Is Poliwhirl worth grading?
Pokémon · Expedition Base Set · 89/165 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Poliwhirl sells for $74.56 against $24.52 raw: a $50.04 spread, 3.0× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($81.76) 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)
- $24.52
- PSA 10
- $74.56
- PSA 9
- $81.76
- Gem premium
- 3.0×
- 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 | $74.56 | +$25.04 | +$0.04 | −$99.96 |
| PSA 9 | $81.76 | +$32.24 | +$7.24 | −$92.76 |
| PSA 8 | $52.82 | +$3.30 | −$21.70 | −$122 |
Net = sale price − $24.52 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% | $79.96 | +$5.44 |
| 50% | $78.16 | +$3.64 |
| 75% | $76.36 | +$1.84 |
At the standard fee this submission does not break even at any realistic gem rate unless the miss lands above the 9 price.
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CGC 10 | $499 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| PSA 10 | $198 | −$300 | 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 | SGC |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $198 | $499 | — |
| 9.5 | — | $12.02 | — |
| 9 | $40.36 | $39.58 | — |
| 8.5 | — | $20.00 | $17.95 |
| 8 | $39.79 | — | — |
| 7 | $14.00 | — | — |
| 6 | $51.05 | — | — |
| 5 | $9.00 | — | — |
| 4 | $15.00 | — | — |
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 Poliwhirl — FAQ
Is Poliwhirl worth grading?
A PSA 10 Poliwhirl sells for $74.56 against $24.52 raw: a $50.04 spread, 3.0× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($81.76) 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 Poliwhirl worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Poliwhirl (Expedition Base Set 89/165) sells for about $74.56 versus $24.52 for a raw near-mint copy — a 3.0× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Poliwhirl?
By resale value, CGC 10 leads at $499, ahead of PSA 10 at $198. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Poliwhirl need for a CGC 10?
CGC 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.
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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