worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Salamence (Dragon Vault 8/20) sells for about $2,505 versus $6.06 for a raw near-mint copy — a 413× premium as of Sep 28, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Salamence?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $2,505, ahead of CGC 10 at $197. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Salamence 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.
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