Is Pupitar worth grading?
Pokémon · Expedition Base Set · 90/165 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Pupitar sells for $200 against $3.55 raw: a $196 spread, 56× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($75.41) 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)
- $3.55
- PSA 10
- $200
- PSA 9
- $75.41
- Gem premium
- 56×
- 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 | $200 | +$171 | +$146 | +$46.45 |
| PSA 9 | $75.41 | +$46.86 | +$21.86 | −$78.14 |
| PSA 8 | $39.99 | +$11.44 | −$13.56 | −$114 |
Net = sale price − $3.55 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% | $107 | +$53.01 |
| 50% | $138 | +$84.15 |
| 75% | $169 | +$115 |
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 | $1,000 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $91.27 | −$909 | 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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Other Expedition Base Set cards worth checking
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Grading Pupitar — FAQ
Is Pupitar worth grading?
A PSA 10 Pupitar sells for $200 against $3.55 raw: a $196 spread, 56× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($75.41) 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 Pupitar worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Pupitar (Expedition Base Set 90/165) sells for about $200 versus $3.55 for a raw near-mint copy — a 56× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Pupitar?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $1,000, ahead of CGC 10 at $91.27. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Pupitar 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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