Is Dragonite worth grading?
Pokémon · Expedition Base Set · 43/165 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Dragonite sells for $851 against $92.28 raw: a $759 spread, 9.2× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($247) 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)
- $92.28
- PSA 10
- $851
- PSA 9
- $247
- Gem premium
- 9.2×
- As of
- Sep 15, 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 | $851 | +$734 | +$709 | +$609 |
| PSA 9 | $247 | +$130 | +$105 | +$5.12 |
| PSA 8 | $108 | −$9.61 | −$34.61 | −$135 |
Net = sale price − $92.28 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% | $398 | +$256 |
| 50% | $549 | +$407 |
| 75% | $700 | +$558 |
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 | $851 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $234 | −$617 | 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 Dragonite — FAQ
Is Dragonite worth grading?
A PSA 10 Dragonite sells for $851 against $92.28 raw: a $759 spread, 9.2× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($247) 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 Dragonite worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Dragonite (Expedition Base Set 43/165) sells for about $851 versus $92.28 for a raw near-mint copy — a 9.2× premium as of Sep 15, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Dragonite?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $851, ahead of CGC 10 at $234. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Dragonite 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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