Is Zapdos worth grading?
Pokémon · Aquapolis · 44/147 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Zapdos sells for $376 against $59.55 raw: a $317 spread, 6.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($113) 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)
- $59.55
- PSA 10
- $376
- PSA 9
- $113
- Gem premium
- 6.3×
- 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 | $376 | +$292 | +$267 | +$167 |
| PSA 9 | $113 | +$28.67 | +$3.67 | −$96.33 |
| PSA 8 | $46.77 | −$37.78 | −$62.78 | −$163 |
Net = sale price − $59.55 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% | $179 | +$69.45 |
| 50% | $245 | +$135 |
| 75% | $311 | +$201 |
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 | $938 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $395 | −$543 | 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 | BGS | ACE |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $938 | $395 | — | $251 |
| 9.5 | — | $275 | — | — |
| 9 | $502 | $62.39 | $91.00 | — |
| 8.5 | — | $225 | — | — |
| 8 | $103 | — | — | — |
| 7 | $218 | $156 | — | — |
| 6.5 | — | $23.00 | — | — |
| 6 | $198 | $9.00 | — | — |
| 5.5 | — | $46.99 | — | — |
| 5 | $80.92 | — | — | — |
| 4 | $10.00 | $8.00 | — | — |
| 3 | $23.00 | — | — | — |
| 1 | $58.93 | — | — | — |
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 Zapdos — FAQ
Is Zapdos worth grading?
A PSA 10 Zapdos sells for $376 against $59.55 raw: a $317 spread, 6.3× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($113) 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 Zapdos worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Zapdos (Aquapolis 44/147) sells for about $376 versus $59.55 for a raw near-mint copy — a 6.3× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Zapdos?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $938, ahead of CGC 10 at $395. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Zapdos 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.
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