Is Pikachu worth grading?
Pokémon · Skyridge · 84/144 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Pikachu sells for $2,964 against $189 raw: a $2,775 spread, 16× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($536) 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)
- $189
- PSA 10
- $2,964
- PSA 9
- $536
- Gem premium
- 16×
- As of
- Sep 28, 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 | $2,964 | +$2,750 | +$2,725 | +$2,625 |
| PSA 9 | $536 | +$322 | +$297 | +$197 |
| PSA 8 | $184 | −$29.19 | −$54.19 | −$154 |
Net = sale price − $189 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% | $1,143 | +$904 |
| 50% | $1,750 | +$1,511 |
| 75% | $2,357 | +$2,118 |
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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CGC 10 | $3,737 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| PSA 10 | $1,853 | −$1,884 | 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 Pikachu — FAQ
Is Pikachu worth grading?
A PSA 10 Pikachu sells for $2,964 against $189 raw: a $2,775 spread, 16× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($536) 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 Pikachu worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Pikachu (Skyridge 84/144) sells for about $2,964 versus $189 for a raw near-mint copy — a 16× premium as of Sep 28, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Pikachu?
By resale value, CGC 10 leads at $3,737, ahead of PSA 10 at $1,853. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Pikachu 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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