Is Poliwhirl worth grading?
Pokémon · Skyridge · 88/144 · full price guide →
Strong grading candidate — 6.3× premium in PSA 10
A PSA 10 Poliwhirl sells for $213 against $33.76 raw: a $179 spread, 6.3× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($56.96) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
- Raw (NM)
- $33.76
- PSA 10
- $213
- PSA 9
- $56.96
- 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 | $213 | +$154 | +$129 | +$28.88 |
| PSA 9 | $56.96 | −$1.80 | −$26.80 | −$127 |
| PSA 8 | $44.95 | −$13.81 | −$38.81 | −$139 |
Net = sale price − $33.76 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% | $95.88 | +$12.12 |
| 50% | $135 | +$51.04 |
| 75% | $174 | +$89.96 |
Break-even gem rate at the standard fee: about 17%. 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 | $1,227 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $380 | −$847 | 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 | ACE |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | $1,227 | $380 | $232 |
| 9.5 | — | $40.00 | — |
| 9 | $171 | $228 | $53.99 |
| 8.5 | — | $11.68 | — |
| 8 | $70.00 | — | — |
| 7.5 | — | $41.00 | — |
| 7 | $20.00 | — | — |
| 4.5 | — | $37.00 | — |
Run your own numbers
Should I pay this?
Enter the seller’s asking price to see your net outcome per grade.
Other Skyridge cards worth checking
Full set checklist →
Grading Poliwhirl — FAQ
Is Poliwhirl worth grading?
A PSA 10 Poliwhirl sells for $213 against $33.76 raw: a $179 spread, 6.3× the ungraded price. A PSA 9 ($56.96) only about breaks even after fees, so the case rests on gemming. Centering is the usual reason a clean copy misses the 10 — measure it before you submit.
How much is a PSA 10 Poliwhirl worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Poliwhirl (Skyridge 88/144) sells for about $213 versus $33.76 for a raw near-mint copy — a 6.3× premium as of Aug 10, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Poliwhirl?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $1,227, ahead of CGC 10 at $380. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Poliwhirl 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 Poliwhirl break even?
At a standard ~$50 fee, submitting Poliwhirl breaks even when it gems about 17% of the time (a miss assumed to sell at the PSA 9 price of $56.96).
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