Is Growlithe worth grading?
Pokémon · Aquapolis · 51/147 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Growlithe sells for $228 against $46.70 raw: a $182 spread, 4.9× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($74.00) 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)
- $46.70
- PSA 10
- $228
- PSA 9
- $74.00
- Gem premium
- 4.9×
- 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 | $228 | +$157 | +$132 | +$31.76 |
| PSA 9 | $74.00 | +$2.30 | −$22.70 | −$123 |
| PSA 8 | $30.01 | −$41.69 | −$66.69 | −$167 |
Net = sale price − $46.70 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% | $113 | +$15.92 |
| 50% | $151 | +$54.53 |
| 75% | $190 | +$93.14 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 15%. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses — measure it before you decide.
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 | $8,750 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $84.35 | −$8,666 | 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 | $8,750 | $84.35 |
| 9 | $343 | — |
| 8 | $30.01 | — |
| 7.5 | — | $17.50 |
| 7 | $250 | $51.00 |
| 6.5 | — | $24.50 |
| 5 | $76.00 | — |
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 Growlithe — FAQ
Is Growlithe worth grading?
A PSA 10 Growlithe sells for $228 against $46.70 raw: a $182 spread, 4.9× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($74.00) 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 Growlithe worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Growlithe (Aquapolis 51/147) sells for about $228 versus $46.70 for a raw near-mint copy — a 4.9× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Growlithe?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $8,750, ahead of CGC 10 at $84.35. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Growlithe 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.
What gem rate makes grading Growlithe break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Growlithe breaks even when it gems about 15% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $74.00).
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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