Is Charizard worth grading?
Pokémon · Expedition Base Set · 39/165 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Charizard sells for $1,741 against $170 raw: a $1,571 spread, 10× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($458) 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)
- $170
- PSA 10
- $1,741
- PSA 9
- $458
- Gem premium
- 10×
- As of
- Sep 29, 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 | $1,741 | +$1,546 | +$1,521 | +$1,421 |
| PSA 9 | $458 | +$263 | +$238 | +$138 |
| PSA 8 | $313 | +$118 | +$92.92 | −$7.08 |
Net = sale price − $170 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% | $779 | +$558 |
| 50% | $1,099 | +$879 |
| 75% | $1,420 | +$1,200 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TAG 10 | $7,000 | best | 55/45 | 72/28 |
| PSA 10 | $6,667 | −$333 | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $2,111 | −$4,889 | 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 →
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Expedition Base Set cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Charizard — FAQ
Is Charizard worth grading?
A PSA 10 Charizard sells for $1,741 against $170 raw: a $1,571 spread, 10× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($458) 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 Charizard worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Charizard (Expedition Base Set 39/165) sells for about $1,741 versus $170 for a raw near-mint copy — a 10× premium as of Sep 29, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Charizard?
By resale value, TAG 10 leads at $7,000, ahead of PSA 10 at $6,667. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Charizard need for a TAG 10?
TAG publishes 55/45 front and 72/28 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.
Best on iPhone & Android
Check your Pokémon card in the Midpoint app
Scan with your camera to measure centering to the millimeter, get an AI grade with corner and edge close-ups, see what your copy is worth, and track it in your portfolio. Free to start.
