Is Dragonite worth grading?
Pokémon · Expedition Base Set · 9/165 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Dragonite sells for $1,474 against $950 raw: a $524 spread, 1.6× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($5,386) 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)
- $950
- PSA 10
- $1,474
- PSA 9
- $5,386
- Gem premium
- 1.6×
- As of
- Sep 26, 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 | $1,474 | +$499 | +$474 | +$374 |
| PSA 9 | $5,386 | +$4,412 | +$4,387 | +$4,287 |
| PSA 8 | $1,984 | +$1,010 | +$985 | +$885 |
Net = sale price − $950 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% | $4,408 | +$3,409 |
| 50% | $3,430 | +$2,430 |
| 75% | $2,452 | +$1,452 |
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 | $6,239 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| PSA 10 | $1,474 | −$4,765 | 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 $1,474 against $950 raw: a $524 spread, 1.6× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($5,386) 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 9/165) sells for about $1,474 versus $950 for a raw near-mint copy — a 1.6× premium as of Sep 26, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Dragonite?
By resale value, CGC 10 leads at $6,239, ahead of PSA 10 at $1,474. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Dragonite 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.
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