Is Salamence ex worth grading?
Pokémon · Power Keepers · 96/108 · full price guide →
Worth grading — even a PSA 9 beats raw
A PSA 10 Salamence ex sells for $6,321 against $245 raw: a $6,076 spread, 26× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($880) 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)
- $245
- PSA 10
- $6,321
- PSA 9
- $880
- Gem premium
- 26×
- As of
- Sep 29, 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 | $6,321 | +$6,051 | +$6,026 | +$5,926 |
| PSA 9 | $880 | +$611 | +$586 | +$486 |
| PSA 8 | $328 | +$58.33 | +$33.33 | −$66.67 |
Net = sale price − $245 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% | $2,240 | +$1,946 |
| 50% | $3,601 | +$3,306 |
| 75% | $4,961 | +$4,666 |
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 | $6,321 | best | 55/45 | 75/25 |
| CGC 10 | $684 | −$5,636 | 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 Salamence ex — FAQ
Is Salamence ex worth grading?
A PSA 10 Salamence ex sells for $6,321 against $245 raw: a $6,076 spread, 26× the ungraded price. Even a PSA 9 ($880) 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 Salamence ex worth compared with raw?
A PSA 10 Salamence ex (Power Keepers 96/108) sells for about $6,321 versus $245 for a raw near-mint copy — a 26× premium as of Sep 29, 2026.
Which grading company is best for Salamence ex?
By resale value, PSA 10 leads at $6,321, ahead of CGC 10 at $684. Fees and turnaround differ, so the best-paying label is not always the best net.
What centering does Salamence ex 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.
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