Is Rainbow Energy worth grading?
Pokémon · Aquapolis · 144/147 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Rainbow Energy sells for $40.56 against $12.64 raw: a $27.92 spread, 3.2× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($59.80) 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)
- $12.64
- PSA 10
- $40.56
- PSA 9
- $59.80
- Gem premium
- 3.2×
- 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 | $40.56 | +$2.92 | −$22.08 | −$122 |
| PSA 9 | $59.80 | +$22.16 | −$2.84 | −$103 |
| PSA 8 | $20.34 | −$17.30 | −$42.30 | −$142 |
Net = sale price − $12.64 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% | $54.99 | −$7.65 |
| 50% | $50.18 | −$12.46 |
| 75% | $45.37 | −$17.27 |
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 | $275 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $39.00 | −$236 | 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 |
|---|---|---|
| 10 | $275 | $39.00 |
| 9 | $59.80 | $13.00 |
| 8.5 | — | $50.00 |
| 8 | $31.00 | $21.50 |
| 7.5 | — | $2.25 |
| 7 | $45.00 | — |
| 6 | $13.00 | — |
| 5 | $16.00 | — |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Aquapolis cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Rainbow Energy — FAQ
Is Rainbow Energy worth grading?
A PSA 10 Rainbow Energy sells for $40.56 against $12.64 raw: a $27.92 spread, 3.2× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($59.80) 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 Rainbow Energy worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Rainbow Energy (Aquapolis 144/147) sells for about $40.56 versus $12.64 for a raw near-mint copy — a 3.2× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Rainbow Energy?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $275, ahead of CGC 10 at $39.00. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Rainbow Energy 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.
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.
Check my card free